Dami's POV

As I walked into the house, I was met with faces twisted in shock and anger. Axel's mother froze, her eyes wide as if she had just seen a ghost.

"You... you can talk?" she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

I smiled sweetly, savoring the moment. "Let's talk business, please," the agent interrupted, stepping forward and handing me the papers.

Inside, the familiar surroundings wrapped around me like ghosts from the past. Nothing had changed. The curtains, the paintings, even the faint smell of lavender yet Mrs. Storm and Alexa looked worn out, older, thinner, and hollow-eyed.

A quiet part of me wondered what kind of storms had passed through this house in my absence.

"These are the people interested in buying your son's house to repay his debts," the agent announced.

Their eyes widened; their mouths hung open.

"You're selling Axel's house? Why?" Alexa demanded, panic threading through her voice.

The agent's tone was steady, almost bored. "He borrowed ten million dollars from our bank. This house was the collateral, and he hasn't repaid a dime. We are fully within our rights to sell it to recover the money."

Mrs. Storm staggered backward, clutching her chest until Alexa steadied her. Her daughter's glare could have burned holes through me.

"Are you her boss?" Alexa sneered at Sophia.

Sophia chuckled, her confidence like silk. "Dami is my boss. I'm her personal assistant. She's the one buying this house."

The shock on their faces was delicious.

"No... no, this can't be. You cannot buy this house! It's ours!" Mrs. Storm's voice rose, trembling with rage.

I crossed my arms calmly and turned to the agent. "Let me sign the cheque."

He handed it over. With one swift stroke of my pen, I wrote fifteen million dollars. The agent smiled, satisfied.

"These are the documents, ma'am. You are now the legal owner of this house. Congratulations." With that, he left, closing the door behind him.

"You bitch!" Alexa spat, fury twisting her face.

I laughed softly, almost musically. "You have two hours to leave my house." My tone shifted, sharper and deadlier.

"You don't have the right! This house isn't yours. It belongs to my son!" Mrs. Storm protested.

"This house has been bought, ma'am. It belongs to Dami now," Sophia said smoothly.

"How dare you? How dare you do this to us?" Mrs. Storm cried, her voice breaking.

I tilted my head, my smile cold. "You're a lawyer, aren't you? Then sue me. Let's see how far that gets you."

Alexa whispered frantically into her mother's ear. Their faces crumpled into defeat. I savored it.

"Now you know how it feels," I said, my voice cutting through the silence. "When someone rips away what matters most to you. I'll be back tonight, and I expect you out of my house."

Sophia and I walked out, the weight of victory wrapped around me like a cloak.

"I didn't know you could be this ruthless," she said as we got into the car.

"I'm not ruthless," I replied firmly. "They are evil. And I'll go to any length to make them crawl at my feet."

The agent handed me two more documents, one for Axel's company, which I had already paid for online, and the other confirming the house. My fingers tightened around them.

"Axel's company is next. I need to see the look on his face," I said, a thrill running through me.

Sophia laughed. "This is like watching a movie. I can't wait for the drama."

"Neither can I," I smirked. "The day we divorced, he called me useless. His family mocked me, humiliated me. Now, it's my turn to set the stage."

When we arrived at his company, my heart raced. This building, this empire, had been Axel's pride, a gift from his late father. For him to put both it and the house up as collateral meant something had gone terribly wrong.

"Let's go," Sophia urged.

Inside, the receptionist a young redhead greeted us warmly. "Good morning."

"Good morning," we echoed, handing her the bank's letter. Her eyes widened, her lips parting in disbelief.

"Your boss is upstairs?" I asked. She nodded mutely.

We stepped into the elevator. My reflection in the polished steel doors looked calm, but inside, memories clawed at me. Axel's laugh. Axel's anger. Axel calling me useless.

"You're nervous," Sophia whispered.

I clenched my fists. She was right. Seeing him would reopen wounds, but I forced my breathing steady. "I can do this."

The elevator chimed. We stood before his office. Sophia squeezed my hand before pushing the door open.

Axel looked up. His eyes widened, his face draining of color.

"Dami..." he breathed, my name trembling on his lips as his gaze swept over me.

