Chapter 003

Scandal Unleashed

Amara's POV

I barely made it through the polished lobby without breaking down. My heels clicked loudly against the marble floors as I forced myself to be in control of just one thing; walk at a normal recognized pace. People stared weirdly, their curious eyes following the obvious tear in my dress and my messy hair. I didn't care what was going on in their minds.

I forcefully with the remaining strength in me, pushed through the revolving doors and stepped into the cool morning air. The street as usual was buzzing with life, like my absence never mattered, taxis honking, pedestrians rushing past, but as for me, all I had was the feeling of someone underwater, drowning in my own thoughts.

What had I done now?

My phone buzzed repeatedly in my clutch. I fished it out to see the caller with shaky hands. It was from home, a text from our darling Sisi.

"Where are you? Mom's losing it this minute."

I groaned in frustration, my chest tightening at the thought of facing my horrible and loveless family. Sisi's text didn't come as a request, it was a command. She probably had something very dramatic all planned out for me, she always did at the slightest opportunity. And I won't disappoint, but always be the unwitting pawn, all the time.

I hailed a passing cab immediately, climbing in without a second thought. The ride to the Benson family home felt endless, and I never wanted it to end. Every second stretching into an eternity. My mind after wandering around, then returned to the night before, replaying the events of the night, each memory sharper than the last.

Damian. The heated kiss. The heat that followed. The regret afterward, trying to figure the way forward.

The house as expected was already alive with noise when I arrived. The moment I stepped into the foyer, my mother's sharp and harsh voice rang out from the living room.

"Where exactly have you been all night, Amara?" Caroline Benson, my mother snapped, her arms crossed like someone ready for a fight, and her perfectly styled hair gleaming under the chandelier. She looked ready like one that would devour me wholely.

"I..." My voice trailed, with no strength. "I needed sone air."

"Air?" Came Sisi's sharp voice, dripping fully with fake sweetness. She lounged dramatically on the sofa, her perfectly manicured nails annoyingly tapping against a wine glass. "Funny, because I could remember you disappeared during the engagement dinner."

My heart sank on hearing that. Of course she never ceased to notice every of my movement.

Victor stood quietly in the corner, his arms also folded and his jaw clenched but he never said a word. His disappointment in whatever I did was obvious, and it made my stomach churn greatly.

"I wasn't feeling too well," I managed to explain, but still avoiding his scorching eyes.

"You were not feeling well?" Sisi repeated, but standing up this time. Her voice rose very high, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "Or were you were somewhere feeling someone else?"

The room went dead silent like a graveyard.

"What exactly are you talking about now?" I asked, my voice not strong and barely above a whisper.

"Oh, don't even play dumb, darling sister," she hissed, immediately pulling out her phone. "I have strong proof of everything."

Before I could protest, she went ahead to tap her screen, and a video popped up, and started playing.

It was the grainy and of course we'll staged footage showed no other but me entering Damian's room. My heart stopped beating.

"This was taken nowhere but at the hotel last night," Sisi said, pacing the room like a predator circling its prey. "While we were all celebrating your engagement, you sneaked out, made yourself busy... by entertaining someone else."

"That's not exactly how it happened!" I protested, great panic rising in my chest, which would have given me a heart attack.

"Then explain it in your terms," Victor said coldly, finally speaking up. His eyes bore into me, filled with a mix of hurt and anger.

"I can't even explain how I ended up there!" I said, tears already crowding my eyes. "It's not exactly what it looks like, please."

Sisi smirked all through seeing that I could not defend myself, and clearly enjoying my humiliation. "Oh, it's exactly what it looks like in this video. You've succeeded in disgracing this family, Amara."

My mother's slap flew from nowhere, the sting spreading across my cheek. I gasped as I never expected it, my hand flying to my face as the room erupted in murmurs.

"How could you do this?" Caroline, my mother spat, her voice shaking with much fury. "After everything we've sacrificed for you in this family?"

"Mom, please," I begged, uncontrollable tears flooding my face. "I didn't even do anything wrong!"

"Enough this very minute!" Victor roared, silencing everyone. He looked at me with cold detachment, as if I was a stranger. "This engagement is finally over."

