"I'm feeling like I'm still in that dream. Only this time I can see his face for once."
As I whispered those words, I heard some noise outside — Jack's voice, and another man's. Suddenly, the door swung open. Jack and Damon stood beside each other.
The sight struck me — my dream flashing back instantly. Behind them, Mia was staring at me in awe, her expression frozen. Damon's secretary and bodyguards filled the doorway. The way everyone looked at us, it felt less like a hospital room and more like we were on display for some strange, twisted show.
Damon smirked.
"I know I have the charm to flatter both of you," he said casually, "but I guess we have a serious matter to discuss."
His expression shifted, the flirt fading. As he approached my bedside, his pace quickened, his eyes darkening. One glare from him sent shivers down my spine.
"Do you really think you can escape from me just by dying?" His voice was sharp, cruel.
Death is just for him, I thought. I'd heard from colleagues that Damon never spares anyone who betrays him. I hadn't cheated, but that's what he believed because of that cursed news.
"I'll bring you back from wherever you're hiding, even if it's hell," he said with a smirk.
How could someone change their face and emotions so quickly?
"How can you be so stupid to take this step? Do you think you don't have anyone? Look—here I am. Your friend, your brother, and your sister who chose her brother over you!"
I didn't understand what he was talking about, but how could someone find amusement in my misery, lying here in a hospital bed?
Mia finally spoke, her voice tight.
"She was terrified when she saw a gun pointed at my head. You don't have to use that against Emily."
Her words struck me. Did someone in my family almost get shot today because of him? How scared must Stella have been?
But Damon ignored Mia completely.
"Even if nobody else is there for you, I'll be," he said, his tone softening unnervingly. "So next time you feel sad, just remember—I'm here. Okay, honey?"
One second angry, the next flirty, then suddenly caring. His mood swings scared me more than anything. Something was definitely off. I'd seen his actions at the party and in that room—he was up to something, and I needed to worry.
Mia snapped.
"Emily is so weak. Can you people stop bothering her? She's on a hospital bed, still not recovered!"
"Of course I will…" Damon replied smoothly, then his tone dropped, every word gritted through his teeth. "Only after I get what I want."
God, please save me from this beast.
"You know, honey, I really had different plans for both of us to get out of this mess. But after what you did last night…"
He came closer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear with his finger, his whisper hot against my skin.
"I changed all my plans. And now, you're going to suffer."
I closed my eyes, praying he would move away. Instead, I felt his smirk linger as he studied my face, only moving back once he was satisfied.
I tried to sit up, but the IV tubes tugged at my hand. "Aah…" I winced in pain.
Mia rushed to my side, helping me sit.
"Alex," Damon called.
His secretary stepped forward and handed him a file. Damon sat on the edge of my bed, placing the file in front of me with a piercing gaze that told me he expected me to open it.
For God's sake, can't he see from my face that I don't want him near me?
I opened the file slowly, but the moment my eyes scanned the papers, they widened in shock. My jaw nearly hit the floor.
"This… what rubbish is this?!" I yelled, throwing the file at him before I could stop myself.
The beast awoke.
Damon stood, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and forced me to face him. His sudden violence stole my strength, leaving me frozen. He leaned in closer, and I hated him for every second of it. How naive was I to think he was anything but a monster?
Jack and Mia tried to intervene, but Damon's bodyguards blocked them.
"Sign the damn papers!" he roared, rage shaking his voice.
"I'll… never sign those papers. And… I don't want to be your wife!"
The words slipped out, shocking Jack, Mia, and even myself.
Damon chuckled darkly.
"No, honey. You have to sign them. After what you did last night, you're all over the news. Every soul in L.A. is talking about your stunt—because just the day before, your name was tied to mine."
He leaned closer, his voice chilling.
"So be a good girl, and sign the papers."
His grip loosened slightly, but fear already rooted deep inside me. I looked helplessly at Jack and Mia, but they couldn't move—his guards' guns trained on them.
"I won't sign… please let them go. Please let me go!" My voice cracked as sobs escaped.
He only chuckled at my breaking spirit.
