Trina's POV
"If I can't escape the fire, then I'll learn to control the flames."
I shoved the door open harder than necessary, the sharp bang echoing through the quiet house. My heels clicked against the marble floor, each step carrying the weight of a battle I hadn't even started yet. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, nails pressing into my palms, but the sting was nothing compared to the fire burning in my chest.
That dinner. That man.
Damian Blackwood sat across from me, calm, collected—like he had already won. Like he wasn't forcing me into a life I didn't want. Like he thought I would just give in, become another pretty piece in his perfectly controlled world.
I hated him for that.
I hated that smirk. That unreadable gaze. That infuriating certainty that I would fall in line.
My heels pinched at my feet, and in a surge of frustration, I kicked them off, sending one flying across the room. It hit the leg of a chair with a dull thud, toppling over. Good. Let something else fall apart for once.
The house was too quiet. Too still.
I hated the way silence made my thoughts louder, swirling around me like a storm I couldn't escape. My chest rose and fell in uneven breaths as I ran a hand through my hair, pacing.
I wasn't just angry.
I was trapped.
And the worst part? No one had tried to stop it.
Not my father, who had handed me over like I was a business deal. Not my mother, who had only looked at me with sad, silent acceptance. Even Olivia, my best friend, had only warned me to be careful—like I had a choice in any of this.
I stopped pacing, gripping the edge of the table, my knuckles whitening. No. If they thought I was going to break, they were wrong.
Damian Blackwood wanted a wife? He was going to get one.
He didn't know what was about to hit him
'I call the shots in this relationship.' Who the fuck did he think he was. Maybe I wasn't only pissed at the way he spoke. But the calm expression while saying it pissed me off.
I hated that he was nonchalant about my actions, but not for long. He sure wasn't prepared for what was coming for him
Walking into Naomi's apartment on Tuesday afternoon was like a breath of fresh air. Her house was a cozy two bedroom flat in an apartment building. She stayed at the 10th floor and the view was nice. I spent a lot of time here, practically the spare room was mine.
I stayed over whenever things at home were getting sour. This was one of those times. I didn't really want to see my parents,I also wanted to update her on things that had been happening recently.
"Rina!!" She exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. "How have you been? I hope your parents have not been bothering you about this marriage? And what is this I hear about a date. How did it go?" She jumbled up in one breathe.
One thing about Nai was she would want the gist of all what happened. Who am I to complain though. She was the only one in my close family circle I was still willing to talk to.
"Well, how do I start, He is a rude motherfucking controller. He spoke like he was so sure I would succumb to his stupid rules and pretty face. Who the hell does he think himself to be?" I said raising my voice slightly. Remembering the so called date made me pissed.
Amusement flashed through her eyes. "Well, at least now you think his pretty." She said.
What!!!!
"Whose team are you on, Naomi? Mine or his. It's like you have joined as an exclusive member of his fan club." I said glaring at her. She had forgotten that the point of all this was not to like him. It was to make him hate my guts so bad that he leaves me alone.
"I'm always on your team,Bestie. But, we would both be lying to ourselves by not accepting what a beautiful man he his. I think God was really partial in his creation. Remind me to ask him when we both die and go to heaven as ghost besties" she said giggling.
I couldn't deny. If you look past the arrogant behaviour, and the feeling of being above every other person Damien had. He sure looked close to perfect. I remember how he looked in a tailored suit. And God, He truly was the most handsome man I had ever seen.
But that wasn't the point
"No we are forgetting something, the part were we hate him!" I couldn't waste time thinking of how hot he was. That didn't change the stuck up attitude he had.
"Did you know he really gave me no choice. He said he controlled the relationship." I scoffed "In his wildest fucking dreams. He thinks he can tame me. He was not prepared for the storm coming to hit him. Calling we firecracker, he really would see fire."
I was sure he had struck is head against something when he was younger because, normal people don't walk around felling that on top of the world.
"I would like to see where this all ends up. I literally am sitting with my popcorn. I can't imagine how he would look when you finally strike." She said looking at me smiling.
