Chapter 5

Somehow, Damien found himself intrigued by Sienna. He knew the situation shouldn’t be what it was, but there was something about her innocence, her care, that captivated him. If he had to go through with this, he was glad it was with someone like her. Her purity and genuine nature were qualities he admired. Despite the complexities, there was a strange sense of relief in knowing that she would be the one involved in this arrangement. He wanted to make her as comfortable as possible, even if it meant confronting uncomfortable truths.

As Damien returned home, he found Chloe waiting for him, her impatience almost palpable. She looked up as he entered, her eyes sharp with expectation.

"How did dinner go? Did she agree?" Chloe asked, her voice tinged with a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, she agreed," Damien replied, his tone calm and collected. "She just needs some time."

"Oh!" Chloe’s voice faltered, the dejection clear in her eyes. Her shoulders slumped, and it was evident that her heart had sunk. She had hoped for something different, but the money offered was too substantial to turn down. Still, the weight of the situation was heavy, and the reality of their arrangement gnawed at her.

"I’ll be leaving for London tomorrow," Chloe said, her eyes avoiding his. "We have a commercial, and I’m the main character."

Damien raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. "How long will you be gone?"

"A few weeks," Chloe answered, her gaze fixed on the floor. Damien knew she was lying.

"Chloe, we’re not doing this now, please," he said softly, stepping closer to her. "There’s no commercial, is there?"

"No!" She snapped, her voice shaking with the weight of the lie she couldn’t sustain. Her eyes filled with unshed tears.

Damien placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice low and sincere. "I love you, okay? No other woman will ever change that. And in this situation, it’s not either of our wills. Please, don’t overthink it. This isn’t easy for me either."

"I know," Chloe murmured, her voice shaky. "It’s just... the thought of another woman enjoying what’s mine—that’s what’s messing with my head."

"She won’t get even half of what you get from me," Damien reassured her. "What’s happening here is purely business, Chloe. It’s not about love. What we have is real, and that’s what matters."

Chloe’s eyes brimmed with tears. "I really wish I could give you children, Damien."

Damien sighed, his expression softening. "I wish that too, but it is what it is. If it weren’t for the heir situation, trust me, we wouldn’t be doing this. We could have adopted, but we both know why we can’t."

"Yes, I know," Chloe whispered, her voice barely audible. "An heir must be of your blood."

Damien smiled faintly, wiping away a stray tear from her cheek. "Luckily, we only have to do this once. If we want more kids, we can always adopt."

Chloe hesitated, her expression turning thoughtful. "What if it’s a girl?"

"It doesn’t matter," Damien replied, a reassuring smile on his lips. "What matters is that she’ll be our daughter, my blood. We’ll raise her as our own, and she’ll be the best daughter anyone could ask for."

Chloe’s lips curled into a bittersweet smile at the thought. "I can’t wait for her to arrive, then."

Damien chuckled softly. "That’s my girl."

Chloe’s expression softened as she leaned into him, the tension between them easing. "Maybe a vacation would help. A little time to clear my head. I want to be there when the pregnancy is confirmed, if that’s okay with you."

"If it’ll give you peace of mind, honey," Damien said, wrapping her in his arms. "I’ll take care of everything here. A vacation sounds like a good idea."

---

A few days later, Sienna had come to terms with the situation. She had taken time to reflect, and though it wasn’t easy, she chose to see the positive side of things. Damien seemed like a good man—collected, calm, and perhaps even kind in his own way. He was also undeniably handsome, so at least she would have a pleasant memory of this experience. Nervousness stirred within her, but she had long anticipated that this would be her reality. It was, after all, part of a much larger plan she couldn’t escape from.

Later that afternoon, Jane visited her. The woman had promised to confirm her approval one last time, and as Sienna nodded in agreement, Jane’s lawyer entered with the necessary paperwork.

Sienna sighed as she reviewed the contract carefully, reading through every detail. The terms were clear, and although it felt like a heavy weight settling over her shoulders, she signed it anyway.

"Congratulations!" Jane said with a bright smile after Sienna signed the final page.

"Thanks to you," Sienna replied, her voice steady despite the uncertainty in her heart.

Jane smiled as she gathered the paperwork. "Jake will be here to pick you up in about an hour. We’re moving you to your new home. Only pack the essentials; the rest will be taken care of. And trust me, if I were you, I wouldn’t worry about your old wardrobe." Jane winked playfully before leaving, leaving Sienna to contemplate the weight of her words.

Sienna understood. She was about to leave behind everything she had known—her small apartment, her familiar life—and step into something entirely different. A penthouse, as promised in the contract. It was surreal, but she couldn’t help but wonder what awaited her in this new chapter.

With a sigh, she sank onto her small sofa and looked around the apartment one last time. This place had held so many memories, both good and bad. But now, it was time to part ways. Her life was about to change, and she knew that she had to brace herself for whatever came next.

Exactly an hour later, there was a knock on the door. Sienna stood up, expecting Jake, but when she opened it, her breath caught in her throat.

There, standing in the doorway, was Damien. His tall, perfect figure blocked the entrance, and the way the light caught his features gave him an almost ethereal glow. His deep ocean-blue eyes locked with hers, and Sienna felt a flutter of something unfamiliar—something she was unwilling to name, knowing it was only trouble.

"Ready to go?" Damien asked, his voice low and intriguing, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Y-yes!" Sienna said, her voice betraying her nervousness. She gripped her small bag tightly, the weight of everything she had packed suddenly feeling heavier. She stepped toward him, her footsteps soft against the floor.

"I’ll take you to your new home," Damien said with a brief, reassuring smile.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whis

per, her nerves getting the better of her as she followed him out the door.