Babe—" Janaya rushed forward, panic written all over her face.
"Not now, Janaya." Damian's voice was firm. Final.
He didn't even look at her.
"Can I at least explain?" she said, running after him.
"Please…" she added, grabbing his hand.
He paused for half a second.
Then gently removed her hand like it didn't belong there anymore.
That hurt more than anything.
Without another word, he stepped into his car.
Nico followed immediately.
And just like that—
He was gone.
Janaya stood there.
Frozen.
The silence he left behind was louder than anything he could have said.
She turned slowly.
"Jason… you believe me, right?" her voice broke.
"You believe there's a backstory?"
Jason exhaled, running his hand through his hair.
"Calm down, Janaya," he said, softer this time.
"Explain to me. How did you even meet Ethan Cole?"
He paused.
"This isn't small… this guy is dangerous. He's not just rich—he's powerful. Equal to my brother. And he doesn't back down."
Janaya swallowed hard.
"My dad…" her voice trembled.
"He got into debt. A lot of it."
She blinked rapidly, trying to hold herself together.
"Ethan paid it off. And in return… I was the condition."
Jason's expression changed.
"My dad agreed that I would marry him," she continued, tears slipping now.
"But we have nothing together. Nothing. I swear."
Jason looked away.
"Not Ethan…" he muttered under his breath.
This wasn't just messy.
This was war.
"Please," Janaya stepped closer, desperation clear now.
"Can you help me talk to Damian? Please…"
Jason hesitated.
Then nodded slightly.
"I'll try," he said.
"You should go upstairs… get some rest."
He didn't wait for a reply.
He already knew—
There was no rest coming.
Outside.
Jason pulled out his phone.
Message sent:
"Damian, she's a collateral for the debt Ethan paid. He wants her as marriage settlement."
Inside the car, Damian's phone lit up.
He stared at the message.
Longer than necessary.
Then—
He replied.
"She knew all along. So why wasn't I informed?"
Jason saw the message.
Paused.
Then typed slowly.
"Maybe she didn't want to ruin what you both are building."
A few seconds passed.
Then Damian replied again.
This time—
Different.
Heavier.
"Ethan is not just any man, Jason."
Another message followed immediately.
"He has backing."
Pause.
"Mom's husband…"
Then—
"Ethan is his First son."
Jason froze.
His fingers hovered over the screen.
"What???"
"You mean…"
"Ethan is our stepbrother??"
Damian leaned back in his seat, jaw tight.
"Yes."
Another message came in.
"And he has mom's husband's full support."
Pause.
Then the final line—
"This isn't a 100% win anymore, Jason."
"It's 50–50, and it might cost me all I've worked hard for."
He placed his phone back in his pocket.
Nico, how much is the debt?" Damian asked.
Nico quickly tapped on his iPad.
"Seventy-five million, sir."
Damian leaned back slightly.
"That's not even something I should be fighting over," he said under his breath.
Then—
"Fred, turn the car. We're going to Uncle Joe's house."
"Okay sir!" Fred answered as he immediately turned the car.
The house was quiet when they arrived.
Too quiet.
It didn't feel abandoned—just… untouched. Like a place that had memories but no recent life. Clean, warm, but still.
"The last time I saw you this worried," Uncle Joe's voice came with a soft laugh, arms opening wide, "you were a little boy running around the streets."
"Uncle Joe," Damian said, stepping forward to hug him.
"What brings you here, my son?" Uncle Joe asked, adjusting his walking stick as he moved toward the couch.
He studied Damian for a second, then smiled.
"The headlines didn't exaggerate… you've become power itself."
Damian exhaled slowly.
"I didn't know who else to come to," he admitted. "I need advice."
Uncle Joe leaned back slightly.
"Then speak. What's troubling you?"
Damian didn't hesitate this time.
"My girlfriend… her parents fell into debt. Ethan Cole paid it off."
He paused.
"And in return, he demanded she marry him."
