Damien sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring into the dark. Ayla lay beside him, her back turned, pretending to be asleep. He could tell by the way her shoulders rose and fell — too shallow, too deliberate.
It didn't matter. He wasn't about to wake her. Tonight wasn't about words with her. Tonight was about strategy.
Leon wasn't just a nuisance — he was a dangerous temptation. The kind that slipped past defenses without being invited, the kind that made women think they were choosing for themselves. Damien knew better. He'd seen men like Leon before.
His phone glowed in the dark as he scrolled through his contacts until he landed on one name. Maureen. She had always been infatuated with Leon, though she tried to hide it under sarcasm and sharp remarks. She didn't just like him — she was the kind of woman who would take the smallest opening and wedge herself into his life if given the chance.
Perfect.
The line clicked after two rings. "Damien? This is a surprise."
"I need your help," he said plainly.
A pause. "My help? This should be interesting."
"It's about Leon."
Her tone changed instantly, guarded but curious. "What about him?"
"I think he's… lonely," Damien said smoothly, letting just enough false concern drip into his voice. "It's unhealthy for a man to be so fixated on someone who isn't his. I thought maybe you could… remind him there are other options."
The silence on her end was telling. She didn't need much convincing — only a reason to justify it to herself. "You want me to distract him," she said finally.
"I want you to be yourself," Damien replied. "The rest will take care of itself."
There was a small laugh, almost self-conscious. "I'll think about it."
"You won't regret it," he said before hanging up. He knew Maureen well enough to know she'd take the bait. All he had to do was give her time.
Sliding the phone onto the nightstand, Damien turned toward Ayla. "You've been quiet," he murmured.
"I'm tired," she said softly, still not facing him.
"You've been tired a lot lately." He reached over, brushing a strand of hair from her face even though she tried to keep still. "Maybe it's because you've been spending too much time outside this house."
Her lips parted, but he didn't give her the chance to answer. "From now on, I want to know where you are, who you're with, and why. No surprises. Understand?"
She swallowed hard, still not looking at him. "I understand."
Damien kissed her forehead, lingering there like a claim. "Good. Because I don't like sharing what's mine — and I won't."
Beside him, Ayla lay stiff as stone, her mind racing. She couldn't believe this was Damien — the Damien she had chosen was gentle with her, patient, someone she could trust. This man beside her was different… sharper, colder. For the first time, she felt the sting of regret in her chest, wondering if she'd made a mistake she couldn't undo.
Sleep never came. She just stared into the dark, listening to the steady rhythm of Damien's breathing, trapped between fear and the aching pull of everything she thought she wanted.
Leon drove through the quiet streets, his hands tight on the wheel. He hadn't expected the evening to end in a silent standoff with Damien. But seeing Ayla again, hearing her laugh, being close to her — it had been worth it.
When he stepped into his apartment, the lights were already on. Maureen sat on his couch, legs crossed, an untouched glass of wine in her hand.
"You're late," she said, her voice low but sharp. "Had fun on your date?"
Leon didn't flinch. "Maureen—"
"Don't 'Maureen' me." She stood, closing the distance between them. "You went out with your ex. While you have a girlfriend. Do you know how humiliating that is?"
His brow furrowed. "You're talking like this is real—"
"It is real," she snapped. "I saved your life, Leon. You owe me. You promised."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't forget. You can be my girlfriend for as long as you want. But my heart—" he met her gaze, unflinching— "my heart belongs to someone else. That means no public acknowledgments, no pretending."
Maureen's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "You think I can't work with that? We'll see."
Leon didn't answer. He just walked past her toward his room, already knowing this wasn't over.