TRAPPED BY LIES
"Nat, no, this is mistake..."
"Please, Natalie, stop! You're twisting the truth—I made a mistake, that's all!" Damien's voice trembled, desperation straining every word.
But it was already too late.
The entire Langford estate came alive as heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs and hallway lights flicked on. Within seconds, the living room flooded with members of the Langford family.
"What's going on here?" Miranda asked, brows furrowed with concern as she spotted her daughter clinging to the wall, tears threatening to spill.
The moment Natalie saw her family gathered, she collapsed into her mother's arms with an exaggerated sob. "Mom…!"
Miranda held her, brushing her hair. "What happened, sweetheart? Who did this to you?"
"It was Damien," she sniffed, trembling as she pointed an accusing finger.
Every eye turned to Damien.
His pulse surged. "No—it's not what it looks like. I swear on my life, it was a misunderstanding!"
"You bastard!" Knox Langford, Clarissa's older brother, lunged forward, grabbing Damien by the collar and shaking him furiously. "What the hell did you do to my sister?"
"Tell us, baby, what happened?" Miranda asked, eyes narrowing. "And why is your dress torn like this?"
"I came downstairs to get water… and Damien…" Natalie's voice broke, lips trembling. "He grabbed me from behind. I tried to get away, but he wouldn't let go. He… he forced himself on me. I barely escaped."
Her sobs grew louder, and the entire room stilled in horror.
"What did you just say?" Miranda growled, gently pushing Natalie aside. She marched up to Damien, rage flaring in her eyes. Without hesitation, she delivered three sharp slaps across his face.
"You disgusting animal! You dared lay hands on my daughter?!"
"That's a lie! I didn't touch her like that!" Damien protested, blood rushing to his cheeks both from the pain and the shame.
"You're a disgrace!" Knox shouted and punched Damien in the face, the blow breaking his nose. Blood gushed down Damien's mouth as he stumbled back.
"Oh my God!" Damien's aunt-in-law gasped, covering her mouth in horror. "This is beyond forgiveness. Miranda, you need to call the police.
That man should be in jail!"
From behind the tears, Natalie smirked to herself.
Finally. Revenge.
Damien had humiliated her months ago by exposing her drug use to the family—particularly to their father, Williams Langford. It had nearly destroyed her image. But tonight, she'd baited him perfectly. One hug in the dark, and she twisted it into a crime that would haunt him forever.
"You're not getting away with this," she hissed under her breath. "Tomorrow morning, I'll report you to Dad. You're going down."
The thought of her father—who had distanced himself from her after the cocaine scandal—finally believing her again made her giddy.
Damien dropped to his knees, his voice breaking.
"Please, Madam Langford. I would never do something so vile. I only mistook her for Clarissa. I swear I was half-asleep, I didn't see clearly…"
"Shut up!" Knox snarled and kicked him in the stomach, sending him sprawling onto the cold tile floor.
"You'll answer to the family tomorrow," Miranda snapped, grabbing Natalie's arm. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you away from this filth."
The rest of the family filed out, casting Damien one last look of disgust.
He lay motionless, blood on his lips, chest heaving. But his pain wasn't from the kicks or the humiliation. It was the fear.
Fear of what Clarissa would say.
Fear of what Williams Langford would do.
Clarissa had returned home late, and her father was due back in the morning for her birthday.
Williams had always been the only one in the Langford family who showed Damien the slightest bit of grace.
But after this?
"It's over for me," Damien whispered into the empty room. "God… help me."
**********
Dawn arrived too soon.
Damien hadn't slept. His body throbbed, but his heart ached worse. The only thing keeping him upright was his determination to clear his name.
Then the sound of high heels snapped him from his thoughts.
"Damien! Wake up, you pathetic slum!" Clarissa's voice sliced through the air like glass.
He sat up quickly. "Clarissa… Happy birthday, love...."
Smack!
Her hand struck his face so hard he reeled back into the couch.
"How dare you?" she snarled. "What did you do to Natalie?!"
"Please, Clarissa. Let me explain. It wasn't what she said..."
"There's nothing to explain!" Natalie shouted, appearing beside her sister, a practiced look of betrayal painted across her face.
"He tried to rape me, Clarissa!" she cried. "Your own husband assaulted me!"
Clarissa's jaw tightened. Miranda folded her arms and stepped forward.
"Divorce this scum immediately. He laid his filthy hands on your sister, and on your birthday no less."
Clarissa's eyes darted between the people she called family… and Damien. She saw the bruises on his face. The blood. The desperation.
She saw pain in his eyes. Shame. But also… truth.
He looked at her, broken. "Clarissa… I know I'm a failure. I know I'm poor. I've never been the husband you deserved. But I'm not a monster. I would never violate another woman, especially not your sister."
For a heartbeat, Clarissa froze. His voice cracked like it always did when he was at his limit. And that look in his eyes—so raw, so full of wounded love—it pierced through the fog of lies.
But she couldn't let herself bend. Not yet.
Clarissa turned slowly and fixed her eyes on Natalie.
Natalie stiffened. She recognized that look—it was a silent accusation.
"Clarissa, don't fall for his lies. He's manipulating you..."
"Come with me," Clarissa interrupted, grabbing her sister by the wrist and dragging her down the hall.
"Clarissa!" Miranda called out. "Don't tell me you're siding with him!"
Inside the bedroom, Clarissa shut the door behind them. Then without warning....
Slap!
Slap!
Natalie gasped, holding her face. "You slapped me!"
"And I'll do it again if you don't tell me the truth!" Clarissa growled.
Natalie's lip trembled, but her eyes blazed. "So now you're on his side?"
"Don't pull that card with me," Clarissa snapped. "I know Adam. He wouldn't do this. And I know you. You've hated him ever since he told Dad about your cocaine habit."
Natalie clenched her jaw. "You're really defending that broke nobody? He's beneath you, Clarissa. What does he even offer you?"
Clarissa said nothing.
Natalie stormed forward, voice rising. "You're not sick anymore! You're not that helpless girl dying in a hospital bed! You could have anyone now. You deserve someone like Ryder—not some charity case."
"Damien doesn't belong in this house. He drags you down. He doesn't fit our family, our name, our world. And you know it. You're just too scared to admit it."
Clarissa looked away, shame flashing across her face.
Natalie smirked. "Even you don't love him."
Clarissa's hands clenched into fists. "Even if I don't… I can't leave him. Not yet."
"Because of Dad?" Natalie scoffed.
Clarissa nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "He's the only one who sees value in Damien. And after this…"
The room fell silent.