★ Clara pov

"I have mentioned this time and again—my mother's company has nothing to do with you!" I screamed at my stepmother.

"You'd better let go of the company. You're the illegitimate daughter of the Walter family, and your elder sister would handle it better," she shot back.

"My step elder sister, to be precise. If your daughter wants to show her talent, she should do it somewhere else."

"Clara, your father has already erased your name..."

"So what? You think he can erase or forge the signature of a dead person?" I blurted out, my chest heavy. My late mum isn't just a dead person.

Tears began to form in my eyes, but I couldn't show vulnerability in front of the two who had made my life miserable since my mother took her own life when I was eight.

"You... you have no regard anymore. You've begun to grow wings after just a few years."

"Few years? Fifteen years sounds like just a few in your head, right?"

"Clara, when did you return?" my father, John Walter, stepped in, just home from work.

"Dad!" My stepsister rushed to him, holding onto his arm affectionately.

"Dad, Clara doesn't want to give up the company for me!"

"Clara, listen to your father and let go of the company!"

"I have said it countless times, my company is mine and has nothing to do with you!"

"Clara!!!" My dad yelled, seeming to lose his temper.

"And I am right here, Mr. Walter," I said sarcastically. My father had lost the respect I had for him after abandoning me in Europe for 15 years.

"Is that a way of addressing your father? You seem to have grown..."

"Wings, yes I have! I wonder what you expect from the daughter you abandoned in a foreign country for 15 years!" I blurted out as I worked to the door, opening it and slamming it shut.

"Clara!!!!!" I could hear my father yelling my name as I walked out of the Walter mansion without looking back.

I sat in front of the bar, downing glass after glass of wine. It was the only way I could drown my problems and forget about them, but my head wouldn’t stop remembering.

Fifteen years ago, my loving family fell apart when my mother jumped off a cliff in front of me. My dad, once affectionate, became cold and distant. I later learned that my mother was his mistress and that I was the product of an affair.

I was mistreated by my stepmother and stepsister, who suggested I be sent to Europe to study after they grew tired of using me. After two months, I was forgotten and suffered alone for 15 years.

I later found out from my mother's lawyer that my stepsister was now the next of kin for my late mother's company.

"Ohh, I'm sorry!" a waitress exclaimed as she bumped into me, bringing me back to reality.

“It's fine” I continue to sip my drink

I stood up from the bar stand chair, ready to relax in the headboard chair, my glass of drink in hand.

I didn't notice it was bubbling as I took more sips. When I glanced at the time, it was already past 11.

“time really flies,” I blunted out, feeling the warmth of the drink wash over me.

As I stood up, my head spun, and I noticed strange men watching me. Panic surged through me, and I tried to find a hotel suite to lock myself in, but everything became blurry.

I turned and saw I was being followed by the men I saw, so I started running. Suddenly, I stumbled and fell, hitting my knee on the marble tiles.

"Sweetie, why are you running from daddy? Come here; daddy would treat you well for the night!"

"Let go of me!" I bit the man's hand as I tried to stand.

Then, I felt a hard slap on my face. "You slut! How dare you bite me? Come here! I’ll rip you inside out! Do you know how much I was paid to have fun with you?"

At that moment, my head cleared. It must be my stepmother. I had no time to think; my body heated up, and I needed to escape.

"No! I would have her first, then you come along!"

"Shut up!" I quickly formulated a plan.

As they argued, I seized the chance to run away. I dashed into a hotel suite, looking for the restroom to wash my eyes, dragging my feet.

"There she is!" I could hear the guards; they had located me. Just as I looked for a place to hide, I bumped into a tall, imposing figure. He had a rugged appearance, sharp features, and a confident demeanor that commanded attention. His dark eyes scanned me.

I looked up at him; he had the aura of a mafia boss,my voice trembling as I whispered, "Please, help me."

He barely glanced at me, a dismissive smirk on his face. "Your problems are not mine to solve.”

His attention drifted to his hotel card as if my plea was just an annoyance.

But as the guards approached, my heart raced. I gripped his arm tightly, desperation spilling from my lips. "I’ll do anything! Please..."

He moved quickly, pinning me against the wall, his face inches from mine. "You should have thought about the consequences," he whispered before leaning in and kissing me.

