Aurora POV

For a split second, nothing else existed except the narrow space between us. Our faces were still far too close, breaths tangled, shared air warm and uneven. I could feel his exhale against my lips, the world outside the car feeling so unreal.

His eyes dropped not to my lips at first, but to the hollow of my throat, as if he were grounding himself, reminding himself to slow down.

My heart thudded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, my body painfully aware of how close he was. One inch closer and we'd be touching.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured.

His voice was low but there was something raw beneath it, something that made my breath hitch instantly.

I didn't answer instead, my fingers tightened around the fabric of his coat

"I want you" I whispered

His jaw flexed. He lifted one hand slowly, as though giving me time to change my mind. His knuckles brushed my cheek first, His eyes flicked to my face, watching every reaction my body made

"You're dangerous, Princess."

His thumb traced the line of my jaw. It was the kind of touch that made my skin come alive. My pulse raced beneath his fingers, betraying me completely.

The silence between us grew thicker,The nickname sent a rush of heat through me, my cheek pressing more fully into his palm.

He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine, our noses brushing. He tilted his head slightly, slowly, giving me time to pull away but I didn't.

Just as our lips were about to meet-

A sharp knock rattled the window. I jolted. We both turned at the same time. He looked back at me and then I glared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. His jaw clenched.

I tore my gaze away and turned toward the window, my hands trembling as I reached for the button. The glass slid down slowly, the night air brushing against my face.

A figure stood outside the car.

I blinked and squinted to see who it was. The shape sharpened into a familiar outline. I reached for the handle and yanked the door open so fast it nearly hit her.

"Emily" I breathed

It was Emily, my best friend. Her eyes were wide; too wide, like she'd been searching every dark corner of the city and had finally found me when she'd already started to lose hope.

"Aurora!" she breathed, her voice breaking on my name. "Oh my goodness!!."

She leaned closer, scanning my face as if checking for bruises or proof of every worst-case scenario she'd clearly imagined

"I've been calling you," she said quickly. "Over and over. Why didn't you answer? I thought you were-" Her voice cut off abruptly

And then her eyes shifted to him.

To the stranger who had just nearly kissed me. Her body went rigid.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded.

Before I could answer, she questioned

"Who is he? And why is he in the car with you? Aurora, are you okay? Did he do something to you?"

"He didn't," I said too fast.

Emily's gaze flicked back to me, narrowing.

"Aurora..." she said slowly.

Then she smirked.

"Oh my..." she gushed

That look;the one that meant she was filing away every detail, just exactly what I needed, a best friend with instincts too sharp for her own good.

"Emily, I'm fine," I insisted. "He-he helped me."

Emily didn't look convinced

The man beside me didn't react at all. He didn't blink, didn't flinch, didn't even shift in his seat. He simply watched us quietly, his face calm, unreadable, almost amused.

I'm here to get you," she said, voice softening but only for me. "I was really worried. Your father wants you home now," she said turning her gaze towards me

"And I'm...sorry about what happened between you and Eth-" I nudged for her not to say more

She clamped her lips shut, but her glare said everything; You're explaining later, it promised. Every single detail.

Emily straightened. "I brought my car," she said brightly. "I can take you home, babe."

She leaned over to hug me, using the moment to whisper in my ear

"If you want to spend the night with him, I can totally understand," she murmured. "He's such a hottie."

"What the-" I pulled back instantly, shooting her a death stare.

She only grinned wider.

Before I could retaliate, his voice cut in smoothly.

"I guess this is my cue to leave now, Princess," He interrupted us." It seems like you're in safe hands"

"Yeah, sure" I replied, forcing calm into my voice, even as my pulse betrayed me.

"Goodbye knight in shining armor" Emily said to the man

"Bye for now, Princess"

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

He glanced at me then he really looked at me. His expression softened just enough to unsettle me, like he was saying something without words.

Then he nodded once.

I stepped back, closing the door as his driver started the engine. I watched as the car pulled away, taillights glowing red before disappearing around the corner.

I turned to enter the car with Emily

The car fell silent as we drove through the streets, the city lights blurring past the window

My hands rested in my lap, fingers clenched. Emily didn't speak. She didn't need to. I could feel her curiosity radiating off her like heat.

Finally, I exhaled slowly.

"Okay," I said. "Before you say anything-"

She cut me off. "You almost kissed a stranger in a car, Aurora ."

I winced.

"And not just any stranger," she continued. "A dangerously attractive one too."

I stared out the window, watching the city slide by. "I didn't plan it."

She snorted softly

I huffed out a quiet laugh despite myself. "He helped me. When some men were following me... he stepped in. He didn't have to."

"You looked like you wanted him," she said softly

I hesitated "He could be dangerous and a jerk like Ethan"

Emily sighed. "It's alright babe"

The rest of the drive passed in relative quiet, but my thoughts were anything but still. His eyes kept flashing in my mind. The way his voice sounded when he spoke my name. The heat of him, close enough that I could almost forget everything else.

