Damon made sure that their hotel party remains a grand affair. All the elite class was invited to celebrate the acquisition of the hotel. No one could deny the invite. The tension to know who the mysterious lady was ever high. Nobody had stopped talking about it since.

Nancy wore a sleek white dress, minimalist in design yet striking in its elegance. She looked every bit the part of high-class socialite. Her understated makeup and softly styled hair only amplifying her natural beauty. The crowd whispered in astonishment. Room was filled with anticipation and curiosity from the moment Damon Anderson and Nancy entered the room.

Rumors had flown for weeks about who Damon's mysterious wife might be, and now the answer was before them—Nancy Walter, a woman many had never even heard of. Damon's wedding was such a private event and the one who attended weren't the ones to gossip.

But right now, Nancy's white dress gave her another look. She was the new bride everyone was wondering about a few weeks ago. The function though was setup to enjoy food and performances soon turned into an event no less than a reception for Nancy. Everyone wanted to know her better. It was a rare occasion because they knew it wasn't everyday Damon would invite them. Many in the hotel business soon realized it was no less than a power move to make them beware of to never eye what Anderson's own.

Robert and Selena entered soon after, their presence adding to the already mounting tension in the room. Nancy noticed their curious glances but stayed poised, knowing she was now under the microscope of this elite crowd. Conversations hushed as she and Damon walked through the throng. Some men's gazes lingered, taking in her quiet confidence, while others exchanged knowing looks, finally understanding why Nancy had bid with such confidence earlier in the week. The Anderson fortune was a world apart from anything they could have imagined.

As the evening unfolded, Nancy stood by Damon's side as a guest tried to strike up a conversation. "Walter, was it?" The woman asked, eyeing her curiously. Nancy smiled politely and replied, "Yes, Nancy Walter. Damon and I met through business." She could feel Damon watching her from the corner of his eye. His silent approval giving her confidence. She deflected more probing questions about her background with ease, keeping her answers vague but respectful, ensuring the Anderson name remained untarnished.

Robert came to stand beside Damon for a moment and told him. "This is where it all ends, I guess. We have got our influence back in the region." Damon smiled getting his arm around Nancy but Nancy never looked at him and kept her posture more to the guests who seemed to be walking to them to thank them for the party. "No, this is where it all starts." Damon replied,

"I am happy that you aren't married to a stripper this time. But write it down. She is going to give you a hard time. I don't know what exactly but it is written on her face." Damon too looked at Nancy but didn't find anything strange. "Well, you have been right about many things. I hope you are for this one too. Where's the fun if my woman doesn't keep me crazy for her or...at her?"

Robert smiled telling him. "I wish you luck. I had received some messages from Russia. There is a huge order for our new guns. Selena and I take a leave from here now. It is our girl's past bed time. She's must be missing me." Damon nodded and Robert left.

After one more hour, the party soon moved into a more relaxed phase, where the guests enjoyed live performances from famous singers and dancers. The energy shifted as everyone settled into their evening, mingling and drinking under the soft, ambient lighting. Damon, however, had other plans. He leaned close to Nancy, his hand grazing her lower back as he whispered, "Let's sneak away."

Nancy hesitated, scanning the room. "Shouldn't we stay? We can't leave our guests like this." She whispered back, though she knew his mind was already made up.

"They won't notice. Right now, most of them have forgotten if they are the guest or host. Look at them, they have already started to loosen up." Damon replied, pulling her toward a side door. She let herself be guided, smiling at his insistence.

Up in their suite, Damon wasted no time. He pulled her close, sliding one strap of her dress off her shoulder. The dim lights in the room were adding into the mood. "I was thinking we could head back to Alaska tomorrow evening," he said casually but before she could react, he pulled her face to him and kissed her. Nancy wanted to pull away but he entered his tongue in her mouth deepening the kiss. Nancy groaned trying to breath but when Damon didn't let go, she pulled his hair. The amount of excitement that swirled in Nancy was unmatched. And, in the next moment she pulled his head away by pushing him.

