Lillian's heart pounded violently in her chest, fear gripping every inch of her body. She couldn't bring herself to turn around. She remained frozen, paralyzed by the terror that had dawned on her.

She didn't need a soothsayer to tell her that God had forsaken her. After all her prayers, fasting, and charity, how could He still allow this follower of Satan find her? And here of all places, just when she had come to church to pray for him to forget about her.

"Turn."

The deep command sent a shudder through her spine. The fear of angering him forced her body into motion. Slowly, she turned around, gasping the moment her eyes met his with tears already pooling her eyes.

There he was. Jake Hernandez.

His cold, gray eyes bore into her, empty yet suffocating, making her stomach twist. But that wasn't what made her breath hitch, it was the scar across his face, the same scar she had left him with that night.

The one she had dragged across his skin.

With two steady strides, he closed the distance between them, and yanked off her scarf, her shades, and the nose mask she had used to conceal herself.

Lillian shivered, barely able to stand, and then just like in her nightmares, his hand wrapped around her throat. A sharp gasp escaped her, panic swallowing her whole with tears gushing out.

Jake watched her, drinking in every of her reaction, every flinch, every trembling breath.

"I didn't treat this..." he pointed to the scar on his face, his palm tightening slightly around her neck. "Wanna know why?"

Lillian could barely breathe, let alone speak. His grip wasn't tight, just firm enough to keep her close, to make sure she felt every word that left his lips.

"Because I wanted to be reminded of you every single day until I find you again," he murmured darkly, his eyes gleaming with something sinister. "And now that I have?" He let his words lingered. "I'm going to return the favor."

Lillian shook her head desperately, her body trembling like a jellyfish caught in a storm.

"I-I... w-will scream," She managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She thought it would make him let go. But instead, a slow, wicked grin curled onto his lips.

"And what?" he asked, tilting his head like he was actually interested in her answer.

"People... wi..will come."

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest this time. He abruptly released her, but the amusement in his eyes vanished in an instant. He stood tall before her, exuding dominance, the air around him suffocating.

"I dare you, puta." [whore] His voice dropped an octave, "But just so you know... no one is on your side anymore."

"Your little friend didn't even hesitate to give you up. You have absolutely no one."

Her heart stopped. Was he talking about Evie?

His smirk deepened as realization crashed over her.

"She's been spying on you since the day you moved to this country. You really thought everything would work in your favor because you've been praying to a faceless God?" He mocked, his tone dripping with venom.

Lillian felt like the ground beneath her had been ripped away. Evie... they both met on the plane and their connection was instant.

How stupid of her to chose an absolute stranger as a best friend in this foreign country?

Jake had been waiting for this moment to come. For six long months, he had let her believe she was safe. And today, she had finally made a mistake.

His fingers suddenly tangled into her hair, yanking her forward. "Your punishment starts now, puta."

Terror struck her hard. She tried to step back, but his grip tightened, jerking her closer.

"P-please, just let me go," she choked out through her sobs, begging desperately.

But Jake remained unfazed.

"You should have thought about that before daring to cross the Mafia King himself."

Before she could plead further, his hand moved and landed a swift, brutal strike against the side of her neck.

Lillian felt her world spun. Darkness seeped into the edges of her vision, consuming her entirely as she slumped to the ground.

Jake stared down at her crumpled form, his expression resembling that of a stone. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel.

"Take her away," he ordered coolly, walking out of the church.

A man walked in, scooping Lillian's unconscious body into his arms before carrying her toward the black car parked outside the church.

Jake entered his house, his mood already foul from the events of the day. His sharp gaze swept across the grand living room, only to land on a familiar, unwelcome presence.

[You suck]

"Eres un inútil! I said 'no sugar in my tea,' don't drown it!" Isabella's sharp Spanish cut through the air as she berated one of the maids.

Dressed in one of her expensive designer gowns, she stood in the middle of the living room, her manicured nails tapping against the rim of her teacup.

She was a model which they know, and yet added sugar to her tea. Every staff was used to her cøcky attitude.

The moment she noticed Jake's presence, her entire demeanor shifted. A soft, practiced smile curled on her lips as she took a step toward him. The maid doesn't need to be told before she leaves at once.

