CINDY'S POV

"Sister!" he screamed.

"You finally called after all these months," Alaric's voice came through the line, breathless with surprise.

"The last time I called you, you scolded me. You told me never to call you unless you called first. I've been waiting for your call all this while. Have you finally decided to leave that dog?"

I swallowed hard, closing my eyes as the sound of his voice pulled something tight in my chest.

Dad and Alaric had always warned me about people like the Callahans.

And I still chose them.

I even went as far as convincing Dad to anonymously invest in their family business.

I begged him to help them grow. I thought they were kind people back then.

I thought they deserved it.

I couldn't believe I'd been the reason the Callahans climbed their way into the top ten companies in Texas.

And they had no idea it was all me.

All these years, they thought it was by their own merit, by their so-called business genius. They didn't know that the day Gregory Callahan died and Henry took over, I was still quietly investing through proxies, making phone calls, moving strings behind the scenes. I even used Virelli Holdings' offshore subsidiaries to funnel capital into their failing sectors.

I had made their company stronger. I had made him stronger.

And now, they were using that power to humiliate me.

That was the reason I cut off my family.

That was why, months ago, I told Alaric not to call me again unless I reached out first. I didn't want them to find out the truth. I didn't want to risk them discovering what I had sacrificed for the Callahans.

Now I knew they were right.

"Sister? Are you there?" Ric's voice pulled me back, softer now, but etched with worry.

"Yes," I said quietly, clutching the phone tighter, nails biting into my palm.

"You were right, Ric. I made the wrong choice. I shouldn't have married him."

There was a pause.

"What happened?" Ric asked, his voice suddenly tense, a shift in his breathing like he was pacing.

"Did he hurt you? Did he do something to you?"

I couldn't stop the tears anymore. I pressed a hand to my mouth and sobbed, trying to muffle the sound, my shoulders shaking.

"You can't understand. I've done things... I've hidden things from you and Dad, things I can't even say. Henry brought another woman home, and I can't fight back."

"I lost my leg, Ric," I added quietly.

The silence on the line turned sharp, like the moment before glass shatters.

"What?" Ric's voice cracked, disbelief mixing with anger.

"You lost your leg? Cindy, what do you mean you lost your leg?!"

"I didn't tell you," I whispered. "I knew if I did... I knew you wouldn't take it well. I knew you and Dad would destroy them in an instant. And I... I was still in love with Henry back then. I couldn't see clearly."

"Cindy," Ric growled, his breathing heavy, "Explain. Right now."

"Three years ago," I said through choked breaths, "I saved Henry. He was walking into an incoming truck. I pushed him out of the way, and the truck hit me instead. It crushed my legs, my spine was damaged, and I've been a cripple ever since. And now... he hates me for it."

I could feel his rage burning through the phone, even though he was miles away, like a heat wrapping around me.

"They did this to you? You lost your leg for that bastard and they still mistreated you? I'm going to ruin them. I swear it."

"No!" I snapped, sitting upright, swiping tears off my cheeks.

"No, Ric. That won't be sweet enough. That's not the best revenge."

There was silence. Then, quieter and more focused, he asked, "What do you want to do?"

"I want to destroy them myself," I said, voice calm, a dark certainty hardening inside me. "But not fast. Slowly. Gently. I want them to rot from the inside out."

Ric exhaled like he was bracing himself for something terrible, the sound crackling softly on the line.

"Are you sure you don't want me to handle this?"

"No, but I need your help," I said.

"First, I need you to come get me right away. Fly me to the best hospital in the world. I want to treat my leg."

"You haven't treated it?" he asked, stunned, his voice a notch lower.

"No," I said. "I didn't want you or Dad to find out. The surgery is very expensive and if I had treated myself without the Callahan's help, they would have suspected something. But now... I'm done hiding. I want to walk again. I want to take everything back."

"Send me the address, I'll arrange it right away," he said without hesitation, determination evident in his voice.

"Anything else?"

"Yes," I said slowly, pulling in a breath. "There's one more thing. Something important."

"Name it."

"Damian."

There was a pause.

"My best friend?" Alaric asked, confusion and suspicion mixing in his voice.

"Yes. I need him to pretend to be my boyfriend."

"What?!" Ric barked in disbelief. "What the fuck are you up to?"

I let out a deep breath, my voice steady now and my eyes dry of tears for the first time in a long while.

"Since Henry has the guts to bring in another woman, I'll show him two can play the game."

[One Week Later]

DAMIAN'S POV

The secretary's moan vibrated against my lips as I slammed her against the office desk, her skirt already bunched up around her waist like a proper slut.

She whimpered, grinding her hips into me, nails clawing down my chest as she fumbled with my belt, desperate for it.

