I woke up not to pain, but to the sound of approaching footsteps—rhythmic, steady, and eerie.

I tried to move, but my body was restricted by the chains that bound my wrists and legs.

The sound grew closer, then the door opened with a bang, letting a sharp light hit my eyes.

I looked up, trying to focus on the figure that appeared in the doorway.

A man stood there, his body erect and his aura of power so strong it almost felt like physical pressure.

I knew who he was.

Stilliam Albert Nostra.

Compared to Thomas-no-not even compared to Max Nolan... this man was far more dangerous.

His name alone was enough to make anyone in the underworld tremble in fear. The leader of the Nostra family, who was said to have no qualms about taking out anyone who got in his way.

He was known not only as a mobster, but also a king who ruled the dark world with cruelty and deceit.

His sharp eyes looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"So, you killed Hector?" His voice was low and firm, as if the question was just a formality. "Cassie Moonstone. The traitor who managed to get everyone's attention."

He approached, his steps calm and powerful, as if this underworld belonged to him.

I tried to look at him, even though I was bound and full of wounds. Cold sweat ran down my forehead, but I tried not to show my fear.

If there's one thing I've learned from this world, it's to endure pretending not to be afraid of people who should be afraid of you.

But then I realized.

Something was wrong with my body.

My lower abdomen felt empty. Not just the pain of torture, but deeper than that-it was as if a part of me had simply disappeared.

My bound hands reflexively clenched into fists. Memories began to return like shards of glass piercing my mind.

Blood.

I remember the blood.

I remember the pain that radiated so violently before I lost consciousness.

I remember how I held my stomach, how fear wrapped my body as I knew something precious was being taken away from me.

I lost my child.

My chest tightened, as if my lungs refused to function. I wanted to scream, wanted to curse the world, wanted to let this grief out in any way.

But I couldn't.

I was still bound. Still in his presence.

Stilliam assessed me from top to bottom, like a predator observing its prey before tearing it apart.

"I didn't kill him on purpose," I said hoarsely, trying to defend myself.

Stilliam laughed softly, as if hearing an unfunny joke. "Then what makes you feel like someone worth living for?" he asked in a sharp tone.

I looked at him deeply. Horror began to creep into me.

"I was just defending myself from the person who tried to kill me. I can't just stand by when someone is ready to point a gun at me."

Stilliam looked at me, then smiled faintly-a smile that didn't make me feel safe. "You're interesting, Cassie Moonstone. Not many people can escape from the underworld with so many people wanting to kill you."

I swallowed.

Of all the things that happened, of all the losses I experienced, this is what he still cares about?

"I could kill you right now," he said, walking closer. "But I won't."

Then what will you do to me?

The question was stuck in my throat, but Stilliam had already answered it first.

"You have two choices, Cassie Moonstone," he said softly, but clearly. "Marry me... or die."

My blood almost froze when I heard those words.

I stared at the man I feared the most, hoping that I had just misheard. But no. His gaze remained cold, sharp, as if he had just offered a non-negotiable business deal.

I should have prepared myself mentally for the worst—torture, interrogation, even execution. But marriage?

I chuckled, bitterly, more to myself. "You're joking, right?"

Stilliam didn't answer right away. He simply crouched in front of me, his cold fingers outstretched, lifting my chin gently. The touch felt like another shackle on my body.

"I never joke," he said softly, almost a whisper.

My heart beat so fast that I feared he could hear it.

I could see his eyes more closely now-black, deep, mysterious. There was no sign of tenderness there. No hatred either. Just an attraction that made me feel even more trapped.

"I could kill you right now," he continued in a tone so calm it was as if he was discussing the weather. "But I won't."

I swallowed, trying to control my raging thoughts.

"Why?" I asked, trying to understand his game.

A faint smile was etched on his face. "Because I've been watching you for a long time, Cassie Moonstone."

I froze.

What do you mean?

Stilliam didn't answer directly. Instead, he stood up and walked around the chair I was tied to, like a tiger circling its prey.

"You caught my attention a long time ago," he finally said. "And now that you're here, I see this as an opportunity."

I felt as if I'd fallen into a trap I never even realized was there.

Marriage? To a man whose very name made the underworld tremble?