"What was that?" Nancy demanded but Damon got her in the air and took her to bed.

"I thought you will refuse to leave Italy. Or that you just don't want to leave yet."

"So, it was your way to shut me up?" Nancy raised her brows.

Damon tried to get over her all the while telling her. "Can someone shut you up?..." Damon got his knees at her sides and removed his shirt. "...I can't dare to shut you up. I was mesmerized by your mouth." But Nancy hasn't forgotten about leaving Italy. "So, Robert was right. It was never the honeymoon. Your work finishes here with this party and..." Nancy gulped looking at his sculptured body and Damon got down to tell her. "Our honeymoon is never going to end. I promise you that," Nancy looked at him mad and rolled her eyes when he tried to remove her dress.

"What does it take to get your manners in check when we are alone in the room?" This made Nancy shot up her brows.

"You said what?" Nancy demanded.

"I love you, Nancy. But remember our vows. You submit to me."

"A woman either offers her loyalty or submission. What do you want?" This got Damon confused.

"You said what?"

"If you want my submission, I will lower myself to fit your mold. I will not talk out the tensions with you..." Nancy got her hand on his abs and added, "...I won't touch you."

"I am not saying this,"

"I will might fall in your enemy's arms because this is what I do. I am a woman I submit whoever demands after getting his hands on me." Even the thought got Damon angry to the point his whole body seemed to be steaming off.

"But when I am loyal to you. I will fight and burn the whole world for you. So, tell me Damon..." Damon was quick to interrupt her with. "Just don't think about another man..." But cutting him off Nancy whispered, "I am not thinking about any man. So, tell me Damon..." Nancy got her back up from the bed. She slowly rose on her knees in front of him before she asked in a whisper. "Do you want to force me into your submission? Or win my loyalty by catering to my needs."

"You are my wife," Damon told her but Nancy pushed on his shoulders adding. "I am your wife. Don't do things that would make me raise my opinions." Nancy pushed on his chest slowly getting him on his back on the bed. Nancy got over him making Damon chuckle. "I know what are you trying to do, Nancy."

Nancy got her weight on his lower part that was still in the pants. She let her hands wander on his chest and stated. "Do you know what I want for my loyalty?" Nancy extended herself to his mouth and pressed her chest over him. "What?" Damon had to ask because she refuse to speak up.

"I want your submission." This got a sarcastic laugh from Damon's mouth but Nancy got his face back to her with her finger. "A woman's submission is all delusion while it is the man's one who spoke of his submission by his services to his woman. The woman you thrust into is not just a woman. She is the woman who would give you your heir and is very much in a position to estrange your relationship with your children..." This got lines on Damon's face but Nancy was quick to add. "...and, you don't want that Damon, trust me." She kissed his mouth but Damon seemed to be too shocked by the lioness on him. He looked into her eyes and felt the room owned by Nancy. Looking at her sly smile Damon could tell she wanted to own him as much as he wanted to own her. Nancy straightens herself and removed her dress above her head. She then proceeded to move her hand over the tension inside his pants before she worked on opening his pants.

Damon traced his hands on her thighs when she rose herself up to adjust on his mammoth stick. "Ah,..." Nancy's breath hitched,

She looked like a queen riding him. Nancy got her hands on his abs before she started riding him as if he was her untamed stallion. Damon looked at the queen riding over him. He held her and fondled with her breasts that seemed to swell more in the pregnancy. Her body was changing and adapting to accept and nourish his heirs. And, it was the first time Damon knew she was no less than a queen. He could tell this woman was more than a woman. But no queen was not the right word for her. She was his. Only his. She was his woman.

