Ting!


    Suddenly, Damien''s phone notification rang out, likely signaling the confirmation of the task he had delegated while he bided his time provoking Edward and teasing Emilia—farming hate points.


    Damien''s hand moved into his suit pocket, fingers brushing against the cool fabric before he retrieved his phone to check the iing message:


    :: Young master, we have sent the letter with the bottle''s fingerprint to the police chief, and also the other letter to Gabriel ke, who has left with two dozen armed men to attack the Ramphian Hotel. Awaiting your further orders. ::


    ''...Well...'' Damien lifted his gaze, ncing toward Emilia. Her eyes, wide with fear, trembled as they locked onto his. Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand, feeling her slight resistance, and led her down the tform stairs.


    "Let''s begin the celebration, gentlemen," he announced, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. His eyes narrowed as he met Edward''s re.


    Edward stood beside Amelia, who appeared dazed. His jaw clenched, but he was met only with a smirk from Damien.


    Damien relished the irony: Mr. Son of Heaven had carelessly discarded the ss bottle after drinking from it and killing the innocent butler, neglecting to wipe his fingerprints from either the bottle or the body.


    Damien, being a man of justice, had ensured that the fingerprints would serve their purpose.


    The first letter, written by Damien, was sent to Gabriel ke, detailing some of his crimes.


    The second letter, along with an HD+ 8K high-definition video pendrive of the murder titled ''A mad dog biting the neck of an innocent butler,'' and a sample of the fingerprint, was sent to the police chief of the main city.


    The police chief woulde here to arrest a single man, unaware of Gabriel ke and his armed men, who would be the first to arrive at the scene.


    Afterwards, the scene here would be like—Boom.


    ''...Now just need a simple attack,'' Damien mused, maneuvering everything to ensure that Edward would bear the me and the hatred. All that remained was to push Edward to the point where his hatred for Damien became visibly evident.


    After all, the night would eventually end, and once it did, Damien would need to be the victim here.


    "Wow, you both appear to be a match made in heaven!"


    "Indeed, what a gorgeous bride, and Sir Damien is already so handsome, hahaha."


    "Yes, and please ignore the third leg; they are just jealous of you."


    ''Fucking bastards,'' Edward gritted his teeth, noting the mocking nces of those around him, their minds oblivious to his true strength while they called him a dick.


    In this moment, he etched their faces into his memory, nning to show them true fear when he eventually dealt with them by either killing them or destroying their businesses.


    "Bring the rings," Damienmanded. The servants moved with subdued elegance, presenting a tray made of silk cloth on which two ring boxes rested, both appearing to be made of ss, showcasing the marvelous pieces crafted from the most expensive stones.


    But one of the boxes was empty, evident from the hollow space visible through the transparent cover.


    "Th-this? Sir, we are unaware of this," one of the servants stammered, fearing they would be med for the missing ring.


    "You don''t have to feel nervous. This is exactly how it''s supposed to be," Damien rified, turning to Emilia, who looked back at him with confusion, unable toprehend his next move while noticing his softening gaze.


    ''What does he want?'' Emilia nced at the ring box and then locked eyes with Damien, who appeared to be plotting something again. Her anger visibly red at his behavior.


    First, he had seized the majority of theirpany shares and then lied to her about her uncle''s being in his grasp.


    Not only that, he even told her to sleep with him as payment for his agreement to act against that man.


    She didn''t know what was going on inside his mind or if he would keep tormenting her like this.


    It was intolerable for her.


    She only wanted to help her mother, who was in debt, but now she was being forced into marriage with this man who seemed nothing short of a monster.


    "Here, this is the ring that Emilia will wear." Damien took out another ck box from his suit pocket, opening it to reveal an old-fashioned ck ring inscribed with words in an unknownnguage.


    ''?!''


    ''No, don''t tell me...'' Amelia, watching with narrowed eyes, felt them widen the moment she saw the ring Damien offered to Emilia, the same one he had offered her a year ago.


    At that time, her memories were still vivid, allowing her to recall the events clearly.


    ~~~


    "Amelia, will you marry me?" Damien knelt in front of her with a helpless gaze, proposing despite knowing her reluctance.


    "Damien, you know I don''t want to marry until I secure my future," Amelia averted her gaze, feeling burdened by the borate seaside proposal with drones and fireworks lighting up the sky.


    The spectacle could melt the hardest of hearts, but she found it overwhelming, not wanting to be tied down as someone''s wife.


    "I... I see," a faint smile crossed Damien''s face as he looked down, his hand loosening its grip on the ring. Despite kneeling, his eyes betrayed the emotional turmoil in his heart.


    "Although, this ring is beautiful," Amelia tried to change the topic, acknowledging the unique and attractive ck ring that had been offered to her.


    "Yeah, this was my mother''sst possession. She wanted me to give it to the woman I want to spend my life with," Damien beamed, his eyes lifting with a smile as he shared its origin.


    "Oh, I..." Amelia felt a pang of guilt, sensing she had hurt him deeply with her rejection. She started to speak but stopped herself.


    "No, no need to feel guilty. Let me tell you more about my mother," Damien shook his head, understanding her position but eager to share more of his life. He stood and took her hands, leading her to a nearby bench.


    The night was long as Damien recounted stories of his mother who had passed when he was seven, his father remarrying ten yearster.


    Amelia sat beside him on the bench, hands sped in herp, listening intently as Damien shared his life''s story.


    Despite knowing she would never love him back, Damien knew he would continue to love her.


    ~~~~


    ''Are you kidding me?'' Amelia''s widened eyes trembled, her fingers slowly clenching her tight red dress, whose silky fabric started to feel suffocating against her skin.


    Finally, a dreadful feeling shrouded her mind: the entire marriage plot Damien had seemed to arrange to get her attention was not fake.


    It was a feeling that everything was genuine, and he was really going to marry someone else.


    ''?!''


    "S-stop it!" Suddenly, Amelia cried out as Damien''s hand pulled Emilia into a tight grasp and his tongue entered her mouth in a deep kiss.


    badump


    Instantly, it crushed Amelia''s heart, her voice reverting to that same ce.