Fuckk.

I smirked against her mouth, biting her lower lip hard before pulling back to drink her in.

Blouse half-unbuttoned, tits spilling out of that lacy bra, and nipples poking through like they were screaming for my teeth.

My c*ck throbbed painfully, straining against my slacks, ready to wreck her.

"Mr. Thorne," she gasped, fingers finally popping my button open, voice all breathy and wrecked.

"You're such a fuckiing tease..." she started, but I cut her off with a bruising kiss, tongue fuckiing hers as she yanked my zipper down.

My hands dug into her ass, squeezing hard, pulling her tighter against my bulge just as my phone started blaring on the desk.

"Ignore it," she panted, diving for my belt buckle, fingers shaking with need.

"Tempting," I growled, sliding my hand up her blouse, palming those juicy tits through the lace, thumb flicking a nipple till she squirmed.

The phone kept ringing, loud as fuck, and it was pissing me off.

"Come on, Mr. Thorne," she whined, hand palming my shaft through my slacks.

I groaned deep, hips jerking into her hand, pleasure spiking hot.

"Yeah, baby, just like that."

That damn phone wouldn't quit.

I shot a glance at the screen, ready to smash the thing, but froze when I saw the name.

Alaric.

My gut twisted. I hadn't heard from that bast*rd in months.

"Fuckk, gotta take this," I muttered, snatching the phone and pulling away before she could do something nastier.

She glared, lips swollen and eyes blown wide with lust, all pissed off and pouty.

"Seriously?"

I gave her a cold stare, adjusting my aching cockk with one hand while swiping to answer.

"I don't fuckk around with business, sweetheart."

She huffed, yanking her skirt down with a glare that could've burned holes.

I didn't give a shit.

I waved her off and slumped back in my chair.

"Yo, what's good, you old bastardd?" Alaric's voice crackled through, all smug and teasing.

I rolled my eyes, forcing my playboy smirk back in place, though my dick was still screaming for release.

"Still a prick, huh?" I shot back, keeping it light.

He laughed, warm and easy.

"Kidding. What's good? How you holding up? Business? London?"

"London's fine," I said, slouching back, di*k still half-hard and pulsing against my zipper while the secretary lingered, eyeing me like she wasn't done.

"Not there right now, though."

"Oh? Where you at?"

I shifted, trying to will my d*ck to calm the fuck down, but then she strutted back; hips swaying like a damn tease and lips swollen from my kisses.

She dropped to her knees between my spread legs without a word, her fingers making quick work of my belt again.

Fuckiing hell, girl.

I should've shoved her off-knew I should-but fuckk, I didn't.

My breath hitched as she yanked my slacks and boxers down, freeing my c*ck, thick and leaking for her.

She didn't waste time.

Her hot little tongue licked a slow stripe from base to tip before swirling around the head, collecting the precum.

Christ, this chick's gon' kill me.

I bit back a groan, gripping the phone tighter.

"Damian?" Alaric's voice crackled in my ear through the receiver.

"Yeah," I gritted out, jaw clenched tight as her lips parted and she sank down on me in one slick, sinful glide.

Fuckk.

Her mouth was pure fucking sin, wet and nasty as hell.

She hollowed her cheeks, sucking hard like she wanted to drain my soul, tongue pressing filthy against the pulsing vein underneath.

I couldn't fucking help it.

My hips bucked up, shoving my c*ck deeper into her throat, chasing that heat.

She gagged but didn't quit, nails clawing my thighs, digging sharp as she took me to the hilt, nose brushing my base greedily.

God fuckiing damn.

Her free hand cupped my balls, rolling 'em slow, teasing, then slid lower, pressing that sensitive spot behind 'em.

Sh*t, that taint play had my eyes rolling back.

My abs locked tight, a ragged curse ripping out my lips, low and guttural.

"Everything okay?" Alaric's voice cut through again, clueless as shit.

"Fine," I growled, voice strained to hell, barely holding it together.

The secretary's eyes flicked up and locked on mine like she knew she had me by the balls.

Her tongue swirled slow around the head, teasing the slit, then pulled off with a wet, filthy pop. Only to dive back down, bobbing faster, lips stretched tight and obscenely around my shaft.

Fuckk, Fuckk, Fuckk .

Every drag of her mouth sent a firestorm building in my gut.

"You said you're not in London," Alaric's voice cackled, pulling me back.

"Y-yeah," I strained.

"I came to handle business at the Texas branch. You know Ellis has been managing the U.S. branches, but he's been really swamped lately, so I'm here to fill in for him."

The secretary smirked faintly, clearly enjoying my struggle.

