Archie Villarreal sat alone in the corner near the window. The young man had dark blond hair, deep brown eyes, and a strong, well-built frame. Even while seated, he carried himself with a steady, masculine composure.

Moonlight slipped through the thin white curtains and softened the darkness inside the room. A cigarette rested between his fingers as he took a slow drag. Smoke curled upward while he tried to suppress the anger burning inside him. His resentment toward the Watson family refused to fade, and thoughts of the woman who would soon become his captive only fueled that rage.

Determined to make her answer for the way she mocked him, he kept his gaze fixed on the door. The moment the door opened, the fire in his eyes flared stronger. Jason stepped inside with Kiara unconscious in his arms.

"Sir," Jason said breathlessly as the smoke lingered in the air. "I've brought her."

"Put her down," Archie instructed coldly. Jason walked toward the bed and carefully laid Kiara on the mattress. Once he stepped back, Archie gave another order.

"Get out!"

Jason bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment before turning and walking out of the room.

After the door shut, Archie flicked the cigarette to the floor and crushed the burning tip beneath his shoe. Then he rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving the girl lying on the bed. Just as he took a step forward, her body shifted. A faint murmur slipped from her lips. He stopped and folded his arms across his chest.

"Help..." she whispered weakly. "No... please don't hurt me..." Archie's brows drew together. That voice didn't sound like the one she used when she mocked him before.

The difference in her tone only stirred his anger further. Without looking away from her, he sat down again and continued watching. Suddenly, Kiara jerked upright on the bed. Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar room as panic spread across her face.

"Where am I?" she asked. A wave of dizziness struck her immediately, forcing her to press both hands against her head. "Damn... something's wrong. I don't feel well."

She tried to steady her breathing in hopes of calming the spinning in her mind, but the unfamiliar surroundings only deepened her fear. Panic pushed her to her feet. Slowly, she moved along the wall for support until she reached the door. Her hand grabbed the handle, and she tried to pull it open.

The door didn't budge. Jason had already locked it. "No... no!" she cried while pulling harder. "Open!" Desperation crept into her voice.

"Oh God... where am I? Where did that man bring me?" She tried the handle again, unaware that someone inside the room watched her without saying a word.

"What if they're planning to sell me? Or take my organs... or do something worse!" she blurted out in rising panic. Her thoughts spiraled further.

"That old man Villarreal must be behind this," she said breathlessly. "He's probably waiting for the chance to take advantage of me."

Fear pushed her into a decision. "I have to get out of here." She suddenly turned. A tall silhouette stood nearby. The sight made her freeze.

"Who... who are you?" she asked. Her legs began to tremble beneath her. "Are you... Mr. Villarreal?"

"You should know something. I practice martial arts. I didn't come here willingly, and I won't stay. I'll escape from this place no matter what." Her heart pounded violently in her chest. From where she stood, she could only see the outline of the man in the dim light.

She couldn't make out his face. She didn't know who he was. She didn't know what he wanted. But what frightened her most wasn't the silence. It was the moment he slowly rose to his feet.

Her throat tightened as she stared at the looming figure before her. Even without seeing his face clearly, she could sense the cold intensity of his gaze.

"Take another step, and I won't be responsible for what I do, Mr. Villarreal!" Kiara pressed herself against the wooden door behind her. The room felt suffocating, both chilling and strangely warm at the same time.

Archie didn't stop. Anger radiated from him as he advanced slowly. His hands tightened into fists while he moved closer.

"Stop!" Kiara shouted, her voice echoing through the dark room. Fear gripped her chest.

She had never been alone with a man before, and certainly not like this in a locked room with a stranger standing in the shadows and no way out.

"If you're truly skilled in martial arts," Archie said in a low voice, now only a breath away from her, "then prove it."

"Trust me, sir..." Kiara murmured, swallowing nervously as he stood just inches from her. "You really don't want to see that."

The scent of his cologne drifted toward her, mixed with the faint trace of cigarette smoke. The unfamiliar closeness made her nerves tighten even more.

"This is a mistake," she added quietly.

"Shhh." Archie raised his hand and placed a finger gently against her lips.