"I call dibs on you both falling in love." She finally said.
Love
That was more impossible that the possibility of me dancing in a lion's den. She was definitely joking.
"That has to be a joke right? I'm this close to strangling you." I said in a joking threat voice.
She broke into a run with me fast on her trail.
" You know, Ri, I think sometimes you just have to let your guard down and go with the flow. Relationships don't always need to start perfect." She said like she was trying to advise me to give this whole drama a chance.
Never. I couldn't.
Not when it was all at the expense of my happiness.
I decided to keep quiet. I didn't want to think about it. I left all the marriage drama in my house. She took the hint of my silence and decided to change the topic.
"I bought us buckets of ice cream because what's a girls day without self- care and delicious ice cream." She spoke, making me beem with excitement.
"You know I love you with all my heart right!!!" I said pulling out the bowls and setting them on the counter
This was why I came here. She has a way of making me forget my worries and just live
Two days later, I decided to return home. Sure, I wasn't ready but I had to anyways. The house seemed quiet as usual. Maybe they both left for a function. They always did.
I slowly walked up the staircase laying my hand against the railing and skipping steps like I did as a little girl. How I wish I could rewind time,at least then I was just happy.
The quietness didn't last long, I noticed movement along the archway leading my parents bedroom wing. I looked up to see my mother staring at me sympathetically.
I didn't need her sympathy. But my heart slowly ached at her sight. She looked worked up like she had been worrying. Well, weren't we all.
I really just wanted to hear her speak even if it was just for a little. I wanted to know if she was willing to go against my father for me.
"You know, mum. When I was younger I always felt I was going to meet my prince charming. Someone I loved and adored, then on my wedding day you would hand me over with me dressed like a princess." A sad chuckle left my throat dryly, I paused to look at my feet. Then slowly, back up at her.
"What changed, mum. Why was it so easy to let my happiness go. Did you even love me enough to care about how I would have felt?" I said staring expectantly into her eyes. I wanted to understand why it all had to happen this way.
"Don't say that, My love. I love you more than my life. But your father thinks this is best for your future." She answered shattering my heart.
My father thinks, again?
"No mum, what do you think. I want to know what you felt. When you gave me up." I said looking at her expectantly. The pained expression on her face showed I struck something. I noticed the remorse in her eyes as she spoke.
"Sometimes, we must learn to survive first, then fight later." I. Could not believe it. That was just telling me to give up. I was hurt she didn't fight. She just accepted defeat like it was normal.
"Well thanks mum, it was good to take a page out of your book." I said walking into my room.
I couldn't even look at her. She gave up a long time ago.
It slowly started to sink in nothing could be done. I really was getting married.
I was going to become Mrs Blackwood.
I sank onto the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the moonlight spilling through my window. The anger was still there, simmering beneath my skin, but it wasn't wild anymore. It wasn't directionless.
I had spent my whole life being told what to do—how to behave, how to be the perfect daughter, the perfect fiancée, and soon, the perfect wife. But if Damian Blackwood thought he was marrying some obedient trophy, he was in for a surprise.
This wasn't just rebellion anymore. This was war
I pulled my phone from the nightstand, scrolling through articles about Damian, his name flashing across the screen in headline after headline. The Ruthless CEO. The Coldhearted Deal-Maker. The Man Who Never Loses.
I smirked. Perfect.
If he wanted a business deal, then I'd make sure it cost him.
Rule number one: I wouldn't make this easy for him. Every step, every moment, I'd make sure he regretted this marriage. Whether it was frustrating him in public, challenging him behind closed doors, or making him question every ounce of control he thought he had—I'd ruin his perfectly structured life.
Rule number two: I wouldn't let him break me. No matter what my father expected, no matter what my mother had resigned herself to, I refused to be just another piece in a game I hadn't chosen.
Rule number three…
I hesitated, my fingers tightening around my phone.I wasn't sure what rule number three was yet. But I knew one thing I wasn't going down without a fight.
Maybe Damian Blackwood never lost.
But he had never played against me before.
And I planned to change that.