Her hand joined in, stroking what she couldn't swallow, thumb smearing pre-cum over the tip with every pass, frying my damn brain.

I was fucking losing it.

My free hand fisted her hair, yanking hard as my hips rocked up, fucking her mouth hard.

She moaned around my cock, the vibration shooting straight to my balls, making 'em tighten and ready to blow.

My whole body tensed, pleasure sparking white-hot behind my eyelids.

Damn!! I'm gonna fuckiing cum.

"Really?" Alaric screamed, surprised. "Cindy is in Texas too."

Cindy???!!!

I froze.

My release rushed back, pleasure crashing into pain as her name slammed into me like a knife, killing every ounce of desire in me.

I yanked the secretary off my lap, rougher than I meant, and she pouted, all bratty and pissed.

"Your sister's in Texas?" I shirked, gut flipping and voice sharper than I intended.

"Yeah," Alaric said.

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion crawling up my spine.

"You always kept her shit locked down. Never told me where she was, even when I begged. Why spill now?"

His voice dropped, serious as a heart attack.

"Yeah, you're right. I kept her life off-limits 'cause I knew it fuckked you up when she got married. Knew you loved her, man. Didn't wanna keep twisting the knife."

I went dead quiet, memories flooding back like a bad trip.

Knew Alaric and Cindy since we were kids in D.C.

She was a year older, all brains and fire, no-nonsense as hell.

I was the little shit pulling her hair, stealing her books, playing pest just to see those blue eyes flash.

At sixteen, I finally grew the balls to ask her out.

She shut me down cold.

Called me a bully. Immature.

I laughed it off then, but it cut deep-left scars I never admitted.

Then my family bailed to London.

Built my tech empire and became the C.E.O of D.T. Tech Innovations at twenty-one. A multinational software and AI firm.

I thought I would forget her.

But I never did.

Those piercing blue eyes, wavy brunette hair, that slender frame that made every dress look like a wet dream stayed burned in my head.

No woman ever came close.

When I heard she married, it fucking broke me.

Landed in the hospital for a week, gutted, hope torched.

Since then, I fuckked my way through models, actresses, secretaries...anyone to numb it.

But none of 'em meant shit because none of 'em were her.

"Hello?" Alaric's voice snapped me back.

"Yeah," I croaked, throat rough. "I'm here. Sorry."

"She reached out," he said. "She needs you, Damian."

My heart skipped, fist clenching in my lap.

"Needs me?" I scoffed, disbelief choking me. "She probably doesn't even remember my ass. Why would she need me?"

"It's messy," Alaric said. "You'll get it when you see her. But I need you to do this for me....for her."

"What's the deal?"

"She wants to get back at her husband. He's been acting shady, and she needs you to help put him in his place."

I blinked, brain scrambling. "Wait, what?"

"I'm saying she needs you to play boyfriend, fake it, Damian. Make him squirm."

The secretary reached for me again but I caught her wrist and shoved her off, hard.

"Get the fuckk out," I snapped, a sudden irritation flaring hot in my veins.

She flinched, snatched her heels, and stormed out angrily.

Didn't give a sh*t..

"That's dangerous," I said to Alaric, running a hand through my hair, pacing now.

"You wan' me to fuckk around with a married woman?"

"It's not what you think. It's complicated. She'll lay it out. Just do it for me.... Please?"

I hesitated, gut churning.

"I know you love her," Alaric added, voice softer now. "Always have and I know you never moved on. This is your shot to show her you're for real, to win her."

I sucked in a breath.

Damnit.

This was a bad idea. A fucking train wreck waiting to happen.

But it was her.

Cindy. My Cindy.

"I'm only in Texas a month," I said, the words slipping out of my mouth instinctively. "Then it's back to London."

"A month's plenty," Alaric shot back. "More than enough."

Silence stretched between us, but my heart already had the answer.

This is my opportunity.

A once-in-a-lifetime chance and I can't afford to miss it.

"All right," I growled. "Text me her address."

CINDY'S POV

A week ago, I left Texas in a wheelchair.

Today, I walked back in on my own two feet.

The surgery wasn't even the hardest part. That was done in a few hours, under the hands of the best surgeons in the world.

The real hell started afterward, learning how to stand again, how to take one step without wobbling or collapsing.

There were days I thought I'd never walk again, days I wanted to scream and rip out the IVs, but Ric was there, every single day.

He pushed me, held me up, told me to try again, again, again until I could finally stand without help.

Until I could take steps across the cold hospital floor, holding my head up, not looking back.

And now, I could even walk in heels.

When I caught a glimpse of myself in the hotel mirror, it was like looking at someone else entirely.