I flipped my hair back, a smirk curving my lips. "Show some respect. I'm your new boss."

He blinked, stunned. His brown hair was slicked back, his once bright blue eyes dull with weariness. He was still handsome, but to me, he was uglier than ever.

"You can... talk?" he whispered.

I ignored him, glancing instead at the receptionist who had followed us inside.

"Miss Winter," she said respectfully, "this is your office, as the new CEO of the company."

"CEO of my company?" Axel's voice cracked in disbelief.

"Your company was sold to me to repay your debts," I said, my tone sharp as a blade. "I'm in control now, baby boy."

"This is not possible!" His voice rose, desperate and ragged.

I pulled the documents from my bag and walked toward him, my heels clicking like a countdown to his doom. "See for yourself."

He snatched the papers, his hands trembling. His face twisted in horror as he read. "No... no, this can't be happening. You can't do this to me, Dami!" Sweat dotted his forehead, and his chest heaved.

I leaned close, my eyes locking onto his. "You know what this feels like, Axel? It's the same pain you gave me when you stripped away my worth, when you and your family crushed me. And I'm only just beginning."

"If this is about what happened between us years ago, I'm sorry, Dami. Please, don't take my company. It's all I have left," he pleaded, his voice breaking.

I smirked, unshaken. "I haven't even started with you. I'll take everything, piece by piece, until you're left with nothing but shame."

He tried to speak again, but his phone rang. He picked it up with shaky hands.

"She did what? She bought my house?" His eyes darted to me, panic flooding his features. The phone slipped from his grasp.

His knees buckled. He staggered, falling hard against the floor.

For a fleeting second, my heart skipped a beat. In that vulnerable moment, I saw a glimmer of the man I once loved.

But I pushed it aside. Love was weakness, and I couln't afford that now.

Axel's POV

"Axel!" A familiar voice cut through the darkness, dragging me back to reality. My eyes flickered open and landed on her, Dami. My Dami. Except she wasn't mine anymore.

She stood tall, elegance wrapped around her like a second skin. Her lips curved in a cold, mocking smile as her eyes pierced into me.

"If you're going to die, please do it outside my office. I don't have money for your burial," she said flatly, her heels clicking as she turned away.

For a moment, my mind went blank. Dami, the woman I once cast aside without a thought. The woman who couldn't speak a word back then now her voice was sharp, clear, and cutting. My mute ex-wife had become my new boss, the owner of both my company and my home.

I stared after her, disbelief gnawing at me. Where had she gotten the money? The bank loan I had taken was fifty million dollars. Fifty million. My entire life, my company, my house had been swallowed as collateral. Now everything was hers.

A bitter wave of regret churned in my chest. My mother and sister had pushed me into divorcing her, convincing me she was nothing. And Samantha my fiancée, the woman who bled me dry with her endless demands, had been the nail in my coffin.

Dami's voice pulled me back.

"Leave my office, Axel. Or do you want me to embarrass you in front of everyone?" Her tone sliced like a blade, her eyes flashing with the kind of fire I had never seen in her before.

"I have nowhere to go, Dami," I stammered, shame clinging to every word. "My sister said you're going to throw them out of the house. Please, don't do this."

She turned, her expression carved from ice. The softness I once knew was gone. She was a stranger now, a queen on her throne looking down on the beggar who once held her heart.

"Don't you dare call me Dami. It's Miss winter to you," she snapped.

Her name, her new name, hung heavy in the air, a reminder that she had shed her old self, the one who used to love me.

I swallowed my pride and nodded. "Miss Winter, maybe we can settle this.."

Her brow arched, lips curling with cruel amusement. "Settle? Do you want me to offer you a job?"

The words burned, but I managed to nod. My stomach twisted at the humiliation, but without her, I was nothing.

She leaned forward slightly, her voice smooth but laced with venom.

"The only position I can offer you is that of my driver. You'll open doors for me, run errands, and stand by when I need something. That's all a man like you is worth now."

A mocking smile spread across her lips as she watched the color drain from my face.

My pride screamed at me. I was Axel, the man who once owned this empire, who once had it all. Now she wanted me to parade as her servant? My staff would laugh, the whispers already snaking through the building.

