SERENA'S POV

"You did what?!"

I winced as Maya dropped a tray of glasses with a loud crash behind the bar. Water and ice spilled everywhere.

"I said I got married," I repeated, lowering my voice.

"To a stranger! Selena, do you hear yourself right now?"

I sighed, rubbing my temples. The bar was already too loud with drunken laughter and bad music.

"I know it sounds crazy."

"That's because it is crazy!" she hissed. "Who even is this guy?"

I hesitated. "I don't know."

"And you don't even know what he looks like."

"Not really. He wore a hoodie the whole time."

Maya blinked. "So you're telling me that you agreed to marry a dark, mysterious, hoodie-wearing stranger?"

I stared at my hands. "I didn't have a choice."

Her expression softened. "Sel-"

"My dad's all I have, Maya. I have to get him out. Even if that means marrying a man I know nothing about."

"But what if he's a creep? What if he has, like, a dungeon and weird murder hobbies? He could be a serial killer."

I managed a weak laugh. "I'm pretty sure he's had enough chances to kill me already."

"But why you? What's in it for him?"

"I asked. He said it's not my concern."

"That's definitely concerning," she muttered, brushing back her ginger hair. "What if he's secretly ancient and wants to use your womb for-"

"Maya."

"What?" She held up her hands. "I've watched documentaries. That stuff happens."

I gave her a look, then lowered my voice. "I just care about saving my father. And getting justice. Or revenge. Whatever you want to call it."

Her face turned serious again. "The Devereuxs."

The name burned like acid.

I nodded slowly. "They're going to pay, eventually, when I find them. They're never in the spotlight much. I'd have to hire an investigator first."

Maya reached across the counter and squeezed my hand. "Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"That you'll tell me everything. If he turns out to be a psycho, I'm calling the cops and a priest."

"Deal."

We both laughed, though mine was thin and a bit forced.

Deep down, I was scared. It felt like everything was moving too fast, and I didn't know what to expect next.

About halfway through my shift, I noticed a man in a suit entering the bar. His eyes scanned the room like he was looking for someone.

Then they locked on me. He walked straight to the bar.

"Selena Blake?"

I paused. "Yeah?"

Your husband sent me. I've been instructed to escort you to your new residence."

The word husband hit me like a punch.

"Wait, now?"

"Yes. Immediately."

I blinked. "I... I still have a shift to finish. And my stuff-"

"It will be moved. Your place has already been cleared."

I stared at him. "I haven't even told my landlord-"

"It's been handled."

"Okay, what?" I looked around in a panic. "I haven't even said goodbye to-"

Maya was already hurrying over, wide-eyed. "Is this the mystery man's minion?"

"Apparently."

He turned to her. "You must be Maya. I was told to assure you that your friend will be safe."

Maya raised a brow. "Is that supposed to comfort me? Because it doesn't."

"Duly noted."

Before I could argue, he was already escorting me out. Maya stopped me.

"Selena, are you sure? You don't have to do this."

No, I wasn't sure.

But my father's face flashed in my mind. The exhaustion, the pain, the cuffs. He'd suffered enough.

"I have to," I whispered.

She nodded, eyes shining. "Then be careful. And don't forget to text me. Constantly. First sigh of trouble and I'm calling the cavalry."

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. Then I followed the man into a sleek black car with tinted windows.

The drive was long and silent. We pulled into a gated estate somewhere into the hills. When the gates opened, I felt like I was entering another world.

The mansion was massive. The architecture was a work of art. Modern glass windows, black and gray stoned walls, and metal doors that looked like they could withstand a bomb. It didn't just scream wealth. It was power.

My stomach turned.

The door opened before we even reached it.

And there he was.

Hoodie. Shadowed face. Same aura of command.

"Welcome home," he said.

I stepped inside, air clogged in my throat.

"This is yours?" I asked quietly, admiring.

"Technically," he said. "But for the next year, it's yours too."

"Right," I muttered. "Wife perks."

He didn't smile. Just gestured toward a hallway.

"Come. We have rules to go over."

I followed him down a corridor into a large study. He gestured to a chair. I sat.

He remained standing. I immediately felt like a child about to receive a lecture.

"If you want to see your father again and if you want my support to continue, you'll follow my rules."

I braced myself.

"One. You will not ask questions about my business or connections."

"Figured."

"Two. You will attend functions with me when required and play the role of my wife. Convincingly."

I swallowed. "How convincingly?"

He met my eyes. "We'll get to that."

"Three. You will not attempt to discover my identity. When the time comes, I'll reveal it."

My heart stuttered. "So you are hiding something."

He ignored that.

"Four. You are not allowed to leave the premises without my permission. And no contact with the media."

I frowned. "You think I'd leak this?"

"I think desperation makes people reckless."

My fists clenched. "I'm not reckless."

He stepped closer. I could feel the chill coming off him again, like his skin beneath those clothes was made of ice.

"Then prove it."

We stared at each other, air tangled between us.

He broke the moment by handing me a silver phone. "Use this now. Your old number has been disconnected."

"You're tracking me."

"Of course."

I stood abruptly. "You really are the devil."