From that touch, a strange tension rushed through Archie. He wasn't prepared for the reaction it stirred in him. The simple contact lingered in his mind longer than it should have. Kiara's breathing turned uneven. Fear filled each breath, yet a faint, involuntary sound escaped her that only drew his attention further.

"From this moment on, you're my wife. And you won't be running away from me."

"What!?" Kiara blurted out in shock, barely noticing that his finger still rested against her lips.

"That means you're under my authority now. And you'll answer for the way you mocked me."

"But I..." she stammered, desperate to explain.

"Quiet," Archie cut in sharply. "My word is the only thing that matters here. Whether you like it or not, you follow my orders. Martial arts won't help you here. I'm the one who decides what happens. You laughed at me before. I warned you there would be consequences."

"You are—" Kiara tried to say, but the words died in her throat. Archie suddenly gripped the side of her neck, not squeezing, yet holding her firmly in place as he pressed her closer against the door. Her body trembled like a startled rabbit caught in a trap.

"You'll remember that mistake for the rest of your life. So stop pretending and do as I say."

"What...?" Her voice faltered. Her heart pounded wildly as fear tightened its grip on her.

"Stop shaking like I'm about to kill you," Archie murmured near her ear. "You're already married to me now, so stop wasting time. Welcome to my world. And here, you'll learn what happens when someone chooses the wrong man to mock."

The order to remove her clothes left Kiara feeling trapped and helpless. The moment he said it, a bitter memory surfaced in her mind. She thought of Cloe, her twin sister. Rage burned quietly inside her chest because she had spent her entire life suffering the consequences of Cloe's mistakes.

"I don't want anything to do with your world," she murmured under her breath.

"If you refuse to follow my orders, your family will lose everything. You have no idea how far I'm willing to go just to see you kneel and beg."

"My family..." Kiara whispered. Her eyes filled with tears. Among all the members of the Watson family, only one person truly cared about her. Her younger sister, Lia.

"I can strip your family of every last cent," Archie continued with cruel indifference. "They'll be left with nothing. They'll starve in the streets. Is that what you want?"

Tears slid silently down Kiara's flushed cheeks. "Do as I say. And none of that will happen."

"Sir... please..." Kiara's voice broke as she spoke. "Please don't hurt my family. Especially my little sister. She's different from the rest of them. Lia... she's innocent. She doesn't deserve any of this. I'll do whatever you ask."

For a moment, Archie stepped back. It wasn't eagerness that made him move away. Something about the situation unsettled him. The same woman who had mocked him with such arrogance before now stood in front of him, crying and pleading for her family's safety.

"Sir..." Kiara's voice trembled again. Slowly, she removed her oversized shirt. "Please... just show me mercy." The shirt slipped from her hands and fell to the floor as she forced herself to continue.

Villarreal no longer paid attention to the questions directed at him. His focus drifted completely to the outline of the young woman before him. Hunger stirred inside him, and his body responded without the slightest touch. Desire rushed through him with frightening force, wild and impatient, as though it demanded to be satisfied.

"I'm ready..." she said in a faint whisper. Yet she knew the words weren't true. She had never given herself to anyone before.

Clear judgment abandoned him. A darker look settled in his eyes while the warmth spreading through his body pushed him forward. Step by step, he closed the distance between them. He caught her hands and guided them over her head, trapping her there so she couldn't move away. Her uneven breathing filled the air, and quiet sobs slipped from her lips.

"You belong to me until I grow bored of you," he said coldly. One of his hands kept her wrists firmly under control while the other moved upward and slowly brushed across Kiara's chest.

Kiara shut her eyes as tightly as she could. Her brows knotted together while she wished she could vanish from the feelings rushing through her body. Panic stiffened her muscles when his touch began sliding lower across her stomach. When his hand reached the inside of her thigh, shock ran through her because no one had ever dared touch her in that hidden place before.

"Oh..." The quiet sound escaped her before she could stop it. His fingers shifted her underwear aside, and his touch grew more deliberate.

Archie understood he should have stopped, yet the urge inside him pushed him to keep going. A faint tremor ran through her body beneath his touch, and the quiet sobs she had been letting out slowly faded.

