episode 2

Chapter 2

The Stranger’s Proposal

The rain refused to stop.

Ava stood motionless beneath the storm, staring at the mysterious man in front of her as if he had just spoken another language.

“Marry me for one year… and I’ll destroy everyone who hurt you.”

Her heartbeat pounded violently.

This had to be a joke.

Who says something like that to a complete stranger?

Lightning flashed across the dark sky, briefly illuminating his sharp features. He looked dangerously calm, the kind of man who could ruin lives without raising his voice.

Ava tightened the expensive suit jacket around her trembling body.

“I don’t even know you,” she whispered.

The man’s expression didn’t change.

“You don’t need to.”

His deep voice sent chills through her.

The driver stepped closer nervously.

“Sir, the reporters may arrive any minute.”

Reporters?

Ava frowned slightly.

Who exactly was this man?

The stranger ignored the driver and kept his eyes fixed on her.

“You were humiliated tonight,” he said calmly. “Publicly.”

Ava’s face burned with shame instantly.

The memory of Daniel pushing her in front of everyone replayed painfully in her mind.

The guests laughing.

The phones recording.

Sophia’s cruel smile.

Ava looked away quickly before tears returned.

“That’s none of your business.”

“It became my business when you almost died under my car.”

His tone remained cold but strangely controlled.

Ava swallowed hard.

Now that she looked carefully, she noticed how luxurious the black vehicle behind him was. The bodyguards nearby. The expensive watch on his wrist.

This man was rich.

Dangerously rich.

And powerful.

He stepped closer again.

“What’s your name?”

“Ava.”

“Ava what?”

“Ava Williams.”

For the first time, something strange flickered in his eyes.

Recognition.

But it disappeared too quickly for her to understand.

The driver opened an umbrella over him immediately.

“Sir, we really need to go.”

The stranger finally extended his hand toward Ava.

“Get in the car.”

Ava stared at his hand as if it were poison.

“No.”

The bodyguards exchanged glances.

Clearly, nobody ever rejected this man.

A small smirk appeared on his lips.

“You’re smarter than most people.”

“I’m serious,” Ava replied cautiously. “I’m not entering a stranger’s car.”

“Good.”

That answer surprised her.

The stranger reached into his pocket and handed her a black business card.

The card looked simple.

Too simple.

Only one name was written on it in silver letters.

Damien Blackwood.

Ava’s eyes widened instantly.

Even she recognized that name.

Everybody did.

Damien Blackwood.

CEO of Blackwood Holdings.

The youngest billionaire in the country.

The man rumored to destroy companies overnight.

Some people called him a genius.

Others called him a monster.

Ava looked up at him in disbelief.

“You’re Damien Blackwood?”

The cold rain rolled down his face slowly.

“Yes.”

Her heart nearly stopped.

Why would someone like him talk to her?

Daniel once spent hours talking about Blackwood Holdings and how impossible it was to enter Damien’s business circle.

And now the man himself stood directly in front of her.

Offering marriage.

This couldn’t be real.

Ava shook her head quickly and handed the card back.

“I think you’re insane.”

The bodyguards stiffened immediately.

But Damien only smiled faintly.

“You slapped your best friend in front of hundreds of people,” he replied calmly. “I don’t think you’re in a position to judge insanity.”

Ava opened her mouth—

Then closed it again.

Unfortunately… he had a point.

Damien glanced toward the hotel entrance again.

Daniel and Sophia were now taking pictures together for guests.

Laughing happily.

Like Ava had never existed.

Pain stabbed deeply into her chest.

Damien noticed her expression instantly.

“Do you still love him?”

Ava forced herself to answer.

“No.”

But her shaking voice betrayed her.

Damien studied her silently for several seconds.

Then he said something unexpected.

“Good. Because I hate weak women.”

Ava’s eyes flashed angrily.

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know enough.”

His gaze lowered briefly to her bruised elbow from where Daniel shoved her earlier.

“And I know humiliation when I see it.”

Ava looked away.

For some reason, hearing the truth from him hurt more.

The rain continued pouring heavily around them.

Finally Damien spoke again.

“One year.”

Ava looked back at him cautiously.

“What?”

“Our marriage contract.”

Her breath caught.

He was serious.

Completely serious.

“You can’t possibly expect me to agree to this.”

“I do.”

“Why me?”

For the first time since meeting him, Damien hesitated slightly.

Just slightly.

Then he answered carefully.

“Because you need revenge.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“And because I need a wife.”

Ava stared at him suspiciously.

“That makes even less sense.”

Damien’s driver suddenly stepped forward holding a tablet nervously.

“Sir… the board members are calling again.”

Damien’s jaw tightened slightly with irritation.

Ava noticed it immediately.

So even billionaires had problems.

Interesting.

Damien looked back at her.

“You don’t have to answer tonight.”

“Good.”

“But understand something clearly, Ava Williams.”

His voice lowered dangerously.

“The people who humiliated you tonight will regret it.”

A strange chill ran through her body.

He said it with terrifying confidence.

As if destroying people was normal for him.

Ava crossed her arms.

“And what do you get out of this fake marriage?”

Damien’s dark eyes locked onto hers.

“Control.”

The answer came too quickly.

Too honestly.

Ava suddenly understood something.

This man was dangerous because he didn’t pretend to be good.

He knew exactly who he was.

A monster in an expensive suit.

And somehow…

That honesty frightened her less than Daniel’s fake love.

The hotel doors suddenly opened again.

Sophia stepped outside while holding Daniel’s arm possessively.

“Aww,” Sophia mocked loudly after spotting Ava. “She’s still here.”

Daniel noticed Damien immediately.

His confident expression changed instantly.

Fear.

Real fear.

Interesting.

Sophia frowned in confusion.

“Who’s that?”

Daniel looked pale.

“That’s Damien Blackwood.”

Sophia’s eyes widened immediately.

Suddenly her attitude changed completely.

She fixed her hair quickly and smiled sweetly.

“Oh my God…”

Ava almost laughed bitterly.

Typical Sophia.

Damien remained emotionless as the couple approached.

Daniel forced an awkward smile.

“Mr. Blackwood, what an honor to meet you.”

Damien ignored him completely.

Daniel’s smile stiffened.

Sophia stepped forward confidently.

“I’m Sophia Blake.”

Still nothing.

The silence became painfully awkward.

Ava almost enjoyed it.

Then Damien finally spoke.

But not to them.

To Ava.

“Get in the car.”

Daniel and Sophia both froze.

Ava blinked.

“What?”

Damien’s eyes never left hers.

“You said you didn’t want strangers. So let me introduce myself properly.”

He stepped closer.

Close enough that Daniel’s face darkened instantly.

“My name is Damien Blackwood,” he said smoothly. “And I want you to become my wife.”

Complete silence.

Sophia’s jaw dropped.

Daniel stared at Ava in disbelief.

And for the first time that night…

Ava saw regret enter his eyes.

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