CHAPTER 11

So she silently sat there, hoping he would leave soon and she could return to her life without him. I heard my father's voice bellowing my name from across the room. "Daughter!" he shouted, his tone sharp and commanding. I turned to face him, my heart racing with apprehension.

As I approached my father hesitantly, Mark offered me his well wishes. Even his other brothers couldn't bear to watch. Darryl slowly turned to face the window; his eyes fixated on the world outside.

The sun's soft light illuminated the room, casting a warm glow on his face. He stood momentarily, lost in thought, gazing at the bustling city below.

The sounds of honking cars and chatter from the street below filled his ears, but he remained lost in his world. It was as if he was searching for something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he let out a deep sigh and turned away from the window, his mind still racing with unanswered questions.

The blame could not be placed on them. She couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes. The thought of her brother being given away to someone else was unbearable. Who would want to witness such a heart-wrenching scene? She felt a lump forming in her throat as she tried to hold back tears. It was a moment that would forever be etched in her memory.

As I approached Damian, his face lit up with a wide smile. I nodded meekly at my father.

My father's voice boomed with pride as I entered the room, "This is Damian, Damian Hertz." The man stood tall and confident, his piercing gaze meeting mine with a hint of curiosity. As he looked over his sons, his gaze lingered on Damian, a glint of pride in his eyes. It wasn't that he didn't love his other boys, but something unique about Damian that set him apart. Damian stood before my father, who had stopped talking to my daughter.

"Damian, this is my daughter," my father said, his voice cold and distant. I could feel the tension as the two men locked eyes. Clearly, something had gone wrong between them, but I didn't know what.

All I could do was stand there, watching my father and daughter's relationship hang in the balance. Damian's gaze shifted towards my father. Damian's eyes narrowed as he turned to my father, his voice laced with anger. "So she doesn't have a name?" he demanded. I couldn't help but notice Damian's stoic expression as my father, and I shared a laugh.

"She does, not that she deserves it," my father quipped.

Damian's lack of amusement was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as Damjan's piercing gaze met mine. He arched an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke. "What is your name?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. I hesitated for a moment, feeling a sudden rush of nerves. But then I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on.

"My name is..." With a confident and polite demeanor, he said, "I am Lily Hemingway." Damian hesitated for a moment before slowly extending his hand, his fingers twitching slightly as he did so.

As I felt my momentary lapse of strength dissipate, I swiftly regained my composure and extended my hand again to meet his.

His expression shifted abruptly, his features contorting into a scowl as his eyebrows furrowed in surprise. Nonetheless, I remained resolute, determined to see this through.

Damian turned to my father; his eyes fixed on him. "I assume this is who I'm marrying?" he asked, his voice steady and confident.

My father looked at him, sizing him up before nodding slowly. "Yes, that's her," he replied, his tone serious. I stood there, feeling like a pawn in their game, as they discussed my future, as if I wasn't even in the room.

Damian turned to me, a slight smile on his lips. "Hello," he said, extending his hand. I took it, feeling a jolt of electricity through my body at his touch. This was it. The moment that would change my life forever.

The young man's heart raced as he looked at his father, awaiting his response. With a nod and a steady gaze, his father spoke the words he had hoped to hear. "Yes," he said, "you will marry Lily."

The weight of those words settled heavily on the young man's shoulders, and he knew that his life would change forever. The words echoed in her mind as she walked down the empty street. She had always known that Damian had a keen intuition, but he had been spot on this time.

She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, that danger was lurking around the corner. She turned the corner and saw a shadowy figure in the distance. Her heart raced as she quickened her pace, hoping to make it home safely. Damian was right, she thought to herself, and she vowed always to trust his instincts.

With a firm grip on my waist, Damian pulled me along as we exited the room. "Okay, we're leaving now," he declared, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Damian turned around, his brothers staring at him in disbelief. He deeply breathed and asked, "May I bid farewell to my brothers?" Damian's movements were swift and deliberate, leaving me with no choice but to follow him.

His voice was firm as he spoke, "No, you can't." As Damian opened the door of the sleek limousine, I reluctantly climbed inside. It wasn't as if I had much of a choice.

Damian's strikingly handsome features were hard to ignore, but something about him sent shivers down one's spine.

His icy demeanor seemed to repel anyone who dared to approach him. As I laid eyes on him, I couldn't help but notice his youthful appearance. It was quite a surprise, as I had always assumed he was much older than he was.

As we sat in the vehicle, Damian was right beside me. The air was thick with a deafening silence that seemed to stretch for eternity. Not a sound could be heard, not even the faintest whisper. It was like the world had reached a standstill, frozen in time.

The stillness was so complete that it was almost suffocating, like a heavy blanket pressing down on the chest. The silence seemed to hold a weight of its own, an almost tangible weight. It was a silence that spoke volumes, conveying a sense of foreboding and unease. The longer it lingered, the more oppressive it became until it felt like it would never end. As I entered the room, my eyes darted around, avoiding any contact with Damian.