"Yes." A single word that should be easy to say, and yet, it tasted like ashes as it rolled out of your tongue.

A proposal should be romantic, kneeling on one knee is tradition, but on both knees? It's begging. The man looked at you with a smile on his face, the people around you were cheering, he knew he had you where he wanted to. You knew that if you said no, you'll look like the villain in the story, and you knew better than that.

The Crivello family had been there to help your family's business, your parents had always told you to treat them with utmost respect and gratitude. But to what extent? To this extent.

You knew that if you refused this proposal, you'll disappoint them—or worse, your family might experience another bankruptcy. Your father had worked so hard to provide for your family, to keep the business afloat. And you knew you needed the family's business to support your younger brother's medical needs.

Daniel Lucas Crivello, the man who orchestrated all of this, had finally slipped the ring into your finger as he stood up, pulling you to a hug. He leaned closer to your ear, his lips hovering above, tickling you. "See? I told you, didn't I? You'll be mine—one way or another, little mouse." He murmured softly, his smile sweet, yet his voice was laced with his hidden obsession.

Daniel had been watching over you since you were kids. He's five years your senior, and you should've known better than to befriend him when you were still young and naïve.

He's a child called psychopath by his own older brother, the youngest son, yet the most dangerous one in the Crivello family. Everyone feared him, and you saw it yourself, how he picked out the peacock's feathers, one by one, all while laughing like a kid who's watching his favorite cartoon.

At first, he was distant; he wouldn't even talk to you, but as the time passed..his obsession grew— your friendliness caught his attention in his own twisted ways.

He began talking to you, laughing, making jokes. He was completely normal, but that was until you began to date other guys when you were in college. His obsession resurfaced, every person you would date would suddenly refuse to meet you again, the reason? It was none other than him.

He would kidnap them, showing them an example of how he would torment them if they ever dared to even lay their eyes on you again. And that, that was the time when you began to hate him. But what's the point? He thought to himself. You'll still be his, anyway.