He carried me in bridal style, swiping his card on the hotel suite door. With blurred vision, I admired the room; it was so luxurious. He laid me on the bed, ripping off my dress and pulling off his clothes, exposing his famed abs and packs.

★★★

★ Clara pov

I tossed and turned on the bed, the rays of sunlight reflecting in my eyes. I wanted to sleep more; it had been a while since I had slept this comfortably.

I was busy trying to raise my small company in Europe when a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

I jolted awake, bright light hitting my eyes. Next to me, a handsome stranger was reading a newspaper.

Confused, I tried to remember how I got here, but nothing came to mind. Suddenly, I realized I was naked! "Ahhh!" I screamed.

"Wh..o.. are y…?" I stammered, but my throat was dry.

Then, the door burst open!

Before I could finish, a crowd of media rushed in, cameras flashing.

"Miss Clara, is it true you had a night with a man?"

"Miss Clara, why did you return to New York?"

"Miss Clara, are you trying to seduce a billionaire?"

"Miss Clara, is it true you came here to seduce the most powerful billionaire for money?"

"Miss Clara, why are you in his bed?"

Questions were fired to me,I was overwhelmed. I was still in a daze and I couldn't remember a thing.

"Mr. Damon..."

"Dare to ask me a question," he interjected, and I felt the intensity of his gaze pierce through them. The room fell silent.

"Mr. Damon, it's you!" a reporter exclaimed, recognizing him.

“You dare to ruin our family reputation just a single day after you returned! If this is what you have been doing in Europe why then did you return? How dare you! You don't deserve to own a company. With your irresponsible behavior.” my step mother exclaimed as she entered the room. I had just known she had something to do with this.

“During your night with my father, who called you irresponsible, why can’t I have a night with my fiancé?”

The confusion on the media's faces was evident as shame washed over Priscilla like cold water splashed on her.

“What? That's a lie!”

“Why would I lie about my fiancé?” I could see the confusion on her face as she stammered,

“But you just returned!”

“And what makes you think I can’t date from a distance?” I challenged her.

Damon’s cold voice echoed in the room, questioning the media about invading our privacy.

“How do you know I was here, Mrs. Priscilla?” I could see her losing her composure, confused and unable to respond.

Damon’s phone rang, and he quickly said, “Contact the media management. All these workers should be fired.”

I felt goosebumps as I realized this guy was no ordinary person; he had the power to fire a whole media team. With no time to think, I quickly dressed and bolted from the room.

As soon as I entered the gray mansion my father seethed with anger as he focused on the television. The screen showed me wrapped in a blanket, the caption reading:

"THE DAUGHTER OF JOHN GRAY CAUGHT IN A MAN'S BED - who she claimed to be his fiancée." I felt a rush of panic as I entered the room, knowing the storm that awaited me.

"You… you dare to ruin our family reputation? I have lost their collaboration just after this scandal!" he shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

I crossed my arms, standing my ground. "Why don't you ask your wife and daughter what they were doing in the room?"

"Clara, don't try to turn the tables. You seem to have grown a lot of wings these past years."

"Mr. Walter, I have mentioned time after time that my mother's company had nothing to do with you. As for your company’s loss, I promise to sort things out sooner.”

“Mr. Walter? Clara, is this a way of addressing your father?”

“Ohhh, my bad! That sure isn't the address for my beloved father who has left me stranded in Europe,” I shot back sarcastically.

“Clara!!!”

“I’m standing right here, Mr. Walter. You don’t have to scream,”

“I’ve had enough of your sarcasm! You can’t be a simple sweet child like your elder sister—you…”

“Step-sister, you mean,”

Our conversation was interrupted by the broadcaster who had just mentioned the loss of business collaborations affecting the Gray Business Enterprise. In a fit of rage, my father smashed the television.

“CLARA!!!!!!!!!!!” he roared, looking furious.

“Dad, I promise to…”

"You better fix this immediately or else,I would smash it down just like I did to the TV!”

"Is this a threat?" I asked while raising a brow.

"You should go back to Europe; you and Mum have always been a headache."

"Ohhh, I see." I felt really disappointed. So in my father's eyes we had always been a headache to him.

"Only when I see your fiancé and a marriage certificate would I give you back the company,”

I felt hit with cold water. The man had a dangerous aura, but I needed to save my mom's company.

