I stood at the window of my room, staring out at the cold night lights of Italy, my body still aching from yesterday's beating. Suddenly, a sharp knock rattled the door. "Come in," I called out. Marco, my husband's right-hand man, stepped inside. He looked at me, his hard expression softening just a fraction with something dangerously close to pity. "The Don wants to see you in his office," he said quietly before turning and walking away. What had I done now? I braced myself, fighting the trembling in my legs as I walked out of my room and made my way down the grand corridor to his study. Without waiting, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Xavier sat behind his massive mahogany desk, glaring at me with eyes full of venom. He shoved a brown envelope across the polished wood. "What is this?" I asked, picking it up with shaky hands. I pulled out the contents, and my breath caught violently in my throat. My eyes widened in absolute shock. "Divorce papers?!" I stared at him, my mind spinning. "I know you're daft, Elena, but have you suddenly become blind?" he mocked, standing up and closing the distance between us. I scrambled backward, but he lunged forward, grabbing my wrist with a violent, crushing grip. "You slut!" he roared. "What do you mean?!" I cried out, utterly unable to process his words. "You think I wouldn't find out, huh?" he snarled, tightening his grip until bones ground together. "Xavier, you're hurting me!" I sobbed, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. "I'll do a hell of a lot more than that if you don't sign those papers!" Xavier snapped, his voice cutting through the silent room like a razor blade. "I don't understand why you're doing this, Xavier. I've done nothing wrong," I whispered, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "You've done nothing?" Xavier sneered. With a flick of his wrist, he whipped out his phone and hurled it onto the sofa right next to me. With trembling fingers, I picked it up, staring down at the screen. My heart stopped. Staring back at me were explicit, undeniable photos of myself wrapped in the arms of a completely strange man. "What?! This... this is fake! I would never do this to you, Xavier. I'm not stupid enough to cheat on you!" I cried, forcing myself to stand tall and look him in the eyes. Before I could even blink, his hand flashed through the air. Crack. A sharp, stinging slap cracked across my face, sending me stumbling violently backward. The bitter, metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth. It was a norm for him by now; I had long since grown used to the physical abuse. But the sickening lies surrounding it today burned deeper than any physical blow. "So this is what you do when you claim to go to the mall or get your hair done?" Xavier sneered, looming over me. "After everything I've done for you? Without me, would you even have such wealth over your head, you stinking orphan?!" "Please, don't do this," I begged, sliding down to my knees on the cold marble floor. I swallowed every ounce of my remaining pride, sobbing openly. "I have no family. I have absolutely nowhere to go." Because it was true. I had nothing-not even a single coin of my own to survive on. Suddenly, the cold, metallic click of a gun echoed through the room. I snapped my head up to see the dark, terrifying barrel of a pistol pointed directly between my eyes. "Listen to me, please, these pictures are photoshopped-" "Photoshopped? No, they're not. Mia would never make something like this up!" Xavier screamed, his eyes completely bloodshot with murderous rage. He looked demonic. He was a mafia lord, and I knew that specific look all too well. It was the face he wore right before he ended a life. "If you do not sign those papers right this instant, I'm going to blow your brains out!" "Fine... Fine, I'll sign it!" I choked out, sheer terror overriding everything else. Shakily, I gripped the pen. My hand shook so hard the ink nearly tore through the paper, but I forced my signature onto the dotted line, signing away my marriage even though I was completely, utterly innocent. "Now get out," he spat, his voice dripping with pure hatred. "And if I ever see your face anywhere near my territory again, I will end your life." "At least... at least let me pack my bags," I pleaded through fresh tears. "No! I picked you up from the gutters, and that's exactly where you're going back to-with absolutely nothing! Out!" Driven out by his fury, I fled the office and walked out of the mansion looking completely dejected. I had nothing left in the world except the thin clothes on my back. Not a single coin. Not even my phone. The moment I passed the heavy iron gates of the estate and sank out