This wasn't a choice; this was an ultimatum.

I closed my eyes for a moment, and images of Wisley filled my head-his sweet promises, his soft words, then his betrayal.

I foolishly believed that he would marry me. But in the end, he went off with another woman, leaving me behind like trash that was no longer useful.

And now, another man offers marriage. Not with the promise of love. Not with happiness. But with threats.

I raised my face, looking at Stilliam with all the strength I had left in me.

"And if I refuse?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

Stilliam smiled, but that smile was anything but reassuring. "You know the answer, Cassie."

I bit my lip, trying to control the tremors in my body.

I lost my child.

I lost my future.

Now I have to lose my freedom too?

Do I really have a choice?

The first deaths I witnessed were those of my parents. They were shot dead in front of my eyes, slaughtered by the men who broke into our house. At that time, I was only five years old.

I didn’t remember everything clearly, just the sound of gunshots, screams, and blood running down the wooden floor. We had just moved into the house a few days before the tragedy happened. I knew no one, belonged to no one.

Years later, I lived by stealing food to survive. I wandered the streets, learning how the world worked in the most brutal of ways. Until I met Max Nolan.

Back then, I tried to break into his car—a stupid decision that would have killed me if he hadn’t seen something in me. Instead of finishing me off, he offered me something even more dangerous: a place in his pack.

I learned to fight, to kill, to survive. But deep down, I never wanted to be trapped in this dirty world forever. I just didn't have a choice.

Or at least, that's what I thought.

Back then, I thought I was used to losing-I thought I was numb. Until this day came. The day I felt the warmth inside my body disappear.

The day I lost my child.

I never got to see their face. Never got to hear their first cry.

All that was left was emptiness.

As if something inside me had been forcibly ripped out, leaving an emptiness nothing could fill.

And now, before me, stood a man far more dangerous than anyone I had ever met. Stilliam Albert Nostra.

Marrying him doesn’t just mean losing my freedom—it means being shackled for life. But dying is not an option either. Not now. Not before I finish what I started.

Not before I make Wisley and Rachel pay for what they’ve done.

I took a deep breath, calming myself. I must not falter. There was no time to cry. Not in front of this man.

So, I smiled-thinly, coldly, like someone considering an attractive offer.

"I didn't expect a man like you to be interested in someone like me," I said, trying to buy time.

Stilliam looked at me expressionlessly. "You underestimate yourself, Cassie."

I chuckled. "Or maybe I just don’t want to be deceived again."

His thin smile did not fade. "I'm not Wisley."

My heart sank. How did he know about Wisley?

Stilliam leaned in, too close for me to feel the heat of his breath. "I know more about you than you realize."

I refrained from reacting.

"Do you really want me to marry you, Stilliam?" I lifted my chin, looking at him straight on. "Or is this just another game to see how long I can last?"

His eyes narrowed, there was something there-interest, perhaps. He liked a challenge. He liked that I didn't immediately submit to him.

"You can think of it as a game," he said softly. "But remember, Cassie... I always win."

I clenched my fists. I wasn't going to let myself lose.

If I wanted to survive-if I wanted to get back at Wisley-I had to play this game better than anyone else.

I took a deep breath before uttering the words that would change my life forever.

"Alright." I smiled faintly. "I will marry you, Stilliam."

For now.

***

I thought Stilliam would give me time to adjust. I was wrong.

The next day, I was moved to a spacious room in the Nostra mansion. There were no more chains on my hands, but the guard was still tight. Two men stood outside the door, making sure I wouldn't go anywhere without permission.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was still Cassie Moonstone, but the reflection in front of me felt like a stranger.

I touched the locket around my neck-the only thing from my past that I still had.

My hands were shaking.

I should have worn this on my finger while holding my child. I shouldn't have been alone.

But in fact, I'm here. Alone. Again.

The door to my room opened without a knock. I didn't need to turn around to know who came. Stilliam.

"I hope you slept well," he said lightly.

I looked at him through the mirror. "No, I didn't. It was like sleeping in a nest of snakes."

He chuckled, stepping closer to stand directly behind me. I could see our reflections in the mirror—me, a bird in a golden cage, and him, the one holding the key.

"Our wedding will take place in a week."

I held my breath. That soon?

