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.

Through the phone, Kiara heard his slow breathing. The sound pulled her back to the previous night. Heat rushed to her face as the memory returned. The silence lingered.

"So?" Archie finally spoke. "What exactly did you call me to say?"

"I... well..."

"If you don't know what you want to say, then don't waste my time. I'm busy. Call again when you actually have something to say."

"Arrogant..." she murmured under her breath.

"What was that?" Archie asked sharply, one eyebrow lifting at the boldness of the comment.

"I said... I'm currently attending university. I can't skip my classes."

"University?" The word caught his interest immediately. Something about this didn't seem right to him.

"Yes. Please don't keep me locked inside that mansion. I can't live like a prisoner."

"I can decide whatever I want when it comes to you. In case you forgot, your father practically handed you over to me."

"What...?" The words left her in disbelief.

"You heard me correctly. That arrangement gives me the right to decide what happens to you. But since I'm not completely unreasonable, I'll allow you to keep studying. Of course, that depends on how well you behave."

"I used to believe my family were the villains in my life. Now it seems you've joined them." Without another word, the call ended.

"Cloe?" Archie called out her name, only to realize the line had already gone dead. The sudden silence made his grip tighten around the phone.

"You stubborn girl!" he muttered through clenched teeth. "Just wait. I'll make sure you regret mocking me."

At that exact moment, another call came through. The name on the screen belonged to his escort, Jackson.

"I hope you finally have the information I asked for."

"Yes, sir," Jackson replied. "And you might find this interesting. Right now, I'm watching your wife enter the pool area at the Watson mansion."

"What are you talking about?" Archie sneered. He rose abruptly from his chair. Nothing irritated him more than being deceived.

"Mr. Villarreal, I may be mistaken, but the woman I'm seeing looks exactly like your wife. The resemblance is so strong that the only explanation I can think of is that they are twins."

"Damn it! No one plays games with me."

Without another second of hesitation, he strode toward the office door.

"Sir, your meeting begins in seven minutes." Susana reminded him while hurrying after him.

"Cancel it," Archie replied as he stepped into the elevator.

"But sir, that meeting is extremely important," she insisted nervously.

"I said cancel it!" he shouted. The elevator doors slid shut.

"Sir, you should stay calm," Jackson remarked through the phone. "Don't let your anger control you."

"You don't get to tell me how I should behave. Call the security team immediately. I'm heading straight to Watson Realty."

The moment he gave the order, he ended the call.

Rage still burned across Archie's face, and the intensity of it made the entire floor fall silent. No one dared approach him, and even fewer were brave enough to hold his gaze for more than a second.

"Aarchiee!" His friend Ryan walked in, looking sharp and confident. He stepped forward and shook Archie's hand.

"Oh boy..." Ryan muttered after taking a closer look at him. "Why do you look like that?" His eyes narrowed with curiosity. "I just got back from my trip, and the first thing I did was come see you. This is the welcome I get?"

"Go to hell, Ryan. I didn't ask you to show up and lecture me."

"Okay, okay. You're clearly in a terrible mood. But I'm your best friend. You might as well tell me what's going on. Besides, you already know my favorite cure for stress. A VIP bar, beautiful women, the best whiskey money can buy, and music loud enough to forget your problems."

"You know what... that's the first sensible thing you've said today. We'll do that later. First, I have somewhere to go."

Ryan's eyes lit up immediately. "Perfect. Then I'm coming with you."

"Suit yourself," Archie replied flatly. Ryan didn't mind the cold tone at all. He had grown used to Archie's personality long ago.

The two men left the company building together. Security personnel escorted them as they walked toward the entrance, where a luxury car already waited.

"Where would you like me to take you, sir?" he asked respectfully.

"Watson Realty," Archie answered as he got into the car. Ryan slid into the seat beside him.

"So what business do you have at a real estate company?" Ryan asked after a moment, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer.

"Do you remember Cloe Watson?"

"Of course I remember!" Ryan burst out laughing. "She's the one who left you hanging that night." His grin widened with mischief. "That must've stung. No woman ever turns you down, Archie. She really knew how to make a fool of you."

"If you keep laughing, I'll throw you out of this car myself," Archie warned coldly. "Do you understand?" The threat wiped the humor off Ryan's face. He swallowed and forced himself to stay quiet.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. But I can't pretend that story isn't unforgettable. So what's your plan once we get there? We've been out of touch for a while, and it feels like you have a lot to explain."

"You'll find out soon enough," Archie replied, keeping the details to himself.

The car stopped in front of Watson Realty. Archie stepped out and headed straight for his father-in-law's office.

"Good morning, Mr. Villarreal!" The blonde secretary looked delighted to see him, her expression lighting up the moment their eyes met.

"Where is Mr. Watson?" Archie asked as he continued walking without slowing down.

"He's in his office, sir," she answered quickly. "Let me announce you first."

"That won't be necessary," Archie replied sharply. His intensity made the atmosphere tense. Meanwhile, Ryan lingered behind him and casually glanced over the secretary from head to toe.

"Sir, you can't enter without an appointment!" she said nervously as she hurried after him. Archie ignored her, pushed the door open, and walked inside.

The moment Maxwell Watson saw Archie enter, his eyes widened in shock. The color drained from his face as panic flickered across his features.

"Mr. Villarreal! What an unexpected pleasure." He hurried forward with an overly cheerful smile and extended his hand for a handshake. The gesture remained hanging awkwardly in the air when Archie ignored it completely. Instead of a greeting, Maxwell faced a cold glare filled with barely restrained fury.

"I'm sorry, sir, I tried to stop him," the secretary said nervously from behind them.

"There's no need to stop him. After all, he's my son-in-law. Would you like something to drink?"

"Leave," Archie instructed without taking his eyes off Maxwell. She hesitated and looked at her boss. Maxwell gave a small nod.

Once she stepped out and shut the door behind her, the tension in the office exploded.

"Is there some kind of problem?" Maxwell asked, pretending not to notice Archie's anger.

"You've got a lot of nerve trying to play games with me," Archie said coldly as he stepped closer until they stood face to face. Ryan watched the confrontation with quiet amusement.

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about," Maxwell replied with a deep frown.

"The woman currently in my house is not Cloe Watson. You're going to explain this right now. Because with a single phone call, I can tear your pathetic company apart."