Point of View: Beatrice
I found myself counting the hours that night. The weight of my impending marriage to Ryuu Morunaga pressed down on me, suffocating every thought and movement.
The fear of what awaited—restrictions, control, and the loss of freedom that came with being the wife of a mafia man—clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t escape.
As the night dragged on, my thoughts kept circling back to Suniza Morunaga. Why wasn’t she here for her son’s wedding? Her absence left me uneasy, gnawing at the edges of my resolve. Was I destined for the same fate?
Would I be confined, cut off, and stripped of the independence I had taken for granted?
By two in the morning, I couldn’t take it anymore. The weight on my chest had grown unbearable, and the suffocating silence of my room felt like it was closing in.
I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb the Morunaga men, and made my way through the darkened house toward the kitchen.
I needed something—anything—to distract myself. A glass of water, a brief escape. From the window, the soft glow of the moon illuminated the ocean, its waves lapping gently against the shore. For a fleeting moment, the sight offered a hint of serenity, a reminder of the world outside this gilded cage.
I was so lost in the rhythmic dance of the waves that I didn’t notice the figure behind me until a deep, rough voice broke through the silence.
Startled, I jumped, my heart racing as I spun around, pressing myself against the counter. My hand instinctively flew to my chest, where I could feel the wild thrum of my heartbeat beneath trembling fingers.
In the dim light, Ryuu’s silhouette emerged, broad and imposing. He was wearing only a pair of sleep pants, and even in the faint glow of the moonlight, the sculpted lines of his torso were impossible to miss.
A shaky breath escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to him.
Ryuu’s deep, resonant laugh filled the space, his amusement unmistakable. His smirk carried the same air of smug confidence that always seemed to follow him.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.
Suppressing my irritation, I moved toward the door, eager to escape. But he was standing just enough in the way to make it clear I wouldn’t leave so easily.
“I was going to the living room,” I murmured, clutching my glass of water a little tighter as I brushed past him.
My shoulder grazed his chest, and the contact sent an unwelcome warmth rushing through me.
I hated the way his presence unsettled me. After four years of living among men, I thought myself immune to such things. Yet here I was, my cheeks flushing against my will at the sight of him.
When I reached the large sofa in the living room and sank into it, Ryuu followed without hesitation.
He sat beside me, too close for comfort, and before I could protest, he grabbed my ankles, pulling my legs into his lap.
“Excuse me?” I said sharply, trying to pull my feet back, but his grip was firm.
Ignoring me, he reached for the remote, turning on the TV with a casual ease.
His hands moved to my calves, kneading the muscles with deliberate pressure, and I froze at the unexpected sensation.
“What are you doing?” My tone was clipped, and my voice wavered with both confusion and frustration as I tried again to pull away.
“I’m helping you relax,” he replied, his voice maddeningly calm. “I don’t want my fiancée looking exhausted on our big day.”
His nonchalant tone made it sound as though this were the most natural thing in the world. I pushed against his grip again, but his hands didn’t falter, his confidence only growing as my resistance waned.
“Why did you even agree to this marriage?” I muttered, crossing my arms and letting out an exasperated huff.
He didn’t look at me, his eyes fixed on the TV. Still, I pressed on, needing some outlet for my frustration.
“I’m guessing it’s for the sake of your business,” I said, my words laced with mockery. “Marrying the only granddaughter of Giorgio Carbone must be good for your reputation. And I’m sure your company will benefit from taking over my father’s share in the family restaurants. Your construction business may be a façade, but your loyalty to your father’s demands is impressive.”
Ryuu’s hands stilled for a moment before resuming their work, but the air around us grew cold.
“You assume I’m doing this out of loyalty to my father?” he asked, his voice sharp and low. His expression darkened, the sharp lines of his jaw tightening as his eyes finally met mine.
“Why else would you? Or are you telling me this was your idea? That it’s you forcing me into this marriage?”
His entire demeanor shifted, the tension in his body hardening into something fierce and unrelenting.
“No.”
The single word was clipped, his tone icy. His gaze bored into me with an intensity that made my pulse quicken, though whether it was from fear or something else entirely, I couldn’t say.
I held his gaze, refusing to flinch under the weight of it, even as the space between us felt like it was closing in.
Ryuu Morunaga was a man who thrived on control, and for all my defiance, I couldn’t help but feel like I was losing the upper hand.
