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.

Chapter 006

The Shocking Pregnancy

Amara's POV

I stared unbelievably at the test in my hand, the two pink lines fo*lishly glaring back at me like a dead verdict.

Pregnancy?

I could hardly gather strength to breathe, my chest tightening beyond my imagination as the reality glared at me. How had I managed to get here? How had everything concerning my life turned upside down so quickly?

I had succeeded in chasing Damian away, the man who might have been the father. I had told him to leave, instructed him never to come close to me, that it was a mistake, that it couldn't happen between us. I couldn't bring myself into getting more involved with him. But right now... this? I was of all things, carrying his child, and I had no idea what to do next from here.

The room felt like I was alien, and it was closing in on me. I sank dejectedly on the bed, holding my suddenly heavy head in my hands. I didn't desire to be a single mother. I couldn't do that. My life wasn't even stable to even give me room to figure out who I was, let alone raise a child on my own.

And then there was my betrothed; Victor. After everything that had transpired during the engagement party, the distance created between us, he had called off the engagement. He hadn't even made any effort to find out what happened from me. He had just walked away like he was waiting for the moment to do so.

I felt a tear generously slip down my cheek. He hadn't wanted me from the beginning.

I wiped it away quickly, furious at myself for even remembering someone like him in my thoughts. But still, deep down, a part of me wondered if there would ever be a chance to make things right between us.

But what exactly was I supposed to do now?

The doorbell immediately rang, helping to pull me out of my thoughts. I glanced toward the direction of the wall clock. It was already late for visitation. Who could possibly be at the door?

I opened it, and surprisingly, there stood Victor, his familiar face full of tension and something else I couldn't quite place my hand on.

"Amara," he said too softly, almost hesitantly. "Can we sit and talk?"

I blinked, totally bewildered and stunned for a second at his coming. The man who had wasted no time in calling off the engagement just few days ago was standing in front of me like nothing ever happened.

"Talk about what exactly?" I managed to say, not trusting my voice as it shook slightly.

The Victor that I know to be arrogant, shifted uncomfortably on his chair. "About... us."

I crossed my arms, not understanding the drama going on, and still trying to hold myself together. "Us?"

He nodded, confirming what I heard was right, and stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation. "Look, Amara, I know things really escalated and went south, but I've been thinking a lot about it. I don't really want to walk away from whatever we had in the past. I was totally wrong. I was being stupid for not trusting you. You're the one I want for me, and I... I messed up."

I stood frozen for few seconds, trying to process everything he just vomited with his mouth. Victor, the man who had thrown me aside like a trash without looking back, now wanted to fix things. He wanted to make things right and get back together.

"Why now?" I asked, almost bitterly. "Why come back after everything that has happened?"

Victor looked down, unable to answer, guilt flashing in his eyes. "I was really scared, Amara. I thought you did that because you didn't want me anymore. But I realize now that I was totally wrong. I was afraid of losing you, but instead, I ended up pushing you away."

I felt a heavy pang in my chest, but I shoved it aside quickly. "Victor, we can't possibly pick up from where we left off. Things are very much complicated now."

He reached out, carefully taking a few step closer. "I know, but we can always do our best and figure it out. But that would be together. I love you, Amara. I always have and won't stop."

I swallowed very hard, my heart racing uncontrollably. He loved me. But did I also love him? Could I pay blind eyes and go back to the life we had planned together, knowing what had happened between us and Damian?

Victor's voice softened which was unlike him, his eyes pleading with me to take him back. "Amara, please. Don't pay me back by shutting me out. I know I really messed up, but I am here to make it right. I want us to come together and be a family."

Family?

That word hit me really hard, harder than I expected. My mind flashed back to the pregnancy test I just carried out, the growing realization that I was about to be a mother. A part of me confused, the other pushing to scream, to tell him everything. But I couldn't bring myself into doing that. I didn't wish to complicate things more than they already were.

I stepped back so that he would come more closer, shaking my head. "Victor, I... I don't know."

He seemed to read my hesitation might be because of another trouble. "Please, Amara, just give me this last chance. Let me prove to you that I can be the man you need."

I stared at him, my heart torn, not knowing what to decide. This wasn't how I had imagined things to be for me. I had always wanted stability, I dreamed of certainty, but now all I felt was confusion.

"I don't have a clue of what to say, Victor," I whispered, but almost not low as intended, my voice trembling.

He moved forward, reaching to hold my hand. "Just assure me you'll give us a chance."

I opened my mouth to talk, but nothing came out, not even a word. The weight surrounding my new secret was too much. How will I start telling him now? How could I even bring him to the understanding or explain the mess I was in?

Instead of complicating things further, I gave him a small, uncertain nod. "I... I'll definitely think about it."

Victor smiled victoriously, relief washing over him as I watched. "That's all I needed this moment, Amara."

I watched him leave quietly as he came, the door clicking softly behind him indicating he was no more in the house. My heart felt heavy, because of the lifetime decision I was yet to make.

I still hadn't found my voice to tell him about the pregnancy. And I wasn't sure I could do that anytime soon. How's this going to end for me? What if he finds out or my family does? Will Damian accept his responsibility since I rejected him?