Welcome To Hell, Dear Wife-Chapter 17: A camera.

Chapter 17: A camera.
The tiny camera was like a live scorpion in Mira’s palm. She still couldn’t believe her eyes no matter what.
The plush towel barely clung to her damp skin while her feet continued to slap against the cold marble.
"Someone must have been watching Lorena for as long as possible," she muttered with a furious voice. "Now me! They watched me naked right now too, like some creepy live streaming show! What the actual hell?"
The room door suddenly swung open without a knock, causing Mira to jump while clutching her towel.
She had almost dropped the tiny camera too.
Damian stood at the entrance with a calm expression, but not even Mira could miss the way his eyes did a slow and deliberate sweep down her body before finally landing on her face.
Okay! He’s finally crossing the line from protective and loving brother to full-blown creep. But then he’s also the only one who cares enough to set a police station on fire for me, so yay?
She pulled the towel tighter, not minding that she could barely breathe.
"You scared me!" she finally gasped, like an afterthought.
"What is it? Why are you trembling?" he asked in a very concerning tone.
He then stepped fully into the room, not bothering about private space at all. "What happened? Are you okay?"
The words tumbled out of Mira before she could think, even though it was just in a whisper. "There’s... there’s a camera in my bathroom, Damian. Someone’s been watching me." She explained as she held out the tiny device like it was contaminated.
Damian’s face immediately contorted into an expression of shock and irritation before he was suddenly by her side.
Without warning, he pulled Mira into a hug even though his hands didn’t settle comfortably on her back but on her waist instead. His fingers were playing lower, too low.
"Oh my God! I’m so sorry, sweetheart," he mumbled.
Mira’s mind was jumbled up, but even she knew this was not normal. Still, she couldn’t help doubting herself.
Who knows if they had
no
boundaries between each other?
Else, why
would he even be comfortable
with this much
?
He released her just enough to pluck the tiny camera from her hand, then turned it over like he was inspecting it.
"This is so scary. I need to get to the very bottom of this as soon as possible! The Sanders Mansion is supposed to be safe, especially for you. But then, we need to keep this between us for now," he stated as his voice went lower. "This could have been done by anyone, a staff here, a hired hand from a rival, or even a er. You don’t want to let this go bigger."
Go bigger?
Mira’s inner mind was screaming.
"I just discovered that I have been living in some sort of glass box while being watched by a faceless pervert and I should keep it quiet? Who should scream this from the rooftop if not me, uh? Who knows how many clips he has of me! It’s the darn bathroom of all places!"
"I understand you, but it’s just a precaution. I’m a lawyer, remember, and I’d never push you in the wrong way. I’m angry too, very angry, but we need to be strategic. Just... trust me," Damian explained.
Mira sighed. "Not even Mom?"
"Not even her, Lorena. Especially not her. She’ll only blow this out of proportion and it may end up becoming another media circus that will never end."
He set the camera on the counter, then started to rotate it with one long finger as if it was a fascinating thing.
"Like I said, I’m a lawyer, and I’ll definitely get to the very bottom of this. Quietly. We need to catch whoever this bastard is."
His eyes flicked to Mira again, and he suddenly adjusted the towel upwards, causing Mira to stiffen.
At that exact moment, the door burst open and Evelyn stood there. Her sharp eyes went from her half-naked daughter to her son, who was standing far too close to her in the room.
Before Mira could say anything, Damian’s hand casually swept over the counter as he pocketed the device in one swift move.
He then gave a tiny, almost invisible shake of his head as if warning her to stay silent.
"We were just discussing the marriage contract again," Damian said as he smoothly redirected his mother’s attention.
"Ah... yes! That. We really need to talk about it, and now."
"There’s nothing else to talk about. We just need to burn whatever it is that she signed," Damian snapped, his nostrils already flaring again. "Not entertain it."
"Damian is right, Mom. If that won’t work, we’ll just nullify it." Mira finally found her voice. "I don’t think I can do it, seriously. Marriage shouldn’t even be top of my priorities right now."
Evelyn sighed as if she were merely dealing with a stubborn child. She walked further into the room.
"Darling, at this point we need to be as realistic as we can be. This isn’t about what you want anymore. It’s about survival. We’re talking about lawsuits now. You need public image control and damage mitigation."
She cupped Mira’s cheek. "This is precisely why I recommended Lucas to you. He’s connected. All he asked for was your hand in marriage, and frankly speaking, that’s little to give for him to help us clear this mess."
"And he needs to marry me to do that? Does that even make sense?" Mira snapped as she pulled her face away. "I don’t even think he likes me, so what does he want?"
"That’s all he wants, my girl. Marriage. With you," Evelyn countered with a sterner voice now. "It’s just a short-term strategic alliance that would even benefit you the most. I don’t think he’s getting anything other than..."
"Me? My body?" Mira interrupted.
"Oh hell no!" Damian snapped from the corner he was standing.
Evelyn ignored him. "You can always divorce him later. Maybe in six months or at most a year. That’s all. He’ll just be our shield. Look at how far you’ve fallen, Lorena. Do you not see that this is the best way to protect you and get you back on your feet?"
"She doesn’t need his protection," Damian interjected with a low growl. He then moved slightly, placing himself more squarely between Mira and his mother. "I’m here and I can handle things for Lorena."
"Yeah, right. By throwing money and threats at it again, right? Which is what got her into this in the first place!" Evelyn’s composure finally cracked as she yelled at her son. "This requires more finesse, which is something you’re never good at!"
She turned her focus back to Mira, her expression softening yet again. "This is all for you, my baby. To give you your power back. Your name can just rise from this even stronger."
Mira sighed. She wished she could keep fighting and pushing against this, but she knew Evelyn might be telling the truth.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she nodded.
Damian’s eyes widened. "No. I still don’t think this is the right move for her," he snapped, even though the fight was already out of his hands now. "She can do way better than that gutter trash."
Afterwards, his eyes deliberately dipped to the towel’s neckline for a second too long. Again.
Evelyn simply rolled her eyes and waved her perfectly manicured hand. "The decision is my daughter’s, not yours. So it’s settled."
She turned to leave, only to pause at the door.
"Oh, and darling, since you see reason with me now, do hurry up and get dressed properly. You can ask Edith to pick out a beautiful blue dress for you. It brings out your eyes."
Then she turned away. "Your husband is waiting downstairs for dinner. I may have invited him over to discuss the terms."
Mira froze at that. The towel on her body suddenly felt like nothing more than a thin tissue paper.
That demon actually had the audacity to show up here after leaving me to be devoured like that?