Damian's POV The early morning seemed endless. The Winter Enterprises building was drowned in silence, except for the lit offices on the 24th floor, where my team was spread out among computers, stacks of documents, and screens flashing red every minute. The air conditioning could no longer mask the smell of reheated coffee, and everyone's eyes were heavy with exhaustion—but no one dared to stop. Neither did I. "Review the 2021 balance sheets one more time," I ordered, my voice firm even though my throat was dry. "I want every detail cross-checked with the IRS reports. If anyone dares to question us, we'll crush them with evidence." Two analysts nodded quickly and went back to the paperwork. The legal director walked in carrying a thick stack of folders, his tie loose and dark circles under his eyes. "Damian, we got a favorable opinion from the external audit," he said, dropping the folders onto the table with a thud. "They guarantee there are no tax inconsistencies in the la

Stella's POV The clock hand on the wall seemed slower than usual. It was already past six, and the café was almost empty—only two customers were still flipping through newspapers at the tables in the corner. I was behind the counter, checking the day's cash register for the third time. My feet ached, my eyes were heavy, but there was something comforting about the routine. "Stella." The deep voice behind me made me look up. Alexander was standing at the door, wearing a smile that almost always left me a little flustered. He wasn't in a suit—just a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, which made him look more relaxed. "Alex," I forced a smile, surprised. "What are you doing here at this hour? I thought you were organizing the trip." He walked closer to the counter, resting his hands on the wooden surface as if trying to shorten the distance between us. "I was passing by and thought I'd come get you," he said casually. "Of course, you have your two-meter-tall

Stella's POV "Did you enjoy your date?" he asked, his voice wrapped in a dangerous, threatening calm. My heart jumped into my throat, and my knees almost gave out. I closed the door behind me without daring to look away. From the way he was staring at me, I knew a fight was coming. I didn't want to wake the boys. I didn't want anyone to hear. "Damian…" I tried to start, but he lifted one eyebrow, silencing me without a word. "I'm asking you, Stella." He stood up slowly and walked toward me, calm and deliberate, backing me into a corner. "Did you have fun? Did you smile at him? Did you let him touch you?" My stomach twisted. His tone was sharp, poisoned by a jealousy I had never seen so openly before. "Don't talk like that," I said softly, looking away. "There's no reason for this." He laughed dryly. "No reason?" He stepped closer, until I could feel his heat surrounding me even without him touching me. "The man who's been crawling after you for years finally gets what

Stella's POV When he started to push inside me, I gasped. It was an intense pressure mixed with a sharp, unfamiliar ache, like he was slowly opening me up. He groaned under his breath and kept going, pushing, inch by inch, until he finally stopped. I realized my mouth was hanging open and I couldn't even bring myself to close it. I felt impossibly full. It was overwhelming. Terrifying in the best possible way. He kissed me, his breath filling my lungs. His kisses suddenly turned heated and rough, and then he moved. Fast. He started fucking me. His thrusts were deep and relentless, filling me over and over again. I dug my nails into his back and clung to him, holding on as tight as I could. All I could do was stare at him. It was too much to look at him and not fall apart. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he did it so well. This was what fucking was. This was it. His arms tightened around me, and I cried out as he started moving even faster inside me. I glanc

Damian's POV I got home early so I wouldn't bring Daniel back too late. Things at the company were finally settling down, just as expected. Despite all the effort it had taken, we had easily proven that the fraud accusation was nothing more than an attempt to bring us down. That newspaper had lost its credibility for good. Soon, they would lose money too. We were moving forward with the lawsuit. I had barely taken off my jacket when I heard raised voices coming from the hall. I followed the sound and found Daniel sitting on the rug, his eyes confused, his face filled with fear and anxiety. Sophie was there. And standing in front of her were my parents. I had suspected this would be her last move. When they told me she'd been discharged from the hospital, I had known she would try something. If I could have, I would've left even earlier just to avoid the drama that was about to unfold. "Damian!" WW's voice rose the moment he saw me. "What do you think you're doing?!" I