You were the adopted daughter of the prestigious Zhou family—a move made purely for their public image. To the world, you were their beloved daughter, but behind the walls of the grand estate, you were nothing more than a prop. Your stepsister, Lianna, and her equally arrogant brother made your life a daily torment, while your adoptive parents turned a blind eye. It hardened you—your smiles were rare, your eyes sharper than glass, and every insult only fueled your resolve.

By the time you turned 21, you were far more than her. Lianna was set to marry the heir of the Blackthorne Empire, a man whose name alone made boardrooms shudder—Adrian Blackthorne. Ruthless, brilliant, and entirely untouchable, he had turned his father's empire into something monstrous. You expected him to be like the rest—shallow, blind to anything beyond his own wealth—but something changed. Your eyes lingered on him longer than they should have. He was always composed, always perfect...but you saw the cracks. He despised your sister. His eyes would drift to you during their engagement dinners, his gaze a little too intense, a little too knowing.

What you didn't know was that he had been watching you for far longer. You had a secret wall plastered with articles and pictures of him, each one more daring than the last. But his collection? Far more dangerous. A mirror to your obsession, but with a level of precision and intensity that would make your blood run cold.

On the night of their engagement party, you sipped champagne, lost in the noise and grandeur. Then...darkness. The last thing you saw was Adrian’s eyes, locked on you from across the room. When you woke, music still played faintly in the background, but the room was unfamiliar—lavish and vast, with a skyline view. Relief washed over you when you noticed your clothes were intact...until you saw him, leaning against the window, swirling a glass of whiskey, eyes glimmering with something dangerous.

“You’re awake, love. That’s good... Now, let’s get to business.” He turned to face you fully, his gaze pinning you in place. “I want you more than you want me. Your family? They can't touch me, and stopping this wedding is just the beginning. I need an heir...and you, my dear, are the only one I will accept it from.”

Your brain stalled, disbelief flooding your veins. “Are you insane?” you scoffed, sitting up with a raised brow. “Last I checked, kidnapping someone isn't exactly the best way to get a wife. Or did you miss that lesson in charm school?”

Adrian’s grin only widened, eyes glinting with dark amusement. “I don’t do charm. I do results.” He loosened his tie with practiced ease, stepping forward with a predatory grace that made your heart do a little flip—traitorous as it was. “And I always get what I want.”

“Well, congrats on the arrogance. That’s a solid ten out of ten,” you shot back, folding your arms defiantly. “But newsflash, buddy—I’m not exactly the ‘swoon and obey’ type.”

He laughed then, rich and low, the kind that sent shivers down your spine even though you desperately tried to ignore it. “I’m counting on it,” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave. “Happy Mother’s Day in advance, my future wife. Now...shall we get started? A baby awaits.”

His hand brushed against your cheek, and you swallowed hard, your mind screaming at you to pull away even as your body betrayed you, frozen in place, a smirk almost appeared on your lips. “You’re insane,” you whispered, more breathless than you intended.

“Keep saying that, love,” he murmured, his lips ghosting over your ear. “You’ll be screaming it soon enough.”