{Naomi POV}

A wave of relief washed over me as I stepped out of the hospital, staring at the remaining balance of the money on my phone. With the thought of what to do, I waved my hand to signal a cab, but a cold voice from behind me distracted me.

I turned hastily to see three men dressed in black. Dark shades covered their eyes, making it hard to read their expressions.

"Miss Naomi Ray, my boss requests your presence," one of the men said in a stern voice.

My heart skipped, and beads of sweat gathered on my forehead as I stared at them in horror. "I'm sorry," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I can't follow you. I don't even know who your boss is or why he wants to see me."

The men scoffed and stepped closer to me. "That's not necessary, Miss Ray. I believe you know why we're here."

I blinked innocently, even though I could hear the thumping of my heart in my ears. My palms were clammy, my mind racing, but I forced my face to stay straight and calm. "I don't know what you're talking about," I muttered softly, trying to make eye contact with him. "And I'm not following you anywhere."

The man looked away from me and nodded at the other two. I tried not to think about what might be their next move, but before I could gather my thoughts, my gaze flickered over the man's shoulder.

The door of a black Mercedes parked not far from us slowly opened.

My breath hitched when I saw a man dressed in a black turtleneck and trousers step out and walk toward us. My legs threatened to buckle beneath me as I recognized him, the same man I had bumped into at the Vitale mansion.

He walked toward me, calm and cold, like the world would pause for him if he asked it to. When he stopped in front of me, he looked me dead in the eye.

"You have something that belongs to me, Miss Ray," he said. "Something you stole."

I swallowed hard. My pretense shattered instantly, replaced by fear.

"It's simple," he continued. "You can come with me now, or I can hand you over to the cops. Either way, you're coming."

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He gave a slight nod, and the two men flanked me again, no force needed. My legs moved on their own as I slid into the back seat of the waiting car.

The door shut behind me with a soft but final click.

I placed a hand on my chest, as if trying to hold my heart in place as the car pulled out of the hospital parking lot and into the road. I didn't even get the chance to call Chloe. My thoughts were a mess, a storm spinning around what my fate might be.

I didn't even realize how much time had passed until the door opened again. I looked around and saw that we were at the Vitale mansion.

The three men escorted me inside. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor of the same study where I had stolen the cufflinks.

The coldness of the marble-tiled floor seeped into my skin, a painful reminder of Chloe's words.

"I'm sorry. This must be a misunderstanding," I pleaded, completely clueless about how to survive this situation.

"You're sorry? And what misunderstanding are you talking about?" a stern voice said from behind me.

I looked up and saw the man on turtleneck walk in and stop in front of me. "I have evidence that yesterday, during the Vitale annual party, you snuck into this study and stole a pair of cufflinks worth fifty million dollars." He paused and looked at me in disgust. "Where is the cufflinks? I want it now."

I gulped down the lump rising in my throat. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," I said, forcing a voice I barely recognized as mine. I was sure no one had seen me take the cufflinks. Maybe he was only suspicious because I bumped into him.

The man scoffed and signaled to the guy next to him. The man picked up a tablet from the table and tapped the screen. A video began to play.

It was me, pressing in the code and opening the glass box containing the cufflinks.

I froze. Tears stung my eyes, and I lowered my gaze.

"Where is the cufflinks?" he asked again, his voice lower this time but more threatening.

"I don't have it," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I sold it... I used the money to pay my mother's hospital bill."

"I don't care what you used the money for," he snapped. "It's either you return the cufflinks or you pay me fifty million. And because you stole it, that adds another fifty million. One hundred million total. Try anything smart, and I won't hesitate to throw you in jail."

My heart raced, and my breathing grew shallow. How could I pay back one hundred million? All I had left in my account was fifteen million.

Even if I gave him that, it would be like tossing a pebble into the ocean. Tears spilled down my cheeks as panic gripped my chest.

"You have a third option," he finally said, taking a step closer. "Wait here while I call the cops. You'll be taken to prison for theft."

"No-please," I blurted, falling to my knees and grabbing his trouser leg. "Please, don't do that. I can't go to prison. My mom is all I have. No one will take care of her if I'm gone. She needs me... please."

He looked down at me, stone-faced. "You should've thought of that before stealing from me."

I sobbed silently, my face pressed against the cold floor, shaking from fear and helplessness.

He leaned down suddenly, his face inches from mine. His voice was cold and slow. "I'll give you one last option."

He signaled to one of his men, who disappeared for a moment and returned with a thin white folder. The man took it and handed it to him.

He opened it and took out a paper, then stretched it toward me.

"Your last option is this-" he said, his eyes narrowing. "Sign this marriage contract. Become my wife... until you pay off the debt."

My heart nearly stopped. I lifted my gaze slowly, staring at the paper in his hand as if it were poisoned.