of the sight of the security cameras, my knees finally gave out. I collapsed onto the pavement, sobbing bitterly into my hands. What did I ever do to deserve a monster like him? How did my life become such a nightmare? As if the universe was mocking my misery, the sky darkened instantly, and the weather turned. Within minutes, a torrential storm broke out. I stumbled blindly along the dark highway, shivering violently as I tried to find any sort of shelter. Luxury cars sped past, splashing freezing muddy water all over me. Then, a pair of blinding headlights rounded the corner. Tires screeched violently. A massive black SUV veered close, missing me by mere inches. The sheer shock of the near-miss, combined with my freezing, starved, and exhausted body, was too much. Dark spots flooded my vision, and I passed out cold right there on the dark streets. When I finally blinked my eyes open, the harsh storm was gone. I was lying in an impossibly soft, luxurious bed inside a sprawling, beautifully furnished room draped in rich silks. Sitting in a leather chair beside the bed was a tall, strikingly handsome man. There was something about the sharp angles of his jaw and his piercing, predatory gaze that felt terrifyingly familiar. "Am I... am I dead?" I whispered, fear instantly gripping my chest. "No, love. You just passed out," he replied, his deep, smooth voice echoing quietly in the spacious room. His dark eyes scanned me from head to toe, slow and calculating, assessing me like a prize he had just acquired. I pulled the heavy duvet tighter around myself, suddenly noticing something that made my blood run cold. "Ehhhm... how am I in different clothes?" The man's lips slowly curled into a dangerous, slow-burn smirk. "Relax, love. I didn't do it myself. One of my maids changed you." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, though the tension in the room remained thick enough to cut with a knife. "So tell me," he murmured, leaning forward, his broad shoulders casting an imposing shadow over the bed. "What was a pretty girl like you doing all alone on the highway in the middle of a killer thunderstorm?" "It's... it's complicated," I stammered, shrinking back against the pillows. "I had nowhere else to go." "I can only help you if you tell me the truth," he said softly, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as he closed the distance. Maybe it was the lingering trauma of the night, or maybe it was because he had literally saved my life, but the internal dam broke. I burst into tears and narrated the entire horrific ordeal to this complete stranger. I told him about Mia's photos, the framed divorce, the gun, and being thrown out into the rain with nothing. "How could a man look at such a pretty flower and choose to crush it?" he murmured, his gaze intensifying as he watched the tears roll down my cheeks. "I don't know," I wiped my face with a trembling hand, a numb wave of exhaustion washing over me. "Maybe it's for the best. The marriage wasn't going well for me anyway." I shuddered, remembering the countless times Xavier's fists had bruised my skin, and the endless parade of women he flaunted-especially that vicious, plotting Mia. The stranger let out a low, dark chuckle. "Xavier has always been a fool." My breath caught violently in my throat. My eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated horror. "What? How... how do you know his name? Who are you?" I demanded, my heart hammering against my ribs as pure terror flooded my veins. "You still can't place me, Elena? Think again," he smirked, locking his dark, predatory eyes onto mine. I stared hard at his face-the aristocratic nose, the ruthless smirk, the chilling aura of absolute, terrifying power. Suddenly, a memory from a high-society mafia gala years ago clicked into place. My blood turned completely to ice. "Oh, my gosh!" I gasped, scrambling backward off the bed and hitting the opposite wall as I stared at him in horror. "I know you!" "Of course you do, love," he laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent icy shivers straight down my spine. He stood up to his full, towering height, watching my panic like a wolf cornering its prey. Alexander Sterling. What have I gotten myself into? I thought frantically, my body shaking uncontrollably. Out of the frying pan, straight into the dragon's den.