"A driver?" My voice cracked with disbelief. "Do you know how that will look? What do you want them to think that their former boss is now nothing but a chauffeur?"

Her smile widened, wicked and triumphant. "Careful, Axel. I can have you thrown out this instant. This company is mine now, and I'll do whatever I please. Do you accept my generous offer or not?"

Her words left me cornered, stripped bare. My pride had already been shattered, this was just another blow. With clenched fists and a bitter taste in my mouth, I whispered, "I accept."

"Brilliant." Her voice was laced with cruel satisfaction. "Report tomorrow at eight. Don't be late."

I held back the tears burning behind my eyes as she dismissed me with a wave of her hand. Grabbing my phone, I forced myself to walk out, her cold gaze searing into my back.

The stares of my staff pierced me as I left. Pity, mockery and shock. Maya, the receptionist, gave me a look that twisted the knife deeper. Word spread fast, the mighty Axel had fallen.

By the time I reached home, my chest was heavy with humiliation. My mother and sister were waiting, their faces stormy.

"Axel! How could you?" My mother's voice thundered, rage trembling in every syllable.

My patience snapped. "How could I? You brought this upon us! You pushed me to divorce her. You and Samantha drained me, bled me until there was nothing left!"

"Shut your mouth!" she spat. "Did I tell you to take a loan? Did I tell you to use your property as collateral?"

"Yes, you might as well have!" My voice rose, raw with fury. "You, Samantha, and Alexa destroyed everything. Do you know how much you spend on shopping every week? Do you realize how recklessly you live while I fight to keep us afloat? Now look at us. Look at me!"

Alexa stepped in quickly, her voice softer but edged with fear. "Arguing won't fix this. The damage is done. What's the next step?"

I sagged into the chair, defeated. "There is no step. She owns everything now. The company, the house and everything."

"What?" My mother's face drained of color. Alexa's lips parted in shock.

"We're at her mercy," I said quietly. "Until I find a way to rebuild, I have no choice but to obey her."

"This isn't just revenge," Mom whispered, horror lacing her words. "She's destroying us."

I shook my head. "She didn't destroy us. Without her, strangers would own all of it. She saved it, in her own way."

But deep down, I knew. This wasn't salvation but it was punishment.

"She's going to throw us out. She said she would," Alexa murmured, panic in her voice

.

Silence fell, thick and suffocating. My chest tightened with regret, memories of the woman I had once held close gnawing at me. If I had known she would rise like this, if I had known what she would become...

"We'll have to convince her," Alexa said suddenly, determination hardening her voice. "You have to make her fall in love with you again. That's the only way."

Her words hit me like a blow. Love. Was it survival I wanted or did I still crave the woman I had lost?

I closed my eyes, the weight of it pressing down on me. Perhaps Alexa was right. Perhaps the only way to reclaim my life... was to reclaim Dami.

Dami's POV

The morning had drained me. The smiles, handshakes, and polite greetings. Thankfully, Sophia would be the one handling most of the heavy office work. My role was to rule from the shadows.

"I'm starving," Sophia groaned, clutching her belly.

I laughed softly, agreeing because I was hungry too. "Let's go eat."

"Finally." She grinned, already grabbing her bag.

As we walked out, the receptionist bowed slightly. Sophia leaned close, whispering, "They're all so nice here. Oh, and I've spotted someone. He is so cute. Like dangerously cute."

I narrowed my eyes, shaking my head. "Already? We've been here one day."

She shrugged with a grin.

"Relationships between staff and bosses are off limits," I warned.

"That rule," she smirked slyly, "It will never hold."

"Why not?" I challenged.

She didn't miss a beat. "Your ex-husband, Axel. I saw the tension between you both."

I froze mid-step, my lips tightening. "Nothing will ever happen between us again," I whispered, almost to myself.

Sophia gave me a knowing look. "Three years and no one else. You're still tethered to him, whether you admit it or not."

I ignored her, but my pulse quickened.

By the time we pulled up to an elegant restaurant, I had buried the thought. Inside, the scent of garlic and rich wine wrapped around me.

"Good evening, ladies. What may I serve you?" The waiter's smile was charming, but Sophia didn't waste time.

