The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the luxurious bedroom. Sabrina stood near the window, arms folded around her waist, lost in thought. The air was thick with emotions—confusion, longing, and an uneasy anticipation. Last night's events were still fresh in her mind—the confrontation, the unexpected kiss, and Damian's unspoken promise.
Her heart was still racing.
Behind her, Damian stirred. The crisp rustle of bedsheets snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Sabrina," his voice was low and husky, "you didn't sleep much, did you?"
She turned around slowly. "I couldn't. Too much was going on in my head."
He sat up, his hair tousled and eyes heavy with concern. "About what I said… about protecting you. I meant it."
Sabrina gave a faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I know. But it's not just about protection, Damian. It's about truth. I need to know everything—about Ayla, about the threats, and most of all… about you and me."
There was silence for a beat. Then he got out of bed, walked to her, and gently cupped her face. "You deserve the truth. And you'll have it. Tonight."
Sabrina was escorted to the company gala that evening—a lavish event held at one of the most prestigious hotels in New York. Dressed in an elegant midnight-blue gown that hugged her curves and sparkled under the chandeliers, she was the picture of poise.
Damian held her hand as cameras flashed.
But beneath the surface glamour, something was off.
A presence.
A shadow.
Someone was watching.
Across the ballroom, a tall woman in a deep crimson dress entered through the side door. Her eyes, cold yet burning with a hidden fire, scanned the crowd.
Ayla.
Alive.
Her lips curled into a subtle smile. The game was on again.
Meanwhile…
Sabrina was speaking with one of the company board members when she felt a chill crawl up her spine. She turned her head instinctively—and locked eyes with someone across the hall.
The world stopped.
Ayla.
Her breath caught. Her heart dropped.
No. It couldn't be.
But it was.
The same sharp features. The same piercing gaze. Only colder. Bolder.
Sabrina stepped back, bumping into Damian who had just returned with two glasses of champagne.
"Sabrina?" he asked, alarmed.
She pointed.
"She's here…"
He followed her gaze and froze. The glass in his hand shattered.
Outside in the private lounge, Ayla stood waiting as if she knew they'd come. Her smile was disarming. Dangerous.
"Well, well… looks like my replacement is prettier than I expected," she drawled.
Sabrina's fists clenched, but Damian stepped forward. "What are you doing here?"
Ayla laughed softly. "Why, Damian… is that any way to greet your wife?"
Sabrina gasped.
Wife?
"You're lying," she snapped.
Ayla tilted her head, amused. "Am I? Or did he never tell you?"
Damian's jaw was tight. "It was annulled. Years ago. She's twisting it."
Sabrina looked between them, betrayal and confusion clouding her face. "Is that true? You were married to her?"
"I was. But it ended. I swear."
Ayla stepped closer to Sabrina, her eyes venomous. "You don't know half of it, darling. He hides things. Important things. Like the fact that someone wants you dead."
Sabrina's heart pounded. "What?"
Damian stepped between them. "Enough, Ayla. You don't get to threaten her."
"I'm not threatening. I'm warning," Ayla replied. "There are forces you can't control, Damian. People who want revenge—for what happened to my family."
That night, years ago, the fire that burned down the Rothwell estate wasn't just an accident. Ayla's family had secrets—ties to organized crime, hidden deals, betrayal.
And Damian had been caught in the middle.
Ayla had faked her death.
To escape.
To plan.
To return.
And tonight… was her grand reappearance.
Sabrina's head was spinning. "Why now, Ayla?"
"Because your time with him is up," she said coldly. "And because the people backing me won't stop until they destroy everything he loves."
Sabrina stepped forward, fierce despite the trembling inside her. "Then they'll have to go through me."
Ayla raised an eyebrow. "So brave. So naive."
Damian took Sabrina's hand. "We're done here. This is between us now, Ayla. Leave her out of it."
But Ayla's eyes narrowed. "She's already in it."
Back at the penthouse, Sabrina was silent as Damian poured her a glass of water. Her hands were shaking.
"I should have told you," he finally said, breaking the silence.
"Yes. You should have," she whispered.
"But I was trying to protect you."
Sabrina looked at him, her eyes filled with pain. "And now that she's back? What happens next?"
He sat beside her, taking her hands. "Now we fight. Together."
She searched his face for any doubt. There was none.
"I'm scared, Damian."
"I know. But I swear—I'll burn the world before I let anything happen to you."
Their foreheads touched. Their breath synced.
And in that quiet moment, in the heart of the storm, they found each other again.
To Be Continued…