Chapter 14 - Damian’s Betrayal
The betrayal I did not see coming came from Damian.
He met Marcus privately.
I discovered it from a photograph.
For six hours, I believed the worst.
That Damian had made a deal.
That once again, a powerful man had decided my life was negotiable.
When he arrived at my father’s house, I did not let him explain.
“You promised my father.”
“I know.”
“You promised me.”
“I know.”
“And you met Marcus behind my back.”
“Yes.”
I nearly threw him out.
Then he placed a recorder on the table.
Marcus’s voice filled the room.
“Grace doesn’t understand what she controls.”
Then Damian.
“What do you want?”
“Her voting proxy.”
“And in exchange?”
“I disappear.”
“From the company?”
“From everything.”
A pause.
Then Marcus said the words that destroyed his defense.
“My mother can take the foundation charges.”
I went still.
He continued.
“Sarah can take the shell companies.”
Another pause.
“And Grace?”
Marcus laughed.
“She’ll calm down eventually. Women like her always do once they have a baby to distract them.”
The recording ended.
I looked at Damian.
“You set him up.”
“Yes.”
“You should have told me.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t ever do that again.”
“I won’t.”
It took time before I trusted him completely again.
That mattered.
Because trust should not return simply because someone has good intentions.
It returns through changed behavior.
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Damian learned that.
So did I.
