Few days passed and preparations were being made for the engagement of Damon and Elara.
The ballroom of the Monroe mansion was dazzling, its chandelier scattering light like stars in
constellations. Every corner of the room glimmered with opulence and radiated excellence, but
to Elara, it was nothing more than a disguise of manipulation, chains, deceit and desperation.
Prominent guests trooped in and out of the room. There was laughter, cheers, music as
everyone honoured the night's event: the engagement of Damon Blackwood and Elara
Monroe.
At the center of the room, Damon sat like an emperor watching his empire. He was
attractively dressed in a tailored black suit that brought out his charm. And beside him, was
Elara gorgeously dressed in a silk royal blue gown.
"How do you feel knowing you're bound to me from today, Miss Monroe?" Damon whispered in
her ear.
Elara bit her lower lip.
"Well, it sucks a lot. But get one thing straight, our engagement doesn't
mean that I've given in to your dominance"
,Elara snapped, eyeing him.
Damon chuckled.
"Well, we'll see about that… but for now put up a smile. You don't want people
raising questions"
.
Elara forced a faint smile, staring at the stream of guests at the occasion.
The hall became silent as the master of ceremonies spoke. The air was thick with tension.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. It's time for the ring
exchange"
.
Elara and Damon rose from their seats as the waiter arrived with a silver tray that had their
rings. Damon reached for his ring and placed it neatly on Elara's finger, and the crowd cheered.
Now it was Elara's turn. She hesitated before picking the ring, causing the crowd to murmur and
gasp.
"
"So this is it. This is the beginning of a new life for me. Never did I think that I would be forced
into a marriage I didn't want"
. She wondered.
She inhaled and placed the ring on Damon's finger. And the crowd began to clap and cheer.
Suddenly, her gaze drifted to a figure that entered , dressed in a tan-coloured suit. Her chest
tightened and her heart thundered. She recognized that face.Their eyes met and her heart
throbbed. It was Adrian's cousin.
"What could he be doing here? What does he want? Did Adrian send him? Is he going to cause
a scene here?" These thoughts ran down her mind.
The horrible memories flashed before her eyes. She recalled Adrian's devilish laugh, torture and
abuse. And Adrian's cousin, Elijah was just a reminder of her dark past.
"Elara?" Damon called, noticing that Elara's attention had drifted.
"Who are you looking at?" He asked suspiciously.
She blinked, touching her face.
"Uhmm… it's no one. It's nothing. I'm ok. No one's there"
, she
replied, tensed with fear gripping her.
He looked at her, his gaze cold and calculative.
"You're lying. Something got you bothered"
, he
said, gripping her arms. His suspicion burned hotter and his gaze grew colder.
"Stop with your questions. I said I'm fine"
, Elara answered sharply, loosening from his grip.
Just before Damon could respond, a voice rose from the dance floor.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Hope you all are enjoying yourself?" Ryan Monroe staggered onto the
dance floor, with a glass of scotch in his hands.
"Hey Blackwood!!" He shouted.
"You think you're untouchable and you've got things under
control but in reality you're just vulnerable"
, Ryan spat.
The guests began to murmur. Damon remained calm but his eyes were cold.
"Miss Monroe, I think you should get your brother under control"
, Damon whispered to Elara.
"If not for….
" Before Ryan could finish his statement, Elara intervened.
"Stop Ryan. You're
creating a scene. Father won't be happy"
, Elara whispered in his ear, but her eyes drifted to the
mysterious guest and Damon saw that.
She returned to the ballroom, her eyes searching for the mysterious guest. She needed to talk
to him. She needed her questions answered.
Just then, she spotted Elijah leaving secretly. Without thinking, she followed Elijah. Damon's
sharp eyes darted towards her.
"Where is she heading? Who is that? Could it be her ex?" His
thoughts grew darker.
"I feel that there's more to this. Elara is surely hiding something and I
must find out.
"
"Wait!"
, she called softly, moving towards him. He paused, then turned to face her.
"Ahh! Here comes the bride-to-be.That's new"
, he said, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"It's been
a while since we saw"
.
"Stop with this now and just tell why you're here. Did Adrian send you?"
He laughed mockingly.
"Adrian, Adrian, Adrian. He's all you think about. You're not over him"
, he
said, circling her.
"Stop with this rubbish you're babbling. You are well aware of what Adrian did to me. I don't
need to remind you"
.
"No matter what he did to you, he was obsessed. And you were just too stubborn to see that.
You saw it as torment"
.
"Obsession is not love, Elijah. Adrian never loved me! Now just answer my questions"
. Elara
demanded.
"And what makes you think I would? Some questions are better left unanswered"
. Elijah shot
back.
"I don't have time for riddles. Speak up!"
She heard footsteps down the corridor. And those footsteps drew near.
"He's not done with you, Elara. You can't escape Adrian. The war has only just begun"
, he
whispered in her ear.
"And… congrats on your downfall"
, Elijah said, mockingly.
Just after saying that, he left immediately and Damon appeared at the far end of the hall
spotting Elara. He moved towards her and got a glimpse of the figure fleeing.
"I know that face…
"his voice lowered but sharp.
Elara stood still. Her heart fluttered.
"How does Damon know him?"