Arabella sat on the edge of the bed, still gripping her phone like it might explode.
The image burned in her head—her, on Damon's lap, that same mischievous smirk on his younger face. He hadn't just met her recently.
He'd known.
The door opened behind her, and Damon stepped inside. No jacket, no guard. Just… him.
"You lied to me," she said softly.
He didn't deny it.
"That picture—how long have you known it was me?"
Damon leaned against the wall, eyes unreadable. "Since the night we met again."
Her jaw dropped. "At the coffee shop?! You recognized me then?"
He nodded once.
"Unbelievable," she whispered. "You've had me thinking this was all just business. A contract. A game of image and power—but you've had history with me this entire time."
"It wasn't supposed to go this far."
"Oh, spare me," she snapped, standing. "You kissed me like you meant it. You looked at me like—like I was more than just some pawn in your stupid revenge plan."
His voice came out low. "Because you were more."
Silence.
Then—"I didn't forget that night, Ara. You might have… but I remembered everything. The bonfire. The music. You danced barefoot in the sand, and I thought—God, who is this girl?"
Arabella swallowed. "So why didn't you say anything?"
"Because back then, I wasn't 'Damon Knight, Billionaire.' I was just a poor kid trying to forget how broken my life was. I never thought I'd see you again… and when I did, you didn't remember me. I figured it was better that way."
Her heart ached—because she did remember.
Not clearly. Not fully. But flashes were coming back. That night. His arms. His laugh. The stolen kiss under the moonlight. She'd buried it all like some long-lost dream.
"You let me believe this was just business," she whispered.
"It was supposed to be."
She shook her head, tears pricking. "You're such a coward, Damon. You could've told me the truth."
"I didn't want to ruin the fantasy," he said. "Because for a few weeks, I had you close again. And I told myself that was enough."
Her hands balled into fists.
"Well, it's not."
Arabella grabbed her coat and stormed toward the door.
He caught her wrist. "Where are you going?"
"Away," she said. "Away from you, this contract, and this fake marriage."
"It's not fake anymore!"
She turned back, fire blazing in her eyes. "That's the problem."