The only sound came from the luxury car's faint hum of the engine. The dashboard was lighted by the golden sunlight as the background metropolis was whirling by. The car stayed frigid despite the nice illumination, which felt oppressive given all the unsaid emotions and sentiments. Dysis sat stiffly next to Alexander, her fingers holding the silky cloth of her dress. She needs to speak. She was about to say something. She felt that every single idea was focused on last night. Her thoughts kept playing on repeat the scorching sensation from his desperate kiss, the way his hands danced under her nightgown, and his harsh touch. Where he marked her still tingled and her body seemed to be on fire. He gave her a cursory look. Alexander was his normal self—expressionless and emotionally cold. Black tailored trousers matched a white button-down shirt that was not fully buttoned. He seemed to be effortlessly gripping the wheel. Hands lying naturally against his knee. His face and features
Long after Alexander left the corridor, the silence there persisted, but the weight of his presence persisted like a storm unwilling to pass. Lucian rolled his shoulders as if releasing the ghost of Alexander's hold, then exhaled gently. Not from fear but from something deeper—something raw, unresolved—his heart continued to pound. He had seen it, Alexander's eyes flickering with uncertainty, his body stiffening at those final words. “You worry she will love someone else.” Lucian intended not to say it. But the truth had a tendency to escape when most important. Turning towards the balcony, his hands closed into fists. The cool night air touched his skin, but it had no effect to quell the fire raging within of him. Dysis. Her response had combined shock with something else—hesitation. Ever thought about him that way? Alternatively had he waited far too long? Lucian shook his head at his own stupidity, then laughed dryly. At this point, it was irrelevant. Alexander
"What was that?" Alexander tipped his head slightly, his icy-blue eye invisible. "a warning." Dysis scowled. " For his or for me?" Though he never saw it, a soft smile lingered on his lips. "both.”Dysis let out a frustrated breath. "This—whatever this is between you two—is not just about me?" Alexander moved forward and pushed her to raise her chin to meet his eye. His voice low, "you were the catalyst," he whispered, then "this was inevitable." Her gut turned around. She had seen it—that way Lucian and Alexander had stared at one another. This was more than just competition. It was something more profoundly ingrained. elderly. “Alexander—" There was buzz on his phone. Glancing at the television, his face darkened. He said, "I'll be right back," then turned and left without further word. Dysis watched him go, her chest constricting with discomfort. Not over was whatever had just happened between Alexander and Lucian. And right now another force was draggin
Dysis maintained her upright posture even as her gut tightened at the sight of Sofie seated across from Lili, drinking tea with the grace of someone who knew she belonged. Sofie's smile was slow, deliberate, like a cat that had just seen a mouse. “Oh, what a wonderful surprise this is.” Sofie set her cup down, her well manicured nails clicking against the porcelain. "Dysis, sweetheart, I never would have expected to find you here." Lili grinned, her look incomprehensible. "Dysis arrived for a fitting. Not bad, Sofie?”That is fantastic. Sofie's eyes glanced over Dysis's plain yellow dress, her smile growing. Great. Undoubtedly. I was simply wondering how much she may benefit from a small bit of refinement. Dysis turned away from the bait. She glanced at the older woman and added, "I appreciate the help, Lili," smoothly. "I want to see everything flawless." Lili examined her for a time, then gave a gradual nod of approval. "That's a healthy way of thinking. After
The wedding morning arrived wrapped in a terrible silence. The Levi estate's great halls were especially silent, the normal buzz of maids and guards replaced with an almost stifling hush. Outside, the marble flooring was covered in fractured patterns of colour as sunshine poured through the stained-glass windows, a pure hue of blue. Dysis stood at the vanity mirror, fingers tracing the delicate embroidery of her robe as her breath was steady but shallow. The dress was amazing—an off-the-shoulder masterwork of ivory silk nipped at the waist with complex lacework running down the wide skirt. Under the light, little pearls shimmered, each one expertly sewed as though the fabric itself weighted the moment. Standing behind her, Vee tightened the last lace at the rear and then turned away to view her. "You look...," She stopped and gently shook her head while grinning. “Like someone ready to transform the planet.”Dysis laughed breathily, but her stomach knot did not go away. Sh
The morning of the wedding arrived with a disturbing quiet. Alexander's suite's tall windows let a subdued glow from the sun just starting to rise. As he changed the neat cuffs of his black suit, the air smelt of polished wood and costly cologne, an aroma that stuck to his skin.The fabric felt heavier than usual. Or maybe it was the weight of today itself.Expression unreadable, he stood before the mirror, his icy-blue eyes fixating on his reflection. Marriage. The word felt alien, like something not fitting men like him. And yet, here he was—on the precipice of something that should have been impossible.Dysis.She was the unexpected variable, the one thing that had disrupted the ruthless rhythm of his life. He had taken her, claimed her, branded her as his, yet a part of him still questioned—what would truly change once they were married?Would she be safer? More vulnerable? Would she accept this life completely?His fingers brushed against the watch on his wrist, an heirloom from
