Wife by Force.
Eva stirred, lashes fluttering as a soft golden glow played against her skin. Her eyes opened slowly, heavy from exhaustion, only to meet a sight so breathtaking, she momentarily forgot where she was.
Above her stretched a ceiling fit for a goddess, an expansive dome inlaid with shimmering stones that caught every drop of light like fallen stars. Tiny crystal prisms framed a massive chandelier that sparkled like liquid diamonds, its teardrop shaped bulbs flickered softly, casting warm glints of gold across the carved panels. Embedded in the arch were fine stones that twinkled subtly, like stars resting inside marble clouds.
Eva blinked in awe. How could a ceiling look this beautiful? For a few seconds, she let herself drift in wonder.
The entire ceiling gleamed with class and luxury, like something carved out of heaven's lobby.
Am I dead? she thought in a daze. Is this what the gates of paradise look like?
But beauty only held her captive for a few seconds.
Then, reality crashed back.
The escape. The train. The hotel. Her brother. The strange men who had stormed their room like ghosts in the night.
She gasped and jolted upright.
And that's when she saw him.
Seated casually a few feet from the bed, Damien looked every inch the powerful devil she'd tried to run from. Draped in a sharp, tailored suit, he sat in a swivel chair like a man on a throne, legs crossed, expression unreadable, a single sheet of paper in his hand. He wasn't startled by her movement.
He'd been waiting. Or perhaps he knew that she should be waking by now.
His voice broke the silence like a blade as he read the content of the letter in his hands.
"Hello Mom, If you're reading this, please understand, we love you.You can find us at Aunt Thelma's. We'll leave the location with her..."
His voice trailed off as his eyes lifted to meet Eva's.
She froze.
How the hell...
That was the letter she left in her mother's hospital room, hidden, folded, and tucked away in a conspicuous place, no one should've found. How did he even get that? she wondered, her heart pounding in disbelief.
Is this guy even human? She wondered.
"Really?" Damien said softly, tilting his head. "You indeed attempted to run from me hun. Interesting. You must have really thought so low of me, to have even imagine that my own wife could slip away that easily. Eva, If you think anyone can run away from me, then you should think again."
Eva's lips moved, a muttered rebellion slipping out before she could catch it.
"Hmm, as if I didn't run as Tyler. You couldn't even find me, liar."
"What was that?" he asked, voice dangerously calm.
She turned away, defiantly silent.
He smirked, as if amused by a child's tantrum.
"I'll let this slide. Just this once and only because it's your first time. There better not be a second time." His tone dropped, firm and cold. "You're my wife now, Eva. And I have a reputation I protect judiciously. You running around creating mess like a wild card? It won't fly. So, stay here... and behave."
Eva's breath caught.
Stay here...?
"Oh no, sir. I'm sorry, but I can't. I have to go back home. I swear I won't run again, I'll behave. Please. Just let me go this once, okay?" Her voice cracked slightly, desperation lacing her words.
Damien stared at her like she was the punchline to a joke he was tired of hearing.
"Go home?" He repeated, "Oh," Then he crossed his legs staring cooly at her."To which house if I may ask?"
"My house" Eva repeatedly with a low harrumph.
Damian smirks calmly and then gently took a folder lying beside him, tossed the document to her which she caught just in time. After she caught it mid-air, she looked at him confused. But when her eyes skimmed the contents, her blood ran cold.
"What...? You sold our house? B-but why?!"
"I didn't like it," he said casually. "It was... too small."
Eva nearly choked. "What?!"
Too small? How is that even his business?
She looked again, and this time her heart stopped at the price.
He sold a five-million-dollar worth home... for twenty million?
Damn. She couldn't help it, even in her fury, the businessman in him impressed her. But that was far from her biggest worry now.
"Where do you expect my family to live?! On the street?" she snapped. "Where is my brother?! Where's Bob?!"
"He's en route to Cambridge," Damien replied, fixing his cufflinks without emotion.
Her eyes widened. "C-Cambridge? To do what? I mean, why?"
"He said he wanted to go to Harvard," he said, as if it were an Uber ride.
"What?" Her thoughts scattered. Yes, Bob always dreamed of Harvard... but he'd just finished college. This was too fast. Too convenient. "I don't understand, how come?"