"W-what?" I whispered.

{Naomi POV}

"You heard me," he replied. "You want to stay out of jail? Then sign it. Be my wife. That's the only way you'll work off one hundred million under my control. Otherwise-" he stood tall again-"the police are a phone call away."

I stared at the paper, my tears soaking into the corners of my lips.

MARRIAGE CONTRACT AGREEMENT TO ENZO VITALE

I felt a rush of nausea rise in my throat as I slowly looked away from the paper and met his eyes. The coldness in his gaze was enough to freeze me solid, talk less of staying under the same roof with him.

I tried to imagine the horror, but my brain refused. I shook my head quickly. "No, please. I can't."

He turned from me and walked over to his chair, sitting down like a king about to give judgment to a criminal. "Then you'll go to jail," he said flatly. "I'll make sure of that."

My head ached so badly I thought it would split in two. I didn't know what to do. My heart screamed for help, but no one was coming. I suddenly wished Chloe was here... no. It was better she wasn't. If she was, this whole thing could have been worse.

I bit down hard on my lower lip and looked at the paper lying beside me on the cold floor. My eyes scanned the page, and I paused when I saw a line written in bold.

FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF A WIFE

"Full responsibility of a wife?" I whispered to myself, lifting my gaze slowly.

The moment our eyes met, a chill ran through my spine. Enzo's stare was so intense, so sharp, it felt like it could slice right through my skin.

I had never met anyone whose presence could suck the air out of a room. His face was unreadable, not a flicker of warmth, not even a hint of mercy.

"What... what does that mean?" I asked, my voice shaky. "Full responsibility... what does that mean?"

He leaned forward, his eyes still locked on mine. "You don't know what it means?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery. "Do you want me to explain it to you?"

He didn't wait for my answer. Instead, he picked up his phone from the desk, lifting it slowly as his finger hovered over the screen.

"You know what? Forget it. You're going to jail."

"No!" I shouted quickly, my voice cracking. I pushed myself up from the floor, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "I agree! I'll do it-I'll be your wife."

He paused, lowering the phone with the same cold expression.

One of the men in black handed me a pen. My hand trembled as I took it, my fingers damp with sweat. My legs barely held me up as I walked to his desk, leaning on the surface for support.

My eyes stared blankly at the contract. My vision blurred, not just from the tears, but from fear. I had never imagined this... never imagined my life turning this way. But I had no choice.

I scribbled my name at the bottom, right next to his, and the moment I lifted the pen, I felt something inside me break.

My hands dropped to my sides. My whole body went cold. I was now the wife of Enzo Vitale.

Feeling helpless, I backed away slowly from the desk, the pen still clutched in my fingers. I tried not to fall apart again, but the tears came rushing back, blurring everything once more.

I had no idea what kind of world I had just walked into.

My eyes landed on a line I hadn't noticed before, my name written in bold next to another chilling sentence.

"Naomi Ray is to be the legal wife of Enzo Vitale until Enzo no longer wants her. She is to fulfill all marital duties, including his sexual desires."

I gasped quietly.

My chest tightened, and the room began to spin. I couldn't breathe. My hands shook as I pressed them against the desk, trying to steady myself.

Sexual desires?

I stared at the words again, horrified. What would it be like to lie next to a man so heartless? So cold? My stomach twisted at the thought.

Enzo took the paper off the table and looked at it before handing it to one of the men in the room. He stood up from the chair and walked past me, signaling for one of the men to step forward.

"Take her to one of the rooms," he ordered his men, his voice low but firm. "And tell the maids to get her ready for the evening party."

With that, he walked away. I stood there for a while, lost in my thoughts and regret. Why didn't I listen to Chloe? What have I gotten myself into?

"Miss Ray, please follow me to your room," a manly voice broke into my thoughts. I sniffled and wiped my tears, trying to steady my racing heart as I followed the man.

We made our way out of the study, with the man leading the way. I wrapped my arms over my chest, following him obediently. We stopped at a door with a knob similar to the one in the study. The man pushed it open, revealing a lavish bedroom.

The room looked like something out of a palace, soft cream walls with gold accents, velvet drapes that touched the floor, and a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A king-size bed sat in the middle, with carved wooden posts and royal blue sheets that looked untouched. A gold-trimmed vanity stood in one corner, and across from the bed, mounted on the wall, was a black security camera blinking faintly. Another one sat at the top corner near the entrance door, silently watching.

"This is your room. The maid will be at your service soon," the man said in a stern voice.

I stepped into the room, my eyes locking on the camera near the bed before turning to the man, who was already starting to leave. "Why is there a security camera in the room?" I asked, my voice soft but uneasy.

The man looked at it briefly, then looked back at me. "If you have any questions, I'll suggest you ask Enzo." With that, he walked away.