The words hit me hard, my knees threatening to give way.

"No," I whispered, but he was already out before I could reach him.

"Wait," a deep voice sliced through the dramatic chaos.

Everyone turned as Damian stormed the room. His presence was commanding, his sharp suit spotless despite the early hour.

"Who the hell are you young man?" Sisi snapped furiously, clearly taken aback.

"Damian Kane," he said rather calmly, his gaze darting around the room before it landed on me. "The man your sister spent the night with."

Gasps filled everywhere in the room. Even Sisi was stunned.

"I'm terribly sorry for the misunderstanding," Damian continued, his voice steady and authoritative. "Amara was placed in my room by mistake. Nothing funny or dramatic happened between us that she didn't consent to."

My cheeks burned as his words silenced everyone in the room. Why was he here, and doing this now?

Victor glared furiously at him. "And you expect me to believe your cooked up story?"

Damian shrugged like he never cared. "Believe whatever you would make you sleep well at night. But I take full responsibility for her disappearance and being in my room."

Sisi's mocking face turned in great rage, and she quickly excused herself dashing outside, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

Damian turned to face me now, his eyes softening. "Are you okay?"

I nodded weakly, too overwhelmed to alter any word.

"Good then," he said. Then, turning back to the others, like a threat he added, "If anyone has an unsettled issue with Amara, they can take it up with me."

The room was silent as he took quick strips toward me, his hand affectionately brushing against mine in a silent gesture of reassurance.

For the very first time that morning and since my existence, I felt like I could finally breathe well. But I knew better, this was just the beginning of whatever my family would unleash.

Chapter 004

Tbd Offer

Amara's POV

The incredible silence that followed the moment Damian's exited was louder than the chaos that had preceded it. My family all turned and stared at me as though I had sprouted horns overnight, each gaze judgmental, especially from my mother, deadly curiosity from Sisi, and of course, indifference from Victor, who from his expression, looked like he was just waiting for an excuse to leave, my father was no exception, though his was unreadable.

I wanted to scream for them to believe me, to cry, to defend myself, but I was tired. So tired to do that, but leaving them to think whatever they want.

"Amara," mom finally decided to break the silence, her tone cold and sharp. "Do you in anyway realize what you've done? Do you know the extend of humiliation I just got right now in my house?"

I resisted back the great urge to say something reckless. Instead, I said, "Nothing bad happened, Mom."

"Nothing? Really" she repeated, her voice rising. "So that crazy man just stormed in here to play knight in shining armor with no reason? Do you take us as fools you can easily play?"

"Mom, I..."

"No!" She furiously cut me off, pointing a shaky finger at me. "You've succeeded in ruining everything! The Graham family with their reputation like this will never forgive us for this scandal. Do you have any idea of how much I've invested in making this engagement perfect the way it was last night?"

Of course, that's all it's all about. It has always been about appearances. My happiness or wellbeing never factored into her calculations.

Victor suddenly cleared his throat, drawing all attention back to him. "I think we're finally done here," he said flatly. "Amara, I'll waste no time in sending someone to collect the ring later."

My heart sank on hearing that, he turned and made his way out, his footsteps vibrating like a death knell. He didn't even care to look back.

"Victor!" my mother desperately called after him, but he didn't stop. She turned to face me, her face greatly contorted with rage. "You better find a way and fix this, Amara. I don't care how, but you will fix this and save me from this shame."

Before I could find my words and respond, Sisi let out a dramatic sigh, shaking her hair with exaggerated nonchalance. "Well, this is a beautiful mess, isn't it?"

"Stay out of this, Sisi," I lashed out with no control, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Why? It's not in any way my fault you made up your mind to have a scandalous little sleepover with a stranger," she said, sneering triumphantly. "Honestly, Amara, you're usually very plain and boring. But right now, all I can say is that; I'm impressed."

I glared at her with fire in my eyes, but she just shrugged like it was nothing and sauntered out of the room, her heels noisily clicking against the floor like a betrayal that she is.

