Chapter 3 Chapter 3

~ Elena’s POV

Damian's smirk got wider as he stepped closer. I held my breath in my throat when he lowered his head, his lips almost brushing my ear.

"You're too eager, aren't you?" He whispered, and my throat dried up instantly. Before I could even think of what to say, he pulled away and, without another glance, he walked out of the room, his footsteps reminding me of the torture I would have to go through in the future.

I stared at the empty space where he had been standing a while ago, my heart thundering inside my chest. Rage and humiliation both drowned me.

Hesitantly, I walked to the door and locked it, going to freshen up and lie in bed. Sleep refused to arrive early, and with the hurt of his words, I went into a deep slumber.

~ In The Morning

I dragged myself off the bed and to the wardrobe, wanting a distraction. But my breath hitched when my eyes fell on the clothes hanging inside.

My hands went for the dresses that were exactly the kind I liked, the style, the color, and even the things I didn't like; they were nowhere to be seen. My choice was the total opposite of my sister's, so this made no sense. My heartbeat fastened when I wondered whether Damian knew about this or not.

I shook my head, getting rid of the thought, my stomach twisting. I forced myself into a fresh pair of clothes after freshening up and went downstairs.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the breakfast. Waffles with syrup, fresh fruit, and a steaming cup of coffee sat neatly on the table as if someone already knew what my favorite breakfast was.

"Eat," Damian's voice cut through my thoughts as he entered casually, pulled out a chair as if nothing about all of it was unusual. His eyes met mine for a second before he sat down and picked up a newspaper.

I hesitated, but slowly sat down and picked up my fork. "How did you---" I stopped myself before finishing.

Damian noticed, his brow furrowing. "Something to say, pup?"

I clenched my hand, biting my tongue, refusing to give him any satisfaction, and quietly ate instead.

~ After A While

He drove me to a business meeting where I wasn't sure I had any reason to be. The moment we stepped inside, I knew I was standing next to a completely different man. He transformed from a cold, ruthless monster into a charming and untouchable man. Everyone respected him the moment they laid eyes on him.

And then there was me. The perfect wife he paraded beside him. His arm was wrapped securely around my waist, smiling at me in between his conversations.

I wanted to shove him away and scream, but when his hand slightly tightened on me, I hated myself for not despising the touch.

He met a lot of people, and I realized his motive: he wanted to show his stability through me, through showing how perfectly capable he was of controlling things.

After the meeting, his mask slipped once more. The silence in the car lasted long, but then suddenly, he spoke. "You know, pup," he calmly said, eyes still on the road. "Truths and secrets never stay buried. They always surface... when you least expect them."

My heart dropped, and I started sweating. "What are you talking about?"

His lips twitched with an evil smirk. "You'll find out soon enough."

I turned to him sharply. "But---"

"Not now," he interrupted smoothly, and the rest of the drive went wordless.

~ Back at the Mansion

I sat on my bed, remembering my time with Luca, how happy I was, and how his touch and hold made me feel safe. For a moment, my heart ached for him, and then instantly, my mind was overridden by the memory of Damian's hold on mine. I hated myself for not hating his touch.

I shook the thought away and stood up, only for the door to be knocked and opened a few seconds later.

"Ma'am, your parents are here to visit." A maid peeked in, and I nodded, giving myself one look before going downstairs to meet them. I lingered in the hallway when Isabella's name fell on my ears. Their voices were low and hurried, and if they didn't want me to hear, so I wanted to hear more.

"Isabella, maybe she---" My mother was whispering urgently, and my heart jumped into my throat. Before I could hear the rest, my elbow knocked over a vase, and it crashed onto the ground, making me freeze in my spot.

Both of them snapped their heads toward me. Heat rushed to my face. "I'm sorry... it slipped." I stammered, putting on a fake smile.

They exchanged a look, their expressions different, but they didn't say anything.

“How are you? Mom, Dad?“ I asked, walking over to them and sitting between them. They exchanged another look and smiled nonetheless, nodding their heads.

“We’re fine, tell us about you. How are you? Are you alright?“ I didn’t have the courage to lie to their face and tell them I have been living an amazing life, so I simply nodded.

The rest of their visit went on about them asking me how I was and how Isabella betrayed them. I didn't want to worry them, so I didn't tell them about the things I was suspicious of.

~ At Night

I lay in bed, my eyes closed, even though I was wide awake. The door slowly creaked open. My breath caught in my throat. I didn't need to see to know who it was.

Damian's presence was enough to tell me it was him. I felt the mattress dip as he sat beside me, brushing my hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear. I had to dig nails into my palm under the sheets to keep the heat from reaching my face. I kept my breathing steady, pretending to sleep.

Then, his voice broke the silence. "You'll learn soon enough, El---Isabella."