"Ah..." Nancy fell on him in ecstasy and Damon got his arm around her back. Her hair was all over her face but Damon made sure that she hears him when he said, "I want your loyalty. I want everything you have." But then he got his hands on her ass and took control of her before seething. "There is no part of you my hands can't handle." Nancy looked up with a smile but got tense when Damon jerked more into her. "I think I can give you that,..." She told him before getting her elbows at the sides of his face before she said, '...and, more," But gasped when Damon rolled over her. "Like what?" Damon asked,

"My love," She offered and Damon nodded, "Yes, I want all of it. All of it what is there to get."

Damon made her a drink after they were finished with their excitement. "So, do we still have to leave Italy?"

Damon smirked at her question. His fingers traced her arm. "You can come back whenever you want. You've got property here now. Hell, I'll make sure you have a second nationality if you have fallen in love with this place." Nancy smiled. "I haven't fallen in love with this place. I got someone who has made me feel loved here."

"And, that same man can make you feel loved anywhere." Nancy smiled at his promise.

"Also, I don't need this hotel. I haven't earned it. It is supposed to be yours." Nancy brought up the topic and Damon stopped her. "No way, you can keep the hotel and much more. You have earned it. Just try to not talk back to me sometimes when we have company? Robert is still..." Nancy couldn't help her laugh before she told him. "I will try but I can't promise."

"I love trying. Remember, I complimented your attempt to apologize to Robert. Though it never sounded one bit genuine." Nancy resisted at his claim. "No, it was genuine."

Damon's expression was of giving up. "Yes, it was. It just didn't sound like it. And, never said you haven't earned this hotel. You've earned more than you think."

"What?" Nancy asked taking the gulp on the wine. "Me," Saying this Damon got over her and Nancy quickly chugged on the rest of the drink knowing well it was going to be a long night.

The next morning, Nancy was already busy with the hotel staff, instructing them on how to prepare for their departure later that day. She wanted everything to be perfect, knowing this would be their last day in Italy. As she wrapped up, a maid approached her, slightly out of breath. "Mr. Anderson is calling for you on the main terrace my lady."

"Anything I must know," Nancy asked to which she added,

"There seemed to be a guest he is attending and having tea with." Nancy dismissed her and made her way upstairs.

When she saw Damon standing next to a tall, sharply dressed man she vaguely recognized from the party the night before.

"Do you remember him?" Damon asked, his tone light.

Nancy blinked, searching her memory. "I'm sorry, we met a lot of people last night."

The man bowed his head before he smiled. "Mathew. I run an ammunition corporation with a partnership with Anderson enterprise." But Damon was quick to tap on his shoulder. "He's also a close friend. I told him to come see us in Alaska but he insisted to get a hold on us before our departure from Italy because he had a gift for you,"

Mathew came forward to offer her a box that Nancy confused with a jewelry box at first.

Nancy's eyes widened looking at a long barrel golden revolver. It was a classic, beautifully crafted, and had intricate detailing on the handle.

"It's stunning," Nancy said, looking to Damon for guidance.

He shook his head, smiling. "It's not for me. It's for you."

Touched but bewildered, Nancy ran her fingers over the gun's cool surface. "I don't know much about guns, but it's a rare beauty. One can tell just by looking at it."

"Then you should appreciate this," Damon said, tilting his head. "The gift should be tried in front of the giver. Only then is it truly accepted."

Nancy's eyes widened further. "Right now?" she asked, uncertain.

Damon nodded, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I'll help you if you need it."

Mathew stood back, watching her with an almost unsettling smile. Nancy walked to the open terrace, aiming at the hills beyond a receding forest line. "Are you sure it's safe? What if someone's out there?"

Damon joined her, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Aim for the dense woods. No one's there."

She took a deep breath, following Damon's whispered instructions. "A little to the left. A little upward. Now, pull the trigger."

"So, I just pull it?" Damon smiled at her question. A hair strand was moving on Nancy's face. He tucked it behind her ear. He remembered how he had Nancy upside down because two fools messed with him. They must have believed they had won at life. But no one does when they are playing with Damon. Do they? Damon made sure he was behind her to hold her if she would need it. "Yes, now," Nancy followed his instruction. The recoil did took her by surprise, pushing her back slightly into Damon's chest.

