Chapter 3: What Right Do You Have

Lily's POV

The next two weeks turn me into tabloid gold.

"Black Heiress in Hot Romance with Investment Mogul."

"Lily Rose's New Love: Trading Stepbrother for Future."

Each headline gets more ridiculous than the last.

But that's exactly what I want.

Marcus knows how to play the part. I'll give him that.

He pulls out chairs for me at cafes. Keeps his arm around my waist at gallery openings. Kisses my hand in front of everyone at the casino bar.

Every single time, I feel eyes on us.

Including the pair I care about most.

Damien's.

He always shows up. Right place, right time.

Outside the cafe window. At the gallery entrance. Corner booth at the bar.

Each time he spots me with Marcus, his face goes stone cold. But he never walks over. Never says a word. Just watches for a moment, then turns and leaves.

I'm living for it.

This feeling of finally getting under his skin.

Ten years, Damien. Ten years I watched you parade around with different women. Now it's your turn to squirm.

"Where'd you go just now?"

Marcus's voice pulls me back. We're sitting in his car after some charity gala, engine idling.

"Nowhere. Just tired."

"Let me get you home then." His hand lands on my knee.

I freeze.

First time he's tried anything physical.

"Marcus—"

"Sorry." He pulls back immediately. "Moving too fast."

"It's fine." But alarm bells are screaming in my head.

I need to be careful. Can't let him think this is real.

"Actually... I wanted to talk to you about something." His tone shifts, goes serious. "About Damien's company."

"Yeah?"

"I might've found who's behind all the problems." He hands me a folder.

I flip through it quickly.

All fake.

Points to some competitor that doesn't even exist.

"What are you planning to do with this?"

"I want to help him." Marcus's eyes do this earnest thing that makes my stomach turn. "We used to be friends. And..."

He stops, looks at me.

"And I love you, Lily. I want to make you happy. Helping Damien would make you happy, right?"

Perfect timing.

That night, just past midnight, I'm fumbling with my apartment key when I hear footsteps.

I turn around.

Damien's standing in the hallway, reeking of whiskey. His suit's wrinkled, hair's a mess, and his eyes are full of something I've never seen before.

Rage.

"You're drunk."

"No." He strides toward me. "I'm clearheaded as hell."

He gets too close. I can smell the alcohol on him, feel the heat coming off his body.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Is this payback?" His voice drops low, dangerous. "Being with Marcus—is this some kind of revenge?"

"Revenge?" I laugh. "For what?"

"Lily—"

"What right do you have to show up here and interrogate me?" I cut him off. "You're the one who keeps saying I'm your sister. Sisters date. Brothers are supposed to be supportive."

"He's not good enough for you."

"Oh yeah? And who is? You?"

Damien doesn't answer, but everything I need to know is right there in his eyes.

He's drunk. Vulnerable. And I feel like messing with him.

"Ten years." My voice cracks a little. "Ten years I watched you with woman after woman. Fake ones, real ones, didn't matter. You never once thought about how that felt."

"That's different—"

"How? Because they're not your sister?" I smile bitterly. "You know what? I don't give a damn about some legal relationship. I care about you. But all you do is run."

He moves fast, pinning me against my door.

"You think I don't care?" His breath's hot on my face. "You think I don't want this?"

My heart's trying to break out of my chest.

His body's pressed against mine. I can feel his warmth, his pulse, everything. My legs are going weak.

And...

My eyes drop lower.

He's hard.

"Damien..." I breathe.

His gaze darkens.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Why not?" I slide my hand up his chest, deliberate. "Scared you'll lose control?"

He grabs my wrist.

"Lily. Don't play with fire."

"I want to play with fire." I tilt my head up, lips almost touching his. "I want to see how long you can keep pretending."

His breathing gets rough.

I watch the war happening behind his eyes. Desire fighting restraint.

Restraint wins.

He lets go, steps back.

"Break up with him."

"No."

"Lily—"

"Give me a real reason first." I hold his stare. "A real one."

The pain on his face is almost enough to make me take it back.

Then he turns and walks away.

I lean against the door, legs shaking.

Next morning, Marcus texts me to meet at Bluebird Cafe.

I'm barely through the door when he jumps up from his table.

"Lily. I need to say something."

People are staring.

Oh no.

"Marcus, sit down—"

"No, just let me finish." He pulls out a velvet box and drops to one knee.

"Lily Rose, I love you." His voice carries across the entire cafe. "Marry me."

Everyone's clapping.

Phones are out, cameras clicking.

My brain's racing. This guy's delusional. Give him a few scraps of attention and he thinks I'm in love with him.

But Damien's not at his breaking point yet. If I say no, the whole plan falls apart.

"I..."

"Say yes, Lily." Marcus looks up at me, all fake sincerity.

I see it then.

The smugness underneath.

He thinks he's won.

"Yes."

The applause gets louder.

Marcus stands, slides the ring on my finger. Pink diamond. Huge and tacky as hell.

He leans in to kiss me but I turn my head at the last second, pull him into a hug instead.

And look straight out the window at the figure standing there.

Damien.

He saw everything.

Then he pulls out his phone, makes a call, and walks away.

My phone buzzes.

I push Marcus back gently, check the screen. Family group chat.

Stepfather: "Emergency family meeting. Seven tonight. Everyone needs to be there."

The smile dies on my face.

Something's wrong.

Seven PM sharp.

Black family conference room.

Everyone's here except the one person who matters.

"He'll be here soon," my stepfather says.

Five minutes later, Damien walks in.

He looks calm.

Too calm.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." He takes his seat at the head of the table. "I have an announcement."

My stomach drops.

"To save the company, I'm accepting the Ashford Group's partnership offer." He looks at everyone except me. "As part of the deal, I'll be getting engaged to Victoria Ashford. Wedding's in a month."

The room goes silent.

"What did you just say?" My stepfather sounds shocked.

"Business marriage." Damien's tone is flat. "Victoria's an excellent partner. It's what's best for the company."

I feel like all the blood in my body just froze.

Engaged?

This is real.

"Anyone object?" Damien asks. Finally, he looks at me.

His eyes are cold.

Stranger cold.

I open my mouth but nothing comes out.

"Good." He stands. "Meeting's over."

Then he's gone.

And I'm just sitting there, feeling like my entire world just collapsed.