Chapter 4 THE PROPOSAL.

Almost immediately, without thinking twice, I shrugged off the pajamas I’d been living in since yesterday and rushed to the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of sleep and frustration. By the time I was done, my mind was already racing. There was no time to waste.

I opened my wardrobe and carefully selected one of my finest outfits. Today wasn’t just about looking good. It was about commanding attention.

I chose a sleek black silk blouse that hugged my curves, paired with tailored ivory trousers that fell perfectly straight to my heels. The silk shimmered subtly with each movement, soft yet impossible to ignore. Sharp stiletto pumps and delicate gold accents completed the ensemble, elegant, powerful, impossible to overlook.

I stared at my reflection for a moment. This wasn’t just dressing up. It was armor. Right now, I was going to find Damien.

Stepping out onto the street, I flagged down a cab, climbed in, and gave the driver a clear, deliberate direction.

“Take me to Hale Enterprises, 78 East River Street. Straight there, no detours.”

The driver nodded and merged into traffic. I leaned back in my seat, eyes scanning the passing streets, every blur of movement fueling my anticipation.

———

I’d been here before. Ryan had driven me to Hale headquarters once, claiming he needed to drop off some files for his uncle. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it. I just sat in the car till he was back from his boring errand… another glimpse into Ryan’s life.

He had mentioned, almost casually, that Damien spent most of his time at the headquarters.

Now, walking into the building alone, everything felt different. The sleek glass exterior, the marble lobby, the hum of activity… it all seemed sharper, more intimidating.

“How may I help you?”

“I’m here to see Damien Hale,” I said.

And then, I almost laughed at myself.

There was no way I would be allowed to see a man like him so easily.

What had I been thinking?

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked, raising a perfectly sculpted brow.

“Y… yes,” I lied, then squared my shoulders. “Serena Evans.”

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at the screen in front of her. Fingers hovered over the keyboard, tapping quickly. For a moment, I held my breath, heart thudding in my chest.

After what felt like an eternity, the receptionist’s gaze lifted, unreadable.

“Oh, yes. Mr. Hale will see you now,” she said curtly, motioning toward the seating area.

I nodded, chest tightening with anticipation. She directed me to the office on the 35th floor.

Carefully, I strode toward the elevators, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, each step echoing my resolve. Inside the elevator, I pressed the button for the 35th floor and leaned slightly against the polished wall, letting out a slow breath.

My mind replayed the events of the past few days. The betrayal, the humiliation, the fire Damien’s words had ignited. This was it. No more hesitation.

The numbers above my head ticked upward. 30… 31… 32… 33… 34… 35.

The doors slid open silently, revealing a quiet, pristine hallway. My gaze swept over the muted décor, each step bringing me closer to the office where Damien Hale awaited.

I paused just outside the door, my hand hovering over the sleek metal handle. Taking a slow, steadying breath, I let my resolve harden. Then, with a decisive push, I opened the door.

Damien Hale was there, sitting behind his massive mahogany desk, motionless, as if he had been expecting me. His sharp gaze swept over me from head to toe. Slow, precise, and entirely unreadable. He didn’t rise, and didn’t smile.

He simply assessed me like a predator quietly studying its prey.

“You’re early,” he said finally, his voice low, calm, and deliberate. “I wasn’t expecting you so… soon.”

I walked in fully, holding his gaze.

“You knew I was coming?”

“Just a guess.”

My brows snapped together as I stopped in front of his desk. A part of me wanted to ask how he knew I’d come, or if it really was just a guess.

But there were more pressing matters.

I pulled a chair forward and sat.

Damien leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the desk, eyes never leaving mine. The faintest smirk curved his lips. Not mockingly, but intrigued.

“Why are you here, Serena?”

“I need your help,” I said without hesitation.

“And why would I give it?” he asked, voice low, precise, almost a challenge.

I swallowed hard, my legs trembling beneath the desk.

I hadn’t thought this through. How could I have assumed this man… this man, was the only one I could run to? What was I going to give him in return? He was one of the most powerful forces in the country. He could crush the Hales if he wanted, and destroy empires with a single word. He didn’t need me.

I needed him.

Desperately.

He probably didn’t give a damn about me.

“Serena?”

“Marry me, Damien Hale.”

The words hung in the air like a gunshot.

For a moment, Damien didn’t move.

The faint smirk he’d worn vanished, replaced by something unreadable. Slowly, he leaned back in his chair, studying me like I was a puzzle he’d never seen before.

“What?” he said at last.

“I know how this sounds and I…”

“Tell me,” he interrupted, voice flat. “How does it sound?”

I swallowed. “I’m asking my ex-fiancé’s uncle to marry me. Do you need me to spell it out?”

He regarded me for a beat. “And why should I marry you?”

“You’d be getting a wife.” My voice had an edge now. “Besides, half the country seems convinced you already own everything anyway but can’t seem to bag a wife.”

“I don’t care,” he said, blunt and small.

I sat up straighter, eyes locked on his, unyielding.

“You said the only thing that can break the Hales… is the Hales themselves.”

“And?” he prompted.

“I want you to help me break every single one of them who laughed at me,” I said. “Publicly. Clean. Permanent.”

“They’re my family, Serena. Are you out of your mind?” He sounded almost amused.

And maybe he was.

“You and I both know you hate them.” My voice dropped. “You weren’t born into favor. You are the illegitimate child who clawed his way up from nothing. They shut you out. Who would want them to suffer more than you?”

Damien leaned back in his chair, the faintest smirk curling his lips. His eyes didn’t leave mine, glinting with something I couldn’t name… amusement, approval, maybe even pride.

“You’re asking me… a dangerous man to become your ally… and your husband,” he said slowly and deliberately, almost tasting the words. “Do you even know what you’re signing up for, Serena Evans? Because once you step into my world, there’s no turning back.”

“I know the world I’m stepping into,” I replied coldly. “And I’ll step through it anyway. You think danger scares me? It doesn’t. Only failure does.”

And for a fleeting second, I could swear his eyes lit up. Not with anger, not with judgment, but with something else.

Excitement.