The great hall hummed with activity, a weird mix of nervousness and expectation. Each second dragging its own weight, guests crowded the aisles like soft rustling leaves. The chandeliers overhead threw golden halos, their light glittering off the marble flooring, lighting faces that had appeared so far-far now invading Alexander's own delicate sense of peace. The wedding had gone without a hitch, but Alexander felt as though all of it weighty in his chest like a stone. His body stiff as though he were getting ready for the blow of an invisible weapon, he stood next to Dysis at the altar. His tuxedo hung precisely to his strong build, the dark cloth absorbing the light and rendering him virtually in darkness. Every inch of him seemed deliberate, under control, yet within he was fraying like the seams of his coat. Usually chilly and impenetrable, his icy-blue eyes now flicked with something he couldn quite identify. His eyes kept straying to Dysis, the lady who had before cause
Low candlelight danced in the ballroom against gold and crystal. A violin softly wept through the speakers, the hum of little talks and clinking glasses just disguising the undercurrent of anxiety wrapped around my spine.I felt her before I saw her.A presence. A memory carved from a wound I’d tried to forget.Then I saw her.A woman in a deep navy cloak with soft curls pinned at her nape, her expression unreadable from across the room. But I knew. I knew. My blood turned cold even as my skin burned.Nani.My mother.The one who’d disappeared from my life when I was five. The one who’d sent me a letter so many years later that changed everything.“Thank you, Alexander,” she said, her voice just above a whisper—but in the sudden stillness, it carried. “For going this far for my daughter.”The violins halted, replaced by murmurs and the turning of heads.My hand reached the fabric of my garment first, gripping it as though it would prevent me from breaking. The air shifted. And beside
Low candlelight danced in the ballroom against gold and crystal. A violin softly wept through the speakers, the hum of little talks and clinking glasses just disguising the undercurrent of anxiety wrapped around my spine.I felt her before I saw her.A presence. A memory carved from a wound I’d tried to forget.Then I saw her.A woman in a deep navy cloak with soft curls pinned at her nape, her expression unreadable from across the room. But I knew. I knew. My blood turned cold even as my skin burned.Nani.My mother.The one who’d disappeared from my life when I was five. The one who’d sent me a letter so many years later that changed everything.“Thank you, Alexander,” she said, her voice just above a whisper—but in the sudden stillness, it carried. “For going this far for my daughter.”The violins halted, replaced by murmurs and the turning of heads.My hand reached the fabric of my garment first, gripping it as though it would prevent me from breaking. The air shifted. And beside
The great hall hummed with activity, a weird mix of nervousness and expectation. Each second dragging its own weight, guests crowded the aisles like soft rustling leaves. The chandeliers overhead threw golden halos, their light glittering off the marble flooring, lighting faces that had appeared so far-far now invading Alexander's own delicate sense of peace. The wedding had gone without a hitch, but Alexander felt as though all of it weighty in his chest like a stone. His body stiff as though he were getting ready for the blow of an invisible weapon, he stood next to Dysis at the altar. His tuxedo hung precisely to his strong build, the dark cloth absorbing the light and rendering him virtually in darkness. Every inch of him seemed deliberate, under control, yet within he was fraying like the seams of his coat. Usually chilly and impenetrable, his icy-blue eyes now flicked with something he couldn quite identify. His eyes kept straying to Dysis, the lady who had before cause
The morning of the wedding arrived with a disturbing quiet. Alexander's suite's tall windows let a subdued glow from the sun just starting to rise. As he changed the neat cuffs of his black suit, the air smelt of polished wood and costly cologne, an aroma that stuck to his skin.The fabric felt heavier than usual. Or maybe it was the weight of today itself.Expression unreadable, he stood before the mirror, his icy-blue eyes fixating on his reflection. Marriage. The word felt alien, like something not fitting men like him. And yet, here he was—on the precipice of something that should have been impossible.Dysis.She was the unexpected variable, the one thing that had disrupted the ruthless rhythm of his life. He had taken her, claimed her, branded her as his, yet a part of him still questioned—what would truly change once they were married?Would she be safer? More vulnerable? Would she accept this life completely?His fingers brushed against the watch on his wrist, an heirloom from
