Chapter 6~

Damien's silence hung in the air like a heavy cloud, making Elena's heart pound even faster. She could feel her palms sweating as everyone in the room turned to them, waiting for a response. Her father, Giovanni, remained oblivious to her inner turmoil, speaking up with a casual nod toward Lorenzo.

"That's a good idea," Giovanni said, glancing at Damien. "It's important they get to know each other. After all, they have a future together."

Future together. The words echoed ominously in Elena's mind, constricting her chest. Her heart began to race, thumping wildly in her ribcage. She felt the urge to shout, to refuse, to declare that this was not her choice, not her desire. But her lips remained sealed, as if bound by some invisible force.

Vittorio, with his commanding presence, added to the pressure, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Yes, Damien, why don't you take her for a walk in the garden? It's a beautiful afternoon."

His words weren't a suggestion; they were an order. Even in his calmness, there was an unyielding authority that demanded obedience. Damien, who had remained still until that point, finally moved. Rising from his chair with a deliberate slowness, his tall, imposing figure cast a shadow over everyone in the room. He turned, his sharp green eyes locking onto Elena's. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. Those eyes... cold, calculating, yet holding something more beneath the surface—something darker, possessive even.

Without a word, Damien extended his hand toward her. The room seemed to freeze in that moment, as if even time held its breath. Elena's pulse quickened, her eyes darting around the room for some escape. But there was none. Her father was watching, Vittorio's gaze lingered on her, and every pair of eyes in the room was focused on her next move. Reluctantly, she placed her trembling hand in Damien's, feeling the coolness of his skin against her own. His grip was firm, unyielding, yet not harsh—though it carried a silent message. Control. Authority.

He led her out of the room, and she followed, feeling as though she were being led to her fate. The ornate hallways of the mansion passed in a blur, the luxurious décor meaningless as her mind swirled with panic and uncertainty. When they stepped into the garden, the sun bathed the world in soft golden light, casting long shadows across the stone pathways and perfectly manicured flowerbeds. But even the beauty of the surroundings couldn't calm her racing heart.

Damien continued walking until they reached a more secluded area of the garden, where the towering hedges and trees shielded them from view. The distant chatter from inside the mansion faded, leaving them in heavy silence. He finally released her hand, and Elena immediately took a step back, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself as if to create some semblance of distance, of protection.

The silence between them stretched on, tense and suffocating. Elena could feel her pulse thudding in her ears. She tried to muster the courage to speak, to say something—anything—but the words stuck in her throat. She felt so small in his presence, as though the mere act of standing before him was enough to strip away her defenses.

Damien's gaze never wavered. He stood tall, his hands slipping into his pockets, his eyes boring into her with an unreadable intensity. He was observing her, assessing her like she was some puzzle he intended to solve. And then, finally, he spoke.

"You don't want this."

The bluntness of his statement caught her off guard. His voice was deep, calm, and disturbingly composed, but there was no malice in it—just cold, stark truth.

Elena blinked, unsure how to respond. Her throat felt dry, and she found herself staring at the ground, unable to meet his gaze. "What do you mean?" she whispered, though she already knew.

"This arrangement," he clarified, the words falling from his lips with eerie precision. "You're scared of me. You don't want to be here. It's obvious."

Elena's breath hitched. He could see right through her. She had been trying so hard to keep her emotions in check, to pretend that she was strong, but it had all been for nothing. He could see her fear, her hesitation, as clear as day. Her fingers dug into her arms, as if the pressure could somehow ground her.

"You're right," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I don't want this." The confession hung heavy in the air, and with it came a strange sense of release, like a weight had been lifted off her chest. For once, she was admitting the truth.

Damien's expression didn't change, but there was a shift in his posture, a subtle tension in his jaw. He glanced away from her, his gaze moving toward the horizon as if contemplating something far away. His silence unnerved her, but before she could say anything, he spoke again.

"Neither do I."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Elena stared at him, wide-eyed, her mind struggling to process what he had just said. He didn't want this either? The revelation left her both relieved and confused. She had always assumed that Damien was fully complicit in this arrangement, that he was eager to take his place as her future husband. But now... now everything felt different.

"Then... why are you agreeing to this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She searched his face for answers, for some sign of what was going on in his mind.

Damien remained quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowing as though he was weighing his words carefully. "Because it's necessary," he finally said. His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, but there was an undercurrent of something darker. "For my family. For yours."

Elena's heart sank. Of course. It was always about the families, about duty, about power. She had heard it all before from her father, from Vittorio. But hearing it from Damien, hearing it confirmed by the man who would soon be her husband, made it feel so much more real. Inescapable.

She looked down, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't care about that," she muttered under her breath.

Damien tilted his head slightly, his eyes studying her. "What do you care about, then?" he asked, his tone almost curious.

