Once they exited the mall, Alex chose to treat Dysis to dinner at one of the top restaurants in Ravenhold. The venue radiates sophistication, featuring gentle golden lights and a tranquil atmosphere that reflects a stark contrast to the day's turmoil. Alex booked a private dining room to guarantee their privacy. Dysis sat opposite him, her demeanor clearly downcast following the exhausting shopping excursion. Alex observed her restlessly moving her hands, her gaze fixated on the vacant plate in front of her. The server presented a beautifully designed piece of cake, adorned with ripe berries and a gentle drizzle of chocolate. Dysis was taken aback and blinked when it was set in front of her. “I didn’t order this,” she said, looking at Alex. “I did,” Alex replied casually, his voice low but firm. “You seem to like cake.” Initially uncertain, Dysis grabbed her fork and took a tiny bite. The cake's sweetness appeared to dissolve her sadness, and a gentle smile appeared on her face
“Is this how you plan to win me over? With cake?” Dysis poked fun as she emerged from the car, carefully holding a small box in her hands. Her face brightened with a genuine smile, giving her a younger and more carefree appearance—a striking difference from her typical cautious demeanor. Alexander stayed quiet, his cold blue eyes focused on her while she walked forward. She didn’t even glance back at him. *She scowls at me for buying her shoes that cost a fortune, yet a simple box of cake has her grinning like this. How peculiar.* Dysis hummed softly as she entered the mansion, clutching the box as if it were a treasure. Alexander followed her, keeping a measured distance, his hands buried in his pockets. She either didn’t acknowledge him due to her concentration on the cake or intentionally chose to ignore him; he couldn’t tell which. As she arrived at her bedroom door and swung it open, her cheerful humming ceased suddenly. She froze. Inside, her room had been transformed. Th
There was a knock at the door. Dysis sat up from her bed, brushing her hair back. *Who could it be?* "Come in," she called. The door opened, and Selena stepped inside, followed by four other maids. "Good day, Lady Dysis," the maids greeted in unison, bowing respectfully. Selena offered a small smile. "We need to prepare you for a special occasion with the young master." Dysis blinked. *So that’s why he bought all those things… but what’s so special about this occasion?* Still, she knew one thing—she couldn’t refuse. She had been confined to this room ever since their shopping trip, and curiosity gnawed at her. With a silent nod, she allowed them to lead her into the bathroom. As they carefully removed her clothes, the warm air brushed against her bare skin, highlighting its smooth, milky tone. The maids worked efficiently, their movements practiced yet gentle, as if handling something precious.Steam curled through the air, thick with the scent of lavender and jasmine. The wa
Dysis looked up at him, searching his face for some sort of explanation, for anything that made this moment make sense. Her voice came out barely above a whisper. “You… you dedicated an entire brand to me?” Alexander’s gaze remained steady. “You said you needed a shop.”Her mouth fell open. “What? Alex, I didn’t mean that! I was just saying the things you bought were too—”“I already did it the same day I bought you the shoes,” he interrupted smoothly, leaving no room for protest.Her heart pounded. It wasn’t just a gift. It wasn’t just some extravagant whim. This was bigger. This was a statement. A declaration to the world that she was someone to be acknowledged, someone to be respected. That she was his. Dysis swallowed, feeling the weight of it all settle over her. “Why?” The question slipped out before she could stop it. “Why would you do this?” Alexander didn’t answer right away. Instead, he extended a pen toward her, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. “Sign it, Dysis.”
