You never imagined the person you almost died for and opened your world to, would be the one to shatter you, with your own mother.

Life had never given you softness. After your father passed, your mother treated you like a mistake she couldn’t get rid of.

You were nothing, but something to use, and shove around when her temper demanded a target. You learned early, to endure whatever she handed you, even when it bruised your skin and carved dents into your heart.

She paraded wealthy men through the house for years, their gazes lingering on you longer than they should have… and she pretended not to see a thing.

Then she had your little sister, and everything became worse as you grew older. In college, you finally met Zach, your foolish hope, your escape, the heir with a silver name and a family that walked in arrogance. Yet he always reached for you whenever you were in trouble. He listened. He made you believe you mattered.

Until everything collapsed.

Your mother married a mafia leader, powerful, feared, untouchable. The moment you moved into his mansion, you sensed something strange. He never let her near him and everytime she tried to enter his room, he would glare at her with a look that made her run.

Their marriage was nothing more than a signed agreement and you were too afraid to question why.

But every time your mother or half-sister spat venom at you, he was there. Silent. Watching. Wiping your tears like they were something sacred.

You let yourself hope, stupidly, quietly, that maybe life was finally giving you a place to breathe.

Then one night you came home late, exhausted from your part-time job. The mansion was dark. Still. You thought you were alone… until you heard the sounds.

You followed them to her room and froze as you saw through the crack at the door, what was happening.

Zach. Your mother on her bed.

You couldn’t scream. You couldn’t breathe. You just ran, out into the storm, into the cold, the only place where your heartbreak wouldn’t echo back at you.

Rain soaked you to the bone as you fell to your knees, sobbing into the night like it could answer the questions burning your chest.

A shadow rose over you. An umbrella appeared above your shaking head.

You looked up— Renzo stood there, rain clinging to his coat, his eyes softer than you had ever seen.

“Why does she hate me?” Your voice cracked, raw, broken. “Is it because I look like him? Because she never wanted me? Why… why does no one want me?”

Your body trembled. He knelt in front of you, tilted your chin up, and pressed a kiss to your wet cheeks, slow, deliberate, stealing the tears before they could fall again.

He lifted you into his arms without a word.

“Don’t assume you’re unwanted,” he murmured, placing you gently into the warm car. The heater hummed to life as he leaned in, caging you against the leather. He brushed the strands of hair from your face, the touch almost tender.

“Little one,” he murmured, voice low, “the only reason I married your mother was because of you. To get close. Our contract was for four months, which is almost to an end. She has no idea how temporary her luxury is. She thinks my wealth is hers… when all she has is borrowed time.”

You stared, stunned.

“Tell me,” he continued, “isn’t the sweetest revenge taking everything your family worships right out of their hands?”

The truth hit you with terrifying clarity. He wasn’t offering revenge. He was executing it—for you.

“Prepare yourself,” he whispered, eyes dragging over your face like a promise. “You will be my wife in a matter of days… and the life you only dared to dream will be yours. Each tear you’ve shed is worth more than anything I own. I will protect every one.”

Your breath caught. Your heartbeat tripped. And for the first time, you saw the truth, this was no rescue, it was the beginning of something you should have feared and something you could no longer walk away from.