Before Isabella could touch him, Jake's cold voice rang out.

"Why are you here?" He demanded, his tone unforgiving.

Before she could answer, heavy footsteps echoed behind him. Efren strode past them, carrying an unconscious Lillian in his arms.

"Take her to the basement," Jake ordered without sparing him a glance.

Isabella's head snapped toward the movement, her sharp eyes locking onto the limp woman being taken away.

"Who is she?" she asked, her tone sharp with curiosity.

Jake ignored her and walked further into the house. "Answer my damn question," he snapped. "What are you doing here?"

Isabella doesn't seem fazed by the tone of his voice. She lifted her chin, feigning confidence, but he could see through her.

"My father asked me to be here," she said smoothly. "He thinks it's time we start... living together."

His stare darkened. She continued, placing a hand on his chest, her fingers trailing lightly. "We're having dinner at my father's house tonight. He said we need to give the public something to talk about. So you need to be there."

He grabbed her wrist before she could go any further. Her eyes widened slightly at the sharpness of his grip.

"You're not listening." His voice was dangerously quiet. "I don't give a damn what your father wants."

She winced as his grip tightened slightly before he let go.

"I'm busy." He added dismissively, walking away.

Isabella clenched her fists.

"We've been engaged for six months, Jake!" She yelled, frustration leaking into her voice. "You can't keep pushing this forever!"

She was tired of this.

Jake halted mid-step. His already irritated mood spiked. All of this was because of that damn whøre.

Isabella's Father, Rodriguez, the Mafia Lord of California, had spent years trying to push his daughter into his life, hoping to strengthen their bond and take down their mutual enemy-Saheed Habib, the Indian Mafia King.

Jake had ignored those advances for as long as he could, but when Lillian had him arrested in his country, Rodriguez had wasted no time pulling strings to get him released before Jake could even use his influence, using the situation to his advantage.

That's how he ended up engaged to Isabella. And now, they were trying to force a wedding on him?

Isabella took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "The dinner is to finalize our wedding," she stated hesitantly. "I can't make up excuses for you anymore."

His gaze locked onto her with cold calculation. He studied her carefully. She sounded too sure.

"You met him, didn't you?"

She stiffened at the question, avoiding his gaze to mask up her expression. And that answers Jake's question. He exhaled slowly, tilting his head back. He was going to kill someone today.

"You went to my father?" His voice turned deadly.

Isabella took a small step back. "No... it was your mother," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, the house fell into complete silence. Then, the tension snapped.

In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his presence towering over hers. She gasped, stepping back, but he grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look at him.

"You think I give a damn about that woman?! That woman has done nothing but saw me as a trophy, and you ran to her like a desperate little b!tch?"

She trembled, but she didn't cry. She knew better than to show weakness now. She would become the Mafia Queen soon.

"Baby, it's for us," she whispered, her voice unsteady and sweet. "We need this marriage. It will solidify our position. Don't you see? This is how we win..."

Jake pulled out his phone, cutting her off. She watched in growing panic as he dialed. The moment the call connected, Jake's voice was cold and commanding.

"Efren. Escort Isabella home."

Isabella stiffened. "Jake, what are you..."

"The engagement is nullified," he declared, his tone final. He turned and walked away.

Isabella felt blood drained from her face.

"What?! You can't do this!" she shouted, chasing after him. "What about my father? And your parents? Do you really think they'll let you back out of this just like that?!"

Jake turned around that second, pulled out his gun and fired toward her. The scent of gunpowder filled the room, together with Isabella's scream, stumbling backward.

He shot the floor, just inches away from her feet. Only he knew how badly he wanted to kill her at that spot.

His grip on the gun tightened. "Don't push me, Isabella."

She knew him well enough to understand that he was moments away from doing something irreversible. She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay quiet.

Jake turned on his heel and walked toward the basement, his thoughts still simmering in rage.

Going against his father wouldn't be easy, and that's what piss him off the most. Because no matter how much he hated the man...

They were alike in one way. They didn't like losing.

Jake entered the basement, his eyes dark and sharp as ever locked on Lillian, her limped body lying lifeless on the cold cement floor.