"A bottle of red wine and two plates of pasta," She ordered.

I smiled faintly. Pasta, my weakness.

The music was low, sultry, filling the air. I was about to take my first bite when I saw him.

My fork stilled. Across the room sat a man whose profile was hauntingly familiar. Axel's jawline, Axel's posture yet different. His hair was darker, longer, and his aura was darker, sharper, almost dangerous.

Sophia followed my gaze, and her eyes widened. "What the hell? Does Axel have a twin?"

"Half-brother," I corrected softly, memories stirring. "Born minutes apart. They hate each other."

Sophia's voice dropped. "What are you thinking?"

I smirked. "I'm going to talk to him."

"Why?"

"Because he's perfect for my next move," I replied.

Her eyes shot wide. "You can't possibly.."

"I want him to be mine," I cut in, my voice cold, laced with thrill.

Sophia hissed, "That's insane. I don't approve."

I patted her hand with a playful pout. "It's just a game, Sophia. Let me have my fun."

I rose, fixing my jumpsuit, steadying my breath. As I approached him, his eyes lifted, sharp and calculating.

"Well," he drawled, a half smile curving his lips. "To what do I owe the attention of such a beautiful stranger?"

I leaned against his table with a practiced smile. "Dami Winter."

His brow lifted. Recognition flickered. "Axel's wife?"

"Ex-wife," I corrected.

That one word softened his expression into a grin. "Doman." He extended his hand. His grip was firm, his eyes lingering on mine longer than necessary. "I've heard enough about you recently to know you're dangerous."

I tilted my head. "Good. Then you won't be surprised by what I'm about to say."

"And what's that?" His tone was amused, cautious.

I met his gaze without blinking. "I want you to be my boyfriend."

He stared at me. Then he chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's bold. Even for you."

"Is it a yes?" I asked sweetly.

"No." His answer was sharp. "I don't play toy games. Especially not ones involving my half brother."

I leaned in, lowering my voice. "This isn't a game. It's revenge. Axel ruined me. Now, I'm going to ruin him. Piece by piece. Heart first."

For a moment, Doman's smirk faltered. His eyes darkened, studying me like he was peeling back my soul. "Do you even realize what you're asking?" he said slowly. "If I touch you, Axel will come for me with everything he has left. You'll drag me into his war."

"Good," I whispered, lips curling. "Let him burn."

Silence. His jaw clenched, his gaze lingering on me, torn between reason and temptation. Finally, he laughed softly, bitterly. "You're insane."

"And yet," I smiled, "you're tempted."

His eyes swept over me, and I knew I had him. Still, he shook his head. "I don't share beds with women seeking revenge. I take what I want, when I want. If I say yes, it's not for Axel. It's for me."

"Then take me," I whispered, the words dripping like honey.

Something flickered in his eyes like desire, challenge, danger. He reached out, brushing his thumb across my knuckles. His touch sent a shiver up my arm.

"Fine," he said finally, voice low, almost a growl. "But when this explodes, don't pretend you weren't warned."

The deal was sealed. By the time we returned to the house, his hand in mine, I could feel Sophia's eyes boring holes in my back. But I didn't care. The thrill pulsed through me.

The door swung open, and there he was.

Axel. His mother and Alexa froze beside him. His eyes darted instantly to my hand in Doman's. The fury in his gaze could have set fire to the walls.

"What the hell are you doing here, Doman?" Axel's voice was a low snarl, trembling with rage.

I smirked. "Don't talk to my boyfriend like that. He deserves respect. He's also your boss now."

Axel's head snapped toward me, disbelief and fury warring on his face. "Your what?"

Doman tightened his grip on my hand, his eyes gleaming with wicked delight. "Her man," he declared, smirking directly at Axel. "Which makes me untouchable. What are you going to do about it, brother?"

Axel's face went scarlet, veins pulsing at his temple. He took a step forward, fists clenched. "She's my wife," he roared, the words ripping from his chest like a wounded animal. "Mine! You have no right!"

The room froze. Even the air seemed to shudder. My heart hammered violently. Wife? The word hung in the silence like a blade about to drop. And I knew.. this was only the beginning.