I stormed out of the house, desperately in need of fresh air outside the one I shared with my family. The sun was not that high in the sky, but the radiation coming from it only helped in my headache becoming worse.

I didn't have a particular destination in mind, so I just walked, just to be away from them. My thoughts were already messed up by anger, shame, and confusion. How had everything fallen apart so quickly without me knowing it?

"Rough morning?"

The familiar voice startled me, and I spun around only to see Damian leaning casually against a luxurious sleek black car parked at the curb. He looked annoyingly too composed,l for someone that just added to my trouble this morning, his suit perfectly fitted, impeccable and his expression unreadable.

"What exactly are you doing here?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Making sure you're perfectly okay," he said simply.

"I can't remember asking for your help."

"No, you didn't, and I don't need to wait," he agreed, packing the car and walking toward me. "But I somehow figured you could use it anyway."

I opened my mouth to resort to whatever he was saying, but somehow, the right words refused to form, my throat going dry. Instead, I said, "Why then did you decide to lie on my behalf?"

"Lie?" His lips formed into an annoying small smile. "I didn't lie. I only told them nothing happened, which is what they wanted to hear, and that's how it happened."

"You know exactly what I mean."

He focused his gaze on me, studying me for a moment. "Let's just say I don't fancy bullies in my corner. And just a single visit, I could tell you had enough of them in that room."

I blinked, totally confused and caught off guard by the unexpected kindness in his words.

"Well, thanks, I guess that's what I should say," I muttered, looking away shyly.

"You're welcome any time," he said lightly. Then, after a pause, he added, "But I'm somehow curious though, why didn't you tell them the truth?"

"The truth you mean?" I laughed bitterly. "That I was drunk on my engagement night, then accidentally ended up in your room, and... what again? Fell asleep afterward?"

"That's exactly what happened that night, isn't it?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," I said, shaking my head. "People for reasons best known to them, see what they want to see."

Damian frowned, his brows furrowed in confusion, and it was clear he was trying to work out some puzzle from my life. "You're considering giving up too easily," he said.

"Excuse me?"

"You're giving them the privilege to direct the narrative. If you don't find a way and fight back, they'll make you the villain in your own story."

I laughed in a humorless manner. "And do you think I was supposed to do? March back in there and declare my innocence? It's obvious they've already made up their minds."

"Then, ensure to change their minds," he said, his tone very firm.

I stared weirdly at him, very frustrated and confused. "Why do you even care? You don't even know anything about me."

"Maybe, somehow, I like underdogs," he said with a smirk.

"Is this a joke to you?"

"Not at all," he said, his expression suddenly changing to serious. "In fact..." He paused, as if weighing the weight of his words carefully. "I think we good to help each other."

"Help each other?" I repeated, skeptical of whatever he was planning.

"I have my own reasons for requesting you stay in Lakeshore," he explained. "Reasons that while carefully analyzed, require a certain... image. And you? You seriously need someone to take the heat off you right now."

"What exactly are you suggesting now?"

"A kind of business partnership," he said smoothly. "You and me will go along easily. Pretend we're together, though it's going to be temporarily, of course. It'll definitely shut your family up, keep the gossip mill busy, and most importantly, buy us both some breathing room."

I stared at him still confused, my mind reeling. Was he really serious?

"And what then do you get out of this?" I asked suspicious of his intentions.

"A chance to quietly settle some ugly scores," he said cryptically without smiling.

I hesitated, my instincts in a way screaming at me to say yes that very minute. To do that and shut off my mother's rage, Victor's cold and unfriendly dismissal, and most importantly, Sisi's smug smile. But I sudden remembered I still have a life outside the grip of my family.

The air surrounding us was becoming thick with unspoken emotions, the kind that makes your pulse race for all the wrong reasons. Damian stood there, impossibly composed, his piercing gaze still fixed on me.

"I'll then make it simple," he said, his voice very low but still firm. "Marry me."

I blinked in confusion, certain I did misheard whatever he said. "What?"

"You heard me right," he replied smoothly, stepping closer. "It's going to be a win-win. You're already caught in this unimaginable mess, and I need a wife for strong reasons that don't concern you. We both all get what we want."

