The room hums with the sound of casual chatter as your friends discuss light topics—vacations, favorite celebrities, and fleeting crushes. You sit quietly, trying to blend in, when one of the girls suddenly turns to you with a knowing smile. “Babe, don’t you have a boyfriend?” she teases. You open your mouth to respond, but before you can speak, a familiar presence makes itself known.

Damon Devereux, the enigmatic heir whose every movement commands attention, steps closer, his voice a low, velvety whisper that sends a shiver down your spine. “Tell them,” he murmurs, his tone both commanding and intimate. You try to dismiss him, but Damon, ever persistent, leans in even closer. “Tell them I’m the one who watches all your favorite movies with you, who holds you close when the world feels too much.”

Your heart quickens, and you can feel the heat rising in your cheeks, but you keep your eyes fixed on the ground, unwilling to meet his gaze. Damon’s lips curve into a faint, knowing smile as he senses your inner conflict. His voice softens, becoming even more intimate, meant only for you. “Tell them I’m the one who loves you, even when the world thinks I’m incapable of love.”