"If you want, I can help," I begged. "I'll tell the media it was my mistake—that I was drunk and mistook you for someone else. That I kissed you, and you just reacted. Please… please let us go!"
Tears streamed down my face as I curled my knees to my chest.
He sighed, pulling out his phone, and shoved it in front of me. A news article glowed on the screen—a photo of us, lips locked.
"From which angle do you think you can prove I was being forced, huh?"
The image said it all. I had no proof.
But I don't want to marry him…
"I don't want to marry you. You're the reason Noah broke up with me!"
Mia's voice cut in. "He's a jerk, Emily. It's good you're not tangled with him anymore."
Damon laughed, catching my attention again.
"You will sign those papers and you'll marry me. Do you know why?"
I stared at him, confused and trembling.
Without warning, he left the room. Minutes later, he returned and held out his phone again—this time a live video call.
My breath hitched. On the screen, my mom, dad, and Stella—tied up, terrified, held hostage.
"You're a monster! How can you do this? Let them go, or I'll… I'll tell the sheriff you're forcing me to marry you and kidnapped my family!"
He chuckled darkly. "Do you really think they can help you?"
"Yes! They will definitely help me!"
He tossed the phone into my lap. "Okay. Let's try, then. Call whoever you want."
My fingers shook as I dialed the sheriff's office—but nothing. No response. My heart sank. My colleagues? They all worked for Damon. They had families too; they wouldn't dare help.
Noah… maybe Noah. He would help.
I called him. No answer. I tried again—this time, he was already on another call. Desperation clawed at me as I tried again, but Damon snatched the phone away.
"Time is up, honey. Now it's time to sign and get married. We'll live a happy life, and I promise I'll try my best to show you hell."
"No, I won't sign!"
He ignored me. "I'll give you five minutes. If you don't sign, your family and your friends won't live to see the next five minutes."
His men raised their guns at Jack and Mia. Damon barked orders into the phone: hang the family in five minutes.
I broke down.
"Please, let us go! We'll leave L.A. I won't cause trouble. Please, I'm begging you!"
He tilted his head, almost amused.
"Oh, sweetheart, don't cry. You have to sign… or they'll die."
Jack stepped forward, desperate.
"Damon, don't ruin her life! She's already hurt so much. She lost so much just yesterday. Please don't take away her right to choose who she marries!"
Damon's voice was calm, too calm.
"That's what I'm saying—let's look at it logically. First, you're in the news with me. Second, the family you're protecting isn't even your real family—they abandoned you. Third, your boyfriend broke up with you because I lied. And that's why you tried to commit suicide. Are we clear so far, honey?"
His words struck me like knives. Humiliation burned my cheeks.
"You tried to kill yourself," he repeated coldly. "You were admitted to my hospital. My orders saved you. So literally, I am your savior. And now, your life belongs to me—Damon Roy."
He leaned back, smiling wickedly.
"And one more thing. If you sign these papers, I'll tell Noah the truth—that last night was all my screenplay. You're innocent. Pure. The choice is yours."
But what if he never tells Noah after the marriage?
"Honey, you do realize you're running out of time, right?"
My eyes darted to the clock—barely a minute left. Damon's voice rang through the phone: get ready to hang them.
"No! Please don't hurt them! I'll… I'll sign the papers!"
"Good choice, honey. But hurry. Only thirty seconds left."
Hands trembling, I signed. My tears blurred the ink, but it was done. My life's most precious decision stolen in the worst way.
Every girl dreams of her marriage—hope, love, a family. Mine was forced, loveless, and tied to a beast.
"I… I signed them. Please, release my family and Mia."
Damon ordered their release, and relief broke through my sobs. Mia rushed to my side, hugging me tight as I cried harder. Jack stood frozen, stunned by what had just happened.
Damon handed the file to his secretary, whispering instructions. Then he tossed another file onto my lap.
"What now? You already got what you wanted!"
He smirked.
"No, honey. This is only the beginning. You have to see more."
I frowned. "Did you ever act in a school play or something?"
He tilted his head. "No, I haven't".
"But you have two days to prepare yourself for a performance. Not just you—no, no… we will perform. In front of the media."