LOGINThe car ride back to the estate was agonizing. Viola sat rigidly against the passenger door, twisting her mother’s card between her fingers. She was terrified. If her mother saw that mountain of designer bags, she would assume Viola had begged him to buy them for her and punish her severely. But beyond just the fear of her mother, the sheer weight of what those dresses meant terrified her even more. She couldn't allow it. "I can't accept these," Viola whispered, breaking the heavy silence in the car. She looked at his sharp profile, her voice trembling but deeply desperate. "Please. I don't want it." Sebastian didn't even look at her. His eyes remained fixed on his phone, completely cold and unaffected by her rejection. When the SUV pulled up to the grand steps of the estate, Viola felt physically sick. Mateo opened her door. Before she could step out, Sebastian finally looked up. He gave a sharp, subtle nod to one of the guards standing near the trunk. The guard pulled out a sing
The heavy velvet curtain settled silently, sealing them inside the tiny space.The fitting room was meant for one person. With Sebastian standing inside, his broad shoulders completely swallowed the remaining air. The sharp scent of dark tobacco and expensive cologne instantly overpowered the faint, sterile smell of the boutique.Viola backed up until her bare shoulder blades hit the cold glass of the large mirror. She clutched the heavy white fabric tightly to her chest, her knuckles turning bone-white. Her heart was hammering so violently she thought it might break through her ribs."What..." she breathed, her voice trembling as she looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes. "What are you doing here?"Sebastian didn't answer. He took a slow, deliberate step forward.Panic flared in Viola’s chest. She pressed herself harder against the mirror, trying to melt into the glass. She was half-naked, her back completely exposed, trapped in a space so small she could feel the dark heat radi
Viola frowned in confusion. Dresses? She was supposed to pick out one cheap engagement dress. What was going on? Before she could ask, the attendants gently guided her into the massive, mirrored fitting room. When they handed her the first dress, Viola’s stomach dropped. It wasn't a engagement dress. It was a deep, blood-red silk gown with a plunging neckline. She had never worn anything like it in her life. She carefully slipped it on. Unlike Vanessa’s tall, lean model frame, Viola was shorter and much softer. She had a naturally curvy figure and a soft, slightly chubby tummy that she usually hid under oversized sweaters. But this dress hid nothing. It clung to her curves, highlighting the swell of her hips and the fullness of her chest. She felt completely exposed. But she didn't have a choice. "Ma'am, please step out," the attendant urged softly. Trembling, Viola walked out of the fitting room and stood on the small pedestal. Sebastian took a slow sip of his whiskey. The momen
Viola flinched, turning to see her mother walking into the living room. She looked immaculate in a tailored dress, her sharp eyes glaring at Viola with deep disgust."Your engagement is in a few days," her mother snapped, crossing her arms. "You look like you are going to a funeral. You never miss a single opportunity to embarrass me, do you?"Viola kept her eyes on the floor, swallowing the bitter knot in her throat.Her mother reached into her designer purse and pulled out a black credit card, practically throwing it onto the small coffee table. "Take the driver. Go to the boutique in the city and buy your engagement dress. And don't pick anything too expensive. I don't want to see a massive charge on this card."Viola looked up, a small, desperate spark of hope flickering in her chest. "Can... can you come with me?" she asked quietly. Every other girl had their mother with them to pick out their dress.Her mother let out a harsh, dismissive scoff. "I have much better things to do t
Viola sat on the edge of the plush mattress, staring blankly at the beige patterned wallpaper of her new bedroom.She wasn't in her drafty, tiny room at the end of the hall anymore. Three days ago, her mother had abruptly moved her into one of the main guest suites in the east wing. It had a large bed, expensive furniture, and a private bathroom. But it wasn't an act of kindness. Giovanni’s personal guards had arrived at the estate under the official excuse of protecting the bride, and her mother refused to let the Italians see the shabby conditions her daughter usually lived in.But Viola knew the truth. Giovanni didn't trust her. He knew she didn't want this marriage, and these men were really here to make sure she didn't run away. Now, the heavy presence of the Italian guards filled the corridors. Everywhere Viola went, their eyes followed her, tracking her movements with creepy, lingering stares that made her skin crawl.She pulled her oversized cardigan tighter around her shoulde
The heavy bass from the underground club below vibrated through the floorboards of the private office, but Sebastian barely felt it.He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, a glass of dark amber liquid in his hand, watching the city rain streak across the glass. The room was dead quiet, save for the muffled thumping of the music downstairs.He hadn't stepped foot in the estate in fourteen days.He spent the last two weeks buried in the city's shadows, bleeding his focus into shipments, territorial disputes, and cold, calculated violence. In his world, losing focus meant losing your life. Attachments were liabilities. Distractions were a death sentence.And Viola was becoming a massive distraction.The heavy oak door behind him clicked open. Mateo stepped into the dim office, his footsteps entirely silent on the expensive rug. He didn't speak immediately. He just walked over to the heavy mahogany desk and placed a sleek, black phone near the edge."The secure line," Mateo said quietly
The afternoon sun beat down on her as she navigated the busy city sidewalks. The dress bag was heavy and awkward, bumping against her legs with every step. But as she walked, the physical exhaustion faded into a quiet, heavy loneliness.She passed by a group of college students—girls laughing loudl
The next day passed in a strange, quiet blur.After breakfast, Sebastian left the estate and did not return. Viola had expected to spend the day terrified in his private suite, but without him there, she had nothing to do. The silence of his massive rooms eventually drove her back downstairs to the
Viola froze. Her heart gave a painful thud against her ribs. But then, a rare, desperate spark of self-preservation flared through her panic. She squared her trembling shoulders, gathering whatever small amount of courage she had left."Did you change my clothes?" she asked again, her voice a littl
The heavy silk sheets felt wrong.Viola stared at the unfamiliar dark oak ceiling, her pulse thumping against her throat. Her brain was thick with fever, the events of the night returning in sharp, broken fragments. The blinding lights of the ballroom. Giovanni’s heavy hand digging into her waist.