As Emily pulled into my driveway, a sudden realization hit me so hard I sucked in a breath.

"Wait."

She frowned. "What?"

"I didn't get his name."

Emily burst out laughing as I stared ahead, my heart doing something dangerously close to hope.

AURORA POV

"I now proclaim you husband and wife; You may now kiss the bride,"

The priest's voice echoed. Ethan's hands were already on my veil. He yanked it aside with impatient fingers and captured my lips in a kiss that stole the air from my lungs..

His mouth claimed mine like he had every right to me, like the whole world was watching and he wanted them to see that I belonged to him. His arms wrapped around me, strong and unyielding, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The claps afterwards came distantly forced, the crowd whistled, cheering us on.

Then, I woke up startled, taking a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. The last rays of the sun lazily filtered through the tall, bare windows. My throat felt groggy and dry, and my eyes were so puffy I couldn't even open them all the way. I would kill for a glass of water, but I would die before asking for one. How I wished the dream was real and I was in Ethan's arms right now. This was the part where I knew it was a fantasy; if only he had not betrayed me

I stared up at the ceiling, blinking slowly, and felt the dull ache spread through my chest.

A soft knock broke the silence.

"Good Morning, Miss," I turned my head just as the door opened and a maid stepped inside, holding a tray of food.

"Hello," I said, giving a weak smile. The poor woman didn't do anything against me. There was no reason to be hard on her

"You haven't eaten anything since you came" she spoke with a sense of uneasiness in her look

"Ok, thank you." I gestured for her to come forward, and she placed the tray of food on my bed. There was a piece of steak, mashed potatoes, and salad with a glass of juice. I sighed and picked up the fork, forcing myself to eat even though my stomach twisted with every bite.

"Is my Dad still around?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow. The Man wasn't even here to receive me when I rolled through the black, wrought-iron gates of the estate in a black Cadillac DTS in the middle of the night..

Emily had taken the liberty of bringing me home. Of everyone in my life, at least she was the only one who cared enough to show up. My own father hadn't even bothered stepping outside. Not even a glance from a window.

Yes, miss," the maid replied. "He's home."

I nodded, jaw tightening.

"Shoot!" I muttered, suddenly remembering something. I rummaged through my bag for my phone, but it wasn't there.

"Your phone is in the drawer, Ma'am". The maid continued, saving me from spiraling further.

Oh." I exhaled. "Thank you"

"Your dad has asked that you be in his office after taking your meal" she said

"That's good" I mumbled making her give a confused look

"Sorry ma'am pls what did you say" she said and I smiled internally

I forced a polite smile. "I said it's okay by me"

"Okay, Ma'am, if you need anything, kindly let me know," She spoke as she turned around to leave the room. I ran after her, yanking at the door handle.

"Why -" My voice shook. "You locked the door."

"Orders, ma'am," she said softly without turning around.

Then she walked away, Her footsteps faded down the hallway, leaving me alone with the heavy click of the lock echoing in my ears.

So that was how it was.

I returned to the bed and forced myself to finish the food. Whatever was coming, I needed strength. My father never summoned me for anything good, and arriving hungry would only give him another excuse to tear me apart.

After a shower and a quick change into something simple;a white silk camisole and dark jeans. The maid opened the door and I made my way to his office.

The hallway was beautiful. Nothing here was designed to comfort; Everything gleamed;marble floors, framed art, high ceilings that made you feel small, to remind you who owned the space.

I knocked twice.

"Come in," my father's deep voice commanded.

I pushed the door open. The office smelled of leather and expensive liquor. Heavy furniture. Polished wood. Power soaked into every surface. My father sat behind his massive mahogany desk, a glass of whisky resting near his hand.

He didn't look up.

Not at first.

Not even for me.

"Dad," I said stiffly. "I was told you wanted to see me."

He finally lifted his eyes, cold and sharp, cutting like the rim of his glass

"Yes," he said. "Since you have failed to get married to Ethan ..just like you fail at everything;you and I need to talk."

His words hit harder than a slap.

My breath caught "Dad-"

"Don't." He cut me off with a dismissive wave. "Ethan was beneficial to our business. The Martins are powerful, established. An alliance with them would have strengthened our leverage. But you managed to destroy that too."

"I actually loved him." My voice cracked, exposed and humiliating. "And he hurt me."

"I don't care about your feelings," he said, voice colder than the ice in his glass. "I only allowed the relationship because it served us. Love had nothing to do with it."

I swallowed hard. My stomach twisted.

Of course, he didn't care. Why would he?

"But," he continued slowly, tapping a finger on the desk in a rhythm too controlled, too deliberate, "you will be of good use in this new arrangement."

My heart skipped

"Arrangement?" I whispered

I gripped the back of the nearest chair. "What do you mean?"

He leaned back, smirking

"Aurora," he said calmly, too calmly. "Sit down."Everything in me went rigid.

