Chapter 7

It had been raining since morning, clinging to the bedroom window like the lingering remnants of a dream that refused to fade. Lydia sat on the edge of the bed, watching the raindrops fall slowly behind the glass. It had been three days since her last argument with William, and since then, the house had felt colder than usual.

Damien was the only reason she could still bear it. They began to meet secretly more often, as if their closeness was a little secret that protected her from all her fears. Sometimes they talked in the music room, sometimes in the backyard at dusk, when everyone had returned to their rooms.

That afternoon, Lydia met Damien in the library. The large room was quiet, except for the ticking of the antique clock on the wall. Damien stood by the tall window, holding a black folder in his hand.

"You came," he said softly without turning around. His voice was deep, slightly hoarse, as if he were hiding something heavy.

Lydia approached him. "You said there was something important I needed to learn."

Damien looked at her, then placed a folder on the table. "You need to know how to protect yourself. The Blackwell family is not a safe place for someone like you."

He opened the folder, revealing sheets of paper containing copies of emails and financial reports. "This is an example of how William manipulates the media. He can create news that destroys your reputation overnight, then cover it up with money the next day. Never let yourself become his tool."

Lydia stared intently at the papers. "You talk as if you know all his moves."

Damien smiled crookedly. "Because I do."

He walked to the bookshelf and looked out the window. "I grew up in this house, Lydia. I know how everything works. Image. Money. Threats. That's the language they use."

Lydia looked down, clenching her hands tightly. "Then what should I do?"

First, Damien leaned closer, his voice softening. "Don't let your fear show. William thrives on other people's weaknesses. If he knows you're afraid, he'll use it to pressure you."

Lydia nodded slowly. "And the second?"

Damien looked at her deeply for a moment, then whispered, "Trust only yourself."

---

Over the next few days, Lydia began to be careful in her every move. She no longer reacted easily in front of William, showing no fear or anxiety. But behind the calm she displayed, her heart continued to pound every time she remembered Damien's gaze. It was a gaze that made her feel both safe and confused.

That night, when everyone in the house was asleep, Lydia left her room and walked to William's study. There was something she wanted to confirm. A few days ago, she had seen William put some documents in a locked drawer. She knew it was none of her business, but she couldn't resist her burning curiosity.

She opened the door slowly. The room was dark, lit only by moonlight seeping through the window. She approached the desk and opened one of the small drawers. Inside, he found a folder containing company documents, and among the pile of papers was a name that surprised him: Hart Industries.

Lydia's hands trembled. She took a piece of paper and read it quickly. Her eyes widened when she saw William Blackwell's signature at the bottom. On the next page was a stock sale agreement with an unreasonable value, signed a week before her father's company was declared bankrupt.

The truth hit her like a hard slap.

"So that's why..." she whispered. "You destroyed my father so that I had no choice but to accept this engagement."

The sound of footsteps outside startled her. Lydia quickly put the documents away and left through the back door of the room. She was breathing heavily, her heart pounding.

---

The next day, William came home early. Lydia was waiting for him in the living room, her eyes sharp, filled with a determination rarely seen before.

"We need to talk," she said coldly.

William looked at her without interest. "About what?"

"About my father. About Hart Industries."

A cold smile appeared on William's face. "So you finally know."

Lydia stared at him sharply. "You did it on purpose."

William approached her, his steps slow but sure, like a predator who knew his prey could not escape. "I did what had to be done. The business world has no place for weakness. Your father made a bad decision, I just took advantage of it."

"That means you destroyed my family for your own gain," said Lydia, her voice trembling.

William moved even closer, his voice soft. "And I also saved you from destruction. You should be grateful, Lydia. Without me, your family would have been ruined."

He touched Lydia's chin, making her lift her head. "Never think of defying me again."

Lydia pushed his hand away forcefully. "I won't just stand by and do nothing."

William chuckled softly. "You will, Lydia. Because without me, you're nothing."

He turned and left the room, leaving Lydia standing there, her body trembling and tears silently streaming down her face.

---

That night, in the family dining room, the tension between them was palpable. William sat with a blank expression, while Lydia stared at her plate without appetite. Damien sat at the end of the table, watching them both with dark eyes.

When William started talking about his new business plan, Lydia couldn't hold back. She looked at him coldly. "You're going to destroy another small company, aren't you? Just like you did to my father?"

The room froze.

William slowly put down his spoon. "What did you say?"

Damien immediately looked at his brother. "You heard her."

"This is none of your business," William replied sharply.

"But this concerns the family's pride," Damien replied coldly. "You're playing with other people's lives just to increase your power. That's disgusting."

William glared at him angrily. "Watch your words."

Damien leaned forward. "Or what? Are you going to destroy my life too, like you did to everyone who disagreed with you?"

Lydia froze in place. For the first time, she saw the two brothers facing each other without masks.

William stood up. "You've always been jealous, Damien. Jealous that I'm the heir, not you."

"No," Damien said flatly. "I'm disgusted, not jealous."

William stared at him sharply before leaving the table without another word. The silence that remained made the air feel heavy.

---

A few days later, Lydia began to notice a change in the attitudes of the people in the mansion. The servants who used to be friendly were now more cautious. There were whispers behind the walls about Damien's dark past.

One afternoon, Lydia passed through the kitchen and overheard two servants whispering quietly.

"They say Mr. Damien was almost disowned by the family."

"Is that true?"

"Yes. There was a big problem overseas, something that almost tarnished the family name. Mr. William kept it all hidden."

"So that's why they always fight?"

"I don't know. But everyone knows... Damien is not a man without secrets."

Lydia stopped at the doorway, her heart pounding.

That night, she met Damien in the music room. He sat at the piano, playing soft, gentle notes. His voice filled the room, but Lydia's heart was filled with questions.

"Damien," she called softly.

He turned, smiling faintly. "What is it?"

"I heard something about you."

His smile faded. "About what?"

Lydia looked at him, her voice almost a whisper. "About the past. About betrayal."

Damien fell silent. His fingers paused on the piano keys. For a few seconds, all that could be heard was the ticking of the wall clock.

"I can't explain everything right now," he said softly. "But trust me, not everything you hear is the truth."

"So some of it is true?" Lydia stared at him intently.

Damien stood up slowly, his steps calm. "There are things I do not because I want to, but because I have to. The world is not as simple as black and white, Lydia."

Lydia looked at him, confused and hurt. "You're hiding something from me too."

Damien approached her, the distance between them only an inch. He looked deeply into Lydia's eyes, then whispered, his voice almost like a wound.

"Lydia... I'm on your side. Even if one day, you might hate me."

Lydia fell silent, unsure of what to say. As Damien turned and left the room, his figure was swallowed by the darkness, leaving the echo of those words hanging in the air. Words that shook her heart deeper than any threat from William.

For the first time, Lydia felt afraid not because of William… but because she didn’t know who Damien Blackwell truly was.