Elena bit her lip, unsure how to answer. What did she care about? Her own freedom? The right to choose her own life? The idea of being trapped in a future that wasn't hers to decide felt suffocating. "I just want to live my own life," she said softly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

For the first time, Damien's expression softened, just the slightest hint of something human flickering in his eyes. He took a step closer to her, and Elena instinctively stiffened, her muscles tensing. But he didn't touch her. Instead, he spoke in a low voice, barely more than a whisper.

"We'll find a way to make this work. On our terms."

His words hung in the air, unexpected yet strangely comforting. Elena stared up at him, her confusion mixing with a spark of hope. There was something in the way he said it, something that made her believe—just for a moment—that perhaps this wouldn't be as terrible as she feared.

But beneath that hope, she could still sense the undercurrent of something darker. Because while Damien spoke of finding a way, there was no denying the possessiveness in his gaze. She could feel it, lurking just beneath the surface, a silent promise that no matter what, he would have her—on his terms.

As Elena stood in front of Damien, every second felt like an eternity. His piercing green eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet intense, making her heart race uncontrollably. She struggled to maintain her composure under his unyielding gaze, the tension between them growing heavier with each passing moment. Just as Damien seemed about to say something, the door burst open with a loud thud.

Enzo, her younger brother, stormed into the room. His face was flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with fierce protectiveness. Without hesitation, he strode over and pulled Elena behind him, placing himself like a shield between her and Damien. His protective instincts flared as he glared directly into Damien's eyes.

"Stay away from my Ele!" Enzo's voice was sharp and commanding, far beyond his years. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he stood his ground, meeting Damien's cold stare head-on. "Dare you even think of hurting her, and you'll regret it."

The room fell into an icy silence, the air thick with tension. Elena, peeking out from behind Enzo, felt her heart drop. She knew Enzo's temper, and the look on Damien's face told her this wasn't going to end well. Damien's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker in his eyes—an annoyance that darkened his features.

Damien's jaw clenched slightly, his usually composed exterior showing the smallest crack of irritation. He didn't enjoy being spoken to like this, especially not by someone as young and inexperienced as Enzo. But more than that, something primal stirred within him—something possessive and territorial. The idea of anyone, even Elena's brother, trying to stand between him and what was his, made his blood simmer.

Slowly, Damien took a step forward, his imposing frame towering over Enzo. Though he didn't raise his voice, the menace in his tone was unmistakable. "Your sister," he said slowly, enunciating each word with cold precision, "doesn't need your protection. Especially not from me."

Elena's breath hitched in her throat as she sensed the shift in the atmosphere. There was something dangerous about the way Damien spoke, his gaze flickering between Enzo and her with a possessive intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn't just making a point—he was staking his claim.

Enzo, however, wasn't backing down. His shoulders tensed, his chin lifted in defiance. "You don't know her like we do. She's my sister, and I'll protect her from anyone who tries to hurt her. Even if that means you." He spat out the last words as though they left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Damien's eyes darkened, his irritation now turning into something more dangerous—a simmering possessiveness that he could no longer hide. His gaze drifted to Elena, who stood behind Enzo, wide-eyed and silent. There was something about seeing her so close to her brother, protected as though she were fragile, that gnawed at him. She belonged to him now. He couldn't explain it, but the very idea of anyone else claiming that role, even her family, set his teeth on edge.

"Elena is mine," Damien said, his voice low but laced with a dangerous finality. He didn't shout, didn't need to. His words hung in the air like a heavy weight, pressing down on everyone in the room. "I won't hurt her. But I won't let anyone come between us either."

The declaration sent a jolt through Elena. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, and she instinctively took a step back, overwhelmed by the intensity of his words. The room seemed to close in around her as Damien's possessiveness became palpable, almost suffocating. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her, a silent promise that no matter what, he would claim what was his.

Enzo, though still defiant, seemed to waver for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he realized the force he was up against. Damien wasn't just a man—he was someone who commanded fear and respect, someone who could crush anyone who dared oppose him.

"Enzo, please…" Elena finally spoke, her voice soft but urgent, tugging on her brother's arm. "It's okay."

Reluctantly, Enzo lowered his guard, stepping aside with one last wary glance at Damien. But as he did, Damien's gaze never left Elena. His green eyes softened for a brief moment, but the possessiveness remained, simmering just beneath the surface.

Elena, feeling her brother's presence slip away, now stood directly in front of Damien once more. She could feel the weight of his eyes on her, the intensity of his presence consuming the space around them. She tried to avoid his gaze, but it was impossible. His words echoed in her mind—Elena is mine. The gravity of those words settled deep within her, sending her mind into a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

Damien, sensing her unease, leaned in ever so slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper only she could hear. "You have nothing to fear from me, Elena. But you belong to me now. And I'll make sure everyone knows that."

His words, though quiet, held a power that sent shivers down her spine. There was no escaping the truth behind them—Damien was going to claim her, and there was nothing she or anyone else could do to stop it.

------------------TO BE CONTINUE-------------

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Hii everyone I would love to hear from you all , are you all enjoying the storyline so far? 🌻