"Say you're sorry," he insisted. His hand moved over her while she tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let her. "Ask me to forgive you." He released her wrists and lifted her face toward him, though his other hand still lingered where it shouldn't.

Kiara couldn't understand why he wanted an apology from her, nor could she figure out what her sister had supposedly done to provoke him. "I..." She tried to answer. The strange sensations moving through her body overwhelmed her. Because she had never experienced anything like it before, the words she wanted to say never made it out.

"Do it now!" Cloe had wounded the pride of someone from the Villarreal family, and Archie had decided she would pay for it. He intended to push her further and further until she lost control of herself. In his mind, she would eventually beg him to claim her.

His hand moved again with that thought in mind. However, the moment he tried to go further and felt how painfully tight she was, everything changed. When she cried out from the sudden pain, he pulled back right away. Confusion crossed his face.

Kiara bent forward slowly as she struggled to steady her breathing. The pain he caused her hadn't faded yet. "Were you untouched before this?"

"Y-yes... sir," she murmured. Her strength seemed to give out as she sank down onto the floor. Slowly, she folded her knees beneath her and crouched there. A shaky breath slipped past her lips while she wrapped both arms tightly around her legs. Her fingers gripped her knees as though they were the only thing keeping her steady. Quiet tremors moved through her body. She lowered her forehead against her knees and curled inward, retreating into herself as confusion and fear swirled through her mind. In that small, protective posture, she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

A tight frown crossed Archie's face. None of it made sense. The woman he brought home wasn't supposed to be untouched. She had been with other men before. He still remembered the moment she laughed at him and walked away, leaving him frustrated and humiliated. That memory fed his anger and his need for revenge.

The realization deepened his sense of betrayal. Without warning, he slammed his fist against the wall. The impact echoed through the room. Kiara stayed frozen and didn't dare raise her head.

Moments later, Archie turned and walked out, leaving her alone and confused. Fear crept into her chest as she wondered what she had done to anger him.

"Jackson!" His voice rang through the house as he moved toward the stairs. "Jackson, damn it!"

"Right away, Mr. Villarreal!" Jackson hurried over at once.

"Explain something to me," Archie snapped. "Who exactly did you bring here tonight?" Anger was written all over his face.

"I brought Miss Cleo Watson, sir!" Jackson answered quickly, unease in his voice. He had only worked for Archie a few months, and the thought of losing this job terrified him. The salary was far better than anything else he could find.

At the Watson Mansion.

"How is that even possible!?" Maxwell shouted, outrage in his voice. The plan had been simple. He had ordered Archie's men to bring his daughter, Cloe, to him whether she agreed or not. It was meant to secure the deal and keep his company from bankruptcy.

"Lower your voice!" Samantha snapped at him. "Cloe and Kiara are identical twins. No one will ever notice the switch. They'll never know we deceived them."

"Enough, Samantha!" Maxwell scoffed, stabbing a finger in her direction. "You should've never encouraged Cloe with that ridiculous scheme. What gave you the right to go against me?" His voice rose with fury, and the sound of it made Cloe flinch. She had never seen her father lose control like this before. "If Mr. Villarreal learns what we did, he'll ruin us. We'll be thrown out with nothing!"

"Relax, darling... you're overreacting," Cloe replied with a pout. "No one even knows Kiara exists. My life won't change because of this." She crossed her arms stubbornly. "There's no way you were going to force me to marry some old man."

"You have no idea what you're talking about, you foolish girl!" Maxwell's face flushed with rage, and sweat gathered along his forehead.

Samantha gave him a cold look. "I don't see why you're making such a spectacle of yourself, Maxwell," she said with clear disdain. "Your behavior is embarrassing."

"Damn it!" Maxwell shouted. "To the outside world, Kiara might as well not exist. Even we treated her that way. But Mr. Nguyen, my father's lawyer, knows the truth."

"What are you talking about?" Samantha asked, completely confused.

"Kiara is the only heir my father ever recognized," he admitted. "I falsified the records and hid the truth so everything would stay under my control. If that secret came out, we'd lose everything and end up on the streets. Now she's married to Mr. Villarreal. If Mr. Nguyen discovers this arrangement, we're finished. My father made it clear that Kiara had to marry a powerful man before she could inherit anything."