I stood there for a while, staring at the room, wondering why everything felt like it had already been set up, like it was all waiting for my arrival.

{Enzo POV}

The hushed sound of guests in the hall echoed through the place, followed by the soft clicking of glasses as I climbed down the stairs.

Their gazes fell in my direction. I knew exactly what they were all expecting. Ever since my father's death, all they've done is whisper about his will. Their curiosity about who between my stepbrother and I would get married first had become their topmost priority. Tonight, I've decided to silence their whispers.

"Mr. Vitale, what a pleasant surprise to have you show yourself to us," an elderly man in a grey suit stepped forward, his fake smile stretched too wide. "You must have something in store for us."

"Don't get your hopes high, Mr. Benard. I hate too many compliments," I muttered and walked past him.

Fake compliments. I knew them very well these days. Ever since the night my father was assassinated right in front of my eyes, nothing felt real anymore. I still couldn't clear my head of the image of the masked figure, the gloves, and the cold silence after the trigger was pulled. I'd figure out who it was. Sooner or later.

I glanced at the watch strapped to my wrist, then looked toward the staircase again. Naomi still hadn't come down. How long does it take for a woman to dress up? Or did she somehow manage to slip past my security and escape?

The corner of my lips curled at the thought. If she did... oh, the things I would do to her.

"What makes you decide to host a meeting and show your face, Enzo?" a deep voice came from behind me.

I didn't need to turn. I already knew who it was my stepbrother-Brian.

"You've always been behind the shadows, dreading the fact that I'll be the one to get the inheritance before you," he continued. He clicked his tongue and walked ahead, standing slightly in front of me now. "You're as cold as ice and scare any woman that comes near you. How will you get a woman now?"

He smirked, flashing those fake-perfect teeth. "You see, Becca and I will get married soon."

I stared at him, cold and still. The kind of stare that made most people stumble or look away. But Brian wasn't like most people. He always had the nerve to meet my eyes and smile through it.

I stepped closer, my voice low. "I'm not here to play, Brian. And as for who gets the inheritance, we both know it's not just about marriage. Whoever is behind our father's death... I'll find them. And when I do-" I paused, looking up at the stairs again. Still no sign of Naomi. My jaw clenched. "-they'll regret ever thinking I'd sit back and do nothing."

Brian's smirk wavered slightly. He noticed the flicker of irritation in my eyes as I looked up once more. "Who are you waiting for?" he asked, his voice more cautious now.

I turned to him, a hint of danger creeping into my smile. "Don't be in a haste to eat hot pottage, stepbrother. You might just end up burning your mouth."

Brian's face twisted. "You're just like him," he snapped. "Heartless, cold and wicked. That's why the inheritance isn't fit for a man like you."

I gave a small laugh, eyes never leaving his face. But before I could respond, my gaze caught movement on the stairs. And I looked up to see Naomi.

She walked down the stairs slowly, her eyes flicking left and right like she was searching for a place to hide. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders, and the dress she wore clung to her curves in a way that made a few men in the crowd turn to whisper.

I looked back at Brian. "Let's see about that... dear stepbrother."

Without another word, I walked away and made my way toward her.

Naomi's eyes locked with mine, and she froze for half a second. Her body shivered slightly in fear. The hall shifted with murmurs and sudden interest.

"Is that Enzo Vitale with a woman?"

"Could she be his fiancée?"

"I thought Brian and Becca were supposed to marry first..."

More whispers rose around us, people trying to piece it all together.

I ignored them.

Stretching out my hand to her, I saw her hesitate. Her eyes looked at me like I was the villain in some horror movie, and she'd just walked onto the wrong set. But when her gaze met mine, she knew she didn't have a choice.

She placed her hand in mine and I leaned in, lips brushing close to her ear. "Don't you dare try to give anyone a hint that you're being forced to do this," I said, my voice quiet and sharp. "Unless you've got a hundred million to hand me after tonight."

She hesitated, her lips twitching in fear, then forced a smile as she met my eyes again.

I nodded slightly and turned with her hand still in mine. Together, we walked to the center of the hall. Every eye was on us now.

I looked at her once more, then faced the crowd. "This," I said, voice calm and steady, "is Naomi. My fiancée."

Gasps, murmurs, and even a few clinks of dropped glasses followed.

"And our wedding... will be held tomorrow."

The room fell completely silent. Even Brian's jaw went slack, and his eyes blazed with a mix of shock and rage.

After a long moment of stunned silence, I added, "That's the reason for this gathering. You're all invited to the wedding tomorrow."

More murmurs erupted, but I didn't care. I could feel Naomi's hand shaking slightly in mine. I tightened my grip, holding it firmly, just enough to remind her to keep smiling.

I looked back at the crowd. "Now, enjoy the party."

With that, I turned and walked up the stairs, Naomi still beside me, our hands intertwined like we were some perfect couple.