POV: Beatrice“Because I didn’t choose this,” I snapped, my voice steady even as fear clawed at my chest. “I’m being forced into it. We both know what happens if I refuse.” My words hung in the air, daring him to argue, but Ryuu’s silence only spurred me on. This was my last chance—my final moment before the wedding to make him see reason. “Is that what you think?” he asked, his tone infuriatingly calm. “I’m not stupid, Ryuu Morunaga,” I shot back, my frustration cutting through the tension like a blade. “I know who my grandfather is. I know who your father is. And I know exactly who you are. I know what happens to women who defy men like you.” His grip tightened on my ankles, like iron shackles pinning me in place. His silence was deafening, daring me to continue, and I wasn’t about to stop now. “I’m not the ideal wife for you. I won’t be... obedient,” I said, the word leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Mafia wives weren’t meant to have a voice. They were meant to be see
POV: BeatriceThe ache in my neck was a harsh reminder of how the morning had begun. Heat radiated against my cheek, and with dawning horror, I realized it wasn’t just the sofa cushioning me—it was Ryuu. His bare chest pressed against me, firm and unyielding, as memories of the night crashed over me. I’d fallen asleep on him.I shot upright, embarrassment searing my skin as I rubbed my eyes and tried to make sense of my surroundings. My sudden movement startled him, a gruff, half-conscious groan escaping his lips, but it was the laughter across the room that made me freeze.“Good morning,” Nitta drawled, his tone dripping with amusement.My head snapped toward the source of the voice, only to find Gojou and his sons standing there like spectators at some absurd comedy show. Gojou, as calm and collected as ever, sipped his coffee from an armchair, while Fukui stood lazily scrolling through his phone. Nitta, of course, looked smugger than anyone had a right to be.“It’s nice to see you
POV: BeatriceThe stems of my bouquet bent beneath my grip, each step down the aisle tightening my hold until the fragile blooms threatened to break. The sight before me was every bit as pristine as the planners had intended: white chairs perfectly aligned, delicate flowers swaying in the ocean breeze, and a makeshift altar framed by the endless horizon. Yet, for all its beauty, the scene felt hollow, each detail mocking me with its cheerful façade. My eyes locked on my father, stationed near the altar beside my aunt. His presence felt like an intrusion. I’d refused his offer to walk me down the aisle—one small victory in a war I was otherwise losing. He didn’t deserve the honor of giving me away, not after dragging me into this arrangement. The music swelled, and all at once, dozens of faces turned toward me. Strangers, most of them, their gazes curious, expectant. I ignored them, keeping my focus fixed ahead. My cousins, seated in the front row, stood out among the crowd. Their
POV: Beatrice I woke to the suffocating realization of my new identity: Mrs. Ryuu Morunaga. The word—wife—clung to my mind like poison, bitter and unrelenting. I jerked upright, pulling myself free from the arms that had held me through the night. When had I sought their refuge? The thought made my stomach turn. Weakness. That’s what it had to be—a momentary lapse, born of exhaustion. The blanket slipped off my shoulders, landing across Ryuu’s sleeping form. He didn’t stir. His chest rose and fell with a calmness that mocked my inner chaos. The loose pajama pants he wore did little to obscure the sharp, disciplined lines of his physique. Many women would have envied me, trapped in marriage to a man who embodied power and control so effortlessly. But attraction, if that’s what this was, felt more like a betrayal. Ryuu was a man to be feared. His presence was a reminder of everything I despised about this life—its ruthless, unyielding grip. His body, honed by years of relen
POV: Beatrice“I lived with my aunt for the past four years,” I began, my voice dragging as though each word weighed more than the last. If Ryuu wanted to know about me, I’d give him only what was necessary—enough to satisfy his curiosity but nothing more. “I worked at her restaurant while finishing high school. Afterward, I stayed on full-time for two years. I considered going back to school, helping expand the family business. It’s more than just a front for us; it’s my aunt’s livelihood.”I let my gaze drift, focusing on the horizon where the ocean seemed to swallow the sky. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Ryuu, not while a knot tightened in my stomach, threatening to steal my composure. My voice wavered slightly as I added, “I suppose I won’t have that luxury anymore.”The weight of my own words crushed down on me, the reality of my abandoned future unfurling like a shadow creeping over my chest. If I were alone, I might have cried. But pride wouldn’t allow me to show that kin
