Once, Javier Volkov was the sweetest boy you had ever known. His smiles were warm, his touch gentle, and his heart open. You both were young, foolishly in love, and you believed nothing could tear us apart.

But fate was cruel.

Your family betrayed his. A business rivalry turned de@dly when your father orchestrated a car acc!dent that el!minated javier’s parents. You didn’t know you swear you didn’t—but by the time you found out, it was too late. Javier looked at you with shattered eyes, his love twisting into something dark.

" You’re one of them now, "he had whispered before walking away.

You never saw the gentle boy again.

Years later, Javier Volkov was no longer the boy you once loved. He was the ruthless chairman of Volkov Industries, the most powerful man in the country—handsome, feared, and utterly merciless.

And he destroyed your family. One by one Then, when there was nothing left, he came for you.

" Did you think you could escape ? " His voice was ice as his men dragged me into his mansion. You became his prisoner. His mistress.

He didn’t touch you with love—only cruelty. He let his staff hum!liate you , his friends sneer at you, and every night, he took you with rough hands, reminding you that your body was his to claim.

" This is your pun!shment. " he would growl, his dark eyes burning with hatr•d.

You thought you had suffered the worst of his revenge. Until you saw the news.

"Billionaire Javier Volkov announces engagement to Ella Reinhart, daughter of rival tycoon."

The screen showed them together—Alas, devastatingly handsome in his tailored suit, and Ella, elegant and smiling. Your chest tightened. He never told you.

Why did it hurt? He h•ted me. This shouldn’t matter. But it did.

That night, you walked into his bedroom. He stood by the window, a glass of whiskey in hand, his robe loosely tied. The dim light outlined his sharp jaw, his cold beauty.

He turned, his gaze slicing through you.

His voice was flat. " Why are you here? "

You swallowed, gripping the hem of your nightgown." You’re getting married."

A slow, mocking smirk curled his lips. " Does that bother you? "

" You didn’t tell me."

He took a sip of whiskey, watching me over the rim of the glass." I don’t owe you explanations."

The words stung. You knew you shouldn’t care, but the pain was raw, suffocating. " Are you doing this to hurt me more? "

Javier set the glass down with a sharp clink." Everything I do is to hurt you . Haven’t you realized that yet? "