Damon's POV
I listened to Lily's desperate excuses, every word dripping with lies. When she finished her nonsense, I only nodded, murmuring, "Hmm."
She didn't realize her fate was already sealed. I had planned another surprise. With a subtle gesture, I signaled the waiter. Minutes later, he arrived—with Sam at his side.
The color drained from Lily's face.
Sam smirked, his voice cutting like a blade. "Damon, you've built an empire, but your taste in women? Dangerous. Be careful—one of them could ruin your kingdom."
He was right, of course. But what Lily didn't know was the truth about Sam.
Alex. Sam. They were my childhood friends, the only people besides my parents I trusted. I had crafted the perfect illusion—turning Sam into a public enemy so I could draw out my true enemies. No one knew the bond we shared. No one ever would.
"Sam," I asked calmly, "did you hear her story?"
Sam laughed. "A masterpiece. She claims I kidnapped her. Chased her through the city. I almost want to applaud."
"Damon—please—listen to me—"
Her voice grated on my nerves. I silenced it with a gunshot, point-blank. Her body crumpled before the echo faded. That was how I dealt with liars. Clean. Final.
Sam shook his head. "I can't always clean up after you, Damon. Not everyone is loyal like Maria was." He left, leaving me alone with ghosts.
Maria.
The memory of her name was enough to break through my armor. She was the only woman who ever truly loved me. Maria never wanted wealth, only my time. Her laughter could smother the fire inside me, her smile could calm the storm. We had promised to walk through life together, hand in hand, until our last breath.
I kept my promise. I was with her until the end. But she betrayed me in the only way she ever could—by leaving. Cancer stole her from me, and no doctor in the world could stop it. She died, and with her, the last piece of my humanity.
"Mr. Roy."
Alex's voice snapped me back. I turned. His eyes flicked toward Lily's lifeless body.
"What should we do with it?" he asked.
"Get rid of it." My voice was cold, final. I walked away without looking back.
Emily's POV
Mia's late-night warning still echoed in my mind. To clear the air, I asked her to come over before we got ready for the company's annual party. Attendance was mandatory, and this year was special—the chairman's son, Damon Roy, would be attending for the first time. No one in our branch had ever seen him. Rumor painted him as untouchable.
I had never been to the party before, but this year I couldn't escape it.
I heard Mia's footsteps approaching and looked up with a smile. "Mia, before you start—I have good news."
She raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
I couldn't contain my excitement as I told her everything that had happened with Noah the night before—the promises, the talk of marriage. Her expression twisted with shock, but I mistook it for happiness.
"I knew you'd be as happy as I am," I said, eyes shining. "Mia, you and Noah—you're both gifts from God to me."
"Gift my foot!" she snapped, voice sharp enough to cut.
The sting of her words filled my eyes with tears. Seeing them, Mia softened, guiding me to sit on the edge of my bed.
"Emily," she said gently but firmly, "I know how much you love Noah. But the truth is—he's using you. He never loved you. Not for a second. You can't believe it now, not after he told you he'd marry you. But—"
"Shut up!" The words burst from me before I could stop them.
Mia's eyes widened, but I couldn't let her continue. My heart rebelled against her accusations. Noah couldn't be using me. Not him. Not the man I had trusted for years.
Why would he? What could he possibly gain from me?
The question burned in my mind, even as I forced myself not to ask it aloud.