"Alexander Sterling!" I screamed, jumping out of the bed and landing hard on the floor, ready to run for my life. Before I could even make a dash for the door, his large hands clamped around my arms, holding me firmly in place. "Easy, easy. I'm not going to hurt you," he said, chuckling softly as he easily pinned me down. "No! I know who you are," I panted, tears blurring my vision as blind panic took over. "You're ruthless. You rule the Southern syndicate, you're Xavier's ultimate rival, and you have every reason to end me right now!" "No, love. That's where you're wrong," he countered, his deep voice remarkably calm. His grip loosened, but he didn't let go. "I have nothing against you. My war is with your ex-husband. If I wanted you dead, I would have run you over the second I saw you on that highway instead of bringing you home." His words slowly sank into my panicked mind, and my racing nerves relaxed just a fraction. Alexander smirked, leaning back slightly. "Besides, who are you going to trust? Your abusive, blind ex-husband... or me?" He released my arms and gestured to the edge of the mattress. "Now sit, love. Let's talk about what you can do for me." I sat down, suddenly feeling as small and obedient as a child. "What do you want from me? I'm useless to you. I have nothing." "No, you're not. Think of it this way," Alexander murmured, his dark eyes flashing with a dangerous, calculating glint. "Imagine a man buys a beautiful, rare doll. He breaks it, abuses it, and abandons it in the dirt. But then, someone else picks it up, dusts it off, and fixes it until it's more stunning than ever before. Don't you think the first man will go crazy wanting it back?" I frowned, my mind racing to catch up. "I don't really follow..." "I know you're innocent, Elena. I know Mia and Xavier have been having an affair behind your back, and that's exactly why she framed you." Hearing him say it out loud made my blood instantly boil. The suffocating humiliation and betrayal roared back to life. "How do you know that?" "I have plenty of reasons to keep tabs on Xavier," Alexander explained, leaning back comfortably in his chair. "And if he finds out that I have you-that you belong to me now-he will lose his mind. He'll make reckless mistakes, and that will give me the perfect opportunity to strike." "So... you want to use me as bait?" "You're benefiting from this too, love. It's mutual." I swallowed hard, looking up at him through my lashes. "When you said... have me... what exactly did you mean?" "Well, we'll need to make public appearances, behave like a couple, and let the underworld see us together," he said smoothly. Before I could reply, a light knock sounded at the door. A maid walked in carrying a large tray laden with steaming, delicious food. The moment the rich aroma hit the air, my belly let out a loud, traitorous grumble. Embarrassed, I abandoned all manners and dug in, eating like someone who hadn't seen a meal in days. Alexander just sat there, watching me with an amused, almost tender smile playing on his lips. Once I was finished, I wiped my mouth, cleared my throat, and looked him dead in the eye. "Well, I understand what you're saying," I told him, a newfound coldness settling deep into my chest. "I want them to pay for every single tear I shed. I'm a willing participant." Alexander's smile turned into a satisfied, predatory grin. "Good. I'll let you rest then. It's almost midnight." He stood up, towering over the room one last time before turning on his heel and leaving. The moment the door clicked shut, I slumped onto the mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling. I clenched my fists, promising myself that I would get my revenge, no matter the cost. "Let me go, Xavier!" I screamed, my bare feet skidding on the marble as I sprinted down the grand staircase. "You're mine, Elena!" his monstrous voice boomed behind me, his footsteps heavy and relentless. "You can never leave me!" "Arrrrrgh!" I shrieked as his cold hands grabbed my shoulders, pulling me backward into the dark- I snapped my eyes open, gasping frantically for air. My chest was heaving, and my body was drenched in a cold sweat. It was just a nightmare. But I was shaking so violently that I knew sleep was gone for the night. Parched and restless, I slid out of bed and quietly padded out into the hallway. The mansion was deathly quiet as I roamed the corridors until I finally stumbled upon the massive, modern kitchen. I poured a glass of water and drank it down greedily, as if my very life depended on it. "Why are you not asleep?" I jumped, spinning around to find Alexander standing in the doorway. He was still wearing his tailored trousers, his button-down shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, looking like he hadn't slept a wink either. "I... I had a nightmare," I stammered, holding the empty glass tightly. "I needed water." "A nightmare?" Alexander's gaze softened instantly, a flash of genuine emotion flickering in his dark eyes. "Oh, you poor thing. You should go back to sleep." He turned, attempting to leave the