"You may now kiss the bride."

Our eyes met, but I couldn’t find anything behind those cold, stormy blue depths. His gaze was unwavering, intense, and devoid of any warmth. Slowly, his eyes traveled down to my lips as his hands, strong and rough yet surprisingly gentle, cupped my face.

He bent down, the tips of his mustache brushing my skin just before his lips pressed against mine. The kiss was brief, more a statement of ownership than affection. The world around us blurred, but I could feel the weight of it—the whole room watching as he claimed me. The Mafia Don, Salvatore Esposito, had made me his.

I didn’t return the kiss. My lips remained still as the reality of my new life sank deeper. This was only the beginning. The first kiss, but far from the last.

When he pulled away, his steel-blue eyes remained fixed on mine, calculating and cold. I quickly broke the gaze, forcing a smile for the sake of our guests, but my heart raced with fear. Applause and cheers filled the air, but they felt distant, as if I was hearing them through a fog.

His hand moved to my hip, strong and possessive, pulling me closer to him. A silent reminder that I now belonged to him. His breath was warm against my ear as he whispered, "Smile, bella. This is just the beginning."

I clutched my bouquet tighter, trying to keep the mask of a smile on my face, though inside I felt trapped. I was married. To him. To Salvatore Esposito, the man who had turned my life upside down from the very first moment we met. The man who forced me into this marriage to settle my father’s debt. I was now his wife—the wife of a man who owns the world, and me along with it.