"No... Dad, that can't be true," Cloe said in a shaken voice. The thought of losing her comfortable life filled her with dread. Yet the idea of marrying someone she considered an old man frightened her just as much.

Sleep never came to Kiara that night. Fear kept her awake because she thought the man might return at any moment. She stayed curled in the corner with her back against the wall and her arms wrapped around her knees. Under her breath, she kept praying that she wouldn't become the possession of the man who had claimed her.

Morning arrived with bright sunlight pouring through the windows. The light filled the entire room and allowed her to see where she had spent the night. Luxury surrounded her on every side. Even during her years inside the Watson mansion, she had never been allowed to stay in a place like this. Her own room had always been the cramped attic.

The quiet moment ended when the bedroom door suddenly opened.

"Good morning, Mrs. Villarreal!" The greeting came from the housekeeper, Mercedes. The fear written all over Kiara's face didn't escape her notice. Even so, Mercedes reminded herself that her responsibility was simply to care for the lady of the house.

"My name is Mercedes. I manage the household here."

"Ma'am... please, you have to help me!" Kiara rushed toward her with desperation in her voice.

"It's time for your breakfast and bath. Mr. Villarreal expects you to stay well prepared and presentable for him at all times."

"That man is dangerous! Ma'am, I didn't come here willingly. They forced me here. I was taken against my will. Please help me escape. I promise I won't tell anyone you helped me."

A long breath escaped from Mercedes as she listened.

"Mrs. Villarreal, my duty here is to serve you within the limits of this house. What you're asking from me isn't something I have the power to do."

"But that old man is keeping me here against my will!"

The words Kiara spoke puzzled Mercedes. Calling Mr. Villarreal an old man sounded strange to her, yet she knew better than to question the matter too deeply.

"What you truly need right now is a proper meal, Ma'am. Besides, being married to a wealthy and handsome man isn't such a terrible fate."

"No... that's not true. That man could never be my husband. Please, you have to understand. My life has already been turned upside down. Help me leave this place."

A faint smile touched Mercedes's lips as she set the tray on the bed. Before Kiara could react, the housekeeper stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. The gesture left Kiara stunned.

"You are a very lovely young lady. There's no need to be so afraid. In time, you'll understand how to deal with a Villarreal man. Your courage and kindness will guide you. For now, you must eat your breakfast and prepare for a bath. A designer will arrive later with the most elegant clothes. Mr. Villarreal expects his wife to look radiant."

"I'm sorry, Mercedes, but I can't do what you're asking. I need to speak with Mr. Villarreal right now."

"You'll have to wait until tonight."

"What? No... that's far too long."

"Those are his instructions. So please cooperate. You wouldn't want to see your husband's anger."

In the end, Kiara had no choice but to comply. She forced herself to eat, even though every bite felt tasteless. After that, she prepared herself. When she finished, she still wore the same men's clothes she had on before.

"The designer is here. Please choose something more suitable. Women's clothing will suit you far better. With your beauty, you'll look stunning in them."

"I've always dressed like this," Kiara answered firmly. Her tone carried both discomfort and quiet resistance. Her mind kept drifting back to the life she should've been living. She should've been in a university lecture hall, studying and chasing her dreams. Instead, she was trapped here.

Mercedes said nothing more. Choosing silence, she stepped out of the room and signaled for the designer to enter.

The sudden attention made Kiara uneasy. Her whole life had passed in the shadows as the forgotten daughter of the Watson family. Her sister Cloe received admiration and privilege, while Kiara remained invisible.

"So where is the elegant Mrs. Villarreal?" The man who entered spoke with dramatic flair, and his voice carried an unmistakable tone. His personality made it clear he was the type who said whatever crossed his mind without hesitation.

"Well? Where is she?" he asked again. His eyes moved from Mercedes to Kiara as he searched the room.

Alonso was a respected designer. Recently, he had begun creating exclusive pieces for the younger generation of the Villarreal family. Now he worked under Archie with strict confidentiality.

