Chapter 1. A Convenient Scapegoat

Damian closed the last file on his desk and stretched his arm to signify how tired he was. He checked his wristwatch; it was past 10. Shit! He had been so engrossed in work that he had overstayed. With that in mind, he silently prayed Ravenna wouldn't get mad as it was their wedding anniversary. He packed the important files into his office bag, walked quickly out of the building, and headed to the car park where the company car assigned to him as a Department leader was parked. He drove to the cake shop, praying they would still have the flavor of cake Ravenna loved.

"The cheesecake, please," Damian said to the attendant with a smile.

"Sure," she replied with a smile and turned to prepare his order. As Damian waited, he spoke up again. "Ughh… I'm sorry to trouble you, but it's my wedding anniversary, and I would like it if you could put some kind of decoration on it. Something a woman would like," Damian said nervously, unsure if the lady would oblige.

"No problem," the lady said politely, putting Damian's mind at ease. Ravenna would be so happy. He thought triumphantly.

"Thank you," Damian said as he collected the cake and rushed back to his car, driving straight to their house.

Now in front of the door that led into the towering mansion of the Kings, he drew in a deep breath. He had been married to this woman for five years, yet his love for her felt renewed, like a wine he was addicted to.

Pushing open the door, Damian was met with an unusual atmosphere in the living room. Mr. Lucian Kings and his wife sat together on a long couch, while Ravenna stood. But they had something in common; their faces were grim.

Mr. Lucian Kings, as usual, eyed him and looked away, while his wife didn't spare him a glance.

"Ravenna," Damian quickly walked up to his wife, who didn't look too thrilled to see him.

Damian misinterpreted the situation, thinking he was in trouble for coming home late on their anniversary. "Look, Babe, I'm so sorry for coming back late. There was so much to do at the office."

"It's fine," Ravenna said, leaving Damian in shock. She was fine with it? This was shocking because Damian knew his wife, and he had expected her to scold him and later reconcile, but this was unexpected.

"Fine?" Damian asked, glancing briefly at his in-laws.

"Look, Damian, there's a more pressing matter at hand," she said finally.

"What do you mean?" Damian asked, eager to know why his wife looked troubled. He hated seeing her like this.

"Dad…" she started, then turned to look at her dad, who wasn't looking at them.

"I mean… he was accused of embezzlement," Ravenna said, causing Damian's eyes to widen. "I mean it's not true. He was framed," she quickly added, and Damian nodded slowly.

"That's bad," Damian said, genuinely sympathizing with the man who didn't give a hoot about him.

"Very bad," Ravenna agreed. "He's running for the Prime Minister position in the next election, which is not far away. If word gets out about this, it will be bad for his public image. They wouldn't care if he did it or not," she sighed, and Damian bit his lip nervously. He didn't really care about Lucian Kings, but he cared too much about his wife. And Ravenna loved her father.

"Dad... I," he began, but Lucian's gaze shifted sharply towards Damian. "I don't need your pity," Lucian interrupted. Damian bit his lip and swallowed, realizing he should have grown accustomed to this treatment by now. For the past five years, living with the kings, he had been scorned and hated by Lucian simply because his daughter had fallen in love with him.

"Were they evidence?" Damian inquired once again. Ravenna nodded. "Yes."

"How can there be evidence when he didn't..." Damian's words trailed off.

"They framed him! Didn't you hear it the first time?" my mother-in-law interjected with frustration.

The sudden outburst shook Damian. "I'm sorry, Mother. I was just trying to..."

"If you can't help, then just get your good-for-nothing self out of here!" she sneered.

"Mum!" Ravenna scolded as her mother scoffed.

"Damian, you can leave now. I'll join you later in the room," Ravenna managed a weak smile.

"No, I can't," Damian firmly asserted.

Lucian chuckled bitterly. "Such a nuisance. He can't help but insist on staying in the way. Leave, boy! You've only been a burden to this family. I don't know how you made Ravenna fall in love with your stupid self! Utterly useless!" he hissed.

Ravenna sighed, watching helplessly as Damian was mistreated. She didn't have much say in situations like this; she was as helpless as Damian when it came to her father.

"If she had married that Judge's son, things would have been different," his mother-in-law grumbled loud enough for Damian to overhear.

Damian's fists clenched in anger. "Let me help," he said, his tone firm. How dare they wish his wife had married someone else? He would rather die.

"Damian, you..." Ravenna began, but Lucian cut her off. "You can actually help."

Damian's eyes lit up. Finally. "Tell me. Anything, I'll do it," he said, unsure of his capabilities. He was beneath the Lucian kings in terms of money, fame, and nearly everything else. He was just a pauper who had married his beloved daughter.

"Take the blame," Lucian suggested.

"What?!" Ravenna's eyes widened in shock.

"Temporarily," Lucian clarified as he stood up, looking from his daughter to Damian. "If Damian takes the blame for the embezzlement, there won't be an issue."

"Are you saying Damian should go to prison? Come on, Dad. I know you dislike him, but this is too extreme," Ravenna tried to reason, while Damian stood there, lost for words.

What on earth!

"As I said, it's a temporary measure. Look, Ravenna..." Lucian addressed his daughter as though she were at the center of the entire ordeal. "If word gets out about the embezzlement, not only will my political ambitions be dashed, but Kings Group will also suffer a major setback. However, if Damian takes the blame and you two divorce..."

"Divorce?!" Ravenna interrupted, looking stunned.

Lucian sighed. "It will be said that you caught him cheating, and in anger, you divorced him. This divorce would be linked to the embezzlement, and people would direct their hate towards him. In fact, we would gain people's sympathy, which could benefit the elections."

Ravenna scoffed. "You've thought this through, but my answer is no!"

"Come on, Sweetheart. He won't rot in jail or anything. He'll be released on bail two days later, and if they continue investigating, Damian won't provide any substantial statement," Lucian explained, turning to Damian, who felt like a spectator to his own life's drama. His fate was being debated as if he weren't present.

"What do you say?" Lucian asked, surprisingly calm for the first time.

"Umm... I..." Damian stuttered, the shock of the news still overwhelming him. He was struggling to figure out how to navigate this, even though he desperately wanted to please Lucian.

"I knew you couldn't do anything. What was I thinking when I asked you..." Lucian scoffed bitterly, turning away.

"I'll do it," Damian suddenly spoke up, all eyes turning towards him.