Fragile Bonds, Shattered Trust

*Few months before Damein's rise to power*

Damien Malone sat uncomfortably, his breath muffled as he stared at the bill in his hands. His composure was barely contained as he stole a glance at Isabella, his fiancée, who sat beside him at the round table in the restaurant. It had only been a few minutes since he proposed to her with a beautiful ring, and now the reality of his financial situation weighed heavily on him.

Across from Damien and Isabella sat Robert, accompanied by his own girlfriend. Robert couldn't help but notice the expression on Damien's face and instantly understood what had gone wrong. A triumphant smile played on Robert's lips, fueled by a deep-seated resentment towards Damien. Despite being brilliant in his own right, Robert believed that Damien had always managed to take everything away from him, including Isabella, whom Robert had long desired.

Both Damien and Robert had attended the same highschool and college, where Isabella had been the center of attention. Robert had harbored feelings for her, but by the time he mustered the courage to make a move, Damien and Isabella had already become a thing. However, after college, Robert found himself involved in shady deals that brought him a substantial amount of money. In contrast, Damien, an orphan, always stood firm in his commitment to truth and refused to be entangled in Robert's illicit activities despite Robert's insistence. Although Damien had been physically weak, relying on Robert's defense against bullies throughout high school and college, Robert knew that Damien's expertise in technology and computer operations would be very valuable to his business.

"What's wrong, my friend?" Robert jokingly asked, relishing every opportunity to embarrass his best friend.

"Not... nothing," Damien mumbled, quickly placing the bill back on the table and hurriedly covering it with a plate, hoping to keep it hidden from prying eyes.

"If you say so," Robert responded, a mischievous glint in his eyes, thoroughly enjoying the situation.

Just a few minutes later, Robert stood up, giving a subtle signal to his girlfriend, who was seated beside him, indicating that it was time to leave. Robert was known for his prowess with women, often changing women on a regular basis. Damien had only just met this particular girl for the first time in the company of Robert.

"The bill, please," Robert said, his gaze fixed on Damien as he handed cash to the waitress, making sure that both Damien and Isabella were aware of his actions.

"Your bills, sir?" the waitress asked, approaching Damien with the bill in hand.

Damien was at a loss for words. The bill amounted to a staggering $1200, while he only had $520 available on his card—a far cry from what was needed to settle the bill. He glanced at Isabella, who was busy packing her belongings into her handbag, evidently ready to depart. She looked at Damien, clearly expecting him to pay so that they could leave the restaurant with Robert, who had generously offered them a ride in his car.

"I... I..." Damien stuttered, his voice unclear, as he sat there rooted in the chair.

"The bills!" Isabella exclaimed, finally grasping the situation.

Damien remained speechless, his mind filled with contemplation about what would happen next. He desperately wanted to plead with Robert to pay, but he couldn't do so in Isabella's presence.

"Fuck you, Damien!" Isabella screamed at the top of her voice, rummaging through her handbag to retrieve her card for the waitress.

"You know what? I'm done!" Isabella shouted, forcefully removing the ring from her finger and throwing it onto the table. "You are so worthless. I always end up paying for our dates, and now I don't think I can continue doing this. I don't even think I want to be with a broke-ass man like you!"

Damien's heart sank as Isabella's words cut deep. He felt a mix of shame, anger, and helplessness wash over him. He knew that his financial struggles had strained their relationship, but he had hoped Isabella would understand and support him during this difficult time.

Sitting there, his hands trembling slightly, Damien finally found his voice. "Isabella, please... let me explain. I'm going through a rough patch right now, but I promise things will get better. I've been working tirelessly to find a job, but it's been harder than I anticipated."

Isabella scoffed, her face contorted with frustration. "Save your excuses, Damien. I've heard them all before. I can't keep investing in a relationship where I feel like I'm the only one contributing."

Tears welled up in Damien's eyes as he desperately tried to salvage what was left of their relationship. "I love you, Isabella. I never wanted to burden you with my financial troubles. I thought we could face these challenges together."

Isabella's anger softened momentarily, and she sighed heavily. "Damien, it's not just about the money. It's about feeling supported and valued. I need to be with someone who can share the responsibilities equally."

Damien reached out to grab Isabella's hand, but she pulled away, tears streaming down her face. "I can't do this anymore. I need to take care of myself. Goodbye, Damien."

