MIRA

A cold chill ran down my spine as I processed her words. Disbelief filled me.

"What do you mean gone? What the hell?” I asked

“Everything’s gone!” She cried out, making me stiffen,

My mind raced in alarm. Her voice was a far cry from the day before. She sounded so shaky that it was evident that it was sincere, but nothing made sense. How could it be gone?

“Mom?” I pressed on, hoping for her to say anything, but all I heard was frantic mumbling. Something settled in my chest.

“I'm coming home,” I said, ending the call.

After taking an emergency leave, I rushed home, my mind racing as I reached the estate.

When I arrived, my heart sank; there was a car up front that belonged to neither of us. Stepping into the mansion, I found my family in a state of panic. My mother was pacing back and forth in the living room, while my father sat on the couch, looking like he'd been punched in the gut. An unknown man was facing us, who turned to look at me. My gut clenched in unease.

“What's going on?” I asked, trying to make sense of the chaos.

“The Landon Corporation has been purchased. There is a new CEO now,” the man said.

No. That couldn't be true.

“Mom? Dad? That couldn't be true, right?” I looked at them for an answer, but as they faced me, my heart sank

“It's true,” my father nodded, his face looking more weary than ever, “Someone bought all our shares overnight and cast us aside. We've been overturned."

It felt like I'd been hit with a ton of bricks. I stumbled, trying to regain my senses. Everything we had, everything we'd owned, gone.

“Who did this?” I demanded, trying to ground myself. My father looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of shock and anger. He didn't say anything when the stranger's voice erupted.

“Damien Woods,”

My world stopped.

What?

He must have said wrong.

I didn't want to believe it, but as the name rang in my ears again and again, I realized it was real.

Damien Woods. My childhood sweetheart. The man my heart was still stuck on.

The one I'd left behind seven years ago.

Memories came flooding back, and it was like I'd been transported back in time. I could remember it all so clearly. Meeting him, dating him through high school. Loving him,

I could remember my parents' disapproval. They claimed they wanted me to pursue my studies and nothing else, but I knew the real reason was that they didn't think I was good enough. Damien wasn't rich and after his father died when he was young, he had no one to support him.

I'd constantly argued with my parents about it over the years, refusing to give in. In the end, it was one incident alone that drove me to finally give in.

Under their pressure, I agreed to go to the UK to pursue my studies, leaving Damien without even a goodbye.

The pain and guilt I'd felt back then came rushing back. I thought I'd left all that behind, but now it seemed like it was all coming back to haunt me.

Damien? My Damien? How…?!

“How-”

“How, Miss Landon? Surely you must be aware?” the man said. I turned to face him as he smiled.

“It wasn't common knowledge until recently, but as you may know now, Mr. Woods has been the CEO of Rupert Corporation.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Rupert Corporation, one of the biggest fast-growing companies in the city, belonged to him?

I had no idea. I'd avoided news about the elite and business world, focusing instead on my job at the hospital. I'd only heard of the Rupert Corporation in passing.

The little I'd heard was enough. Within the past seven years, it has become one of the fastest-growing companies, earning multibillion-dollar status and being on the same level as elite companies, including Landon Corporation.

And it all belonged to him.

Damien, a billionaire.

It took everything in me not to collapse at the moment. The man representing Damien smiled again, seeming to enjoy my shock and discomfort.

“As I was saying, Mr. Woods has ordered the evacuation of all residents of the mansion. We've wasted enough time already, haven't we?”

Evacuation…what?!

I looked up in alarm, but it was too late. With a signal, more people entered the mansion immediately. They began to move through the mansion, gathering our belongings.

My mother and father screamed and protested, but there was nothing we could do. I watched in horror as our lives were turned upside down.

Soon enough, we were forced out of the mansion, our belongings left behind us. Before leaving, the man turned to us for a moment.

“Mr. Woods sends his regards,” he smiled before driving off.

Watching the car drive off, I felt a surge of determination fill me.

Immediately turning away, I ignored the calls of my mother and father as I slipped into my car, driving away with one goal in mind.

I had to see Damien.

I had never been to many parts of the city in a long time, but using directions, I finally reached the Rupert Corporation building. Ignoring everything else, I made my way to the top floor.

“I need to see Damien Woods,” I demanded immediately. I reached a woman who was no doubt Damien's assistant,

“I'm afraid Mr. Woods is busy,” she said, her voice firm but polite. But I wasn't going to give up

“It's important.” I pushed persistently,

“I'm sorry, ma'am. He told me that he was busy. I can't let anyone in.”

“I'm not just anyone. Im-” I cut myself off midway. What the hell could I say? That I was his childhood friend? His ex-girlfriend, who abandoned him without a word?

The woman looked at me, but I remained choked up.

Just as I was starting to think I'd never get past her, the sound of the door opening made me turn.

I felt my heart skip a beat immediately I saw him.

It had been seven years since I'd last seen him, but the impact of his gaze was just as powerful. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, and I struggled to catch my breath.

“Damien,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.