"You're in a hurry," I muttered.

"I don't like delaying things that are certain."

I wanted to laugh. Of course I did. In the world of Stilliam Albert Nostra, his wishes were the law.

I turned to face him, looking into his cold, controlling eyes. "Why me?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if not understanding my question.

"There were many women who wanted to be queen by your side. But you chose me-a woman who killed your men. That is not a reasonable choice."

Stilliam was silent for a moment, then bowed his head slightly, as if to reveal something.

"You're not just a choice," he finally said. "You're fate."

My heart skipped a beat.

Not because his words sounded romantic. But because I didn't know if it was a good or bad sign.

***

I didn't recognize the reflection in the mirror.

Normally, I only wear practical dark clothes-something that makes it easy for me to fight, escape, or kill.

But today, I was wearing a white satin dress.

I was the bride of a mafia king.

I touched the locket around my neck, gripping it tightly.

"If I can't be a mother to my child..."

I swallowed, holding back the sting that crept into my throat.

"At the very least, I can be someone strong enough to get back at them."

The sound of a knock on the door distracted me. But before I could answer, the door opened, and someone lunged at me with a sharp dagger.

I instantly moved, dodging the attack. This damn dress impeded my movement.

I barely dodged as the dagger slid swiftly towards my stomach.

My stomach.

The place where my child should be.

My reflexes moved faster than my mind—my hands shot up, protecting something that no longer existed. The emptiness hit me harder than any attack.

Until the sound of a gunshot woke me up.

The person collapsed in front of me, blood beginning to flood the marble floor.

"That dress looks good on you."

The cold voice made me turn my head.

Stilliam stood in the doorway, dressed in an elegant black suit, his eyes sharp as the dagger that almost killed me earlier.

He fiddled with the pistol in his hand as if nothing had happened. "It would be nice if there were no bloodstains. Clean this corpse," he continued to an aide next to him.

I snorted, trying to calm my breathing. "I'd prefer something that doesn't restrict my movements when I'm about to be killed."

Stilliam smiled a little, but there was something in his gaze that I couldn't quite decipher. "She was Hector's lover." His eyes stared at the corpse before me. "It won't happen again," he continued as he stepped closer.

I looked at him sharply. "Are you sure? I seem to have a lot of people who want to see me dead."

He raised his hand, touching the pendant around my neck with his fingers.

"I won't let that happen," he said softly.

My chest and throat felt tight.

I didn't know if it was because of the threat I'd just been through—or because of the way he said it, as if I were something precious.

But I couldn't let myself get trapped any further.

This marriage is a double-edged sword. I don't know what Stilliam wants from me. But I do know one thing-

I cannot die.

No, I won't.

I will avenge everything.

I will make sure Wisley feels the same pain—no, worse.

As much as I once loved him, I will avenge them, even if I have to sell my soul to the devil.

I wasn't afraid, because I had already lost all my precious possessions.

I lifted my chin. "Then, we have to make sure this wedding goes smoothly, don't we?"

Stilliam smiled wryly. "Oh, that's for sure, my wife."

My heart was racing.

Cassie Moonstone, you've just declared war.

And this war has just begun.

Warm... I could smell the soft fragrance in my arms. My eyes were too heavy to check what I was hugging. It was too cozy.

"Cassie?"

However, along with that voice calling my name, I could also hear the sound of glass shattering into pieces, my eyes instantly opened to search for that person... the voice of someone I knew very well. Wisley ....

But it wasn't Wisley I saw—just a black wall full of holes. I fell into the darkness. There was no feeling of comfort like before, the smooth and soft thing I was hugging before was also nowhere to be found.

"It's all your fault Cassie, why didn't you tell me sooner when you found out you were pregnant?"

Wisley's voice filled my ears again, but I couldn't see where he was at all, my body was still being pulled by gravity, my mind was in turmoil.

"You lost it, Cassie. You killed our child." Wisley's voice was getting clearer.

In fear and confusion I stroked my flat stomach, I shook my head violently as the memory of the blood came back, when I lost my child.

I could feel my heart beating faster and faster, sweat dripping down my temples. I tried my best to push the bad memories away.

"No... Don't..." I mumbled to get rid of the scene that kept repeating itself. I... Didn't even get to hold my baby's tiny hand, and I had already lost it.

