Chapter 7 - The VowEvelyn disappeared for two days.
She stayed in a small hotel under a false name.
No Damen.
No Nolan.
No security.
Just silence.
For the first time, she had control over her own life.
Until someone knocked on her door.
She reached for the weapon Damen had secretly left in her bag.
“Who is it?”
“Room service.”
“I didn't order anything.”
The door opened.
Damen stepped inside.
She raised the gun.
He stopped.
“Put it down.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Then shoot me.”
She hated that he knew she couldn't.
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
“You followed me.”
“Yes.”
“Do you plan to deny anything?”
“No.”
That honesty irritated her more than lies.
“Why are you here?”
“To tell you the truth.”
“Finally.”
Damen placed a folder on the table.
“My father ordered Adrian's death.”
Evelyn stared.
“I was nineteen.”
He continued.
“My father used me as a courier. I delivered the documents that led Adrian into the trap.”
Evelyn said nothing.
“I didn't know what they were.”
“But you knew after.”
“Yes.”
“Did you feel guilty?”
“Every day.”
“Then why stay in this world?”
He looked out the window.
“Because someone had to clean up what my father left behind.”
She slowly lowered the gun.
“What happened to him?”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Damen's expression turned cold.
“He died seven years ago.”
“Natural causes?”
“No.”
She realized.
“You killed him.”
“Yes.”
The word fell like a stone.
“Why?”
“He tried to kill you.”
Evelyn froze.
“I didn't even know you then.”
“He had been waiting for Adrian's bloodline to reappear.”
“And when he discovered me…”
“He sent Nolan.”
Evelyn stared.
“Nolan wasn't chosen because he loved me.”
“No.”
“He was chosen because he was close enough to get to me.”
“Yes.”
She sat down.
Everything finally connected.
Damen remained standing.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I thought keeping you alive mattered more than your anger.”
“And now?”
He looked at her.
“Now I know you deserve the truth even if it makes you hate me.”
Silence.
Then Evelyn asked:
“What happens if I give up the shares?”
“You disappear.”
“And my mother?”
“She gets protected.”
“And the ledger?”
“It gets destroyed.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You make it sound simple.”
“It isn't.”
“What is the alternative?”
Damen stepped closer.
“We fight.”
“Against everyone?”
“Yes.”
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“Nolan's father?”
“He's already dead.”
“My biological father's enemies?”
“Yes.”
“And the people in the ledger?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“That sounds suicidal.”
“It probably is.”
She almost smiled.
“You're terrible at reassuring people.”
“I've been told.”
A knock sounded.
One of Damen's guards entered.
“Sir, Nolan is outside.”
Damen looked toward the door.
“Send him away.”
Nolan's voice came from the hall.
“It's about Evelyn.”
Damen stepped outside.
Evelyn followed.
Nolan held an envelope.
He looked at Evelyn.
“You need to read this.”
She opened it.
Inside was a marriage certificate.
Her eyes widened.
Nolan said quietly:
“The marriage we never had was already registered.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“What?”
Nolan looked at Damen.
“My father forged it.”
Damen took the paper.
“Impossible.”
Nolan shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at the signature.
“Because Evelyn's legal identity was transferred to another trust six months ago.”
Evelyn's blood ran cold.
“What trust?”
Nolan swallowed.
“Adrian Ward's private trust.”
She stared.
“And who's the trustee?”
Nolan looked at Damen.
“Damen Voss.”
The room went silent.
Evelyn turned toward Damen.
“You are my legal trustee?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Damen looked into her eyes.
“Because your father made me promise.”
Evelyn's voice shook.
“What promise?”
Damen answered:
“That if everyone else came for you…”
May you like
He stepped closer.
“I would choose you over the entire city.”
