Damien Sterling

Chapter 7: Dinner with the Devil

(Damien's POV )

The ring was on her finger.

It was done.

But that didn't mean I had to like it.

And judging by the way Ava was glaring daggers at me across the dining table, she didn't like it either.

Good.

At least we agreed on something.

---

Dinner at the Sterling Estate –

The dining room was silent.

Well, mostly silent.

Except for the sound of Ava aggressively cutting her steak like it had personally ruined her life.

I smirked. "The steak's already dead, Sinclair. No need to murder it twice."

She didn't even look up. "I'm imagining it's your face."

Sophia choked on her wine.

Ava didn't flinch.

Neither did I.

Instead, I leaned back in my chair, swirling the whiskey in my glass. "I knew you were obsessed with me, sweetheart, but this is a bit much."

Ava slowly lifted her gaze, meeting mine with the deadliest glare I'd ever seen.

"Obsessed?" she repeated, voice dangerously smooth.

Oh, I was in for it.

"You think I'd waste an ounce of thought on you outside of this ridiculous arrangement?" she continued. "I'd rather chew glass."

Sophia snorted. Loudly.

I ignored her, keeping my gaze locked on Ava. "Well, lucky for you, Sinclair, in exactly one year, you can go back to your tragic little life and forget all about me."

Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "Counting down the days already?"

I matched her smirk. "Every damn second."

Sophia, still clearly enjoying this, propped her elbows on the table. "You guys are cute. Like a rom-com, but with more murder attempts."

Ava shot her a glare. "You find this funny?"

Sophia grinned. "Oh, I find this hilarious."

Ava huffed, stabbing a piece of steak before shoving it into her mouth.

I took another sip of whiskey, watching her. She was a menace. A complete disaster wrapped in a gorgeous dress.

And she was mine.

For one year.

God help me.

---

Richard's Announcement –

"Your engagement will be made public."

The words hit like a bomb.

Ava went rigid.

I set my glass down a little too hard. "Excuse me?"

Richard looked completely unbothered as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. "The engagement will be announced to the press by the end of the week. There will be an event, and you two will play your roles accordingly."

Ava laughed.

It wasn't a happy laugh.

It was a sharp, dry, I'm-going-to-kill-someone laugh.

"Great," she muttered. "More humiliation. Just what I needed."

Richard arched a brow. "You're about to become part of this family, Miss Sinclair. That comes with expectations."

Ava pushed her plate away. "I never wanted to be part of this family."

Richard's expression didn't change. "And yet, here you are."

I tensed.

Ava's hands curled into fists.

Sophia cleared her throat, obviously sensing the tension. "Wow, this dinner is so fun. Love the family bonding."

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "And if we refuse?"

Richard exhaled sharply, fixing me with that cold, calculating stare. "Then I'll consider the contract void, and I'll collect Ava's debt in another way."

My jaw tightened. The bastard.

Ava went pale.

And that's when I realized something.

She wasn't just angry.

She was terrified.

For her mother. For her brother.

And Richard knew it.

I clenched my fists.

I hated that I was being controlled. I hated it even more that she was.

Ava took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Fine. We'll do the stupid engagement."

I turned to her, surprised by how fast she gave in.

But then I saw it.

The way her hands were shaking slightly.

She wasn't doing this for herself.

She was doing it for them.

Something in my chest tightened.

Richard nodded. "Good." Then, after a pause, he added, "Ava, you will be moving into the estate by the end of the week."

Ava's head snapped up. "Excuse me?"

Richard tilted his head. "It would look suspicious if my son's fiancée lived elsewhere, don't you think?"

Her eyes flashed. "I can't just leave my family."

Richard sighed, clearly already bored of the conversation. "They will be compensated, of course."

Ava's rage was palpable. "You think money makes up for everything?"

"In this world?" Richard said smoothly. "Yes."

Ava stood up abruptly. "I need air."

She turned, storming toward the door.

I sighed, pushing my chair back. "I'll go—"

Sophia grabbed my arm. "No, dumbass. Let me."

I blinked. "What?"

Sophia rolled her eyes. "You'll just piss her off more."

I opened my mouth to argue—then closed it.

She wasn't wrong.

I sat back down, exhaling sharply as Sophia disappeared after Ava.

Richard sipped his wine, looking completely satisfied.

I clenched my jaw.

I hated this.

Every single second of it.

But for now, I had no choice.

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