Billionaire's Forced Bride

Chapter 003

Scandal Unleashed

Amara's POV

I barely made it through the polished lobby without breaking down. My heels clicked loudly against the marble floors as I forced myself to be in control of just one thing; walk at a normal recognized pace. People stared weirdly, their curious eyes following the obvious tear in my dress and my messy hair. I didn't care what was going on in their minds.

I forcefully with the remaining strength in me, pushed through the revolving doors and stepped into the cool morning air. The street as usual was buzzing with life, like my absence never mattered, taxis honking, pedestrians rushing past, but as for me, all I had was the feeling of someone underwater, drowning in my own thoughts.

What had I done now?

My phone buzzed repeatedly in my clutch. I fished it out to see the caller with shaky hands. It was from home, a text from our darling Sisi.

"Where are you? Mom's losing it this minute."

I groaned in frustration, my chest tightening at the thought of facing my horrible and loveless family. Sisi's text didn't come as a request, it was a command. She probably had something very dramatic all planned out for me, she always did at the slightest opportunity. And I won't disappoint, but always be the unwitting pawn, all the time.

I hailed a passing cab immediately, climbing in without a second thought. The ride to the Benson family home felt endless, and I never wanted it to end. Every second stretching into an eternity. My mind after wandering around, then returned to the night before, replaying the events of the night, each memory sharper than the last.

Damian. The heated kiss. The heat that followed. The regret afterward, trying to figure the way forward.

The house as expected was already alive with noise when I arrived. The moment I stepped into the foyer, my mother's sharp and harsh voice rang out from the living room.

"Where exactly have you been all night, Amara?" Caroline Benson, my mother snapped, her arms crossed like someone ready for a fight, and her perfectly styled hair gleaming under the chandelier. She looked ready like one that would devour me wholely.

"I..." My voice trailed, with no strength. "I needed sone air."

"Air?" Came Sisi's sharp voice, dripping fully with fake sweetness. She lounged dramatically on the sofa, her perfectly manicured nails annoyingly tapping against a wine glass. "Funny, because I could remember you disappeared during the engagement dinner."

My heart sank on hearing that. Of course she never ceased to notice every of my movement.

Victor stood quietly in the corner, his arms also folded and his jaw clenched but he never said a word. His disappointment in whatever I did was obvious, and it made my stomach churn greatly.

"I wasn't feeling too well," I managed to explain, but still avoiding his scorching eyes.

"You were not feeling well?" Sisi repeated, but standing up this time. Her voice rose very high, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "Or were you were somewhere feeling someone else?"

The room went dead silent like a graveyard.

"What exactly are you talking about now?" I asked, my voice not strong and barely above a whisper.

"Oh, don't even play dumb, darling sister," she hissed, immediately pulling out her phone. "I have strong proof of everything."

Before I could protest, she went ahead to tap her screen, and a video popped up, and started playing.

It was the grainy and of course we'll staged footage showed no other but me entering Damian's room. My heart stopped beating.

"This was taken nowhere but at the hotel last night," Sisi said, pacing the room like a predator circling its prey. "While we were all celebrating your engagement, you sneaked out, made yourself busy... by entertaining someone else."

"That's not exactly how it happened!" I protested, great panic rising in my chest, which would have given me a heart attack.

"Then explain it in your terms," Victor said coldly, finally speaking up. His eyes bore into me, filled with a mix of hurt and anger.

"I can't even explain how I ended up there!" I said, tears already crowding my eyes. "It's not exactly what it looks like, please."

Sisi smirked all through seeing that I could not defend myself, and clearly enjoying my humiliation. "Oh, it's exactly what it looks like in this video. You've succeeded in disgracing this family, Amara."

My mother's slap flew from nowhere, the sting spreading across my cheek. I gasped as I never expected it, my hand flying to my face as the room erupted in murmurs.

"How could you do this?" Caroline, my mother spat, her voice shaking with much fury. "After everything we've sacrificed for you in this family?"

"Mom, please," I begged, uncontrollable tears flooding my face. "I didn't even do anything wrong!"

"Enough this very minute!" Victor roared, silencing everyone. He looked at me with cold detachment, as if I was a stranger. "This engagement is finally over."

The words hit me hard, my knees threatening to give way.

"No," I whispered, but he was already out before I could reach him.

"Wait," a deep voice sliced through the dramatic chaos.

Everyone turned as Damian stormed the room. His presence was commanding, his sharp suit spotless despite the early hour.

"Who the hell are you young man?" Sisi snapped furiously, clearly taken aback.

"Damian Kane," he said rather calmly, his gaze darting around the room before it landed on me. "The man your sister spent the night with."

Gasps filled everywhere in the room. Even Sisi was stunned.

"I'm terribly sorry for the misunderstanding," Damian continued, his voice steady and authoritative. "Amara was placed in my room by mistake. Nothing funny or dramatic happened between us that she didn't consent to."

My cheeks burned as his words silenced everyone in the room. Why was he here, and doing this now?

Victor glared furiously at him. "And you expect me to believe your cooked up story?"

Damian shrugged like he never cared. "Believe whatever you would make you sleep well at night. But I take full responsibility for her disappearance and being in my room."

Sisi's mocking face turned in great rage, and she quickly excused herself dashing outside, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

Damian turned to face me now, his eyes softening. "Are you okay?"

I nodded weakly, too overwhelmed to alter any word.

"Good then," he said. Then, turning back to the others, like a threat he added, "If anyone has an unsettled issue with Amara, they can take it up with me."

The room was silent as he took quick strips toward me, his hand affectionately brushing against mine in a silent gesture of reassurance.

For the very first time that morning and since my existence, I felt like I could finally breathe well. But I knew better, this was just the beginning of whatever my family would unleash.