Playing Along

The air inside the grand Sinclair estate was thick with the scent of expensive champagne and aged whiskey, the golden chandeliers casting a dazzling light over the ballroom. The entire place screamed wealth, power, and exclusivity, everything Ella's so-called adoptive family craved and she had been forced to endure.

Ella had no intention of attending her grandfather's extravagant birthday party, but her absence would have given her adoptive parents more ammunition against her. So here she was, standing in a corner, sipping champagne and trying to remain unnoticed as laughter and whispers floated through the air.

Her presence alone had already stirred gossip. After all, she was that girl—the one who had humiliated the Sinclair family by breaking off an engagement with Ethan. And Ethan, of course, wasn't letting the opportunity to rub salt in her wounds slip away.

"Ella, I see you've become brave enough to even come to this party," Ethan's voice slithered into her ears, condescending as ever.

Ella turned slowly, meeting his smug gaze. Standing next to him, dressed in an elegant yet deceitful white dress, was none other than Sophia. Her hand was possessively curled around Ethan's arm, her head tilted in a way that made her look almost innocent if you didn't know the venom she carried inside.

"Oh, I was just waiting for the right occasion," Ella replied, forcing a sweet smile. "Didn't want to overshadow your little homewrecker debut."

Sophia gasped dramatically, eyes wide as if Ella had just slapped her. "Ella, must you always be so mean?" she pouted, clutching Ethan's arm tighter. "I never wanted this to happen like this, but fate brought us together. Can't you just be happy for us?"

Fate? Did she just blurt about fate? More like betrayal wrapped in fake innocence.

Ethan scoffed, crossing his arms. "You're just bitter because you lost. You had everything, and you threw it away. Tell me, do you regret it now? Because I have everything now. A woman I love, parents who adore me, and a family that—"

"Still thinks you're a spoiled, incompetent brat?" Ella cut in smoothly, arching a brow. "Ethan, the only thing you have is a big mouth and a fragile ego."

Sophia gasped again, playing the victim as expected. "Ella, I know you're hurting, but please don't ruin Grandpa's birthday by making a scene."

A low murmur of amusement spread through the nearby guests. People had been eavesdropping, no doubt waiting for a spectacle.

"Oh, don't worry," Ella said, taking a sip of her champagne. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Ethan's smirk twisted into something cruel as he took a step closer. "Then why are you here? You have no one. Your adoptive parents are ashamed of you. I want nothing to do with you. You're just a lonely, bitter—"

"Ella?"

A deep, commanding voice sliced through the room, sending a collective gasp rippling through the crowd.

Ella turned, her heart nearly stopping as she locked eyes with the handsome stranger that approached her?

Wait! He looked odly familiar! And just then, the realization hit her, he was the guy she had kissed at the bar!

"Oh my God, it's Damien Sinclair!" Someone screamed inside the hall and that was when Ella felt her head exploding.

He was Damien Sinclair, he was Ethan's uncle. "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?' Her breath caught in her throat as he strode toward Ella with an effortless confidence that made the room shrink around him. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded power in a way that made every man in the room seem insignificant. His sharp gray eyes never leaving her, his lips curling slightly, almost as if he were amused by Ella's shock.

The murmur of gossip erupted into full-blown whispers. Why was Damien Sinclair, the elusive, ruthless billionaire, speaking to her?

Ethan visibly stiffened. "Uncle Damien?" His voice cracked with disbelief.

Damien didn't spare him a glance. Instead, he stepped right up to Ella, his intense gaze locking onto her closely. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.

"You left so suddenly the other night," he murmured, his voice smooth and deliberate. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me."

Ella froze. What...what was he doing?

Every single eye in the room was now glued to them. Even the servers had stopped in their tracks.

Ethan's expression darkened. "You—what?"

Damien's lips twitched, finally looking at his nephew. "Didn't she tell you?" He slid an arm around Ella's waist, pulling her close in a move so natural it felt like they had done it a thousand times. "Ella and I have been seeing each other."

A collective gasp erupted.

Ella's adoptive mother choked on her wine. Her father turned pale. Ethan looked like someone had just dropped an anvil on his head.

Sophia, for once, was speechless and Ella on the other hand, was trying very hard not to faint. What was happening?

Ethan took a step forward, his eyes blazing. "That's a lie."

Damien raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes you so sure?"

Ethan's jaw clenched. "Because she would never—"

"Oh, Ethan," Damien interrupted smoothly, his voice rich with mockery. "I think you're forgetting something." His grip on my waist tightened slightly, his body angled possessively. "Ella isn't yours anymore. If she was ever yours to begin with."

The words hit like a hammer. Ethan's entire body tensed, his face turning red with fury.

Ella's mind was still scrambling to process everything when Damien turned back to her, his expression cocky. "You look beautiful tonight." His fingers trailed down her arm, sending shivers through her. "But I have to admit, I prefer you in that red dress from the bar."

Ethan flinched. Sophia's eyes widened in horror. The whispers exploded.

"Did he just say bar? What happened at the bar?"

"Wait, was she with Damien before she even broke up with Ethan?"

"No way, Ethan's uncle? That's brutal."

"She upgraded. Ethan should just sit down."

Ella could practically see Ethan's fragile male ego shattering into a million pieces. He clenched his fists, looking ready to burst. "You're lying."

Damien smirked. "Am I?"

Ella swallowed hard. Her brain finally caught up with what was happening. Damien Sinclair was playing along. He was pretending to be involved with her.

And judging by the way Ethan and Sophia looked absolutely wrecked, Ella decided to play along too. She turned to Damien, letting a slow smirk spread across her lips. "You're late," she said, tilting her head. "I was starting to think you weren't coming."

His expression shifted slightly, approval flickering in his gaze. "I would never miss a chance to see you."

Oh. Oh, damn.

A blush crept up her cheeks at how effortlessly he made those words sound real.

Ethan snapped, grabbing her arm. "You're seriously with him?" His grip was tight, his voice a mix of disbelief and desperation.

Before Ella could respond, Damien's entire demeanor darkened. His grip on her waist tightened, and the easy charm in his eyes was gone, replaced by something cold and lethal.

"Take your hand off her," he said, his voice low and commanding.

Ethan hesitated.

"I said, take your hand off her."

The room stilled.

Ethan's jaw tightened before he yanked his hand away, his face contorted with rage.

Damien turned to her, his fingers brushing her cheek lightly. "You okay?"

Ella nodded slowly, unable to believe what was happening.

With one last icy glare at Ethan and Sophia, Damien guided her away, his hand never leaving her waist.

As they walked through the stunned crowd, Ella leaned in slightly and whispered, "I don't know why you're doing this, but thanks."

His lips curved into a smirk. "Don't thank me yet."

Ella frowned. "Why?"

He looked down at her, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Because this is just the beginning sweetheart."

And just like that, Ella realized that she had just stepped into a game far bigger than she could have ever imagined.