Chapter 6

Lydia froze in front of the half-open hotel room door. The world seemed to stop spinning as William turned his head, realizing her presence. His angry gaze pierced like a sword, making Lydia's blood freeze.

"Lydia?" His voice was low, filled with pent-up anger. The woman beside her immediately stood up, panic on her face, then rushed past Lydia.

Lydia took a step back, her body trembling. William approached quickly, his face now dark.

"What did you see earlier?" he asked, his eyes burning.

"I-I..." Lydia tried to speak, but her voice was choked.

William came so close that Lydia could feel his hot breath. "You can't run away from me, Lydia. Remember one thing: your family only survived because of me. Without me, they would have drowned in debt. So don't ever try to challenge me."

Lydia felt her chest tighten. The words were like iron ropes wrapped around her, reminding her that her freedom had long been taken away from the day she received this.

---

With hurried steps, Lydia walked out of the hotel, holding back the tears that were about to spill. She wanted to scream, wanted to release all the pain pressing on her chest.

Upon arriving at the mansion, her steps halted. She almost fell down the long hallway when a strong hand held her back.

Damien.

His gaze was sharp yet full of worry. "What did he do to you?" he asked softly.

Lydia couldn't hold it in anymore. Her tears spilled over, flowing freely. She looked down, her shoulders shaking. Damien held her close, warm and firm.

"Calm down," he whispered in Lydia's ear. "You're safe now."

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. There was only Damien's regular heartbeat and a hug that made Lydia feel less alone. She almost forgot who she was, her fiancé was William, the man who had just broken her heart, while the man who calmed her down was his own brother.

---

In the next few days, the pressure intensified. The media began to write stories about Blackwell Corporation. there were rumors of bribery, embezzlement, and illegal business. William looked more and more somber every time he came home, shutting himself in the study for hours.

One evening, when Lydia was about to deliver documents to the study, she stopped suddenly at the door. William's voice came clearly from inside, talking on the phone.

"Make sure the money arrives on time. We can't afford to look shaky. If even one journalist smells this, it could all go wrong."

There was silence for a moment, then William continued, "Don't worry about the director. I know his weakness. He doesn't dare talk."

Lydia leaned against the wall, her blood rushing. This was already more than just a rumor. William had really done something dirty.

The next day, Damien called her to the music room, where she usually spent time alone.

As Lydia entered, she saw Damien sitting at the piano, his fingers plucking low, sad notes.

Without another word, Damien took a small object from his coat pocket. It was a black flashdrive. He placed it on the table in front of Lydia.

"What's this?" Lydia looked at him suspiciously.

"Evidence," Damien replied briefly. "Data that could reveal William's shame."

Lydia was surprised. Her hand almost trembled as she touched the small object. "Where did you get it?"

Damien just stared at her, his dark eyes full of secrets. "It's better that you don't know. Either way, you have to be careful. This data could save you or destroy you."

There was something in his tone of voice that made Lydia want to ask further, but she refrained.

---

A few days later, William was almost dragged into a scandal. The media wrote an article about possible stock manipulation, but somehow, it disappeared very quickly.

Lydia knew why. William bought the media with money. All rumors were suppressed before they had a chance to develop.

Seeing that, disgust began to rise in Lydia's heart. "Are you going to keep covering up everything with money, William?" she whispered quietly in her room, while reading the morning newspaper.

That night, William came home earlier than usual. His face looked tired, but his eyes shone with suspicion. He looked at Lydia sharply, then without warning, pulled her into a cold embrace.

"William-" Lydia tried to hold herself back, but William hugged her tighter.

"Don't you dare leave me," he said in a low yet piercing voice. His lips pressed forcefully onto Lydia's, the hard kiss making Lydia stiff.

She tried to break away, but William held her tightly.

Finally William released her, looking at her with a sardonic smile. "You are mine, Lydia. Even though your heart hates me, your body is still here. Don't ever forget that."

Lydia stood transfixed, her body trembling. Those words were like the last shackles chaining her freedom.

But deep in her heart, a small fire was burning-determined to fight back. And this time, she wasn't alone. Damien was by her side.