The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

As night fell upon the town, Zayne returned to the estate with a ring in his pocket. Before going to Iris, he sought out Damien, needing to speak about Hayden.

Zayne opened the door to Damien’s study and walked in, finding him enjoying a drink.

"Has Eloise tossed you out of the chamber so you are drinking your feelings away?" Zayne inquired as he entered.

"She’s never kicked me out of our chamber, and she won’t ever need to do so. Why are you here at this hour? Dinner has already passed," Damien said, suspicious. "You shouldn’t sneak to see Iris. Even if you are engaged."

"So, she has told you the news. It was rather abrupt, but I went to get a ring prepared for her. Well, it is a family ring, but I made a few additions to suit her taste. I plan to give it to her before she departs in the morning, so might I have a chamber here for the night?" Zayne requested.

"You may," Damien allowed.

"I may? I must come to you more often at this hour," Zayne said, pleasantly surprised, though he wondered if Damien’s generosity hid calculation. "Why be so kind?"

"It will be good news for the women to speak of when they leave the estate. That is all," Damien explained.

"That reminds me. I am surprised you are not spending these last hours with Eloise, since you need to part from her," Zayne said, believing Damien was kicked out.

"It is not as though I will never see her again, and I will visit her while she is with the countess. We are married," Damien reminded Zayne. "And the countess seems to adore me. If I cling to Eloise now, she will want to stay."

"Did Reece pass on my message to you? I am going to help you with getting rid of Hayden," Zayne offered, leaning forward.

"Why?" Damien asked.

"Well, you are sending my fiancée away because of the danger from Hayden. I cannot simply intrude in the countess’s home as I do with you, so the only answer is to help you. I want this dealt with quickly," Zayne said.

"So, you are not doing it out of kindness for me, but for a woman you have known far less. I see how it is," Damien said, followed by a sip of his drink.

"Wait!" Zayne exclaimed, reaching for Damien. "That is how it is with you and Eloise. You might have known her longer than I have known Iris, but you would pick her over me any day."

Damien shook his head. "And here I thought you were worried about him trying to hurt me and my wife."

"I am. You brute!" Zayne yelled, tired of Damien’s mocking tone. "If you keep this up, I will go to Eloise to complain."

Damien chuckled, unbothered. "Do as you wish. You don’t need to help me against Hayden, as I already have a plan."

"If you kill him, all fingers will point to you. You will need a good tale to keep yourself from becoming imprisoned. Though my uncle would make sure you are quite comfortable. We must think of a plan that keeps you from suspicion," Zayne said, making himself comfortable in Damien’s chair.

"We?" Damien raised his brow, sceptical.

"Yes, we. I need Iris to return to the estate soon so I may be with her. She needs to meet with my mother, and then there is a wedding to be planned. Then there is also the wait to see what happens with her father," Zayne explained.

Zayne didn’t want his wedding to be prolonged over Hayden of all people.

"Given my family ties, you know that I am best suited to help you. I can drive away all suspicion surrounding you. If trouble falls on you, then Eloise will be sad. Then she cannot help Iris with our wedding, which in turn affects me," Zayne explained further.

"I see," Damien said, setting his glass down. "I do intend for Hayden to have a rather unfortunate accident. I’m in no mood to hold him captive. I want the man dead, and it is to happen quickly."

Damien continued, "I’ve been looking into my parents’ deaths to see if he is tied to it. Even if he isn’t, he deserves to die."

"I hate to think he was involved when he was present all the times that I came to see you and acted as though he cared for you. It’s going to be hard for you to get evidence. The only way you will know is if he confesses it, and he won’t," Zayne said, certain Hayden had a story to protect himself.

"Not to me, he won’t. I’ve already delivered a message by way of a servant to speak to my aunt. She’s still quite useful to me," Damien shared. "In the meantime, I’m keeping track of Hayden and giving him a bit of a fright."

"The roads are a bit slippery after all the rain. There are bound to be a few incidents, and if he finds himself in one, it cannot be placed as my doing," Damien said, revealing a fragment of his plot.

"Hmm. That is one good way to go about it. I would have staged a robbery where he ends up being shot. There are countless possibilities for how to get rid of him without suspicion. The fewer men you involve, the better," Zayne suggested.

"I have a very select group of men helping me with this matter. I have all their loyalty," Damien assured Zayne. "As soon as the women are out of the estate, I will be pushing forward with my plans. You will be able to see Iris back at the estate shortly."

"To ensure it, I will be helping you. I must see that Hayden doesn’t get the upper hand and wound you. I’ll help to look into the old details about your parents’ incident. I know a man who can get the case for me," Zayne offered.

Zayne rose from the chair. "For now, stay away from the court and from meeting with Hayden. I hope you aren’t going to speak to your aunt here or at her home."

Damien shook his head. "She’s never allowed to come here anymore. Not after what she said to me and how she treated Jane. I’m meeting with her at a secret place on my land. If she comes with her husband, I might just kill him then."

"You do realise you would have to kill her as well since she would be a witness, right?" Zayne pointed out.

"That thought has come to mind, and left without a care," Damien replied, his voice chillingly calm.

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