Chapter 3 The walls I built

(Flashback) Three years ago.

Damian Pov:

The deal was simple. Marry Lia Hart. Strengthen the alliance between our families. Secure my position.

Feelings weren't part of the equation.

I'd been raised to control, to conquer, to never show weakness.

Love was a distraction. An unnecessary risk.

When my father sat me down that evening, the contract between our families already drafted, I didn't hesitate.

I told myself it was business. Nothing more.

Meeting Lia was... different.

She was quiet, polite, and had a fire in her eyes that refused to be dimmed. She wanted me to see her, not the CEO or the Blackwood heir, but the man behind the mask.

I didn't know how to be that man.

The engagement felt like a chain wrapped around my wrist.

I wore the ring because I was expected to.

I treated Lia with the distance of a stranger because I was scared of what closeness might do.

The first night in our home, I turned away because I didn't know how to say what I really felt.

I was afraid that if I let her in, I'd lose control.

And losing control was the one thing I couldn't afford.

So I built walls.

Cold words. Silent nights.

Every stone laid was a shield-for her, and for me.

I thought if I kept her at arm's length, she'd eventually give up.

But I was wrong.

Because I didn't realize...

The walls I built were trapping me, too.

Sometimes, when I think back, I wonder if I was as blind to her as she was to me.

And if maybe... just maybe... I started falling for her long before I was ready to admit it.

(Present day)

I checked my time and it was 12pm. I called my secretary, James to come in.

"Sir, you called for me." He said as he came in.

"What is..... My wi.... I mean Lira doing?" Was I about to say my wife?

"She is on set for her new movie." James replied.

"Get the car ready."

I made a mistake in the past, and now I'm ready to correct it. I must get my wife back.

a.k.a: Mission to get my wife back.

As I came down from my car, I became the centre of attention. Everyone's eyes were on me, but my eyes were on my wife, who was stood with Mary, her assistant.

She looked very surprised to see me.

I had brought an expensive snack cart-artisan pastries, coffee, fruit platters. The crew loved it.. Lira's co-stars were swooning in.

"What's the meaning of this?" Lira asked when she came closer to me.

"Just thought I'd drop by and show support. Didn't want you starving." I smiled.

I could see the surprised look on her face. She looks more beautiful when she's surprised.

"Thank you, now go. I'm doing a shoot. Please." She commanded.

"Mr Corey?" I called out. Mr Corey was her director. "Do you mind if I stay for a while? I want to be with my wife."

"No. Of course not Sir. You can stay all you want." He replied, as everyone started smiling in awe. Some taking pictures of I and Lira, and some taking a video of us.

This would make the best headlines today.

I reached out and removed a little piece of leaf that had fallen on her hair, and everyone gasped.

Lira gave a little smile, it wasn't too obvious.

Whispers were everywhere about how loving I was, and how happy out relationship was. Lira stood surprised as she looked at me.

Then I saw him. Leo winters. The man that has been eyeing my wife like a midnight snack.

He walked over to the snack cart, and reached for a croissant.

"Wait." I told Leo, who was about to collect some snacks. "I have a something special for you" I said, as I brought out a pastry and handed it to him. He took it, and saw a note I'd written in it.

"For whoever that has been staring at my wife for the past two hours- eyes on your script looser" with a smiley face beside it.

Leo scoffed before taking a bite into the pastry and then coughs dramatically.

"Is there almond in this? I'm allergic to nuts!" Leo shouted.

Without missing a beat, I replied.

"Oh. Then you should definitely stay away from my wife."

There were laughters from the crew.

Everyone was laughing except Leo who was fuming in anger, and of course my wife, who glared at me like she was about to strangle me.

Before coming, I had researched on what Leo hated, and discovered he was allergic to nuts. Perfect plan.

"Let's move it. We're loosing the light." Mr Corey shouted, as everyone retired to their perspective positions.

I watched from a distance. Lira was so beautiful. She gives me butterfly just by looking at her.

Why did I take so long to notice her?

"Lights, camera, action." The director called, and the shoot began.

Lira acted with such professionalism that I haven't seen before. The way she speaks, acts, carries her body, and moves? God, she's perfect. I must make her love me again.

I sat beside the director as I watched them display their act.

Then lira and Leo started coming closer. They were so close that they could feel each others breath.

Then their lips were coming closer and closer. This can't happen.

I coughed so loudly that it disrupted the shoot.

"Someone get him a bottle of water" the director said.

I looked up at lira and she gave a sideway smile. She knew I was acting. She's smart.

Leo on the other hand was biting his lips out of anger and frustration.

You can't touch my wife when I'm here with her.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your shoot" I told the director and crew as I drank the water.

"It's okay. Let's continue. Action" he called.

Lira and Leo were coming closer again. I must do something.

I coughed again. This time, louder.

"Are you okay sir? Do you need to go to the hospital? " Mr Corey asked

"I'm fine." I coughed again

"We'll end her for today." Mr Corey said. "Mr Damian seems sick."

Everyone rounded up.

My plan worked.

Lira walked over to me angrily.

"What is this all about?"

"What are you talking about?" I raised a brow, feigning innocence.

She kept quiet before she spoke again.

"Our marriage is over. Once you sign the papers, everything would go back to normal. Why are you doing this now?"

I kept quiet. I wasn't sure of what to say.

Lira looked at me for a while without uttering a word.

Then she left.

Damn. I should have said something.

But what was I to say?

Lira Hart. I will make you fall for me.

This is a fight, and I'm fighting for you.