Chloe's heart pounded as she locked eyes with Chase across the lavish living room. Something was off—something unsettling. The man she thought she knew sat beneath the glow of the modern chandeliers, cloaked in an aura of mystery. Her mind spun with questions.

Who was he now?

A friend?

A foe?

Chloe's breath caught as conflicting feelings churned in her heart. Doubt gnawed at her.

Chase's gaze bore into hers, a storm of unspoken feelings swirling within. She caught a glimpse of something raw, something serious—an intensity she couldn't quite read.

Was it longing? Regret?

Before she could think more, Damian's assuring voice cut through the tension. "Babe, are you alright?"

Chase's lips curled into a sneer. "Stop playing the hero, man. All you do is control her."

Damian's eyes blazed with fury. "Hey, asshole. She's with me because she wants to be. You were just a distraction."

"Wants to be? Or too scared to leave? You suffocate her with your so-called protection." Chase scoffed, his voice dripping with venom.

Damian's eyes narrowed, his anger barely restrained. "And you're any better? Lurking around like a desperate hyena, hoping she'll notice you. Pathetic."

Chloe's heart raced as she glanced between the two men, their heated exchange thickening the air with jealousy and resentment. She freed herself from Damian's grip, planting her hands on her hips. Frustration seethed through her as she clicked her tongue and sighed before raising her voice, firm and clear.

"Seriously? Both of you! Cut it out."

Ignoring Chloe, Chase tightened his fists, his knuckles turning white. "At least I don't treat her like a possession. I see her as a person."

Damian smirked, brushing a strand of sandy hair from his brow. "You're just a boy playing at being a man. You don't have a clue what she needs."

"And you're a coward, hiding behind your money and power," Chase shot back.

Noticing Chloe's crumpling face, Damian's eyes softened, his frown easing. This wasn't what she wanted. Her feelings had to come first, even if it meant tolerating the presence of a man he despised. "Chase, let's end this. Chloe's with me."

But Chase wasn't ready to back down. "I don't get it, Chloe. You deserve better than a controlling prick like him."

"Stop!" Chloe's voice rang out. "This isn't some epic war like Troy! I know the difference between being a control freak and having real control, and I chose Damian. If he couldn't manage control, he wouldn't know how to run a business—or a relationship."

"Fine. Your choice. I'll be here for you when Damian breaks your heart again," Chase replied.

Nick raised an eyebrow at both men and adjusted his shirt collar. "Chloe. Damian. Take a seat," he gestured at an empty couch.

The couple sat down, facing Nick and Angelo, while Damian subtly angled himself away from Chase. Noticing the rivalry between the two men, the women near Chase exchanged wary glances before sipping their drinks.

Chase's eyes roved over Chloe's flimsy dress, his gaze lingering on her curves and the peaks visible beneath the sheer fabric. He sipped his gin and tonic, focusing on her while ignoring the beauties who tried to kiss his neck.

"Bloody hell, stop eye-fucking her!" Damian roared.

Chase smirked, raising his glass. "Can't help it, Damian. Chloe's stunning."

Before Damian could respond, Angelo interjected, smacking Chase's head and shouting, "Sei uno scemo!"

Angelo was an imposing figure in his mid-fifties, his thick black hair and sharp dark eyes adding to his air of authority. His impeccably tailored suit only heightened the aura of power he exuded—a man not to be crossed lightly, Chloe realized.

Chase's smirk vanished. His cheeks grew red, and his neck muscles tensed, a large vein pulsing beneath his skin. "I'm no fool, Uncle. Sticazzi."

"Who gives a fuck? Remember who you're dealing with now. You should listen to your uncle. You might learn something," Damian growled, then muttered, "Cretino."

"Not here, Damian. Not now," Nick warned, placing his glass on the sofa table. He clapped his hands sharply, drawing the attention of the escorts. "Ladies, your presence is no longer needed. You may leave."

The women exchanged glances before gathering their purses and heading toward the elevator. They pressed the button, and as the doors slid shut behind them, a heavy silence settled in the room.

Nick broke the stillness, his voice grave. "You couldn't find Chloe, even with the best private investigators, because Angelo threatened them to stop digging. We needed to protect her."

Damian's eyes widened, and Chloe felt a jolt of confusion. "But why?" she demanded.

"We thought it was the best way to keep you safe," Nick replied. "Damian is a man in love. He would walk to the ends of the Earth to find you. If my sister ever knew about you, it would have put you in danger."

Nick's eyes darkened as he recounted the past. "Saira was relentless, Chloe. She tried to mutilate Vera for falling in love with Alistair. Vera's brother, Julian, wasn't spared either—he was attacked, drugged, and violated by Saira's people. She even tried to kill me by planting a bomb on a boat I was meant to be on. I didn't want you to become another victim. No more innocent blood should be spilled."