"Right, it's all your fault, your fault Cassie ...." Wisley's cold voice came back.

Somehow the oxygen supply in this place was getting thinner the longer I resisted the fact that I had lost my baby.

"Mom, I... It's okay."

Time seemed to stand still as the little girl's voice rang out. I gasped. My eyes fully opened and the first thing I saw was the face of someone I didn't expect to be sleeping right in front of me.

"You had a bad dream," Stilliam said as he wiped the sweat from my temples.

My previously ragged breathing began to stabilize as I realized the current situation.

That's right, after the wedding reception ceremony this afternoon, tonight I had officially become the bride of the Mafia King. I don't know when I fell asleep, I should have stayed alert, especially after the assassination attempt this morning.

My eyes immediately fell on Stilliam who was still faithfully wiping the sweat off my face.

'I should also be wary of this man,' I thought.

"Why? Falling for me already?" Stilliam asked without taking his gaze off my temple.

I immediately dismissed his hand and stomped backwards.

Stilliam chuckled, I didn't get a good feeling from that laugh.

"On the first day you said you couldn't sleep comfortably because it was like sleeping in a snake's nest. Today I thought you wouldn't let your guard down, but after the party was over I suddenly found you fast asleep in our bed," Stilliam said while emphasizing the word 'our bed' at the end of the sentence.

"Don't mock me," I said while giving him a sharp look.

Stilliam just shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "I originally wasn't going to touch you until you were willing to give yourself to me. When I saw that you were already asleep, I was about to go to the other room, but you pulled my hand and hugged me very tightly," he explained with a flat expression but somehow I was very offended to hear it.

"Then you don’t mind if we sleep in separate beds, do you?" I asked.

"Are you kidding me? You've held me hostage for most of the night in your arms. Take responsibility," he said.

This guy really knows how to piss someone off in an annoying way.

But my gaze accidentally fell on the scars on his muscular body wrapped in the satin fabric of the robe he was wearing.

Stilliam seemed to notice my gaze. "It's already 2am, but are you still interested in spending the first night as a couple."

I looked back at him sharply.

This man seems to enjoy it, he likes to see me lose my temper because of his actions.

"Why? Isn't it natural as a married couple to spend the night together?" This time he spoke right next to my ear, I could even feel the warmth of his breath brushing against my neck. Damn it I didn't notice his movement, since when did he come closer?

I slammed him into the mattress hard, it was a reflex movement I often did when fighting. As someone who had been a hitman, I clearly knew that this man was on a different level.

However, in just a split second Stilliam managed to turn the tables, his movements were so fast, in an instant I was already in his cage.

"You really want us to do it?" He asked with a faint grin, there was no predatory look like he had done to me during our first meeting, but this situation annoyed me many times over. Would my life still be saved if I hit him in the face just once?

No, it wouldn't. I had to hold back.

"The last thing I remember is putting on my nightgown, then taking a sip of water from that glass, after that, I don't remember anything," I said simply while pointing at the glass on the nightstand beside the bed.

Stilliam raised one eyebrow.

"It seems like a small insect has dared to enter the lion's cage," Stilliam muttered while staring at the glass that was already half full. "But more than that, why did you drink it unsuspectingly?" He asked while looking back at me.

I couldn't say that I drank it because I was thirsty that he would mock me even more, and anyway I didn't think a servant would dare to mess with the drinking water in the room of a Stilliam Albert Nostra when their lives could be lost at any time here, so I drank it without thinking.

Seeing me silent, Stilliam asked again, "then, why are you staring at my body with that hungry gaze? After hugging me like that, now you're acting like a victim."

"Watch what you say, I'm not interested in your body, I'm just... Curious about the many wounds there. Then, you're the one who's not wearing your robe properly, don't blame me for being able to see it," I said simply.

"Oh this." Stilliam finally moved away from my body and felt the wound, the next second he took off his robe. "You can look at it all you want," he said as if we were discussing the weather.

But... I was transfixed by the many wounds on that body, that proportionate body full of muscles was also covered with cuts and gunshot wounds. Of course, I also had some wounds like that on my body, but his were so... Brutal.

Exactly what kind of life had this man who held the title of Mafia King lived?