kitchen, but I remained frozen in place, still visibly shivering from the residual terror of my dream. Alexander paused. He looked back at me, then extended his large, warm hand toward me. "Come." Without a second thought, I placed my hand in his. His grip was firm and protective as he led me down a different wing of the house, eventually guiding me into a master bedroom that was undeniably his. The rich scent of expensive cologne and leather filled the air. "Since you're so scared, you can sleep here tonight," he said, climbing onto one side of the massive king-sized bed. I climbed in after him, immediately rolling over to lay with my back turned to him. But the adrenaline from the nightmare was still pumping through my veins. I couldn't stay still, restlessly shifting beneath the heavy sheets. "I'm trying to sleep here, love," Alexander's deep voice rumbled against the quiet. I turned around to face him. The room was bathed in deep shadows, but the moonlight caught the piercing intensity of his eyes. Right then, an invisible, magnetic pull dragged me toward him. I didn't want to think about Xavier. I didn't want to think about the abuse. I just needed to feel alive. I made a sudden, dangerous move. Closing the distance between us, I leaned up and pressed my lips firmly against his. When I pulled away, breathless, Alexander's eyes had gone completely pitch black with desire. "You asked for it," he growled. Before I could even inhale, his powerful hands locked around my waist, dragging me flush against his hard chest. He came down on my lips, kissing me passionately, taking total control. A soft moan escaped my throat, and Alexander used the opportunity to slide his tongue deep into my mouth, consuming me entirely. Within minutes, our clothes were discarded on the floor. He hovered over me, his muscular frame blocking out the rest of the world. He took one last, intense look into my eyes before thrusting deep into me. I gasped, my fingers digging into his broad shoulders as I tried to match his frantic, punishing pace. At that moment, I didn't care about the consequences. I didn't care about right or wrong. I just needed to be touched, to be held, to drown out the ghosts of my past. When it was over, the nightmares were entirely gone. I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep wrapped tightly in his strong arms, feeling completely safe for the first time in years. The next morning, warm sunlight woke me up. I rolled over, but the other side of the bed was already cold. Alexander was gone. Instead, a small, heavy piece of cream stationery sat on his pillow. I picked it up. Written in elegant, commanding cursive were four simple words: Go shopping, love. A slow, genuine smile spread across my face. If I was going to stand by the side of a mafia king and tear Xavier's empire down piece by piece, I definitely needed to update my wardrobe.
Armed with Alexander's limitless black card, I walked into the city's most exclusive luxury boutique. For the past two years, Xavier had kept me locked away behind high walls, forcing me to dress in dull, modest clothes so as not to "draw attention." But today, I was shedding that old, submissive skin. I pulled a breathtaking, emerald-green silk gown off the rack and stepped into the fitting room. When I emerged and looked in the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. The rich fabric hugged every curve, and the color made my skin glow. I didn't look like a victim anymore. I looked powerful. I looked dangerous. "Well, well, well. Look what the rain washed into the upper class." A venomous, familiar voice shattered my reflection. I turned to see Mia gliding into the boutique, dripping in designer logos and brandishing a platinum card. She stopped dead, her eyes flashing with malicious glee as they locked onto me. "Elena? What on earth are you doing in a place like this?" Mia asked, pasting on a sickeningly sweet, fake smile. I completely ignored her, turning back to the mirror to adjust the neckline. "Come on, Elena, I know you must be devastated about the divorce, but you really shouldn't let it weigh you down," she pressed, stepping closer. Still, I said nothing, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. "Besides, Xavier was never yours to begin with," she taunted, her voice lowering. