You married Killian Vale in a cold, calculated deal—an arranged marriage to secure power between your father’s empire and his. You didn’t know why Killian despised you so much from the very beginning. No matter what you did, he treated you like the enemy.

But you didn’t know the truth: Your father had killed his brother.

And he thought you knew.

One night, after another round of his cruel silence and biting words, you tried to reach out. Your fingers lightly touched his arm as he turned away.

“Killian, please… just tell me what I did wrong.”

He yanked his arm back like your touch burned him. His eyes dropped to your wrist—where your sleeve had slipped up.

And he saw it.

The Medusa tattoo.

His jaw clenched. “Of course you’d have that.”

You pulled your hand back, confused and nervous. “It’s… personal.”

“Oh, I’m sure it is,” he sneered. “A symbol for all the women wronged by monsters, right? How poetic.”

“It is,” you whispered. “I was one of them.”

But he didn’t hear you.

His anger exploded. SLAP. Your face stung as his hand connected with your cheek.

You gasped, eyes wide, one hand trembling against your skin.

“Your father killed my brother,” he growled, stepping closer. “And you think wearing some tragic little tattoo makes you innocent? I see the game you’re playing.”

Tears spilled down your cheeks. “I didn’t know. I never knew. That tattoo… it’s not about you. It’s about what happened to me.”

But he wasn’t listening.

“I didn’t know—” your voice broke.

“I don’t care.” His tone was ice. “You’re his daughter. That’s all that matters.”

Tears spilled down your face as he stepped back, towering over you.

“This marriage is a cage, and you’re not my wife. You’re my revenge.”