Silence.
"It's not just that," Damian continued. "Ethan has backing. Strong backing. This isn't just about her anymore… it's a battle."
He looked up.
"I like her… but is she worth this kind of fight?"
Uncle Joe smiled faintly.
"Ethan has backing," he said slowly, "but you can be faster."
Damian straightened slightly.
"How?"
Uncle Joe leaned forward.
"The CEO of Aureum Holdings is the most powerful man in the power circle. He doesn't just influence the government—he moves it."
He paused.
"He is the only one more powerful than Ethan's father… your mother's husband."
Damian's expression changed.
"To gain the upper hand," Uncle Joe continued, "you need leverage. And the strongest leverage is ownership."
He tapped his stick lightly on the floor.
"Acquire the highest share in his company. Once you do… you gain his backing."
A small pause.
"And once you have that—Ethan loses his advantage."
Damian processed everything quickly.
Then—
"What if I just pay back the money?" he asked. "Isn't that simpler?"
Uncle Joe laughed.
A deep, knowing laugh.
"Law of Power 625," he said.
"Money given for control cannot be returned without war."
The room fell quiet again.
"My advice?" Uncle Joe added, his tone softer now.
"Keep her close. As long as she's with you… Ethan's control weakens. He can only strike from a distance."
Damian nodded slowly.
That was enough.
He stood up.
"I understand."
As he turned to leave,
"I will always support you, my son," Uncle Joe added.
Back in the car, Damian pulled out his phone.
For the first time since everything started—
He wasn't thinking about strategy.
He was thinking about her.
He dialed.
"Hey… are you still at my place?" he asked.
On the other end, Janaya's voice came immediately—
"I'm so sorry, Damian… can we please talk before you let me go?"
Damian frowned slightly.
"Who said I'm letting you go?"
Silence.
"You're… not?" she asked, almost unsure.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"You already agreed to be mine, young woman."
A pause.
"Are you still at my place?"
"Yes," she replied—this time softer, calmer… like herself again.
Getting home, Janaya was already outside.
The moment the car came to a stop and Damian stepped out, she ran straight into his arms—holding him tightly, like someone who had almost lost something she didn't realize meant so much.
"All of this happened without my consent …" she said softly, her voice slightly shaken, still pressed against him.
Damian didn't hesitate. His hand moved gently through her hair, steady, reassuring.
"It's okay, babe… I understand," he said quietly.
Janaya pulled back slowly, searching his face—like she needed to be sure he meant it.
"We should go eat," she said, trying to sound normal again. "Dinner."
A faint smirk tugged at Damian's lips.
"How about I have you for dinner instead?" he replied, his tone low, teasing—like nothing had happened.
Janaya rolled her eyes immediately, though the blush betrayed her.
"Oh please. Let's go inside," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along.
As they stepped into the living room—
"Do I at least get paid for fixing a relationship?" Jason's voice came from the couch.
Janaya didn't even pause.
"Fix yours first," she shot back effortlessly.
Jason scoffed.
"I've told you, there's nothing going on between me and Elena," he said, clearly irritated.
Damian paused mid-step, turning slightly.
"Elena?" he repeated, like the name had triggered something. "Sounds familiar… Lucien's birthday party?"
Jason hesitated.
"Yes… she walked up to me and—" his voice dropped slightly, like he wasn't sure how much to say.
Damian suddenly laughed.
Not loud.
Not mocking.
But knowing.
"Oh… that's good," he said, like he understood something Jason didn't.
Jason's expression hardened immediately.
"You should talk now," he said, more serious this time. "If she's anything like Vivian, I won't forgive you if my heart gets broken again."
Damian didn't stop walking.
He simply continued toward the stairs with Janaya, his hand still holding hers.
Then, just before disappearing—
"You're safe… for now, brother," he called back, a quiet laugh following behind his words.
And just like that—
Peace settled on the surface.
But underneath?
The rules had already changed.