“And now,” he continued, his voice laced with sarcasm and bitterness, “I don’t know what offer he dangled in front of you, but it must’ve been something big. Something worth more than your pride, more than everything you once stood for.” His words dripped with contempt, like he couldn’t even fathom what kind of deal I would strike to marry the one man I had despised for so long. “Because here you are, ready to say ‘I do’ to the person you’ve hated all this time.” His words stung, each one feeling like a slap, but I couldn’t flinch. I wouldn’t. Carmine was letting out all the anger, all the pain, that had been festering inside him, and I knew he needed to. Maybe he thought if he said it out loud, he’d understand it better. Or maybe he was hoping I’d break down, admit to some grand scheme, some ulterior motive that could explain away this madness. But I had no such answers to give him. It was clear he couldn’t reconcile the woman standing before him with the one who had once vowed to b
Carmine’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening into one of barely controlled rage. But even with that fury burning in his eyes, he didn’t take Clyde’s bait. Instead, he straightened his shoulders and forced a cold, humorless smile. "I’ll wait to read the address on that invitation card," he shot back, his voice icy. "Make it hurry then." With that final, cutting remark, Carmine ended the call, the screen going black in an instant. The silence that followed was deafening, pressing down on me like a heavy weight. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the dark screen, my mind racing and emotions tangled in a knot I couldn’t untangle. The tension in my chest tightened until it felt like I could hardly breathe. Clyde, on the other hand, seemed entirely unfazed by the tense exchange. He let out a satisfied chuckle, clearly pleased with himself, as if this entire twisted interaction was nothing more than a source of amusement for him. “Well, that went better than expected,” he mus
It’s been a while since Clyde and I publicly announced the news of our marriage. Time seems to have flown by since that moment, and it’s hard to believe how quickly things have progressed. We’ve put a lot of thought into the upcoming wedding, understanding how crucial it is for both of our futures—not just on a personal level, but for our broader goals too. That’s why we decided to invite several influential figures to the event. Forming alliances with powerful people is essential for what we aim to achieve. Having the right connections can open doors and provide support that we couldn’t manage alone. The marriage itself feels more strategic than personal. Clyde and I speak to each other only when necessary, focusing on what needs to be done rather than on each other. Our conversations are short, direct, and often about the arrangements or plans involving those we’re aligning ourselves with. Despite the limited communication, there’s an unspoken understanding between us about the imp
Shaking off the lingering unease, I left the room, hoping that a change of scenery might help clear my head. As I stepped out, the maid that Clyde had personally appointed greeted me with a gentle smile. There was warmth in her expression, a softness that felt almost out of place in this cold, calculated environment. It was a small, fleeting gesture, but it helped ease some of the heaviness weighing on me. She’s always like that—polite, considerate, almost as if she’s trying to offer some sort of comfort in a world where everything feels rigid and controlled. I nodded in return, acknowledging her presence. I smiled back at her, trying to match the warmth she offered despite the tiredness I felt creeping in. “Did you not get any sleep again?” she asked gently, her face etched with concern. There was a softness in her voice that made me feel like she genuinely cared, a rare thing in a place where almost everyone wears masks. I let out a small sigh, feeling the weight of exhaustion
The room was wrapped in an almost suffocating silence. The only sound that broke through was the faint, rhythmic scratching of Clyde’s pen against paper. The quiet was so thick that it felt like it had a weight of its own, pressing down on me, making every breath seem louder than it was. I could feel the seconds ticking by, the tension growing as I struggled to find the right words. Clyde didn’t seem in any rush. His eyes remained focused on the documents in front of him, his hand moving smoothly as he wrote. I wondered if he was deliberately dragging it out, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of the silence. He had a way of doing that—forcing others to speak first, making them reveal their cards while he kept his own hidden. When he finally noticed that I wasn’t saying anything, he paused and slowly turned his head toward me. His gaze was sharp, a little impatient, but still cool and composed. “Weren’t you supposed to tell me something?” he asked, his tone flat but with an e
When I finally stopped, the silence in the room thickened. I could feel my heart racing, the adrenaline still humming in my veins from the strength of my own determination. I waited, watching him, uncertain how he’d react. Then, slowly, something shifted in his expression. A smile began to curve his lips—not just any smile, but one that held a certain weight behind it. It wasn’t the usual smirk he wore when he was amused or pleased with himself. No, this smile was different. It was a smile of approval, of pride. There was something almost darkly encouraging about it, like he was silently acknowledging the fire in me, the resolve that matched his own ruthless ambition. For a brief moment, I saw a glimmer of respect in his eyes, as if he was proud of what I’d become, proud that I was no longer the frightened girl who could be easily swayed or intimidated. He didn’t have to say it out loud, but that smile told me everything. I’d proven something to him in that moment—that I could be jus
I sighed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me as I tried to maintain my composure. “Clyde, do we really need to do this?” My voice was firmer now, carrying the weight of my exhaustion. “Can you not be serious for just one time?” I met his gaze, hoping my words would finally break through that playful façade he always wore like armor. But instead of answering, Clyde threw his head back, and to my surprise, a genuine, full-throated laugh burst out of him. It wasn’t the mocking, sarcastic chuckle I’d grown accustomed to, nor was it the cold, calculated smile he used to unsettle people. No, this was different. It was real, unrestrained, and full of life—like a side of him I’d never seen before. I was stunned into silence, completely caught off guard by the sudden shift in his demeanor. For a few moments, I just stood there, watching him laugh as if the weight of all our schemes and secrets had momentarily lifted off his shoulders. There was a warmth to it that made something insid
His hold was possessive, a silent declaration of what he was capable of when he chose to be. But there was also a softness beneath it, something that felt almost… protective, even if I knew better than to read too much into it. His face was so close to mine now that I could feel the warmth of his breath brushing against my skin. It was an oddly intimate moment, especially given how we usually kept a distance from each other—both physically and emotionally. Our eyes remained locked, the intensity of our stare unbroken. I could see the flicker of something in his gaze—interest, curiosity, maybe even amusement. But behind all that, there was also a hint of danger, the reminder that this was still Clyde, a man who never fully revealed his hand. Neither of us said a word. We just stood there, our bodies pressed together, our gazes boring into each other’s souls as if trying to find whatever truth lay hidden beneath the layers of pretense and manipulation. It felt like a game of who would