The week passed in a blur. Lily's usual routine—work, eat, sleep—felt heavier under the weight of her impending decision. Yet, she couldn't let the question gnawing at her go unanswered.
She picked up her phone during a rare quiet moment at work and dialed her lawyer, Mr. Gerald Thompson.
"Miss Winters," he answered smoothly. "I take it this is about your father's estate."
"Yes," she said, leaning back in her chair. "I need to understand why this arrangement—this marriage—was even considered. My father wasn't the type to trust strangers."
There was a pause on the line, and Lily could almost hear the lawyer choosing his words carefully.
"Your father and Damien Grey had a longstanding business relationship. Damien... bailed your father out of a difficult financial situation some years ago. They struck an agreement—one that evidently extended beyond business."
Her stomach turned. "What kind of agreement?"
"To secure the Winters family's future, Mr. Winters promised Damien something significant in return. He didn't specify details in the will, but... well, it's clear that Damien knew how to ensure his terms would be upheld."
Lily gritted her teeth. "So this whole thing is Damien's plan."
"I can't say for certain, but his involvement was pivotal," Gerald said gently. "Unfortunately, the terms will leave you little choice."
The conversation ended, leaving Lily with a sense of betrayal she couldn't shake. Her father, a man she had respected for his integrity, had tied her future to someone like Damien.
---
Saturday arrived with clear skies, and Lily tried to distract herself with errands. She wandered through the grocery store aisles, picking out essentials. A mother and child laughed by the cereal section, their joy a stark contrast to her inner turmoil.
Later, she spent hours cleaning her apartment, scrubbing every corner as if order in her home could bring order to her thoughts. But by evening, she knew what she had to do.
She drove to Damien's mansion, her resolve hardening with every mile.
---
The butler greeted her with his usual formal demeanor. "Miss Winters, Mr. Grey is expecting you."
Expecting me? she thought but said nothing, following him to Damien's study.
Damien sat at his desk, his attention fixed on a stack of papers. He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable.
"Lily," he said, leaning back in his chair. "What brings you here?"
Her resolve faltered for a moment, but she squared her shoulders. "I've decided. I'll marry you."
His reaction wasn't what she anticipated. There was no triumph in his eyes, no hint of satisfaction. He simply nodded. "Good. I'll have the paperwork ready by Monday."
"That's it?" she asked, unable to hide her frustration. "You orchestrate all this, and now that I've agreed, you act like it's just another business deal?"
"That's exactly what it is," Damien said, his tone calm but firm.
Her hands clenched into fists. "You didn't act like it was business when you sent flowers and chocolates."
"Those were tactics, Lily," he replied, his lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. "Nothing more."
Her confusion deepened. If everything he had done so far was an act, then what was his true motive?
"I don't understand you," she admitted, her voice quieter now.
"That's by design," he said, standing and walking to the window. "You'll find, Lily, that understanding is overrated."
She wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she turned on her heel and left, her mind a whirlwind of questions.
---
In the car, she sat gripping the steering wheel, staring at the mansion's silhouette in her rearview mirror. Damien's indifference wasn't just unsettling—it was infuriating. If this was all a game to him, what was the prize?
And why did it feel like she was the one losing?