The ballroom shone with gold and white hues, as crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow upon the guests, whose laughter and conversation resonated throughout the space. The string quartet performed gently in the background, a calming melody that seemed to wrap around the room like a comforting embrace. But for Dysis, everything felt overwhelming. The towering columns, the grand staircase, the glittering crowd—it all seemed like a blur as her focus remained on one person: Alexander.She had never seen him like this before. The usual cold, calculated mafia leader—capable of making even the bravest shudder with a single glance—was different tonight. There was a stillness in him, an almost tense calmness in the way he stood. His grip on her hand was firm enough to assert control, but there was something gentle in it, too, as if it was a subtle reminder that there was more to him than his ruthless reputation. As they walked through the sea of guests, Dysis couldn’t shake the feeling of the
The weight of the evening pressed down on Dysis, suffocating her in its golden glow. The ballroom, once a dazzling spectacle of elegance and grandeur, now felt more like a cage—a place where secrets lurked beneath polite smiles and half-spoken words. Lucian’s unexpected appearance had only deepened the unease curling in her stomach. The charged silence between him and Alexander, the way their gazes locked as if exchanging something unspoken—it all unsettled her. Dysis gulped nervously, her hold on her dress tightening as she glanced between the two men. “I don’t get it ,” she whispered, her voice scarcely audible. “Why wouldn’t Alexander be here?” Neither answered immediately. Instead, Lucian’s green eyes flickered with something indecipherable before shifting to Alexander, who remained deathly still at her side. His fingers, still wrapped around her wrist, flexed slightly as if holding himself back. Lucian finally exhaled, his jaw tightening. “Because he never comes to these
The air in the ballroom crackled with an intensity that seemed to radiate from Alexander himself. His cold demeanor only grew sharper when Joe tried to approach him once again. Every attempt was met with a curt dismissal, Alexander's eyes distant, a silent barrier between them. The bond they once shared felt frayed, unraveling beyond repair, and Joe couldn't understand why his brother would push him away.Brayden, ever the innocent observer, hugged his uncle with unrestrained affection, his small arms wrapped tightly around Alexander's waist. But Alexander’s response was swift and brutal—he shoved Brayden aside, his fingers tightening on Dysis’s hand as he pulled her away. Brayden stood frozen, confusion and sadness clouding his young face.“I think I like her even more,” Brayden remarked softly to Joe, though there was no joy in his eyes—only an unsettling sense of loss.Joe’s lips twitched into a half-smile, but it faltered almost immediately. “You like everything Alexander likes,”
"Do you think your tears are important to me?" I knelt in front of my father, shaking, the cold cement floor soaking into my knees as I attempted to swallow the sob that had stuck in my throat. As usual, his remarks pierced me deeply. His words filled the little, darkened room, brimming with disdain. For as long as I could remember, I had been forced to live this existence, and every beat of my heart served as a reminder of it.I didn’t look up at him. I couldn’t. His cruel eyes were too much to bear. Too much to endure. “Answer me!” His hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of my hair and jerking my head up. The pain stung, but it wasn’t new. Nothing he did was new anymore. He’d punished me in ways I couldn’t count, but today was different. Today, it wasn’t just my body he was angry with; it was my existence. “Why won’t you ever listen?” His breath reeked of whiskey, and his fingers tightened, pulling me painfully closer. “You’re worthless, just like your mother. A disappointment. A bur
The air in the ballroom crackled with an intensity that seemed to radiate from Alexander himself. His cold demeanor only grew sharper when Joe tried to approach him once again. Every attempt was met with a curt dismissal, Alexander's eyes distant, a silent barrier between them. The bond they once shared felt frayed, unraveling beyond repair, and Joe couldn't understand why his brother would push him away.Brayden, ever the innocent observer, hugged his uncle with unrestrained affection, his small arms wrapped tightly around Alexander's waist. But Alexander’s response was swift and brutal—he shoved Brayden aside, his fingers tightening on Dysis’s hand as he pulled her away. Brayden stood frozen, confusion and sadness clouding his young face.“I think I like her even more,” Brayden remarked softly to Joe, though there was no joy in his eyes—only an unsettling sense of loss.Joe’s lips twitched into a half-smile, but it faltered almost immediately. “You like everything Alexander likes,”
The weight of the evening pressed down on Dysis, suffocating her in its golden glow. The ballroom, once a dazzling spectacle of elegance and grandeur, now felt more like a cage—a place where secrets lurked beneath polite smiles and half-spoken words. Lucian’s unexpected appearance had only deepened the unease curling in her stomach. The charged silence between him and Alexander, the way their gazes locked as if exchanging something unspoken—it all unsettled her. Dysis gulped nervously, her hold on her dress tightening as she glanced between the two men. “I don’t get it ,” she whispered, her voice scarcely audible. “Why wouldn’t Alexander be here?” Neither answered immediately. Instead, Lucian’s green eyes flickered with something indecipherable before shifting to Alexander, who remained deathly still at her side. His fingers, still wrapped around her wrist, flexed slightly as if holding himself back. Lucian finally exhaled, his jaw tightening. “Because he never comes to these
The ballroom shone with gold and white hues, as crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow upon the guests, whose laughter and conversation resonated throughout the space. The string quartet performed gently in the background, a calming melody that seemed to wrap around the room like a comforting embrace. But for Dysis, everything felt overwhelming. The towering columns, the grand staircase, the glittering crowd—it all seemed like a blur as her focus remained on one person: Alexander.She had never seen him like this before. The usual cold, calculated mafia leader—capable of making even the bravest shudder with a single glance—was different tonight. There was a stillness in him, an almost tense calmness in the way he stood. His grip on her hand was firm enough to assert control, but there was something gentle in it, too, as if it was a subtle reminder that there was more to him than his ruthless reputation. As they walked through the sea of guests, Dysis couldn’t shake the feeling of the
Dysis looked up at him, searching his face for some sort of explanation, for anything that made this moment make sense. Her voice came out barely above a whisper. “You… you dedicated an entire brand to me?” Alexander’s gaze remained steady. “You said you needed a shop.”Her mouth fell open. “What? Alex, I didn’t mean that! I was just saying the things you bought were too—”“I already did it the same day I bought you the shoes,” he interrupted smoothly, leaving no room for protest.Her heart pounded. It wasn’t just a gift. It wasn’t just some extravagant whim. This was bigger. This was a statement. A declaration to the world that she was someone to be acknowledged, someone to be respected. That she was his. Dysis swallowed, feeling the weight of it all settle over her. “Why?” The question slipped out before she could stop it. “Why would you do this?” Alexander didn’t answer right away. Instead, he extended a pen toward her, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. “Sign it, Dysis.”