"How does it feel?" Damon asked, his voice low in her ear.

"Exhilarating," Nancy admitted with a grin.

Damon chuckled. "Then do it again. There's three more bullets." Nancy was about to shot but Damon got the barrel of her gun only slightly to the right. "Now,"

Nancy shot again; this time more prepared for the force. Afterward, she lowered the gun, her expression shifting as memories stirred. "This reminds me of that cellar," she said quietly. "You..." But then Nancy trailed off.

"I?" Damon prompted.

"You were cruel," she said, meeting his eyes.

Damon smirked, brushing off the accusation. "That's not news."

They returned inside, where Nancy smiled at Mathew. "Thank you for the gift," she said graciously before offering, "Why don't you stay for the lunch?"

Damon, however, cut in. "His work here has finished. He also has somewhere to be, so he won't be able to stay for lunch. But you're always welcome to visit us in Alaska, Mathew,"

Mathew nodded, exchanging a look with Damon before leaving. Damon told Nancy that he will see him out. Nancy nodded but then stared at the gun. The cold metal now had some heat and smell in it. She shook her head wondering it was one strange gift to offer.

She put the gun back into the box and was placing the box back on the table when Damon walked in. Nancy looked up and noticed Damon's thoughtful expression. "We need to talk," he said suddenly.

Nancy frowned. "About what?"

"About that memory from the cellar. From now on, I'd rather we don't talk about it—ever."

Nancy didn't know what he meant. "I didn't get it."

"I don't want you to bring up Ken, Aria, our history to us or to even our kids."

Nancy arched a brow, surprised by the sudden demand. "You want me to forget all about it?"

Damon shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes, we have put it all behind it for good. Haven't we? Let's tell them we met in a shop, and I asked you out." Nancy raised her brows and looked amused when she asked, "And, you think they will believe it?"

"Why not?" Damon asked making Nancy shrug the obvious fact.

"You don't ask for anything Damon. How am I to answer them if they asked me why did I accept your advances?" Damon narrowed his eyes, "Excuse me? Why would they say this?" Damon asked but Nancy has already passed him. Damon walked behind her and quickly caught her around the corner before she could walk inside their bedroom. "Why wouldn't you go out with me? If I had asked you out?"

"Let me ask you a question? Did you ask Aria out?"

Damon looked at the terrace where Nancy has shot only a moment ago before he looked at Nancy. "What about her?"

"I saw you when you two met. When she got in your lap to get that dollar bill from your mouth. Did you ask her out?" Damon stared at her before telling her. "A girl walked into my lap after swaying her hips to get my attention." Damon tried to reason.

"That was her job." Nancy told him.

"How am I supposed to remember it when she is in my lap?"

"See? Our kids will never buy your lies, Damon because you just gets the situations to your preference." Nancy wanted to get into the bedroom but Damon pulled her close. In a serious tone, he told her. "I don't want you to bring up your brother, Aria, or how we met or were in the past. See me in a different light." Damon got his hands on her waist and pulled on her.

Nancy felt him erected in an instant. She told him, "We are to leave in two hours," knowing what was to follow but Damon already picked her and told her. "It's not like we can't stay here a little more." Damon kissed her and guided her to the bed.

He was getting out of his shirt when Nancy asked, "You look mad,"

"Fine, tell my child everything as it is..." Damon leaned over her and kissed her mouth before he started stripping her and continued. "...then, he will ask me why I accepted your proposal instead, and I will tell him to shut the fuck up stupid ass. You wouldn't be here if I didn't,"

Nancy laughed even imagining the situation. She couldn't help but find it hilarious.

Later that night, on their private plane back to Alaska, Nancy couldn't shake the mix of emotions swirling inside her. Damon had been attentive, making sure she was comfortable during the flight, arranging a healthy meal for her, even ensuring she could sleep on the single bed available on his private jet. But Nancy couldn't help but feel a strange sadness as they left Italy behind, the place where Damon had begun treating her with love.

