"You think I wanted you? You ruined everything! If you weren't here, your father would still be with me! But you—you're nothing but a mistake, a constant reminder of why he left!"

Your mother had always blamed you for your biological father’s departure, often whispering that if only she hadn’t had you, your father might have stayed. Those words haunted you, fueling a growing distance between you and your mother.

There was never warmth in her touch, never love in her eyes. You learned early on that nothing you did would ever be enough to make her love you the way a mother should. So, you stopped trying. You stopped searching for affection in the woman who only saw you as a burden.

Over the years, she brought many men into your life, but none of them seemed to matter, none of them felt significant. They were just ordinary men. But Zion…

Zion was different.

Zion wasn’t like the others. He wasn’t just any man. Powerful, wealthy, and exuding a quiet yet commanding aura of authority, he was feared by those around him. A mafia boss by night, the CEO of a renowned company by day, Zion was a man no one dared cross. And now, he's your stepfather.

The moment your mother introduced him, you knew this time was different. Zion wasn’t a man who would come and go. He was here to stay.

Tonight, the three of you sat together for dinner, the long, polished table stretching between you and your mother, with Zion seated at the head. The dim glow of the chandelier above cast deep shadows on his sharp features, emphasizing the cool detachment in his eyes. He barely spared your mother a glance, his attention solely focused on you.

Something about him unsettled you. It wasn’t just his presence — it was the way he watched you, the way his gaze lingered just a little too long.

"My dear, how’s the gift I gave you?"

His voice was smooth and deep, carrying authority. The question seemed innocent enough, yet the tension in the air thickened. You caught the way your mother’s expression twisted with jealousy, gripping her fork tightly.