The sight twisted rage in him and his jaw clenched tightly. Without a second thought, he pulled out his gun.

Bang!

He fired at the wall. The loud bang echoed through the basement like thunder.

After another shot, Lillian jerked awake, her breath hitched as her eyes fluttered opened. She coughed weakly and looked around, only to find Jake staring down at her. The side of her neck hurts and it didn't take a second before it registered in her head that she had been kidnapped.

He stood over her, his gun still in his hand smoking from the shot. Her lips trembled as she swallowed her saliva, her lips quivering as she fisted on her dress.

"You are the root of all the problems I'm facing right now," He muttered, his voice low but laced with venom. He raised his gun again but pointed it directly at her. "How about I just kill you?"

Her heart dropped to her stomach. Panic hit her hard. She wanted to speak but only shaky sobs that escaped her lips.

Jake moved closer, crouched in front of her and lifted her face with the barrel of the gun. Her already flowing tears streamed down her cheeks, her body trembling all over.

"P-Please," She quivered but he smirked. A dangerous one.

"Welcome to my wrath, puta," he sneered, watching her tears like it amused him. But just then, his phone rang.

The sound sliced through the tension. Lillian swallowed hard, thanking God silently for the interruption.

She watched as he stared at the screen longer than expected, his irritation was evident. His jaw clenched again before he stood up and walked out of the basement without a word.

Lillian collapsed back to the floor, rubbing the side of her neck. It aches like hell. She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in them, crying quietly. She had no hope of escaping.

Her parents were in the countryside. She always made sure to call them. Now, she didn't know if they even knew she was missing.

Jake marched out of the basement, his phone to his ear.

"Yes," he said shortly, heading to his room and stripping off his shirt.

"Your father called me, boss," his right-hand man, Carlos reported. That was expected.

He hummed and grabbed clean clothes from his closet.

"The tanker will arrive by dawn, but it needs you it be there. He's pulling strings to stop the delivery but I'm working on it already,"

"Drop it," Jake told him, "Get the plane ready. You're coming with me to Los Angeles," He ordered and ended the call.

That b!tch didn't even wait for an hour before running to Daddy. He thought, getting dressed before he left the house.

BACK IN THE BASEMENT, Lillian stayed in the same spot crying for hours. Her voice was weak and her body was cold. The silence in the underground room was crushing. The tears wouldn't come anymore.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching.

Her body tensed, thinking Jake was back. Her heartbeat picked up when the door creaked open slowly, but it revealed a woman in a maid's uniform holding a tray of food.

"Dinner," Olivia said.

Lillian stared at the tray, the delicious aroma hitting her nose, but after considering all possibilities, she shook her head gently.

"I'm not hungry," she whispered. Her voice was barely audible, hoarse from crying.

Olivia gazed down at her with a mix of curiosity and pity, wondering what she had done to incur Jake's wrath and a flicker of concern because of how pitiful Lillian looked.

She doesn't look like those b!tches that warms his bed.

"It's past dinner time," She replied gently. "Whatever relieveness it might bring you, Mr. Hernandez travelled this afternoon,"

Lillian looked up quickly. "Really?"

Olivia nodded once, stepping further in to set the food on a small table in the corner.

"I'll come back for the plates."

"Ma-please wait!" Lillian shot up, wobbling a little from weakness.

"Can you lend me your phone? Just for a minute. I won't call the police, I swear. I just want to let my parents know I'm alive. They'll be so worried. Please." Her voice broke on the last word.

Olivia sighed. She knew this girl wasn't lying, there was no defiance in her eyes. Just pain.

But she knew better. Bringing her food was wrong in the first place but Ms. Rose insisted she brings her food. And now this?

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I really am. But I can't. Just eat and I'll come back later."

Lillian dropped to her knees. "I'm not trying to run. I just want them to sleep without worrying that their daughter's dead somewhere. If it were your parents, would you want them to be left wondering?" she cried, trying to guilt-trip her.

Olivia flinched at her words. Inwardly, she rebuked such a curse over herself or her parents. She had no business angering the devil she worked for.

"I'll come back for the tray," she said again and quickly left the room before she changed her mind.

Lillian could only wept, hoping Evie would be nice enough to tell them she was fine.