She knew he had had his motives and reasons to getting attracting to her. She still hasn't forgotten that he only started seeing her in a different light once he realized she was a virgin. She had tried to tell herself that this man didn't have any morals but she was a woman in the end and couldn't stay nonchalant to how he has started making her feel. And, the moment he was no more she get to see what they were sharing. And, the stakes involve were higher than she had imagined. It was either life with Damon or nothing at all.

She couldn't be confused about ever getting herself to the point where she is wondering who to side. She had chosen her side. Damon was hers. No matter his moral compass. She could go against his ways but not him. She could resist and spoke against his actions but never wanting him to lose his hold and influence. Because whatever Damon would be left with it will be hers. Whatever he will commit she will have the half blame of it. Nancy didn't know what the fate of her family would be with Damon but she had chosen to stay with him. Today and tomorrow.

But still, there was one big hole in her chest. He had never apologized to her. As if the woman he broke was someone else and the wife he only cherishes is some other. Nancy smiled closing her eyes on the plane. Perhaps, it was for better to some wounds and situations to stare back at you from the hollow. And, having such dark closets just made them more human.

When they landed, a few cars were waiting for them at the gate. Damon seemed to be getting to home while Nancy wonders if she would get her anxiety back by looking at the space that has terrified her for weeks. The place where every moment was nothing but torturous. Where often times she was so close to lose her life at Damon's hands.

The staff greeted them at the mansion. As they walked inside, Nancy noticed the head maid, Odelia, rolling her eyes. Nancy was exhausted but unwilling to let it go, Nancy stopped in her tracks and asked her. "What was your name?"

The maid hesitated; her tone flat. "Odelia, my lady."

Nancy smiled, though her voice held a firm edge. "I'll see you first thing in the morning. And, you will report to me about everything that got around and that didn't go around in our absence. Understand?"

Odelia nodded, suddenly aware of the shift in authority. Damon's protective gaze never left Nancy, and as they headed toward their wing, he murmured, "You're free to do whatever you want with the interior, by the way. You liked the room in Italy, right?"

Nancy smiled with her heart warming slightly. "Yes, I did."

Nancy looked around their wing where Damon had been nothing but merciless. Those were the same walls where she felt the helplessness at best. But all of a sudden, those walls weren't intimidating. Nothing in that space was overpowering her. She walked beside Damon as if they were still in their Italy's home. It quickly dawned on her that it was never about the place. It was all about Damon. She had tamed the beast and now rest of the things didn't matter. She owned this space as much as she owned Damon.

As the maids started to bring her bags in, Damon, impatient as ever, dismissed them, pulling Nancy into his arms again. "We can deal with this tomorrow," he said, his hands already wandering.

Nancy laughed softly, pushing against him half-heartedly. "Damon, you have bought me a lot of things. I would need another wardrobe."

"I will build a palace for you so you can keep all of your belongings..." But kissing her neck he asked, "...you slept on the plane, didn't you?" Damon teased, already leading her to the bed.

By the time the sun rose the next morning, Nancy had found her place in this new chapter of her life—one where she belonged, and where she was starting to believe Damon's devotion was as real as it seemed. She looked at his face. Her warm breaths brushed Damon's face and his arm came into life before he opened his eyes to roll Nancy over him.

"How are you feeling? Still missing Italy?" He asked making Nancy shake her head.

"No, I got my Italy right before my eyes here." Damon licked his lower lip before he said, "You know how to talk. Don't you?"

"If it is working. I guess, yea," Nancy raised her head and looked at their bags still unpacked. "You didn't let our bags open..." She was about to move but Damon told her. "Come here, let me hold my wife and my child." Damon got over her and kissed her mouth all the while guiding her leg to get over him.

