I never imagined he would notice me. But when he did—when he asked me out—it was like something out of a romantic movie.
We had our first date on a pier, walking hand in hand under the moonlight.
One year later, we were standing at the altar, promising forever.
I didn’t know that forever would last less than a day.
The day we got married was the happiest of my life. Damian couldn’t stop smiling, and I was crying happy tears as I read my vows.
But before we even made it to the reception, my husband collapsed.
At first, I thought he was joking—some silly wedding-day prank. But when he didn’t get up, panic spread like wildfire.
People rushed to help. Paramedics arrived. I stood there, frozen, watching them try to bring him back.
Nothing worked.
Hours later, in the cold sterility of the hospital, a doctor told me Damian was gone. A heart attack at just 32 years old.
How does a healthy man just die like that?
His family arrived at the funeral. I had met them only once before, and that was enough to know they didn’t approve of me.
They were wealthy, powerful, and ruthless. Damian had warned me about them but never told me everything.
Standing near the casket, I overheard his mother hissing into the phone:
“She was probably after his money and caused his death. Get our lawyer on the phone.”
I wanted to scream at her.
I didn’t even know Damian had money.
But I was too shattered to fight.
Grief devoured me. My apartment became a suffocating tomb of memories.
I needed to get away.
I grabbed my passport, threw clothes into a suitcase, and called a taxi.
I slid into the backseat, staring blankly out the window, trying to breathe through the pain.
Then I heard it.
“Fasten your seatbelt, please.”
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I knew that voice.
I turned my head so fast my neck ached.
There, in the rearview mirror, were Damian’s unmistakable hazel eyes staring back at me.
“Damian?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “How… how are you here? What…?”
His knuckles whitened against the steering wheel. Then he swerved the car, pulling onto a quiet, deserted street.
For a moment, he didn’t speak.
Then, turning to me, he said the words that changed everything.
“I’m sorry, Paige. I know this is a lot. Please don’t hate me.”
I sat there, mouth open, lungs frozen, as Damian unraveled the impossible truth.
He faked his death.
Why?
Because his wealthy, corrupt family wanted to control him—or destroy him.
They had used him for years, exploiting his brilliant mind to expand their shady business empire.
When he tried to leave their world and start a legitimate company, they threatened him.
Then he met me—and I became their leverage.
“They were going to ruin us, Paige. I had to disappear.”
So, he staged everything.
With the help of a fixer, he took a drug that slowed his heart rate, making it seem like he was dead.
A corrupt doctor played along. A funeral home was paid off.
“I was never in that coffin,” Damian admitted, voice heavy. “They swapped me out before the burial.”
I stared at him, shaking, torn between love and rage.
He let me grieve him. He let me suffer.
“YOU LET ME THINK YOU WERE DEAD!” I screamed when we finally got home.
“I had no choice!” he pleaded.
For hours, I yelled. Sobbed.
By morning, I was exhausted. Empty.
“What now?” I asked hoarsely.
Damian explained that by faking his death, he ensured his family couldn’t touch his legitimate assets. Everything had been transferred to me.
All I had to do was sell them and split the money with him.
Then he was leaving—abroad, for good.
“Come with me,” he asked softly. “I know I hurt you, but I did this for us.”
I shook my head, still in disbelief.
“I can’t just pick up where we left off,” I whispered. “I need space.”
He nodded. “I understand. I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”
For weeks, I ignored his texts. But as I worked to sell his business and settle his affairs, I started to see it.
He did it to protect me.
He was reckless. Stupid. But also selfless.
And I still loved him.
One night, I picked up the phone and dialed his number.
“Paige?” he answered, his voice full of hope.
“Where are you?” I asked. “I’ll come to you. But never do that to me again.”
Now, I’m in another country. They speak a different language, but the beach is 30 minutes away.
I left everything behind. And it was worth it.
Damian and I had another wedding, and this time, we actually got to enjoy it.
His family will never find us.
And we’re living our best life.
