Bound by fate

tepped into the mansion after a grueling day at the company, but something felt off. Her parents' voices, us

trusted him!" Her mother's voice t

zen on the door handle. Bet

e crippled us. If we don't find a way to recover quickly, we'

trusted, the man who had promised her the world, had turned his back on her family. She

er to the door, straini

heavy with reluctance. "We need Damian Blackwood. The merg

aire whose reputation preceded him. The very thought made her stomach turn, but the weight

ng with the realization that her world was on the verge of crumbling

, anger, and fear. Damian was nothing like her. Where she thrived on independence and integrity, Damian was known for his cold, calculating nature and

spoken echoed in her mind:

o the room and demand an explanation, but she knew better. Barging

a man she had trusted with her heart. And now, he had torn her world apart, leaving her family vuln

e. "But Damian... he's not like us. How can w

is our only chance to survive this. He's powerful, wealthy, and his fa

anyone who worked in the business world. And now, he was about to become a central figure in her life. But the th

e slammed the door shut and leaned against it, trying to steady

d it to find her younger brother, James, standing there, co

words. James stepped inside, his f

g the panic down. "We're going to

her, unsure. "Yo

the end of me, James. This won't be the end of us." She

her, wide-eyed

side the fear that threatened to overwh

daughter of a wealthy family. She was about to become the pawn in a game much lar

wood was at the

r, he was in for a surprise. She might be forced into this marriage, but she wouldn't go down

felt like a shadow of its former self, tainted by Ethan's betrayal and the looming threat of Damian Blackwood. She couldn't help but feel the weight of

she knew it was inevitable now. Her family's survival depended on it, and tha

him with everything. Ethan had been more than just a lover-he was someone she had believed would always stand by her

e betrayal wasn't just personal-it was professional, and the damage he had caused was nea

charm was deception, a mask hiding the truth. When the news broke that sensitive information about her family's financial troubles had leaked, the media had

Ethan's betrayal consume her now. There were more pressing matters at hand, like the

f her thoughts. Her father stood in t

aid softly, "w

hension. This was it. The conversat

behind him. "I know this is hard. But Damian i

htened. "And those

s. "I wish it didn't have to be this way. But without his help, we'l

th frustration. "So you're

here was any other way. Damian's family needs this alliance

er. "I'm not a pawn, Dad. If I agree to this, I'll do it on my terms.

Sophia. You always have been. I know you'll find a way to handle this. But

ermination hardening her resolve.

his eyes. "I believe you. But remember, this is more tha

e room, leaving her alone with her thoughts once more. The enormity of what lay

mian's deals. If she was going to marry him, it would be as an equal. She w

traces of doubt. Tomorrow, she would meet Damian Blackwood. The man who would become

. And she wouldn't go