Nancy opened her bag to get some dresses out. She didn't want to wear anything that wasn't hers. Damon who has already gotten into a shirt told her. "I will send someone to help. But get down quickly. I am waiting for you at the breakfast table."

Nancy smiled at him and whispered a, "Thank you, yea, I will be quick,"

Nancy noticed the box that had the gun and smiled. What use she could ever have for it? "This is really beautiful," She whispered to herself.

At their breakfast table, Robert showed up in his running tracksuit. He had a file in his hand. Damon narrowed his eyes and asked him, "What got you here in the morning?" While Nancy told herself inwardly that she should try not to offend Robert again.

"Well, the order is slightly bigger than we had imagined?"

"Is this about the order you got from...?" Damon asked and Robert nodded cutting him, "I think they want to blow up the whole of Afghanistan,..."

Nancy was about to fill her cup of coffee but then noticed Damon's cup empty too. She started filling him getting Robert trailed off, "...am I seeing it right? Does she fill your cup too? I guess we see another side of Nancy every day," Nancy smiled at this one and offered, "I am a great host too. And, would like to host your Selena and your daughter soon,"

"Fine, but we will only pick the things you have already tasted," Robert teased her making Damon press Robert's foot slightly under the table.

"And, it will turn out that poison was never in the food but over your cutlery." Nancy chimed with a smile.

"Smooth, isn't she?" Damon praised making Robert raise his brows. "One day, she is going to get you in real trouble. And, you know how? Because she doesn't fear a thing. Not even you. Now I understand why she proposed to you. She must have learned how to tame dogs from Russia."

"Robert!" Damon reprimanded all the while opening the file that Robert had come up with. He signed it all the while telling him, "Fyodor never delays the payment. We better never delay the shipment. Get more people on it. See what you can manage from our storage. Who cares what he blows with it?" Nancy raised her brows.

'Afghanistan and Fyodor. Were they talking about the same Fyodor who had killed her father? And, nowadays making good use of his resources to help the Russian government with the war with Afghanistan.' Nancy blinked finding Damon closing the file. 'Did Damon have a good relationship with Fyodor? How was it possible? He lives on US soil. He can't be doing it, right?'

"Are we helping Russia win the war?" Nancy asked to which both looked at her. None of the men spoke a word as if they didn't see a problem with it. And, this made Nancy raise another question. "Aren't you US men? How can you..." Damon smiled at her naivety. "This is what US people do my love. We make weapons and sell them to anyone who needs it. Once, they are finished with the war they have nothing but less food, fewer resources and even fewer men who have morals or know how to make things go around. And, this is where we will give them loans and offer them help in other ways but again with loans."

Robert smiled finally seeing her getting worried over something. Or she always looked invisible. So, he too added to shine himself. "Yes, we must be bad people in your dictionary, Nancy. But we are smart enough to know how to keep the ground we stand strong enough. So, don't worry about it." Nancy looked at Robert before she looked back at Damon.

"Who...who is this Fyodor to you?"

"Oh Fyodor,..." Robert was about to say something but Damon cut him off.

"It is not important for you to know. Just a business associate,"

Robert who was pouring himself a glass of water looked at Damon and added, "Well, she has to. Because Fyodor and his wife have invited Nancy and you to their private island in Bulgaria. And, I have accepted the invitation."

"How could you?..." Nancy raised her voice before Damon could react.

"Calm down, lioness," Damon told her before leaning into his chair. Without a worry in the world, Damon held Nancy's hand and added, "You will forget all about Italy once you see this island of his. It will be rude to decline if he has invited with his wife." But then Damon added looking at Robert. "I am sure they have seen us in Italy. And, now hosting us they want to further their influence in our circles."

Nancy knew it was not about it. It was about anything but Fyodor wanting to further his influence. He only wanted one thing. Annihilation of her and her brother, Ken. When Fyodor eyes something he only destroys it into ashes. But could she tell any of it to Damon before it's too late? But what would she tell him? How could she tell him that she had lied to him since the very beginning?