I let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking my head at him, and hoping he would tell me it was a joke. "Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious."

His confidence was so demanding and commanding, the way he said it like it was a foregone conclusion. As if I would just fall at his feet because he snapped his fingers.

"Look," I said, trying to keep my voice somewhat steady as I was still shocked he could come up with such idea. "I don't know what kind of women you're interested in, but I'm not about to marry a man I barely know and never loved just to clean up some gossip."

"This isn't anything about love," he said bluntly. "It's solely about practicality now. You've seen everything about yourself, how your family treats you. Do you really have the thought they'll let this go? With me, you'll not only have protection, your status, your reputation will be upgraded and a way out of their control."

I crossed my arms, glaring hard at him speechlessly. "I don't need even remember telling you that I need rescuing, Damian."

"And yet, you're here drowning," he shot back, his gaze still unwavering.

His words hit a nerve, so hard that I almost bend, but I refused to let him see it. "If I'm drowning, I'll definitely learn to swim," I said, lifting my chin.

"Amara," he said, his voice softer now, almost in a coaxing tone. "You're beautiful and smart enough to know that life doesn't generously hand you second chances often. Think hard about it, a life with no more interfering from your mother, no more irrelevant petty jabs from your sister, and no more Victor. Just freedom all the way."

For a split second, I wavered at his preaching. The picture he painted suddenly was very tempting, but I couldn't ignore the cost.

"Freedom," I repeated, my voice sharp. "But not free, wth strings attached. You obviously don't want a wife, Damian. You only desire a chess piece to move around your board. I'm not interested in your offer."

Something surfaced in his eyes, maybe anger, or disbelief, maybe even real hurt. Whatever it was, he ensured to mask it quickly.

"Are you very sure?" he asked, his tone now becoming icy now. "Because once I turn and walk away, the offer is gone."

I stepped back, my resolve the same. "I'm very sure."

The silence that followed was unbelievable and deafening. Damian's jaw clenched, and I could see his hands curling into fists at his sides. He wasn't used to witnessing a lady reject him, or being told no, that much was clear.

"Good luck in your life, Amara," he said finally, his voice cutting. "You're going to need it very much."

With that, he turned and left, his retreating figure radiating everything fury.

I stood there, my heart pounding uncontrollably. A part of me wanted to call him back, to apologize, and ay least explain, but I never did. I couldn't do it, but I should have. Perhaps, he may be right by saying I would regret my decision, or I'm overthinking things, things that was meant to help me.

Chapter 005

Playing With Fire

Sisi's POV

"You ended up in messing everything up!" I hissed furiously into the phone, pacing the length of my bedroom. My hands shook greatly, though not with fear, but with fury.

The incompetent man on the other end, some low level lackey who couldn't bring himself to even get a simple task right, stammered. "I...I swear, Miss Sisi, the instructions you gave were dully followed. The room was exactly..."

"Wrong!" I snapped at him, cutting him off. "You ended in putting her in the wrong room! Do you know what exactly what you've done? Do you even understand the disaster you've caused for me and my family,?"

He tried his best to explain, but I wasn't having it talk more of listening anymore. Slamming the phone down, I furiously turned to face the mirror. My reflection shockingly glared back furiously at me, the unsatisfied image of a woman wronged, not really by fate, but by avoidable incompetence.

There was a sharp and annoying knock at the door before it opened wide. Mom barged in line she owned the room, her face set in that usual mix of frustration and expectation.

"Sisi, what's really going on? What's all the shouting I was hearing downstairs about?" she demanded.

I jumped onto the bed in my usual dramatical nature, covering my now pale face with a pillow. "What's exactly is going on? Oh, I don't have any idea, Mom. Maybe the fact that instead of how expected her to be damaged beyond repair, your precious Amara for no reason just got a marriage proposal from Damian freaking Kane family!"

Mom immediately froze mid step, her hand tightening the moment she placed it on the doorknob. "Damian... Kane? As in..."

"As in the Damian Kane we all know. The ruthless and untouchable billionaire. Yes, that's him," I spat out, sitting up abruptly. "She had her way and spent the night with him, and now he's playing the knight in shining armor, offering to marry her instead of punishing her!"