He tilted his head. "You signed the deal, Selena. Now you live with it."

"I at least deserve to know your name." I whispered, looking up into his shadowed face.

He hesitated as if deciding whether or not to answer. Then,

"Dante."

And with that, I became Dante's prisoner.

SERENA'S POV

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

It wasn't the burner Dante had given me. My personal one. Somehow it was still active but it barely had any signal in this place. I reached for it.

had any signal in this place. I reached for it.

It was a call from prison. Inmate name, Richard Blake

I accepted the call, voice trembling as I spoke.

"Dad?"

"Selena..." His voice was hoarse. Just hearing it broke something inside me.

"I miss you." I whispered.

"I miss you too, baby girl. Didn't think I'd be able to get a call out this morning," he said. "Are you... okay?"

"I'm hanging in there."

There was a pause. I could hear the distant buzz of the prison behind him. My dad sounded smaller somehow. Like those prison walls were pressing in on his soul.

"Selena, listen. I don't know how much time I have left-"

"No." My voice cracked. "Don't say that."

"I just... I need you to be okay. You've been so strong, trying hard to hold it all together," His breath hitched. "And I hate that I'm not there to protect you."

"I have a plan," I said quickly. "A way to help you. I made a deal with someone."

"A deal?" I could hear his hesitation.

"I can't give you details now. But just know I'm not giving up. You're getting out of there. Soon."

"Selena-"

"Please," I begged. "I need you to trust me."

He was quiet for a long time. Then finally, he replied softly. "I do."

The line was cut after that. I stared at my phone screen till it went off. I lowered the phone with a shaky breath.

"I'll fix this," I whispered. "Even if it breaks me."

That evening, Dante emerged from the shadows again. Same hoodie. Same dark aura.

"We're attending a charity gala tonight."

I turned toward him from the living room couch. "You mean, me and you?"

He handed me a black velvet box. "Yes."

Inside was a dress-dark red, almost black, with a plunging neckline and back that could cause traffic accidents.

"You want me to wear... this?"

"You're my wife," he said, voice flat. "People will stare. Let them. You'll be standing next to me."

Cocky much.

"So you're attending a charity gala in your hoodie."

He looked at me. "I have ways of remaining unseen."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you do."

"I'll have a car ready in an hour," he said, already turning to leave. "Be presentable."

~

The event was in a ballroom filled with people who probably wiped their tears with dollar bills. My heels clicked against the marble floors as I walked beside him-He was wearing a fancy suit with a hood, his face always turned just enough to remain obscured.

No one questioned it.

"They won't think it's odd you're dressed like the Grim Reaper's rich cousin?" I asked under my breath.

"People don't question what they fear."

Charming.

We split off soon after entering, which was fine by me. I needed a break from the Grim Reaper.

I made my way towards the bar and grabbed a glass of champagne for myself.

"Fancy seeing you here." a voice said behind me.

I turned.

The man was tall, dressed in a tailored navy suit. But it wasn't the expensive clothes that caught my attention, it was his smile. Warm, teasing. The first real smile I'd seen in a long time.

"Sorry, am I supposed to know you?" I asked.

"No, at least not yet. But I was hoping you'd still talk to me," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "Name's Aiden."

I raised a brow. "Selena."

"Beautiful name." He smiled. "I'd ask if you come here often, but you look like someone who belongs in a field of flowers and fairies more than these crystal chandeliers."

I snorted. "Is that your idea of flirting?"

He leaned in a little. "Is it working?"

Maybe it was the wine, or the exhaustion. But I laughed, really laughed.

And it felt good.

"You're funny."

"Thank you. It took me a lot of hard work. Ladies love a funny guy." He raised his glass towards me.

"So what do you do, Aiden?" I asked, curiosity taking over.

"Oh, you know. Break hearts, inherit empires and ruin Charity gala buffets. That sort of thing."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're not going to give any straight answers, are you?"

He shrugged. "Where's the fun in that?"

I smiled despite myself, a real one this time. It felt foreign on my face. I'd almost forgotten how to do it.

"Married?" he asked all of a sudden.

The word jolted through me.

I hesitated. "Yes. It's... complicated."

He tilted his head. "Ain't it always?"

Before I could respond, I felt a chill run down my back.

I turned.

Dante stood behind me.

Still faceless. Still unreadable. But his energy had shifted. He felt like a storm about to break.

"Selena," he said smoothly, ignoring Aiden entirely.

I stepped back slightly. "I was just-"

"Having fun?" he asked, voice neutral.

Aiden turned fully, facing him with a slow, deliberate smile.

"Well, well." His voice dropped an octave. "Hello, brother."

My heart stopped.

Brother?

Dante's hands balled into fists at his sides. While Aiden sipped his drink like this was amusing to him.

"I see your social skills haven't improved," Aiden added.

"Leave." Dante said flatly.

Aiden raised a brow. "I just got here."

"I said-"

"She's not your possession," Aiden interrupted. "Maybe try acting like a husband instead of a warden."

I stood frozen between them.

What the hell was happening?

Aiden's eyes flicked to me. "You didn't know?"

