Damien's POV

I was beyond frustrated. This man was useless, a complete waste of my time. Without hesitation, I turned and pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the alley, his body collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.

Then—thud.

A faint but distinct sound came from behind one of the walls. My breath hitched. My eyes darted toward the ground, where a phone lay abandoned. Someone was here. Someone saw everything.

"Fuck!" I snarled, my blood running cold. "What the hell are you doing? Catch them! We can't let anyone escape. It could be one of his accomplices."

My men sprang into action, ready to chase, but before they could take a step—I saw her.

A figure bent forward, reaching for the phone. Even in the dim light, I recognized her. My chest clenched in horror.

Isabel.

For a moment, my mind went blank. No, no, no. Out of all the people in the world, why did it have to be her? She wasn't supposed to see this side of me. Not now. Not ever.

My heart pounded as she picked up the phone, her fingers gripping it tightly. I knew she wasn't just holding onto it—she was holding onto the evidence. My entire plan, years of careful execution, could come crashing down in an instant.

"WAIT!" I barked, raising a hand.

My men stopped instantly, awaiting my command. I took a deep breath, forcing down the panic clawing at my chest.

"You all clean this up. I'll handle this."

They nodded and got to work, but I was already moving. I took the shorter route, anticipating where she would run. She won't get away. I won't let her.

My mind raced. Would she refuse to marry me now? Would she expose everything? No. I can't let that happen. She doesn't get a choice.

The moment I spotted her, my fears were confirmed. She was running—desperately, frantically—her fingers flying across her phone screen. Shit.

Just as she sent something, she crashed into my chest.

I caught her wrist before she could flee again. Her entire body tensed under my grip, her breath ragged with fear. Wide, tear-filled eyes met mine, filled with something I had never seen before—horror.

She knew.

She had seen everything.

And now, there was no turning back.

ISABEL'S POV

Damien's grip tightened as he snatched the phone from my trembling hands. His aura, his strength—everything about him felt different. Darker. Unfamiliar.

He unlocked my phone effortlessly, his sharp eyes scanning the screen. The moment he found the message, his expression turned stone-cold. His gaze darkened, his jaw clenched. Without hesitation, he erased the video, deleting it from every possible corner.

I lunged forward, trying to snatch it back, but his hand wrapped around my wrist with crushing force, sending a sharp pain through my arm. My body went numb.

Damien slipped my phone into his pocket before grabbing my waist and pulling me flush against him. My breath hitched. His grip was possessive, suffocating.

A smirk played on his lips as he spoke, his voice deceptively soft.
"What were you doing, Isa baby? We're getting married in just a few days, and here you are... spying on your soon-to-be husband."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Was he lying to me all this time? Was everything—our love, his kindness, his promises—just a facade?

The anger inside me boiled over. No. No. This isn't Damien. Not the man I loved.

"I will never marry a criminal like you," I spat, struggling against his grip. "NEVER. Now let me go!"

His hold only tightened. A dark chuckle left his lips, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Why not? Don't we love each other?" His fingers traced my arm, making me shudder in disgust. "And our wedding is already planned. Are you thinking of canceling it?"

I couldn't move. The same touch that once brought me comfort now filled me with terror.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear, his breath sending a wave of fear through me.

"I'm letting you go for now because I have more important things to handle." His tone was eerily calm, but every word sent ice through my veins. "But listen carefully, Isa."

I held my breath as he continued, his voice barely above a whisper.

"If I find out that you told anyone—your parents, your relatives, anyone—about what happened tonight... then the next body lying in a pool of blood won't be some nameless man."

He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, his lips curling into a chilling smirk.
"It'll be them."

I froze. My entire body went cold.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he leaned down, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss against my neck. A mockery of intimacy. A warning.

I stood there, paralyzed, as he finally let go and stepped back.

"See you at the wedding, sweetheart," he murmured before turning on his heel, leaving me alone in the suffocating darkness.

The moment he disappeared, my legs gave out beneath me.

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I collapsed onto the cold, hard ground, unable to process what had just happened.

What do I do now?