I found his office in a big New York skyscraper and felt chills running down my spine when I saw him

"Marry me! I'll do anything you want," I regretted it immediately , he agreed without hesitation. My dad pushed me this far, and with a dangerous smirk, he signed the marriage documents.

"Miss Clara, anything means everything," I felt like I had fallen into my own pit.

★★★

★ Clara pov

I stood before my husband,his imposing figure radiating power and dominance. I felt his hand raise my chin, forcing me to look up into his piercing eyes.

I was barely at his shoulder height, but the aura he emitted made me feel small and vulnerable.

Marrying Damon, my life had become a storm. He had made it clear that I was to stay in his mansion and serve him as nothing more than a plaything. The moment we left my father's house, he treated me like trash.

I never expected him to disappear after three months of torment. On that day,I felt relief, but it was just for the main time when I began to feel nauseous and kept vomiting, prompting me to take a test.

“Mrs Clara congratulations you are pregnant” these words sounded like a knife against my chest,I cried my eyes out. I had never imagined I would carry a child for the beast who had tortured my life. But the child was innocent.

Three weeks passed, and I took care of myself and my baby. I improved a lot and gained weight, feeling stronger.

Then came the day of the business meeting in the city. To my horror, I encountered the man who had taken my innocence—the father of my child. I was crying inside, unsure of how I would even face him. At the conference, I tried to hide, covering my face with a mask and a cap, but it didn’t last long.

“Clara?” I heard his voice call out, and my heart sank. I tried to ignore him,I took a few steps ahead, pretending not to be the Clara he was calling out to.

"Come here," He stood with an imposing figure, hands in his pockets. At this point, my heart raced, and panic surged through my veins.

At this point, I felt like my mind was going against my body, as if I were being controlled remotely. I turned back to him, moving slowly, my legs wobbling beneath me.

I was scared, but I didn't expect him to suddenly hold me In his arms, his arms wrapping around me while he caressed my hair, kissed me gently, holding me closely in his arms, as if he had missed something important.

He was so close that I could hear the gentle rhythm of his breathing. For a moment, my heart felt warm. This was the man who had tormented my life. I ended up falling asleep in his office, as he had refused to let me go home.

This sweet treatment didn't last long; he soon became a beast, using me as his plaything, and I was pregnant, I was too nervous to inform him.

One day, he left for work and returned with bruises all over his body. I held him and began to treat his wounds, unable to stop my tears. The injuries were so deep, they reminded me of my mother's body when she jumped off the cliff.

Few weeks later, I came back from work at a late hour and froze when I saw Damon sitting in the living room. Expensive red wine was on the table, and a cigarette hung from his fingers, creating a thick cloud of smoke that filled the air.

My heart raced, and panic surged through me as I noticed the pregnancy test paper crumpled on the chair.

"It's... I..." I stammered, words failed to form in my lips.

"You are pregnant, aren't you?" His cold, commanding voice left no room for lies. Tears began to well up in my eyes; I was terrified of what he might do to my child.

"Yes, I... am," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Who's the father?" he demanded, his tone growing louder.

"What...?" I gasped.

"You dare to sleep around for only three months I left you!”

The child is yours,You are the only one who has touched me!" I screamed, the fear fading as my fury took over. I could never cheat, despite everything he did to me. Tears streamed down my face as I stood my ground.

Damon raised my chin violently, forcing me to look straight at him. "If the child is mine, then abort it," he said, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"No, it's my child, and I won't kill it." I felt his grip tightening around my hand, intense and unyielding, but I couldn't back down. This was my child.

"Have you forgotten you said you would do anything?" he taunted, his eyes piercing into mine.

"This is my child; I can't kill it." Tears streamed down my face as I fought to hold my ground.

"You seem to like it the hard way, don't you?" he sneered.

"You aren't qualified to carry my child." He leaned down, his face inches from mine, the danger radiating off him like heat.

"I and my child didn't do anything to you," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Ohh, Clara, my dear," he said, pulling my face closer to his, a smirk playing on his lips.

"It turns out that the person who colluded with my uncle to kill both of my parents twelve years ago is my father-in-law. You are only suffering a bit of his sin.”

★★★