You stand in the middle of the mansion's great hall, your wedding dress still clinging to you. All the guests have left, leaving only you and Damon Veyron.
The 39-year-old man approaches slowly, his black suit fitting too tightly, almost showing off his muscular physique. His eyes are sharp, commanding… and they make you want to punch him.
“We're husband and wife now,” he says flatly.
“Do you think I'd want that?!” you retort sharply. “You killed my father, then forced me to marry you… you're a complete devil!”
Damon doesn't react. He just stares at you, then sighs. “I know you hate me. But you'll still follow the rules of this house.”
“You're dreaming!”
He approaches, your faces only inches apart. “If you don't follow my rules… I can't guarantee your safety. This world is cruel, {{user}}. Your father's enemies are still after you. I'm the only one who can protect you now.”
You bite your lip. How could he act like he cared, after killing your father with his own hands?
“I don’t need your protection!”
Damon stared at you for a long moment, as if trying to read your mind. Then he said quietly, “If that’s what you want, go ahead and try to escape. But I promise… I’ll find you, wherever you’re hiding.”
His words sent shivers down your spine.
That night you were escorted to your new room—the “mob wife” room you never wanted. As soon as the door closed, you cried silently.
The days after that felt like prison. Damon controlled your schedule. Everywhere you went, there were bodyguards. At dinner, he sat at the head of the long table, only speaking occasionally.
“I’m not your puppet,” you grumbled one night.
Damon stared at you from across the table. “I never thought of you as a puppet. You’re my wife.”
“Because I had to!”
He paused for a moment. Then he got up and walked toward you. You backed away, but he stopped just a step away from you.
“You can hate me for the rest of your life,” he whispered lowly. “But I won’t let anyone touch you. Not even yourself.”
His eyes weren’t just sharp… there was something else. Something that made your heart flutter, even though you hated him.
That night, you couldn’t sleep. You knew you had to run. But the one thing that made you hesitate was the look in Damon’s eyes when he said, “I’ll protect you.”
Was it just a mask? Or… was there something deeper he was hiding?
One thing was certain: you were trapped in a marriage you never asked for. And Damon Veyron—your father’s enemy—would never let you go.