My makeup was flawless, the dark liner making my blue eyes sharper, my lips glossed and shiny.

The sleek black dress hugged my waist and hips, the silver necklace at my throat glinting under the soft light.

For the first time in a long time, I felt powerful.

I felt alive.

I checked my phone. Nothing from Henry, nothing from Lydia or Vivian, nothing from anyone in that house. They had watched me leave, rolling out the door, and not one of them even bothered to call to ask if I was okay.

That told me everything I needed to know.

My phone buzzed with a message from Ric.

"Damian is in. Sent him your address. He'll meet you at the house."

A slow smirk pulled at my lips.

It was happening. My plan was finally moving, piece by piece. I didn't think Damian would actually agree. I thought he'd be too busy, too wrapped up in his world to bother with mine.

But the bond between him and Ric was still there, and I knew a part of him still remembered me.

Back then, he was a brat. Younger than me by a year, always in my way, teasing, poking, pulling my hair just to get my attention.

When he asked me out at sixteen, I laughed in his face and told him to grow up.

And then he was gone.

I hadn't seen him since, but I knew he was still single and now the CEO of a massive tech company.

He was exactly what I needed.

A perfect weapon for my perfect revenge.

At 7 p.m. sharp, I walked back into that house like I owned it, heels tapping on the tiles, head high, chin up.

The living room fell silent.

Vivian's wine glass slipped from her fingers and shattered, red liquid pooling around the shards.

Lydia backed up against the wall, eyes wide, like she'd seen a ghost.

"What... what is this?"

Henry shot up from the couch, his jaw slack, eyes darting to my heels, then my face, then back again. Monica clung to his arm, her mouth hanging open, speechless.

Henry's voice cracked. "Cindy... how... how are you walking?"

Monica swallowed, her voice small. "She was in a wheelchair... just days ago..."

Lydia's mouth twisted. "I knew it! I knew you were lying all along, pretending to be crippled just so you could trap Henry and milk us for everything!"

A laugh broke out of me, sharp and cold.

"You think I would choose to be stuck in a chair, to need help to use the bathroom, to be looked at like I'm worthless every single day? You think I faked surgeries, therapy, and pain just to stay with your pathetic brother?"

Lydia's face went red, her hands shaking at her sides.

Vivian stepped forward, her eyes narrowing, scanning me up and down like I was a problem she couldn't solve.

"Where did you get the money for the surgery? Last time Gregory tried, the doctors said it would take millions, money we didn't have. So where, Cindy?"

Henry's voice rose, cracking as he struggled to hold onto anger that was quickly turning into something else.

"And where have you been all these days? Looking like this... dressed like this... have you been cheating on me?"

I opened my mouth, ready to say exactly what I thought of him, but a voice cut through the room, calm, low, and rough making my stomach flip.

"Yes. She has."

All eyes snapped to the doorway.

And there he was.

Tall, broad, leaning against the doorframe like he had all the time in the world. Dark brown curls falling over storm-grey eyes, a lazy smirk playing on lips that looked like they knew every sin in the universe.

His black dress shirt hugged the hard lines of his chest, sleeves rolled to reveal strong forearms and expensive watch gleaming under the lights.

He looked like trouble, and he wore it well.

Even I blinked, heat rising in my face before I could stop it.

Who the hell is this man?

He pushed off the doorframe and walked in like he owned the place, eyes on me, and for a moment the room, the anger, the tension, everything else fell away.

He didn't stop until he was in front of me, his scent hitting me, clean, expensive, masculine. Then his arm slid around my waist, fingers splaying over my hip, pulling me close without asking.

My breath caught, and I hated that my heart skipped in that stupid, familiar way.

Henry stepped forward, fists clenching. "Who the hell are you?"

Vivian's eyes flicked down, then back up, and she let out a sharp breath.

"God, he's hot."

"Mom!" Lydia and Henry snapped at the same time.

Vivian's head jerked, and she looked away quickly, her cheeks pink.

"What? I'm just saying."

Henry shot her a look, his jaw clenching, before turning his glare back to the man who still had his arm around my waist, fingers flexing like he had every right.

"Listen, kid," Henry said, his voice low and tight, "I don't know who you think you are, but you're in the wrong house. Let her go and get out."

A slow, mischievous grin spread across the man's face, and he glanced around the room, taking them all in like they were ants under his boot.

"No," he said, his voice smooth, confident. "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

His fingers dug deeper into my waist as he pulled me closer into his chest.

His eyes flickered to Henry, and the grin widened just a bit before he dropped the grenade on them, voice calm, like he was talking about the weather.

"I'm Damian," he said. "Cindy's boyfriend."

What! Damian?!

He let the silence stretch, letting it sink in.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you all."