Chapter 20
People called Owen a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had the smile of a saint and the heart of a devil. He could kill a person with his charm and a grin, then act like it was nothing.
The things he said were always half–truths, so much so that even Damien couldn’t tell when Owen was lying and when he was being honest. Maybe it was because he was just that good at it.
So, when Sloane took Owen’s hand, looked up at him with those innocent eyes, and softly said, “It’s okay to be abandoned. I’ll love you forever. As long as we’re together, we can take on the whole world,” he saw through her in an instant.
She didn’t love him. She just wanted to use him. He was never going to be her one and only–not now, not ever.
All her sweet little lies were useless against someone like Owen. He saw them for what they were the moment they left her lips. And because of that, he despised her.
But the thing about a wolf in sheep’s clothing was that even when he hated someone, he’d still be nice to them. Owen never let the disgust show. Instead, he used it. He played Sloane like she played everyone else–only better.”
He got close to Damien through her and tightened the leash.
“Sibling love? Sloane, don’t be naive,” Owen had once said to her, his voice low and his expression unreadable. “You and Damien aren’t even blood–related. That kind of connection doesn’t last. One day, he’ll leave you.
“Aurelia’s beautiful and smart. She’ll win him over sooner or later. And when that happens, you’ll be all alone. If I were you, I’d make the first move. Damien’s old- fashioned, so if you sleep with him, he’ll feel obligated to stay.”
Then he laughed. I’m just kidding, of course. I’m just talking nonsense. Don’t take it seriously. We wouldn’t want you going down the wrong path now, would we?
But Sloane had taken the bait. With Owen whispering poison in her ear, she drugged Damien. One mistake led to another, and before he knew it, Damien had crossed the line. Sloane became “his woman“.
And Damien? He was exactly what Owen said he was–rigid, bound by outdated morals. In his world, sex meant responsibility. And it wasn’t just anyone – it was the girl he’d grown up protecting like a sister.
At first, Damien had truly only seen Sloane as family. But after that night, everything changed. Their relationship twisted and darkened. He didn’t want her, but he Couldn’t walk away either.
He was tom and miserable. He told himself she was his responsibility and that he couldn’t abandon her–he wouldn’t. Because in his mind, Sloane had once been his whole world—the one person he clung to during the darkest days at the orphanage.
But now? That world had shattered. Because Sloane hadn’t just betrayed him–his whole world had betrayed him.
Damien stood before Aurelia now, his expression dazed and broken. His voice cracked as he tried to smile. “Aury, is it too late? Have I already lost you for good? “It I fall to my knees now and beg, will you forgive me?
”
But he never got the chance to say those words out loud.
give you my life, would you still love me? Please, Aury. Don’t be so cruel. Just give me one more chance…
Because Aurelia was already shaking her head. Her voice was calm and final.
“That’s right. You’re out of chances.”
She slipped her hand through Theo’s arm, smiling with quiet resolve. “Because I’ve chosen Theo. Um going to marry him. I’m going to
Pride.”