"I asked him for his biggest wish," Damien said with a shrug. "Then I granted it. You can always call him if you miss him."
Eva swore under her breath. "Gold-digging traitor," she muttered. "He just ditched me with this mess to go live the dream? Seriously? Can he not be blinded by shiny things for once?"
"A-and my mom, her surgery is successful, and would be needing to go return back home, Eva looked at him in disbelief. "And where is she supposed to go after?""
"Here" he said casually as he took another folder just beside him, tossing it to her again. She picked it up, flipped through, and nearly fainted.
An apartment. In her name. On Palms Avenue.
Ten. Billion.
Her hands began to tremble.
Damien continued, as if her rage amused him.
"When she's fully recovered, she'll move there. The environment's clean, safe, good for healing. Your brother can visit anytime. You, however," he pointed around the room "...this is your home now. And you're not allowed to sleep anywhere else. Ever. Understood?"
She could barely breathe.
"Behave yourself, Eva. Don't test me."
Then he stood up, checked his wristwatch like nothing had happened, and walked toward the door.
"I'm off to work. And don't forget, you still haven't explained your absence at the office. I need my PA back. I don't mix my business with pleasure, Eva. So get your sh*t together."
The door clicked shut behind him.
For a moment, she just sat there, stunned, speechless... furious.
She wanted to chase him down the hallway and sock him right in the mouth, but she stopped herself.
Barely.
Instead, she fumbled for her phone in her pocket and quickly dialed a number.
"Hey, sis!" a cheerful voice answered.
"Where are you?" Eva demanded.
"Oh come on... you know I couldn't say no to that kind of offer. Don't worry, I'll work hard, make you proud. I'll come back a success and rescue you from this chaotic marriage, okay? Love you, sis. Talk soon."
The line went dead.
Eva stared at the phone.
Rescue me...?
She let out a slow, sarcastic laugh.
"From your lips to God's ears, traitor."
Eva glanced around the bedroom, and her nose wrinkled in disapproval.
It was simple. Too simple.
Elegant? Maybe. But lifeless.
The grey and white walls were plain and unimaginative. The decor, sparse and uninspired. It felt like a room built for convenience, not comfort, definitely not for someone like her.
"Stay here? Really? No frickin' way," she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with frustration. "This room is so... dead."
With an irritated scoff, she yanked the door open, intending to march down and give someone a piece of her mind.
But the moment she stepped out, her breath caught.
She froze.
The world beyond that dull bedroom was nothing like she expected.
The hallway shimmered with elegance. Marble floors stretched beneath her feet like liquid stone. The walls bore striking abstract paintings that seemed to whisper secrets from another world. A spiral staircase, crafted with glass and gold rails, curled like a sculpture under a gleaming skylight.
And then there was the chandelier, oh, the chandelier.
It hung like a crown from the ceiling, cascading down in crystal diamonds shaped, catching the morning light and scattering it across the room like dancing stars.
Eva's mouth fell open slightly. "What...in the world..."
The interior was a modern-day palace. Sleek, artistic, breathtaking.
She wandered forward, her hunger for visual beauty momentarily overpowering her need for food or logic. This house was a masterpiece, and every step she took deeper into it felt like walking through a dream.
As she neared the living room, a few maids hurried over, forming a neat line with their heads bowed. Then a slightly older woman with kind eyes and impeccable posture stepped forward.
"Good morning, Ma'am Lopez," she said warmly, bowing politely. "How are you this morning?"
Eva blinked. "Ma'am Lopez?"
She chuckled nervously. "Um… Just Eva, please. I think I prefer that."
The woman smiled even wider. "Of course, Ma'am Eva. My name is Gina. I'm the Chief Maid here. If there's anything you need, at any hour, please don't hesitate to ask. It would be my honor to serve you."
"Oh... thank you," Eva replied softly, still overwhelmed.
Gina tilted her head politely. "Also, your husband requested that you have your breakfast early today. Since we weren't sure of your preferences, we prepared a variety of options. Please, come take a look."
"Husband?" Eva murmured softly. "Is he really being serious about this whole facade?" She exhaled quietly as she felt the weight of the words.