There was a knock at the door. Dysis sat up from her bed, brushing her hair back. *Who could it be?* "Come in," she called. The door opened, and Selena stepped inside, followed by four other maids. "Good day, Lady Dysis," the maids greeted in unison, bowing respectfully. Selena offered a small smile. "We need to prepare you for a special occasion with the young master." Dysis blinked. *So that’s why he bought all those things… but what’s so special about this occasion?* Still, she knew one thing—she couldn’t refuse. She had been confined to this room ever since their shopping trip, and curiosity gnawed at her. With a silent nod, she allowed them to lead her into the bathroom. As they carefully removed her clothes, the warm air brushed against her bare skin, highlighting its smooth, milky tone. The maids worked efficiently, their movements practiced yet gentle, as if handling something precious.Steam curled through the air, thick with the scent of lavender and jasmine. The wa
“Is this how you plan to win me over? With cake?” Dysis poked fun as she emerged from the car, carefully holding a small box in her hands. Her face brightened with a genuine smile, giving her a younger and more carefree appearance—a striking difference from her typical cautious demeanor. Alexander stayed quiet, his cold blue eyes focused on her while she walked forward. She didn’t even glance back at him. *She scowls at me for buying her shoes that cost a fortune, yet a simple box of cake has her grinning like this. How peculiar.* Dysis hummed softly as she entered the mansion, clutching the box as if it were a treasure. Alexander followed her, keeping a measured distance, his hands buried in his pockets. She either didn’t acknowledge him due to her concentration on the cake or intentionally chose to ignore him; he couldn’t tell which. As she arrived at her bedroom door and swung it open, her cheerful humming ceased suddenly. She froze. Inside, her room had been transformed. Th
Once they exited the mall, Alex chose to treat Dysis to dinner at one of the top restaurants in Ravenhold. The venue radiates sophistication, featuring gentle golden lights and a tranquil atmosphere that reflects a stark contrast to the day's turmoil. Alex booked a private dining room to guarantee their privacy. Dysis sat opposite him, her demeanor clearly downcast following the exhausting shopping excursion. Alex observed her restlessly moving her hands, her gaze fixated on the vacant plate in front of her. The server presented a beautifully designed piece of cake, adorned with ripe berries and a gentle drizzle of chocolate. Dysis was taken aback and blinked when it was set in front of her. “I didn’t order this,” she said, looking at Alex. “I did,” Alex replied casually, his voice low but firm. “You seem to like cake.” Initially uncertain, Dysis grabbed her fork and took a tiny bite. The cake's sweetness appeared to dissolve her sadness, and a gentle smile appeared on her face
After Two days Alex walked to Dysis’s room. He knocked one time and then entered without awaiting her response. She sat at her vanity, brushing through her hair. She looked at him, astonished; Dysis wore a beautiful lilac dress that gracefully conformed to her figure, the soft color accentuating her delicate features. The gown featured a stylish silhouette, with elaborate intricacies that enhanced its elegance. She teamed it with plain white shoes, matching the gentle hue of the dress. “Follow me,” he ordered. "You require new clothing, footwear, and accessories." Alex donned a stylish black suit that fit his athletic build flawlessly. In contrast to his typical style with his hair combed back, today his dark tresses hung freely, imparting a more casually attractive and somewhat rugged look. The difference between his formal outfit and laid-back hairstyle made him appear even more captivating, radiating confidence and charisma with every move. Dysis raised a brow, confused. “I ha
“What do you mean” dysis asked“That was someone easy who disguised themselves as Vee,” Alexander explains, his voice steady but laced with a rare softness as he held Dysis close to him. His icy-blue eyes flickered with a dangerous edge, his thoughts trailing back to the moment he uncovered the fake Vee. He had dealt with her swiftly, ensuring Dysis wouldn’t have to worry about her ever again. Dysis froze for a moment, a faint memory surfacing. The fake Vee had called her *Miss Salmon*. She frowned. Vee had never called her that—she always addressed her more familiarly, often dropping formalities altogether. The detail gnawed at her, making her chest tighten with unease. As Dysis sat on Alexander’s lap, still processing everything he’d said, she couldn’t help but notice his expression shifting. His usual calm demeanor had given way to something else—something she couldn’t quite place. “What’s wrong?” Dysis asked cautiously, her brow furrowing in concern. Alexander's jaw clen