Chloe's heart ached as she listened. She was alive today because of the decisions Alistair and Nick made to keep her away from the family. "You did all this to protect me?"

Nick nodded. "Your family, too—Glenn and Ida Carter. Saira manipulated people to do unspeakable things. We did what we had to do."

Damian chuckled, rubbing his stubbled chin. "But we underestimated Chloe. She's the only one to outwit my mother in a chess game."

As the truth unraveled, Chloe and Damian began to understand the magnitude of the decisions to protect her. Their separation, though painful, had been necessary for their safety and future.

Chase glanced at Angelo and then at Chloe before taking a deep breath. "Uncle Lucky asked me to keep you safe. He thought you needed shielding."

Chloe's voice was barely above a whisper. "You were sent to protect me?"

Chase nodded. "Yes. Our meeting at Mark's party a few years ago wasn't a coincidence. My uncle told me about you, and I found a common friend—you know, six degrees of separation. But I started caring more about you than I should have."

Damian's gaze hardened. "So, all this time, you were supposed to keep her away from me? To guard her?"

"Yes," Chase admitted, his voice barely audible. "But it wasn't just a job. I fell for her. I couldn't help it as much as I tried to deny it."

Chase rose from his seat, his steps deliberate as he approached Damian. Extending his hand, he waited. Damian paused, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, before he finally reached out and gripped Chase's hand firmly.

"You've won Chloe's heart. That's something money and power can't buy," Chase said. "Best of luck."

"Thanks," Damian muttered, his voice tight. "Thanks for looking after my girl."

Chase nodded, giving one last lingering look at Chloe before leaving with Angelo, who waved goodbye.

"There's one more thing," Nick said to Chloe, handing her some papers. "I shared these with Damian earlier today. It's your history if you choose to read it."

"I'd like to know," Chloe said, her voice steady despite her tumultuous emotions.

She skimmed through the paperwork, her eyes squinting as she read. "What? But I thought..."

Damian poured wine into a glass, handing it to her gently. "Here. Drink it slowly."

Chloe's hands trembled as she held the papers. "But... how could this be? I thought my birth mother gave me away."

Nick shook his head. "She died of what started as an infection only days after you were born. The fever took over her, and there was nothing they could do."

"She wanted me?"

"Yes."

Chloe sipped her drink while she continued reading.

The final revelation hit her like a tidal wave.

Nick took a deep breath. "Your father... your biological father is Jason Zhou. He's an entrepreneur with a chain of casinos in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand."

Chloe's eyes widened, shock washing over her. "Jason Zhou? The Jason Zhou?"

Nick nodded. "Yes, and there's more. Scott-Quinn Enterprises' real estate company handles land and properties for the casinos."

Chloe's mind raced, struggling to process the information. "But my mother, Lihua Chen?"

Nick's expression softened. "She was your father's chief architect. They loved each other, but she left without telling him she was pregnant. He never knew about you."

Tears welled up in Chloe's eyes. "He doesn't know..."

Nick continued, "Alistair is in Beijing, hoping to bring this matter up with Jason. If your father wants to meet, would you be interested in seeing him for the first time?"

Chloe's breath caught in her throat. "I... I don't know. It's a lot to take in."

Nick placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Take your time, Chloe. This is a big decision."

The room fell silent as Chloe absorbed the significance of her heritage. The flickering light near her cast dancing shadows across the polished mahogany.

Nick walked toward the elevator, then paused, looking over his shoulder. "I'll leave you two to talk. See you at the funeral tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Nick," Chloe said, her voice shaky.

Damian squeezed her hand, his touch warm and soothing. "Do you want to go to the rooftop?"

Chloe nodded. "Yes, please."

***

The skyrise rooftop was a quiet oasis above the bustling city, where the world seemed to stand still. Damian led Chloe to the edge, the twinkling lights below casting a soft glow on their faces. The night air was crisp, but the heat between them seared into their souls. His presence, steady and commanding, was her anchor in the chaos.

"How are you feeling?" Damian asked, breathing in her delicious scent, that intoxicating mix of flowers and spices.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I want to meet my biological father, but I'm scared of the changes it might bring in our lives."

Damian nodded, his grip tightening around her waist, drawing her closer. "Whatever you decide, I'm here. You're not alone."

Chloe leaned into him, finding comfort in the strength of his embrace. She could feel the steady beat of his heart against her back, a rhythm that soothed her nerves.

"Are you afraid of heights?" Damian's question was almost teasing, but his tone held a darker edge.

"A little," Chloe managed, her voice trembling as she looked at the city below them. "Hold me."

"I won't let go," Damian assured, his firm hand sliding down to cup her buttocks, squeezing with a possessive grip that made her knees weaken.

He pulled out a thin platinum leash and attached it to the D-loop on her collar, the cool metal clicking into place with a sound that sent a shiver down her spine. This wasn't just a gesture but a reminder of their bond, a signal that he was in control and that she could lean on his strength.