"Mr. Alonso," Mercedes said, gesturing toward Kiara, "this is Mrs. Villarreal." Shock spread across Alonso's face. He looked at Kiara, then at Mercedes, who shook her head.

"Hold on a moment... Is this some kind of joke?" Once again, his eyes returned to Kiara.

"Perfect," Kiara muttered. She walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Oh... I'm sorry," Alonso said quickly when he noticed her reaction. "Mrs. Villarreal, please forgive me. I'm simply used to working with women who..." His voice trailed off before he could finish the thought, unwilling to make her feel worse.

"Beautiful women? Women surrounded by luxury? You can clearly see that I'm neither of those things. Mercedes, I don't want any of this. Please... just leave me alone."

"Mrs. Villarreal..." Mercedes stepped closer with visible concern.

"There's no need to feel sorry for me. I'm already used to being treated like this."

The confession made Alonso swallow hard. "Let's think about this for a moment, sweetheart. You don't need a miracle. A few adjustments will do the trick. I'll call my stylist."

"That's not necessary!" Kiara protested as she stood up abruptly.

"Listen to me. Your hair needs proper shaping. Whoever cut it before didn't do you any favors. A facial treatment would also help, and those dark circles under your eyes need attention. Just allow us to help you. Mr. Villarreal only appreciates the best. If he chose you, then there must be something special about you. Honestly, you're already quite beautiful. Don't you agree, Mercedes?"

Unease crept into his expression. The thought of Archie discovering that his careless words had upset his wife made him nervous. A mistake like that could easily destroy his career.

"Mrs. Villarreal..." Mercedes swallowed before continuing because she knew how unpredictable her employer could be. If Kiara refused everything, Archie's temper would certainly erupt.

"I understand that this situation isn't easy for you. But please cooperate with us. Don't make things harder than they already are. Perhaps something good could still come from this."

"Fine. But I want to speak with Mr. Villarreal."

"As I mentioned earlier, you'll have to wait until nightfall."

"No. Even if it's only a phone call, I still need to speak with him. If I can't talk to him first, then I won't allow any of this to happen."

---

At that moment, Archie sat inside his office at the technology company he ran with his brother. As vice president of the firm, he played a crucial role beside the CEO. Advanced technology and innovative design had always fascinated him, and his expertise made him indispensable to the company.

His attention stayed on the document across his desk. It had come from Paris, and he reviewed it carefully. A knock broke the silence.

"Come in," Archie said without looking up from the papers.

"Mr. Villarreal, excuse the interruption."

"Just say what you came here for, Susana," he replied sharply.

"Yes..." She swallowed nervously. The woman was 29 years old. She was not someone who fitted his usual preferences, which was why she was chosen for this arrangement. He tended to sleep with the first woman who caught his attention, as long as she met his standards. "The housekeeper is asking to speak with you immediately."

"I'm working," Archie snapped. His irritation was obvious.

"She insisted it was urgent," Susana added in a shaky voice.

Archie's jaw tightened. Without saying another word, he extended his right hand, expecting to receive the phone. When nothing touched his palm, he finally lifted his head. The anger in his eyes was unmistakable.

"What are you standing there for?" Archie snapped impatiently. The harsh tone made Susana's heart pound. She hurried forward at once.

Without waiting another second, Archie grabbed the phone from her hand. His glare only grew sharper as he looked at her.

"Y-yes... I'll take my leave now, Mr. Villarreal," Susana said quickly. She turned and rushed out of the office.

"Mercedes, this had better be important. I'm in the middle of work."

"It truly is urgent, Mr. Villarreal. Your wife is asking to speak with you. She refuses to cooperate with anything we ask of her. Please... speak with her."

"I'm not calling her. She can wait until tonight."

"Sir... She says that if you refuse to speak with her, she won't eat anything today. She also said she might attempt to leave."

"That's ridiculous! There's no way she can escape with the security system in that house. That woman is becoming a serious nuisance."

"Mr. Villarreal..." Before Mercedes could continue, Kiara quietly took the phone from her hand.

Archie wasn't prepared for what came next. The moment he heard her soft voice through the receiver, an unexpected sensation ran through him.