Chapter 4

The atmosphere inside the Blackwell mansion was increasingly oppressive. The magnificent walls filled with family paintings seemed to be a silent witness to Lydia's every move. She began to feel William's suspicious gaze every time he confronted Damien, as if his eyes were always looking for signs of betrayal.

That afternoon, William approached her in the study with a cold face and a thin smile that was anything but comforting.

"Lydia," he said in a flat tone, his fingers tapping on the mahogany desk. "I've heard your name mentioned a lot with Damien. Don't let me know it's true."

His tone was like a knife hidden behind a smile. Lydia held her breath. "We just happened to meet in this house, William. You have nothing to worry about."

William leaned closer, his voice dropping to an ear piercing whisper. "Remember, you are my fiancé. And I don't like sharing mine with anyone."

Lydia felt a chill run through her body. The word "mine" echoed for a long time, confirming that to William, she was not a partner, but only an asset.

---

That night, as Lydia was trying to calm down by walking the long corridor to her room, a terrible incident almost took her life.

She was descending the grand staircase illuminated by the crystal chandelier when suddenly her body was pushed forward. Her heels lost their footing, her body was thrown. Lydia's heart was pounding, her mouth wide open, a scream almost escaping.

But in an instant, strong hands pulled her arms roughly, stopping her fall. Lydia crashed into someone's hard chest, her breath coming in gasps.

"Fool!" Damien's heavy voice rang out, but the look in his eyes was clearly full of fear. "Do you want to die on these stairs?"

Lydia turned her head, but only saw a faint shadow disappearing at the end of the corridor. Someone had indeed pushed her.

"This wasn't an accident," Damien whispered, staring at the shadows. "Be careful, Lydia. This house is not friendly to people like you."

---

A few days after the incident, Lydia found Damien more and more often in unexpected places. One night, she found Damien sitting on the back balcony, looking up at the cloud-covered sky. A half-empty bottle of wine beside him.

Without realizing it, Lydia sat on the chair opposite him. There was a long silence, only the sound of the wind whispering.

"I'm almost the heir," Damien said suddenly, his eyes not leaving the darkness of the night. "Father had prepared everything for me. But somehow, William took over. They got rid of me in a... dirty way."

Lydia swallowed. "So... you were forced out?"

Damien just laughed bitterly. "No one is forced in this family. They made me look unworthy. And I... disappeared."

He didn't elaborate, as if there was an invisible wall closing his mouth. But the bitter honesty in her voice pierced Lydia's heart.

---

Over the next few days, Lydia began to feel a strange bond growing between them. Damien's gaze was never as warm as William's, but it was precisely his cold honesty that made Lydia feel more... real.

However, William didn't give up. One night, he drags Lydia to a big business party. The fiery red dress she wears, handpicked by William, is more flashy than she likes.

At the party, William showed it off like a trophy. "This is my fiancée, Lydia Hart," he said proudly, pressing Lydia's back so hard it felt like a stranglehold. His smile was wide in front of the investors, but to Lydia's ears, his voice sounded full of mockery.

When Lydia incorrectly answered one of the guest's light hearted questions, William laughed softly at her, just enough to embarrass her. Lydia's face flushed, her chest tightening.

From across the room, Damien stood with a glass of wine in his hand. His gaze was sharp, as if he wanted to attack William, but he held back.

After the party, Lydia dared to confront William in the car. "Why do you always treat me like a display piece? I'm not a doll."

William turned his head away, his eyes cold. "You're not by my side because of love, Lydia. Without me, your family would have been destroyed long ago. Remember that before you dare defy me."

His words pierced deeper than the grip of his hand on Lydia's arm.

---

In the quiet night, Damien approached Lydia in the back garden. The moonlight reflected sparkles in her dark eyes.

"William is not the man you think he is," he said softly, as if every word had weight. "He could destroy you if you continue to trust him."

Lydia looked at him, a dilemma beginning to creep into her heart. "I don't know who to trust in this house."

Damien leaned closer. "Trust your instincts. Not what he says."

Those words made Lydia do something bold. The next night, as William fell asleep in the study, he tried to open his cell phone. His hands trembled as he found several messages with unfamiliar names of women he didn't know.

The study door suddenly creaked. Lydia panicked, almost caught. But Damien appeared with calm steps, drawing William's attention. "You left the business report in the living room," he said flatly.

William grumbled, leaving unsuspecting. Damien turned to Lydia, his eyes glaring. "Don't be stupid. If you get caught, you'll be ruined."

Lydia looked down, but in her heart, a determination had already begun to grow: she would find out the truth.

And the truth ended up hitting her harder than she expected.

The next night, at the hotel where William was staying after a business event, Lydia followed cautiously. She didn't know what drove her, just a strong hunch.

She stopped in front of the suite door, her heart pounding uncontrollably. From the crack of the slightly open door, she saw William sitting on the sofa with a long haired woman, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Their intimate laughter was clearly audible.

Lydia's world fell to pieces. All her sacrifices, the fake engagement turned out to be just William's dirty game.