"Remember, you're with me," he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear. "Focus on us."

Chloe moaned as Damian moved behind her, the hard bulge of his erection pressing against her lower back. Her pulse quickened—she wasn't alone in this life; Damian was her man, her king.

"You're safe," he whispered, his voice a dark, soothing promise as his hands trailed up to her neck, massaging it before roughly pulling down her top. Her generous breasts spilled free into the cool night air. "This is how I show you."

"Lean forward," he commanded gently.

"Yes, sir," Chloe answered, obeying as her anticipation heightened. She held the railing near the edge and turned her head, checking he was still there. The height made her head spin, but her lover's presence made her feel grounded.

With a reassuring smile, Damian pulled out the handcuffs he'd taken from the bondage room after their conversation with his uncle. "Do you trust me?"

Chloe nodded, her consent clear in her sparkling eyes. The cool metal clicked around her wrists, securing her to the cold metal railing. The thrill of vulnerability sent a shiver through her, mingling with the excitement bubbling beneath her skin.

"I promise neither of us will fall," Damian whispered seductively into her ear, his breath hot and teasing against her neck.

His hands roamed over her exposed skin, his fingers tracing the lines of her body, teasing and pinching her hardened nipples until her breath hitched with need. "You're so beautiful like this," he murmured, his voice hungry with lust.

He hiked up the bottom of her dress, exposing her bare ass to the cool air, and she heard the unmistakable sound of his zipper. She looked onward, her heart racing, as he positioned himself behind her.

"Can I fuck you without a condom?" he asked, his voice husky. "I promise I won't spill inside. I'll pull out beforehand."

Chloe turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "Yes," she breathed.

Damian pressed into her slowly, the fullness of him stretching and filling her completely. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned in, his mouth grazing her ear. "You feel that?" he murmured, his voice low. "Every inch of me inside you... that's where you belong."

Chloe's body reacted instinctively, her fingers gripping the railing as she absorbed the fullness of him. "Yes," she gasped, her voice trembling. "Make me yours, Damian. I've wanted you inside me for years. I dreamed of you when we were apart."

"Good girl," he growled, rewarding her with a slow, deliberate thrust that made her toes curl. His hips drove forward with controlled intensity, his hands sliding down her sides, caressing the curve of her waist. "So tight," he groaned. "You take me so well, Chloe. Every time."

His expert movements were precise, his rhythm measured, building the tension between them. The cold bite of the handcuffs against her wrists contrasted sharply with the heat building between them, heightening every sensation.

"You like this, don't you?" he whispered, his voice demanding. "Knowing you're bound to me, completely at my mercy."

Chloe's moans grew louder, more desperate as he pushed her closer to the brink. "Yes, Damian," she panted, her voice a plea for more. "Don't stop... please."

A salacious smile curled his lips as he tightened his grip on her hips, his thrusts growing deeper, more urgent. "I'm not stopping until you cry for me," he growled, his breath hot against her neck.

"Ride me harder," Chloe begged, her voice frantic, as her hips bucked against him. Her tousled hair blew in the wind while waves of pleasure crashed through her. The handcuffs clinked with each movement, a sharp reminder of his hold when she looked down at the world below.

"You're mine," he declared, his voice laced with possessiveness as he drove into her harder, faster. "Say it."

"I'm yours," Chloe cried out, her body trembling as she teetered on the edge of ecstasy. "Only yours, Damian. As you are mine."

Her words spurred him on, his thrusts becoming almost punishing in their intensity. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice a satisfied growl as he pushed her over the edge, her moans echoing into the night air. "Now come for me."

With one final, mighty plunge, Damian roared Chloe's name as her body shattered around him, convulsing with the force of her orgasm while she clung to the railing, the cold metal biting into her wrists. Damian withdrew, finishing his own release as he held her close. Her pussy clenched when she felt the warmth of his seed spilling on her buttocks.

As their breaths slowed, Damian unhooked the leash from Chloe's collar before unlocking the handcuffs. "You don't need these anymore," he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to her shoulder. "You're safe with me."

Chloe's eyes met his as she adjusted her dress and rubbed her wrists. "I know. I always feel safe with you."

"Come, I'll wash you and massage some ointment on your wrists," he offered, his voice softening as he took her hand.

"Dami," Chloe began, "what if I were to fall pregnant?"

Damian paused, his eyes searching hers. "I would stand by you, no matter what. I know you don't want to be a mother now, but if it happens, I'll support you every step of the way. You wouldn't have to go through it alone."

"One day," Chloe whispered, "I want your child."

Damian nodded, pulling her into him. Yet, a hint of worry flickered in his eyes.

Tomorrow was his mother's funeral—and the day he would meet Gemma to cut all ties.

***

A/N: What's Gemma up to?