Chapter 5

Lydia closed her bedroom door slowly, her back leaning against the cold wood. Her breathing was still labored, her face pale as if she had just been doused in ice water. Images of William with her continued to play in her head. the intimate laughter, the intimate touches, the togetherness that should have been hers as an official fiancé.

Her hands trembled as she opened a small drawer in the dressing table, retrieving a blank notebook. That night, for the first time, she began to write.

Today I saw him with another woman. First evidence: betrayal. I have to save everything before the world finds out that I'm just a puppet.

The ink pen wrote sentence after sentence, and each letter felt like a knife piercing her own heart.

---

The next day, Lydia deliberately waited for an opportunity when William went to the office. As she entered the spacious study, her heart skipped a beat. The neat bookshelves, the dark wooden desk with stacks of files, and the sharp shadows dancing in the room.

His hands went through the pile of files, looking for something that could justify his suspicions. His eyes stopped on a financial document. There was a record of a large transfer of funds to an offshore account with no clear explanation.

Lydia's brow furrowed. She didn't fully understand the complicated terms, but her instincts told her this wasn't clean.

"What are you doing?"

The voice took Lydia by surprise. She turned her head quickly, her breath caught. Damien stood in the doorway, his shadow lengthening across the floor. His gaze was piercing, as if penetrating every layer of her mind.

"I... I was just looking for a book," Lydia tried to close the folder in her hand.

Damien approached, his steps slow but heavy. He stopped right in front of the desk, staring at the half-opened document. "How dare you rummage through William's files."

Lydia swallowed, trying to hide her panic. "I... I just want to know the truth."

Damien snorted softly, not out of anger, but there was something faint in his voice. "The truth can kill you faster than a lie. Remember that."

---

In the afternoon, Lydia dared to ask. They happened to meet in the library, the twilight light penetrating through the tall windows, reflecting the shadow of Damien who was reading.

"Damien..." Lydia's voice almost trembled. "What exactly happened between you and William? Why were you... transferred?"

Damien raised his face, his dark eyes looking directly at Lydia. There was a long silence before he answered.

"It's an old story. Stories that won't give you peace, Lydia." She closed the book in one motion. "Believe me, it's better that you don't know."

His words were like a cold wall. Lydia wanted to press on, but seeing the hard look in his eyes, she knew Damien wouldn't open that wound.

---

The next night, the Blackwell family's big event was held. All the family members gathered in a grand room filled with sparkling crystal and fake smiles. William, as always, behaved perfectly: a friendly smile, elegant demeanor, and sweet words that made everyone believe he was the ideal man.

Lydia stood beside him wearing a dark blue dress chosen by William. A faint smile was painted on her face, although inside her heart was full of hurt. Occasionally, the gaze of Damien who stood a little far away met her eyes. There was something there. a tacit admission that he saw more than just a fake smile.

In the middle of the conversation, William made a snide remark to Damien, as if to drive him away again. Damien almost retorted, but Lydia immediately interrupted with a light laugh and a new topic, disguising the tension. She knew that if the two fought openly, suspicion would immediately fall on her.

A few days later, Lydia found another suspicious document. This time, it was a financial statement. She examined the numbers carefully, and something didn't make sense. The profit data seemed to be falsified, as if William's company was more stable than it actually was.

Lydia held the paper with furrowed brows. "This is... fake," she whispered.

Just as her confusion reached a peak, Damien suddenly appeared. He glanced at the report briefly then sighed. "Manipulation. The old Blackwell way of maintaining power."

Lydia gave him a worried look. "I don't understand these terms..."

"Sit." Damien pulled out a chair, and for the first time, they sat side by side for a long time. He explained patiently, albeit in a flat tone, how financial statements could be falsified, how stocks were played to deceive investors.

As he spoke, Lydia watched his face closely. His firm jawline, the occasional glint in his eyes, and the way he emphasized his words made her chest beat irregularly.

When the explanation was over, silence fell over the room. Their gazes met, too long, too intense. Lydia hurriedly looked down, tidying up the paper, but her face felt hot.

---

That night, when William came home, Lydia saw her cell phone vibrating on the table. A short message appeared on the screen:

"Don't let the Blackwell family's old secrets come to light. We must meet soon."

The sender's name was not saved, only an unknown number.

Lydia's heart skipped a beat. An old secret? A conspiracy?

She waited for William to leave the house, then decided to follow him secretly. Fear mixed with determination made her steps light despite her heavy heart. William's car stopped at a luxury hotel in the city center. Lydia hid in the lobby, then slowly followed from afar. She saw William going upstairs to a room.

Cautiously, Lydia approached. Through the gap in the door that was not completely closed, she again saw the sight that broke her heart: William with the same woman. This time, they were more intimate, laughing, joking, and hugging as if the world belonged only to the two of them.

Hot tears welled up in Lydia's eyes, but she refrained from making a sound. Heartache mixed with anger made her body tremble.

Behind that door, all the lies were becoming clearer. William wasn't just betraying her as a fiancé. He was playing a deeper dangerous game, full of lies and conspiracies that could destroy many lives.

And Lydia knew she could no longer stay silent.