I shook my head. Slowly. "Know... what?"

"That your dark prince here is a-"

"That's enough. Aiden, leave now." Dante cut him off but my curiosity was already piqued. Aiden seemed to know something Dante didn't want me to.

I turned to Dante, his posture rigid. "What's he saying?"

Aiden sighed. "He's hiding more than just his face, sweetheart."

My heart was pounding now.

"We're leaving." Dante said simply, turning around. I looked at Aiden one last time, a feeling of questions running through my mind.

Could he be the key to understanding Dante's motives?

SERENA'S POV

"Stay away from Aiden."

Dante's voice was like a blade cutting through the sound of chatter and music as we exited the ballroom. I blinked up at him. He towered over me, his tone calm but cold.

"What?" I said. My head was still all over the place as I processed the fact that Aiden was his brother.

Dante leaned in closer to me. "He doesn't care about you. Whatever he told you, it's bait."

I crossed my arms, heart pounding. "So this is jealousy now?"

He laughed coldly. "Don't flatter yourself. This marriage isn't real. You mean nothing to me."

My chest tightened.

That hurt more than I wanted to admit. Before I could respond, he turned and walked towards the car. And just like that, I was left standing alone.

Again.

At least, this time, there was hope.

The drive back was silent. Dante was fixed on his phone, and I sat as far away from him as possible. He was the last person I wanted to be around now.

I didn't know which part stung more, that he was clearly hiding something important from me... or that he'd said I meant nothing to him-this part I wasn't supposed to care about. Afterall, he was right. Our marriage was fake.

When we reached the mansion, he didn't say a word. He just vanished down the hallway and shut himself inside his room.

I returned to mine too, pacing its length and width for well over an hour.

My thoughts spun in a thousand directions. Aiden's words. The way Dante's shoulders had tensed. The things left unsaid. My father, alone in a prison cell.

I couldn't take it anymore. I'd done enough for Dante. It was his turn to do something for me.

I threw on a robe and walked barefoot to his room, heart hammering.

I knocked once.

He spoke from inside, "What are you doing here?"

"Let me in."

There was silence and then the sound of the locks being undone. I opened the door.

Dante was already walking back to the fireplace, wearing grey sweatpants and a shirt which was unbuttoned at the collar. I spotted his hoodie lying on his bed. His brown hair was tousled, like he'd run his fingers through it a hundred times.

He kept his back turned to me. I was well aware of the fact that he only needed to turn.

Just a small motion and I'd finally get to see his face.

"It appears I'll have to add staying away from my room to the rules." He said.

I ignored him.

"I need to know the truth," I said quietly, stepping in. "What was Aiden trying to tell me?"

"I told you to stay away from Aiden-"

"And I'm not here about him. I'm here about you. I need to know who you really are."

He didn't move.

"You... you know about my fathers case and you're wealthy and you seem to be really bent on hiding your identity. Are you a Devereux?" I asked.

His back tensed.

"Were you involved in what happened to my father? Is this your way of torturing me and giving me false hope?"

He turned slightly, barely enough to reveal anything. "I'm not your enemy, Selena. Don't let people like Aiden get into your head."

"Then prove it."

The words came out like a challenge.

He went still for a moment, the seconds felt stretched out into minutes.

Then, in one slow, deliberate motion, he turned, stepping into the light.

No hood. No shadows.

Just him.

And my breath caught in my throat.

He was... he was out of this world, the kind of person one could easily describe as a descendant of the Greek gods.

Chiseled jaw, sculpted cheekbones. His eyes were an icy blue so sharp and fierce they looked like they could turn me to ice with just one look.

He was hauntingly beautiful.

I went quiet, didn't speak.

I couldn't even if I tried.

He watched me, letting me absorb him.

"You wanted truth," he said softly. "There it is."

I stepped closer without thinking. "You... you're not what I expected."

He gave a ghost of a smile. "Few people are."

"But why me?" I whispered. "Why help me? Why this marriage?"

He dropped his gaze, then looked back at me. "Because I know what it's like to feel powerless. To be angry. To want revenge."

"And my father?"

He nodded. "I'll get him out."

"Swear it."

"I'll make a call first thing in the morning."

I stared at him for a moment, then nodded and turned to leave.

I stopped at the door.

"I guess you're not as terrible as I thought you were," I said without looking back.

And I could've sworn I heard him whisper back,

"Neither are you."

That night, I slept peacefully. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest. Soon, my father would be free and with Dante's help, I'd take back what the Devereuxs stole from us.

The next morning, I woke to the ringing of my phone.

Still sleepy, I fumbled for it, blinking my eyes open.

Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Is this Selena Blake?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"This is Memorial General Hospital. Your father, Richard Blake was brought in early this morning. He's in critical condition."

My body went cold. "W-what?"

"He suffered a heart attack. The guards found him passed out in his cell. He's in a coma."

"What? No, no..."

"We need you to come in immediately."

The phone slipped from my hands as I slid off the bed and dropped to my knees.

This wasn't happening.

This wasn't real.

I'd just started to hope again.

And now?

Now the only person I had left was slipping away from me. Maybe for good this time.