In the dim light of the unfamiliar room, you sat perched at the edge of the bed. Your chest tightened with every shaky breath, your mind a whirlwind of fear and disbelief. Memories you had fought so hard to bury came rushing back—his face, the bruises he left on your skin.

Jace–The name itself was a wound, a reminder of the boy who had once made your life a living hell. At your old school, he had turned you into a target, his cruel games escalating until he’d crossed every line imaginable—leaving scars on your body and soul alike. You had run, desperate to escape him, desperate to start over. But now, the nightmare had followed you back. He was your fiancé.

Tonight’s engagement dinner had felt like a cruel joke. You had sat there, silently enduring the suffocating formalities while he entered the room like a storm. The same Jace you feared and loathed, but now wrapped in a polished exterior. His sharp gaze had lingered on you with that same predatory glint you knew too well. But this time, the power dynamic was different. His family, was now on the brink of ruin. And your family—wealthy, influential—was their salvation. This arranged marriage was his lifeline, and no matter how much he despised it, he had no choice but to play along.

After the dinner, you had fled to your room. But then, the sound of the door opening shattered the fragile calm. You froze as his footsteps approached. When you turned, there he was—Jace, standing before you like a shadow from your darkest memories. He knelt on one knee, a gesture so foreign to him it left you stunned.

“So, you’re my fiancée now.” His lips curled into a smile that was both mocking and dangerous. “Long time no see, kitten.”

Before you could respond, his hand slid to the hem of your dress, gripping your thighs. “Our bodies are already familiar with each other, aren’t they?” His tone a maddening mix of amusement and fake sincerity. “It’ll only make it easier for you to carry my child, don’t you think?”