My mind whispered Don't give him the satisfaction.

I stood my ground.

"No," I said, voice thin but steady. "Tell me."

His eyes narrowed with amusement as if my defiance was the world's most entertaining joke.

"Aurora," he repeated,

"You are getting married-"

Then soon a group of men waltzed into the room with a dark figure leading them

" What!! Married to who - "I yelled

.

Aurora POV

"Welcome...."

" I can see you've finally decided to join us"

The room revealed the Mafia Lord ; Damien Dmitri, with a group of lawyers. He walked in and stood beside my father

"You're making the right choice, future daughter-in-law," Damien said, his voice a low, silky drawl that always managed to make my skin crawl. He leaned against a mahogany desk, his dark eyes fixed on me

"I didn't have much of a choice, did I ?" I snapped.

His lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "Not really. I have you and your family at my knees."

The words hung in the air, thick and heavy. It was the brutal truth. Damien held all the cards. My father already had accrued a huge loan from him and couldn't pay it back leaving us his family completely at Damien's mercy. And I was the price he demanded.

"You animal," I cursed. The lawyers in the corner shifted uncomfortably. My father remained silent, his head bowed in defeat.

Damien merely chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down my spine. I stood my ground, refusing to cower, even though every instinct screamed at me to run.

"I hate you and your family"

"That's enough" My father scolded me

The lawyers scrambled to their feet. For a few minutes, there was total silence. The silence in the air extended as one of the lawyers shuffled some papers and beckoned one of his assistants for another document. A sense of drama filled the tangible air. I glanced at both of them with a straight face wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible

"Sit down" my father commanded, his gaze turned toward me

"I can't believe you let them do this," I said to my father, my eyes almost teary

"This is the only way to guarantee our family's safety " He flinched, but his expression remained resolute

"I'm sorry, Princess, but this is for the good of our family". He replied, his voice low but firm

I steeled my gaze, focusing on getting this over with as quickly as possible. We were all seated ready to sign the contract

When I opened them again, I forced a mask of composure onto my face. "What are the terms?" I asked, my voice cold and detached.

Damien's smile widened. "Now, that's what I like to see. "Let's discuss the... finer details, shall we?" He gestured towards the desk. "Gentlemen, if you would."

One of our lawyers slid the contract towards my father's lawyer. The man had a tall frame, was dressed in a fitted suit, and wore a pair of glasses

After reading the first couple of pages, he looks up and mumbles something in Dad's ear and passes the document over to me to sign

I curled my fingers into fists, my anger shining through the fear I had worn earlier.

"Sign the document " my father grunted

I grumbled something about still living in the last century. I swallowed my pride and then penned down my signature on the dotted lines.

As soon as the ink dried, I rose from my chair and made my way to the exit. As I opened the door to go out, I crashed into a solid figure in front of me

"Hey...Are u blind" A voice snapped

I paused, already feeling irritated

"Watch where you're going" I shot back

My eyes landed on him. It was the man who rescued me from those goons. He stood before me, an imposing figure in a perfectly tailored suit and blazer that emphasized the sculpted lines of his arms.

"Go pack your things now!!" my dad ordered, halting the tension between us.

"What? " I queried as I stepped back into the room,

"You'll be staying with Ryan Dmitri for now, till the wedding.

So that was his name, I murmured to myself

"The wedding will be in two months. People need to believe you had been seeing each other before you got married. We need to show we're a united family" my father continued his ranting

"Guess we're going to be seeing more of each other," He turned towards me, a thin smile curving his lips. The glint in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

"No Dad, I won't ..." I screamed, my voice cracking

.

"This is insane!"

The thought of being confined with him, of being subjected to his presence and his control, was unbearable.

"Why are you so heartless?" I screamed, tears streaking my makeup. "All you think about is the Mafia, you don't deserve to be a father!"

My father's face darkened, His eyes widened at my outburst and he raised his hands ready to hit me. I stiffened my body, getting ready for the impact. I waited for any sign of pain but it never came

Instead, a sharp slap echoed through the air and I twisted on my heel. My father tumbled backward, holding his cheek, his back hitting the wall. My mouth went slack. My eyes flitted between my father and Ryan.

"Don't you dare lay your hands on her" I heard Ryan say, his brooding, calm movements a sharp contrast to what he just did. He took one step toward my father, erasing all the space between them, and yanked him up by his shirt.

"No one touches my woman against her will" He reached into a black duffel bag in his back pocket and unzipped it, producing a small Swiss knife.

My father's eyes widened, a flicker of fear replacing the anger in them. He turned to me, pleading in his eyes. Ryan grabbed his neck, the veins in his neck popping out immediately

"You're a dead man," Ryan exclaimed, flipping the knife open and producing a sharp edge.

"No, pls stop, you'll kill him," I pointed out, his words sending chills down my spine. My father struggled to breathe, his face turning an alarming shade of purple.

His eyes began to close, and the blood had now rushed up to his face...