Marrying the secret divine healer turned Billionaire

Chapter One

The cafe hummed with quiet chatter and the soft hiss of an espresso machine. Evelyn Sterling sat by the window, her phone pressed to her ear. Her sleek white dress reflected the understated elegance expected of someone of her status.

As the heiress to Sterling Enterprises, the nation’s largest conglomerate, Evelyn exuded an air of poise. Yet her expression darkened as she listened to her grandfather’s stern voice on the other end.

“Evelyn, you know the rules. Only married individuals are eligible to inherit the family business. Our reputation and stability depend on it. If you cannot find a husband soon, you leave me no choice but to arrange a marriage for you.”

Evelyn's grip on the phone tightened. She wanted to protest but held her tongue. The Sterling name carried power, but it also came with suffocating expectations.

Damien Cross entered the café, scanning the tables. At 28, Damien's chiseled frame and confident stride was enough to turn heads. Unaware that his presence in the cafe made him the subject of quiet fascination, his eyes perused the customers in search of what he came for.

He resisted the urge to sigh knowing this was another blind date he didn’t want to go to. One would think he had a deadline for marriage with the way he has been set up constantly.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto Evelyn. She was wearing a white dress, the same detail his blind date had mentioned.

She looked so beautiful that a smile came to his lips as he admired her. The way she carried herself was so elegant. He loved elegant women and for a second, he thanked God for her.

He saw her frown, her attention completely occupied by her phone call and his heart stuttered a little.

For a moment, Damien hesitated, then pushed forward. He had never been one to shy away from an opportunity, especially when fate seemed to place it in front of him.

Relationships have been so hard for him but something told him that this woman would handle it with so much grace anyone ever could.

“Excuse me,” he began, his voice warm like he was talking to a patient. “You must be Claire. It’s great to finally meet you.”

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard. She forgot about her call and looked up at him. “I’m sorry, who?”

Damien chuckled nervously. “Claire. My blind date. You’re... you look beautiful,”

Evelyn blushed furiously although a part of her wondered who the man was. It was the first time a man complimented her genuinely. Others were too intimidated by her status to do so.

“Thank you,”

“May I sit?” Damien gestured to the chair in front of her.

Evelyn nodded before she could stop herself, “Yes, please.”

“Thank you.” Damien smiled, “My name is Damien, I am a gynecologist nurse but I served in the military.”

Evelyn was amused yet a little annoyed, she had no idea what she was supposed to think of this stranger who had intruded on her privacy. Not just that, he kept calling her by the wrong name.

Damien waited a beat for her to return his pleasantries but she just kept looking at him. He still kept that smile on his face like he wasn’t bothered with the scrutiny.

Evelyn sighed, “I am sorry, I don’t know who you are,”

Damien’s face fell when he heard that, “you are not her, are you?”

Her brows arched. “No, I’m not.”

Realizing his mistake, Damien's face flushed. But instead of retreating, he smiled, leaning slightly forward. “Well, if I’m going to make a fool of myself, I might as well introduce myself properly. Damien Cross.” He extended a hand.

Evelyn hesitated, then took his hand briefly. “Evelyn Sterling.”

Damien’s smile faltered. The name carried weight, wealth, power, and a world far removed from his own. Still, he found himself captivated. “Sterling, as in… the Sterling family?”

“Yes.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity.

The contrast between them couldn’t have been more stark. She was poised and untouchable, he was grounded. Like at the bottom of the food chain, while this woman was way up on top of it.

He struggled not to be disappointed because he finally saw a woman he liked and she just had to be out of rich. This would make it to the hundredth time he was going on a date, the amount of failed relationships under his belt was increasing rapidly.

“I should go,” Damien said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “Sorry for the confusion.”

“Wait,” Evelyn said, surprising herself. “You mistook me for your date because of the dress?”

Damien nodded sheepishly. “White dress. That’s all I had to go on. Not the most reliable detail, I admit.”

A small smile tugged at her lips. “At least you’re honest.”

Evelyn was impressed by this stranger, the way he carried himself and the way he spoke to her. He admitted to his mistakes and apologized for it, that was a rare sight to see

Before either could say more, the conversation was interrupted by the café door opening, and Damien used the distraction as his chance to slip away and save himself the humiliation.

From the other end of Evelyn’s call, her grandfather, Richard Sterling, had listened to every word. He smiled to himself because he had never heard Evelyn speak with such restrained interest before.

She was usually so reserved and cold to members of the opposite sex that he worried about her. All work and no play, it’s no wonder he had to create an ultimatum to get her to listen. Evelyn was as stubborn as a mule when it came to matters of the heart.

“Damien Cross,” Richard murmured to himself. “An unusual fellow … but perhaps exactly what she needs.”

Damien shook his head as he distanced himself from her table, the thought of her didn’t leave his head. Evelyn, who was still looking at Damien, was unaware that her grandfather was already concocting plans for her.