Chapter 1

**Aria's Pov**

"You're getting married," my father informed, his voice a cold contrast to what one would expect from a father.

"Sir?" I asked, my heart pounding like a war drum against my chest and my eyes widening in shock.

Though I heard him loud and clear, I couldn't believe what came out of my father's mouth.

"You heard me," he continued, looking up from the papers on his desk. "You'll get married to Vincenzo, the son of Richard Don. Nicholas in about two months,"

"But father—" 

"Silence, Viktor... It has already been decided." My father interrupted with a finger raised. "Aria will get married to the Don family, and with her marriage, we will bridge an alliance with them."

My brother, standing at the other side of my father's table, glanced at me, his expression filled with concern. "This is what mother wanted,"

"What?" My father coldly stared back at him.

"Mother wanted her to have a normal life, at the very list, a normal marriage based on love, not involving her in an alliance."

"Viktor!!" My father boomed, his voice silencing my brother. "What is love?"

"Answer me, what is love?" He asked again, his focus now on my brother.

Viktor stood there quietly, his gaze not leaving the ground as my father questioned him. 

He stood tall at an imposing height of six foot three, his pale brown hair styled in an undercut, making him look intimidating even in his simple white cooperate shirt with folded sleeves and a black trouser.

"It's not a word in our dictionary," my father continued, his brown eyes fierce. "Alliances are the only things we have left in this world filled with constant war."

"You build them, maintain them, see them to the end, and even destroy the ones of your enemies and rivals, that's the way to survive in this harsh world." 

"But Father she's...timid," 

"Even more reason why she's fit for it," My father stood up at once, his black coat with gray fur hanging off his well-built body that contrast with his old age. "She won't just be marrying into the Don family, no. She will act as my spy, feeding me useful information and all. And the best part is no one will suspect that she's capable of such,"

"Aria is going to get married to Vincenzo whether she likes it or not, and that's the end of it." I watched my father make the final decision over my life, as always.

Since the day I was born until now, I can count how many times I've had the luxury of deciding anything for myself. 

My friends were chosen for me, my school, my clothes, how I acted and how I behaved around people, they were all decision made by either my controlling father or my late caring mother.

So why was now different? Why did I feel this much hurt? It felt as though my heart was held in my father's gripped and squeezed down on tightly.

I tried to hide my expression, to not look weak in front of my already angry father but my body even made it own decision. Hot tears flowed freely down my cheeks and I could see both my father and my brother turning to me.

I immediately bolted out of their presence, my eyes watering with the pain of betrayal and hurt as I ran out of his study. 

Even as I ran I could still hear my brother voice, uttering a few words to my father in my defense.

"Father don't do this to her. I'm sure there are other ways to bridge an alliance with them,"

"I'm afraid not, Viktor. I've made my decision, and it's final,"

Their voices faded out as I got farther away from my father's study.

I got to my room and slammed the door shut, finding my bed and crying my eyes out on it, not caring about anything anymore.

I've had enough of their controlling behavior. I couldn't take it anymore, it was too much.

The more I cried, the more my mind went into a state of darkness. I couldn't think clearly anymore.

All I wanted was for it to end, the pain, the control. I just wanted it to stop. I laid there in my cream colored gown, the fabric sticking to my skin because of the cold sweat formed as I cried for what felt like an eternity, not realizing how much time passed.

The day soon got dark and the night came, covering the whole city in darkness. The moon rose high in the sky, and the stars lit up the dark sky as my tears dried up and I found myself lying still, looking out the window, wishing for an escape that wouldn't happen.

If only I could run away from all this, I'd only I was free to make my own decisions and not get tangled up in my father's life.

"Aria?" My brother's voice broke up my thoughts as he knocked against my door. "You're in there right? I'm coming in," 

He notified as he pushed open the door and stepped in, taking in my tried form as I laid there on the bed, not bothering to look at him.

"You know what he's doing is for your own good right?" Viktor asked, sitting next to me on the bed.

"How?" I asked, suddenly sitting up to face him. "How Viktor, how? How is marrying me to some boy for my own good?"

My brother sighed and looked away, clearly not having an answer. "I don't know... I was just trying to comfort you but I can't really come up with something,"

I rolled my eyes and fell back on the bed, covering my face with the pillow.

"Listen Aria, there's something I need to do and I need you to cover for me,"

"What?" I asked, removing the pillow and turning my head towards him.

"There's something I have to do, and if it all goes well... You might not have to marry Vincenzo," my brother whispered, his voice promising. "All you have to do is trust me and don't tell father if he ask,"

I nodded, curious yet hopeful at my brother’s words. "What are you planning?"

Viktor didn’t answer right away, instead he stood up, running a hand through his messy hair and then turning back to me with an unreadable expression. "You’ll know soon enough,"

"Viktor, just tell me—" I sat up straighter, my heart racing.

"Not yet." His voice was firm but not unkind. "Just know that when the time comes, I'll need you to be ready."

"Ready for what?" I asked but he was already heading for the door.

He stopped at the threshold, looking back at me in away that sent shiver down my spine. "I'm taking you somewhere, Aria. Get dressed,"

His words hung in the air like a storm cloud about to break. I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears.

"Taking me where?" I whispered, hopeful

.

A slow, knowing smirk spread across his lips as he responded. "Somewhere Father can’t control you."