The rain hammered relentlessly against the towering windows of Blackwood Tower, casting dancing shadows that flickered like restless spirits. Ariella couldn't shake the weight of the night's revelations as she sat in the quiet corner of the CEO's office, the golden ring now more than just a mysterious trinket—it was a living curse.
Damian stood by the window, his profile sharp against the storm. The usual coldness was replaced by something raw, vulnerable, but buried beneath layers of guarded strength.
"Why me?" Ariella finally broke the silence, her voice soft but steady. "Why did you choose to tell me all this? Why involve me in your curse?"
He didn't turn immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, rough around the edges. "Because... you're the first person I've met in years who didn't see me as just a businessman or a monster. You see something else. And that terrifies me."
Ariella's heart ached at the confession. "You don't have to carry this alone, Damian."
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a sharp edge. "I've carried it alone for too long. If I let someone in, they get hurt. And I can't lose you."
Ariella's breath hitched. The air between them pulsed with unspoken fears and desires.
Suddenly, the lights flickered again, plunging the room into semi-darkness. A chill swept through the office—unnatural, unsettling.
Damian's hand instinctively went to the ring. The faint glow flared brighter.
"Something's coming," he muttered. "The curse is waking."
Outside, the storm howled louder. Thunder cracked like a warning shot.
For the first time, Ariella understood: the curse was not just a story, but a living force—one that would test their love in ways neither of them could imagine.
And it had begun.
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