The wedding morning arrived wrapped in a terrible silence. The Levi estate's great halls were especially silent, the normal buzz of maids and guards replaced with an almost stifling hush. Outside, the marble flooring was covered in fractured patterns of colour as sunshine poured through the stained-glass windows, a pure hue of blue. Dysis stood at the vanity mirror, fingers tracing the delicate embroidery of her robe as her breath was steady but shallow. The dress was amazing—an off-the-shoulder masterwork of ivory silk nipped at the waist with complex lacework running down the wide skirt. Under the light, little pearls shimmered, each one expertly sewed as though the fabric itself weighted the moment. Standing behind her, Vee tightened the last lace at the rear and then turned away to view her. "You look...," She stopped and gently shook her head while grinning. “Like someone ready to transform the planet.”Dysis laughed breathily, but her stomach knot did not go away. Sh
Dysis maintained her upright posture even as her gut tightened at the sight of Sofie seated across from Lili, drinking tea with the grace of someone who knew she belonged. Sofie's smile was slow, deliberate, like a cat that had just seen a mouse. “Oh, what a wonderful surprise this is.” Sofie set her cup down, her well manicured nails clicking against the porcelain. "Dysis, sweetheart, I never would have expected to find you here." Lili grinned, her look incomprehensible. "Dysis arrived for a fitting. Not bad, Sofie?”That is fantastic. Sofie's eyes glanced over Dysis's plain yellow dress, her smile growing. Great. Undoubtedly. I was simply wondering how much she may benefit from a small bit of refinement. Dysis turned away from the bait. She glanced at the older woman and added, "I appreciate the help, Lili," smoothly. "I want to see everything flawless." Lili examined her for a time, then gave a gradual nod of approval. "That's a healthy way of thinking. After
"What was that?" Alexander tipped his head slightly, his icy-blue eye invisible. "a warning." Dysis scowled. " For his or for me?" Though he never saw it, a soft smile lingered on his lips. "both.”Dysis let out a frustrated breath. "This—whatever this is between you two—is not just about me?" Alexander moved forward and pushed her to raise her chin to meet his eye. His voice low, "you were the catalyst," he whispered, then "this was inevitable." Her gut turned around. She had seen it—that way Lucian and Alexander had stared at one another. This was more than just competition. It was something more profoundly ingrained. elderly. “Alexander—" There was buzz on his phone. Glancing at the television, his face darkened. He said, "I'll be right back," then turned and left without further word. Dysis watched him go, her chest constricting with discomfort. Not over was whatever had just happened between Alexander and Lucian. And right now another force was draggin
Long after Alexander left the corridor, the silence there persisted, but the weight of his presence persisted like a storm unwilling to pass. Lucian rolled his shoulders as if releasing the ghost of Alexander's hold, then exhaled gently. Not from fear but from something deeper—something raw, unresolved—his heart continued to pound. He had seen it, Alexander's eyes flickering with uncertainty, his body stiffening at those final words. “You worry she will love someone else.” Lucian intended not to say it. But the truth had a tendency to escape when most important. Turning towards the balcony, his hands closed into fists. The cool night air touched his skin, but it had no effect to quell the fire raging within of him. Dysis. Her response had combined shock with something else—hesitation. Ever thought about him that way? Alternatively had he waited far too long? Lucian shook his head at his own stupidity, then laughed dryly. At this point, it was irrelevant. Alexander
The only sound came from the luxury car's faint hum of the engine. The dashboard was lighted by the golden sunlight as the background metropolis was whirling by. The car stayed frigid despite the nice illumination, which felt oppressive given all the unsaid emotions and sentiments. Dysis sat stiffly next to Alexander, her fingers holding the silky cloth of her dress. She needs to speak. She was about to say something. She felt that every single idea was focused on last night. Her thoughts kept playing on repeat the scorching sensation from his desperate kiss, the way his hands danced under her nightgown, and his harsh touch. Where he marked her still tingled and her body seemed to be on fire. He gave her a cursory look. Alexander was his normal self—expressionless and emotionally cold. Black tailored trousers matched a white button-down shirt that was not fully buttoned. He seemed to be effortlessly gripping the wheel. Hands lying naturally against his knee. His face and features
Alexander's office was a tense place, the smell of good whisky and smooth leather mingling with a chill—something dangerous. Shadows danced across the deep mahogany walls as a fire whispered quietly in the hearth. It was a room designed for power, a place where underworld kings made their decisions. And this evening, it would witness something much more sinister. Sofie stood by the desk, composed yet self-satisfied, her tailored red dress clinging to every contour, the pronounced V-neck highlighting the grace of her figure. Her golden locks were elegantly styled in smooth waves, and her crimson nails drummed continuously on the surface of her phone. She was ready. With a grin teasing her lips, she pushed the phone across the desk. The display remained vivid, casting light on the incriminating scene—Dysis and Lucian, just inches apart, his hand poised near her cheek, their eyes entwined in an undeniably intimate connection. Sofie leaned her head, observing Alexander, anticipati