LOGINRoxana Tristan. The name alone steals every ounce of air from my lungs. Panic crashes into me so hard that my stomach twists violently, and I almost give out. My body reacts before my mind does. I wrench myself away from Daniel as if his hands burn me. Hurt flashes in his eyes, but my focus is on the man standing by the doorway. Rainwater drips from Tristan’s black hair onto the wooden floor. His clothes cling to his body. His chest rises and falls as he stares at me. Anger shimmers in the depths of his green eyes. “It’s... it’s not what you think.” My shaky legs dart forward, straight to him. But he steps away, as if he can't stand the thought of getting close to me. Something inside my chest shatters. “I searched for you, tore the world apart to get to you, and you were here? With him?” I shake my head, no. Please. He takes one single step forward, and I instinctively step back. “Hiding, trying to become someone else. Why? Because everything I gave to you was
RoxanaDaniel doesn't move. His eyes shift from Marco to the suited man behind him, then back to me. “Why did you lie to me?”My heart sinks. The rain pounds harder against the roof. Nobody breathes; silence stretches uncomfortably.Marco is the first to smile, smooth and relaxed—like he always is when deceiving people. “You must be Daniel.”Daniel’s brows knit together. “Do I know you?”Marco extends a hand as if they’ve met a hundred times before. “I'm Marco.”Daniel doesn't take it, instead keeps looking at me. “Roxana?”I can't answer. If I tell him the truth, Marco will call Tristan. If I lie, Daniel will walk away believing everything is fine.Marco notices my hesitation. Without anyone seeing, he lightly presses two fingers against the back of my neck—warning me.“Roxana invited me.” The lie sounds effortless.Daniel looks unconvinced. “You never mentioned family.”“I’m…,” he chuckles softly, “not exactly family. I knew her mother years ago.”My stomach twists. That’s another l
RoxanaThe knock echoes through the room, making my body jerk involuntarily. I stare at the door, my heart pounding against my ribs. No one moves.Marco’s eyes shift toward the door; the man in the suit instinctively reaches beneath his jacket.My breathing halts. No. This can't be happening.“Roxana.”Daniel.His voice is muffled through the thin wooden door. “Are you alright?”Marco slowly turns to look at me, his expression speaking volumes.“Get rid of him. Now,” he whispers into my ear.I swallow the lump in my throat.For a terrifying second, I almost scream at him to call for help. But I know Marco, stuff like that won't bother him.I’d probably end up getting hurt more than I should.While I stand there, I consider screaming at him to run. I don't want to risk innocent lives. Maybe if he runs far enough, they won't catch him.Maybe...Marco’s fingers tighten painfully around my wrist. I almost flinch, but I stay rooted.His lips barely move. “One wrong word...” his gaze drifts
Roxana My chest tightens so painfully it hurts. The room feels both suffocating and hot—too full of him. Marco watches me with the patience of a man who already believes he has won. He no longer needs to shout. He no longer needs to threaten me. He has already destroyed the one thing keeping me alive. The lie. The lie that Tristan had bought me. The lie I clung to because hating him was easier than admitting I loved him. My knees threaten to give way again, and I grip the edge of the bed until my knuckles turn white. “You lied to me…you deceived me,” the words escape my mouth like a broken whisper. Marco shrugs, “I did.” “So many lives,” my voice cracks, “you destroyed so many lives…” His brow raises with nonchalance, “and?” Marco’s indifference makes something inside me splinter. I press my teeth against my lip so hard that it takes every ounce of self-control not to spit in his disgusting face. “You don't even care,” I mutter under my breath. “I care about winning,” his
Tristan It’s been five years since I last stepped into this place, five years since I heard the roar of the crowd. Five years since the smell of blood, sweat, and cheap whiskey filled my lungs. Back then, I had nothing—no empire, no private jet, no men waiting on my orders. No one feared Tristan Kozlov. Before they called me D’yavol, I was just another bastard trying to survive, and in this underground ring, survival belongs to the man who can still stand after everyone else has fallen. For me, fighting wasn't just entertainment; it wasn't sport. It was food, rent, another day to live. Every scar on my body was earned inside these walls. Every lesson I learned about pain started here. I never thought I would come back. Not after building everything I fought so hard to escape into. Yes, here I am. Not because I miss the bloodshed. Not because I enjoy breaking bones. But because if I don't put my fist through someone tonight, I'm going to put them through someone who doesn't
RoxanaMarco doesn't press the call button; he doesn't have to. The phone stays suspended between us. Tristan’s name glows on the screen like a death sentence.My breathing becomes shallow, every instinct screams at me to snatch the phone from his hand and smash it against the wall.But I don't move. Because I know Marco. He wants me afraid; he wants me begging. He always has.A slow smile spreads across his face. “There she is. I was wondering when my obedient little girl would come back.”“I'm not your…”“You are,” he cuts me off so easily it feels as if my words never existed. “You will always be.”I shake my head. “No.”He laughs softly. “You’ve been gone for what...a week?”He looks around the tiny room. “And suddenly you think you’re someone else.” His gaze returns to me. “You’re still that frightened little girl who cried every time I raised my voice or touched her.”His fingers brush against my forearm, disgust shoots through me so intensely I almost stagger.My hand clenches
Roxana This is a nightmare! What did he say? Claim me? He’s acting like I’m something to be claimed. I open my mouth to argue but snap it shut. I know better than to argue with Tristan. “Don’t punish me, please….” My voice breaks, my pulse pounding loudly in my ears. “ I will.” With
Roxana I slam my hand over my mouth to stop from screaming as the scene unfolds before me. Tears choke me. My knees buckle, and my entire body shakes uncontrollably. Is this a nightmare? A lump forms in my throat. I can already feel wetness staining my cheeks. This is the man I love so much—th
Tristan My phone buzzes, waking me. I ignore it, opening my eyes for a moment and staring into the blank space. It buzzes again. This time, I stretch my hand to the bedside drawer and pick it up. There are several texts from my brothers, my mother, and all the family members. *We are in your li
RoxanaI keep turning on my bed, Aaron’s words replaying in my head. I have to leave this house tonight. That’s the only way I can escape this arranged marriage and be with the man who truly loves me.Checking the time for the hundredth time today, I get out of bed.It’s 6pm.Almost dinnertime.Onc