As soon as Isabella received her card back from the waitress, she motioned to Robert, and they hastily left the restaurant. Damien, who was still seated, could hear the sound of Robert's car zooming off. Despite being accustomed to such treatment from people, Damien found it particularly difficult to bear when it came from Isabella—the girl he had loved all his life. Now, he felt as though he was losing her. He was willing to do anything to make her happy, so he decided that it was time to seek Robert's help and would even accept any shady deal that Robert might offer him.

It was evening on the streets of New York City, with tall buildings blocking out the sunlight, leaving only rays of light shining behind them. Damien made his way to Robert's luxurious five-star hotel, knowing that Robert enjoyed his evening treats there and also attended meetings. With his mind made up, Damien left the reception area and headed straight to Robert's private quarters on the twentieth floor of the building. As he walked across the hallway, he noticed a large picture of Robert dressed in a silk white suit. His almost blonde hair matched the color of the suit he wore. Across the room, there was a sign that read "For VIPs."

Damien knocked gently on the door before pushing it open. He had been to this room on several occasions and knew that it's exactly where to find Robert. However, as the door swung open, Damien was met with the most shocking sight of his life. There, on the sofa, Robert and Damien's fiance Isabella were engaged in a sexual act. Robert was positioned behind Isabella, who was on all fours on the sofa. Robert was penetrating her from behind.

Deeply disturbed and hurt by this unexpected sight, Damien stood frozen in shock. The room fell silent as Robert and Isabella turned their heads towards Damien. Their expressions quickly shifted from passion to surprise and guilt.

Isabella, her face flushed and her voice trembling, was the first to speak. "D-Damien! I... I can explain."

Robert, trying to compose himself, added, "Damien, this isn't what it looks like. Please, let us explain."

Feeling a mixture of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak, Damien struggled to find his voice. "Explain? How can you explain this? Is this how you both meet up lately? I'm such a fool!"

Isabella, tears welling up in her eyes, reached out to Damien. "Damien, please, let's talk about this. It's not what you think."

Damien, still trying to process his emotions, took a step back. "No, Isabella. I came here seeking help, seeking Robert's help, but I never expected to find... this. I can't believe what I'm seeing."

Robert's plea was devoid of sincerity as he looked at Damien and said, "Damien, I understand how terrible this looks, but there's so much more to the story. We made a terrible mistake, and we deeply regret it."

The initial surge of anger within Damien began to subside, replaced by a profound sadness that enveloped his being. He mustered the strength to raise his gaze, his eyes meeting Isabella's. Guilt was etched all over her face, further deepening Damien's pain. "I... I loved you, Isabella," he whispered, his voice filled with heartbreak. "I would have done anything for you. But now... now..." The weight of his emotions overwhelmed him, and Damien felt as if the ground should open up and swallow him whole. The pain he carried was unbearable. After a moment of suffocating silence and anguish, he abruptly left the room, stepping out into the hotel corridor and finally onto the street. His legs trembled under the weight of his sorrow, and he clutched onto a nearby lamppost for support, his body collapsing to the ground beside it.

In that moment, as he watched his life crumble around him, Damien realized that the person who had brought meaning to his existence during the toughest times had betrayed him. Isabella had cheated on him with his best friend, Robert. The magnitude of his anguish propelled him to make a fateful decision. He resolved not only to seek revenge against those who had wronged him in the past but also against Isabella and Robert.

A splitting headache intensified within Damien, and exhaustion weighed heavy on his eyes. Succumbing to the overwhelming fatigue, he eventually succumbed to slumber, his troubled mind finding temporary respite.

___

As Damien slowly opened his eyes, he was greeted by a blinding ray of light streaming from the above lamp. He found himself surrounded by three figures who were standing near the place where he had been sleeping.

"We are ready to roll out," one of the figures said.

"Na wait, not until he wakes!" another voice interjected.

"Uhm... but he could..." the first figure started to reply.

"Boss, he's waking up," a third voice announced.

Confused and disoriented, Damien tried to gather his thoughts. The figures stood nearby, observing him with a mix of concern and anticipation. One of them, a man with a missing limb, used a crutch to support himself as he walked closer to Damien.

"Don't worry, it's just the effect of the injections. You will be alright and ready to move around in the next few hours," the man assured Damien.

Still in pain, Damien mustered the strength to ask, "Who are you, and where am I?"

"I'm Sebastian, my enemies call me The Oracle, and you are in one of The Nexus Empire secured facilities which you now own," the man replied, his voice filled with authority and a hint of mystery.