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a familiar, broad-shouldered figure walking toward us from the entrance. Xavier was heading this way, but he hadn't seen me yet. A cold, calculating thrill rushed through me. I kept my face entirely emotionless, channeling Alexander's chilling aura. "I'm shopping, Mia. Leave me alone." "Shopping? With what money?" Mia scoffed, stepping right into my personal space. She dropped her voice to a mock whisper, thinking the shop assistants couldn't hear. "Cut the pretense already, Elena. I know you left that estate with absolutely nothing on your back." I turned slowly to face her, letting a dangerous, quiet smile touch my lips. "I know what you did, Mia." Mia blinked, momentarily thrown off, before a vicious smirk twisted her features. She leaned in closer. "What are you talking about, love?" she mocked, her eyes glinting with pure malice. "You really thought you could stay Xavier's wife forever? You naive little idiot. You were so easy to ruin. It took me less than an hour to photoshop those hotel pictures and drop them right where he'd find them. He believed me instantly because he never loved you in the first place. I took your husband, your home, and your dignity-and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it." She spilled her confession way too fast, blinded by her own arrogance. She didn't notice the heavy, freezing silence that had suddenly fallen behind her. I clenched my fists so hard my nails bit deep into my palms, but I held my ground. "So, you admit you framed me." "Of course I did!" Mia bragged, throwing her head back with a triumphant laugh. "And Xavier will never believe a word you say anyway, you pathetic-" "Mia." A dark, trembling voice echoed from behind her. Mia froze. The color instantly drained from her face, leaving her chalk-white as she slowly spun around. Xavier stood a few feet away. He was completely paralyzed, his eyes wide and bloodshot with a sickening mixture of horror, disbelief, and agonizing realization. He had heard every single word. Her confession had bounced off the luxury mirrors and straight into his chest. "X-Xavier..." Mia stammered, her voice turning into a pathetic squeak as she dropped her expensive shopping bags. "It's not what it sounds like! I was just-" "Shut up!" Xavier roared. The raw, explosive rage of a mafia lord twisted his features into a mask of pure fury. Before Mia could flinch, his hand flashed through the air with a brutal backhand that sent her crashing violently into a glass display rack, shattering ornaments everywhere. "Get out of my sight before I kill you myself!" he bellowed. Sobbing hysterically, Mia scrambled to her feet and bolted out of the store like a frightened animal. The boutique fell into a dead, suffocating stillness. The terrified shop assistants had already ducked behind the counters. Xavier slowly turned his gaze back to me. The blind anger in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a crushing, desperate wave of regret. He looked at my emerald dress, then up at my face, finally grasping the horrifying truth of what he had done: he had abused, beaten, and exiled an innocent woman who loved him. "Elena..." Xavier choked out, his voice cracking violently. He took a trembling step toward me, his eyes brimming with heavy, pathetic tears. "Elena, I... oh, god, I didn't know. I was blind. Please, love, let me explain. Come back home with me. I'll make this right. I swear it." He reached out, his fingers shaking as he tried to grab my waist to pull me into a desperate embrace. "Don't touch me, you monster!" I snapped, violently flinching away from his reach. "I know I wasn't good to you, but I'll change! I promise, Elena," he begged, falling apart right in front of me. "You're my wife-" "Ex-wife, you moron!" I spat. He lunged forward, trying to grab me again, refusing to accept the reality he had built with his own hands. But before his fingers could even graze the silk of my dress, a massive, unyielding hand clamped around his wrist like a steel vice. The temperature in the boutique plunged to below freezing. Alexander stepped out from behind the clothing racks, his towering, muscular frame placing an impenetrable wall between Xavier and me. His dark eyes locked onto Xavier, burning with a lethal, predatory intensity that made the air heavy. "I believe the lady told you to leave her alone, Vance," Alexander murmured, his deep, smooth voice dripping with absolute danger. He tilted his head, a cold, mocking smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Xavier winced, trying to yank his arm back, but he couldn't even budge an inch against Alexander's grip. Panic and humiliation flashed across his face. "What the hell, Sterling? I'm speaking to my wife, and I suggest you mind your damn business!" Alexander's smirk widened into something terrifyingly sharp. He tightened his grip until a sharp wince of pain crossed Xavier's face. "Ex-wife," Alexander corrected him softly, pulling me just a fraction closer to his side. "And as her future husband... I highly suggest you keep your dirty hands off my woman."