Damian's sharp gaze cut through Damon's protest. "Do it."
"Yes, Boss." Damon immediately complied.
Back at the rental house, Elena laid Sophia down on the sofa. Her hands trembled as she poured herself a glass of water and took a shaky sip, trying to calm her nerves.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she processed what had just happened.
That man… the devil-masked leader…
Why did he let them go?
And more importantly, why did he seem vaguely familiar?
Elena pushed the thought aside and focused on Sophia, gently patting her friend's cheek. "Sophia, are you okay?"
Sophia mumbled something incoherent, still lost in a drunken haze.
Elena sighed, relieved that they were both safe for now. But the memory of those cold eyes and the masked devil lingered in her mind, sending chills down her spine.
"Water… water…" Sophia Lane muttered hoarsely in her sleep.
Elena Cross quickly poured another cup of water and gently lifted Sophia's head to help her drink.
"Why did you drink so much wine?" Elena asked with a frown.
Sophia only murmured incoherently before falling back into a deep sleep.
Sighing, Elena fetched a blanket and carefully draped it over Sophia. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and she finally made her way to bed.
That night, her dreams were filled with chaos.
Damian Blackwell's masked face loomed over her, his voice cold and merciless as he demanded her life. His devilish mask flickered between shadows, suffocating her.
Elena struggled, gasping as she finally forced herself awake.
Dawn had already broken. The golden rays of the early morning sun streamed through the window, casting warm hues across the room.
It was just a dream.
But it had felt all too real.
Elena wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her heart still racing.
"Elena? Why am I at your place?" Sophia's groggy voice broke the silence. She sat up, holding her head. "Ugh, my head's pounding…"
"That's what happens when you drink too much," Elena said, getting up to make a cup of honey water. She handed it to Sophia. "Here, drink this."
Sophia took the cup gratefully. "You're the best," she said, clinging to Elena's arm. "Thanks for last night."
"What happened last night?" Elena asked as she walked toward the kitchen. "You're not someone who gets drunk so easily."
"I was set up by Leo Kane," Sophia said indignantly. "I'm going to settle this with him later. Damon Cruz was there too—the notorious womanizer. Leo practically threw me into his lap! Thank God I managed to hold my ground until you showed up. Otherwise, I don't even want to imagine what could've happened."
Leo Kane. Sophia's half-brother. Their father's indiscretions had resulted in multiple illegitimate children—a common tale in wealthy families.
Elena shot Sophia a disapproving look. "You're too careless."
Sophia huffed, rolling up her sleeves. "Next time I see Damon Cruz, I'll break his leg." Her expression turned curious. "By the way, how did you get us out of there last night?"
Elena kept her tone casual. "I kicked Damon Cruz."
Sophia's eyes widened. "He's infamous for holding grudges. He won't let this go."
Elena shrugged indifferently, her eyes glinting coldly. "When you have nothing to lose, you have nothing to fear. If he comes after me, he'd better be ready for the consequences."
Sophia stared at Elena, a smile tugging at her lips. "There you are—the Elena I remember. Honestly, you should've broken up with Ethan Caldwell ages ago. He and Selena Cross are a much better match."
Elena ignored the comment and focused on preparing breakfast. Sophia, ravenous, quickly devoured her portion.
As they finished, Sophia's phone rang. She answered with a scowl. "Leo? Stay right where you are. I'm coming for you."
Without learning her lesson from the previous night, Sophia stormed off in a hurry.
Elena let out a laugh, shaking her head at her friend's fiery temper. She changed into fresh clothes, tied her hair into a ponytail, and headed downstairs.
A sudden car horn caught her attention.
Elena turned toward the sound and spotted Damian Blackwell sitting in a sleek black car.
He got out and walked toward her, opening the door with a gentlemanly gesture. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Elena lied as she got into the car, hiding the fact that nightmares had haunted her all night.
The car merged into traffic, which was heavy due to the morning rush hour. Neither of them spoke much, but the silence was surprisingly comfortable.
When they finally arrived at the company, Damian held her hand as they got out.
"Wait a moment," he said.
"What is it?" Elena asked curiously.
"I have something for you." Damian retrieved a box from the back seat and handed it to her. "Open it and see if you like it."
Elena's brows lifted in surprise. "Why are you giving me a gift all of a sudden? Is it a special occasion?"
Damian's eyes softened with a rare warmth. "Consider it a token of love."
Elena's heart skipped a beat. Those words lingered in the air, leaving her momentarily breathless.
Elena Cross opened the box and gasped softly. Nestled inside was a stunning bracelet, its heart-shaped pendant embedded with a sparkling sapphire. The gem caught the light, shimmering brilliantly.
"It's beautiful," Elena breathed. "But this gift is too precious."
"It's nothing special," Damian Blackwell said with a casual smile. "Just a few hundred dollars. The gem's just plastic." He lied effortlessly, his voice steady.