Mom sat down dejectedly on the edge of the bed, her perfectly manicured nails now tapping furiously against her thigh. "That... that wasn't the plan initially."

"No kidding!" I said, throwing my hands up. "She was according to the plan supposed to end up with some nobody, humiliated beyond repair, not... not surprisingly upgraded to the best man!"

The room became very quiet for a moment, both of us confused and stewing in the absurdity of the situation.

"Well," Mom finally found her voice to start, breaking the silence, "you'll have to do everything possible to fix it."

"Fix what exactly?" I repeated, staring intensely at her in disbelief. "How exactly do you come up with the suggestion I fix that? You should be aware that Damian isn't some pushover, Mom. He's...of all I know, very intimidating."

Mom raised an eyebrow, clearly disappointed in me. "You're not truly afraid of him, or are you?"

"No!" I shot back quickly, too quickly that it blew my cover. "But I'm not also stupid either. I did my research, only to realize that men like Damian don't play games. They just go ahead to destroy you if you cross them."

"Then don't attempt crossing him," she said, her voice reduced to an instend, bearing a calm demeanour and calculating. "You should outsmart him, by giving him the impression that you're on his side. Ensure to turn the situation to your advantage."

"How do I do that?" I asked anxiously, narrowing my eyes.

Mom stood up from where she sat, walked over to the window, her gaze distant. "Damian may be ruthless and powerful, but don't forget that he's still a man. And men like him also have weaknesses. Find his immediately, and use it."

I chewed on my lip, my mom had succeeded in igniting the wheels in my mind to spin. Maybe Mom was right. Maybe Damian also had weaknesses. And if I could do my assignment well, and find them, I could not only succeed in destroying Amara's new source of happiness but also put myself exactly where I rightfully deserved to be: in the spotlight.

But first, all I need now is to play my card well.

Later that same evening, as I wandered around the house, I sighted Amara sitting alone in the garden, her shoulders somehow hunched, staring blankly at the flowers. She looked somewhat miserable, which from my plan should have excited me, but instead, it annoyed me.

"What exactly is the matter, sis?" I asked sweetly, leaving my path and stepping onto the stone path. "You look like a child whose friend stole her favorite candy."

Amara froze the moment I said that but didn't turn to look at me. "Go away this minute, Sisi. I'm not in the mood to exchange words with you."

"Oh, come on big sis," I said, making myself comfortable by sitting down beside her. "I just cared much, grew worried because I didn't see you, and decided to check on you. After all, you've had... quite the eventful day."

Her head snapped toward me, her eyes blazing. "What do you want, Sisi?"

I smiled innocently. "Nothing much! I just think it's really funny, that's all. It wasn't long since you got engaged to Victor, the perfect couple everyone praised, and now suddenly you're Damian Kane's damsel in distress, that's Cinderella in making. Quite the unexpected plot twist, don't you think?"

Amara's jaw tightened like she could tear me into two if allowed, but I cared less. "If you've come here just to gloat, don't bother. I already figured out exactly what kind of person you are."

I feigned hurt, displaying my hand with perfectly manicured nails on my chest. "Wow. That's really harsh. And here I was thinking we were sisters."

"Sisters don't go far as stabbing each other in the back," she shot back, and standing abruptly before she could finish the sentence.

I stood too, there was no need staying there anymore, my smile fading. "Maybe not, and I understand. But sisters weren't also supposed to waste opportunities, especially the golden ones. You had the perfect man in Victor, every woman's dream, and you let it all go to waste. Now, for no reason,cyou're being handed Damian on a silver platter, and what? You're going to say no again?"

Amara maintained a steady gaze, then looked away, her lips pressed tightly.

"You're a big fo*l, Amara," I dropped without minding how it would affect her, my voice dropping to a whisper. "And fo*ls don't deserve happy endings."

With that, I turned not looking back to see her reaction, them walked away, my mind already racing with the next steps in my plan. If Amara thought I was supporting her, that this was over, she had no idea what was coming her way.