POV: Beatrice After that first fight, I avoided Ryuu as much as I could, and he seemed content to let me. He buried himself in work, either glued to his laptop or pacing the living room, barking orders into his phone like I wasn’t even there. Our interactions dwindled to clipped exchanges, enough for him to announce that we’d be heading to Los Angeles. Where in Los Angeles? He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. I imagined their home would be the epitome of luxury, a gilded cage dripping with opulence and suffocating grandeur—nothing like the small, warm house I had shared with my aunt. “Are you ready?” Ryuu’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and unexpected. I glanced up to find him leaning against the doorframe, his hands shoved into his pockets, his gaze steady. Ignoring him, I zipped up the last of my bags, nodding curtly as I grabbed the handle. Without waiting for me to ask, he slung one of my bags over his shoulder. Then, to my surprise, he reached for my hand. Startl
POV: Beatrice The broad stone steps stretched toward the imposing front doors of the mansion, bordered by sharp, manicured hedges and symmetrical bursts of flowering shrubs. Behind me, the expansive lawn seemed to unfurl endlessly, a lush but stifling reminder of the life I’d just been thrust into. “What do you think of your new home?” Gojou’s voice broke through my thoughts as his heavy hand landed on my shoulder. I stiffened, fighting the urge to pull away, and offered him nothing more than a tight, hollow smile. Satisfied or indifferent—probably the latter—he disappeared inside without another word. I lingered at the steps, my feet rooted to the ground as hesitation gripped me. I wasn’t sure why I didn’t follow him. I knew there was no escape, no way to avoid what lay ahead. Still, I stood there, the weight of inevitability pressing down like a stone. “Are you going in or not?” Ryuu’s sharp voice startled me. He stood a few steps away, his expression impatient, as though my
POV: Beatrice After the tense encounter with Ryuu’s mother, I retreated to the bedroom—his bedroom—with a plate of hastily grabbed food. The moment I closed the door, the oppressive weight of the day pressed down on me, suffocating in its intensity. As my eyes scanned the room, something caught my attention: a stack of neatly labeled boxes, each marked with my name. My stomach clenched as I approached them. These were my belongings from Palermo. Someone—likely my aunt or cousins—had packed them. It felt like a parting gesture, pragmatic and cold. A way to send me off with what was mine while avoiding the mess of goodbyes. The silence of my phone amplified the sting. Not a single missed call, no messages from the family I’d always thought would be there for me. As I stared at those boxes, a hollow realization set in. I was no longer Beatrice Carbone. To them, I was already someone else: a Morunaga. Unpacking felt like an act of defiance, as though holding onto these pieces of my
POV: BeatriceI hesitated before answering, pressing the device to my ear. "Didn’t think you’d respond so fast."A pause. His silence was thick, suffocating."You’re drunk."How the hell could he tell? I had barely spoken. I blinked, trying to remember how many drinks I’d had. My mind blurred around the number."Where are you?" His voice sharpened, all warmth stripped away.I frowned, glancing at Caleb, who was still watching me with interest. "Where are we again?""The Alchemist," Caleb answered, smirking. "You really can’t hold your liquor, huh?""Did you hear that?" I asked, ignoring Caleb entirely. "Ryuu?"Silence. Then, a sharp, clipped response."Who are you with?""Sophia and some of her friends."The line went dead.I stared at the screen, dumbfounded."Everything okay?" Caleb asked, resting a casual hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off, irritation flaring hot in my veins.What a bastard. He called just to hang up? It was the first time I had heard his voice in two weeks, a
POV: BeatriceIt gnawed at me, an ache I couldn’t ignore. My family had let me go too easily. The realization cut deep, deeper than I wanted to admit. They had fought when I was married off, but now? Nothing. I had been ripped from them, and in the void they left behind, all that remained were my father’s lies and betrayals.I swallowed hard, fingers twitching over my phone. Where was Dario? Had the Morunagas done something to him? Had he returned to Italy without telling me? Why wasn’t he answering my calls?I could dial Ryuu, demand answers—but what would I even say? If he had hurt Dario, he wouldn’t admit it. And if he hadn’t, would I even believe him?Maybe I should reach out to my other cousins. But if Ryuu was involved, and they found out, I’d be the one who set everything ablaze. A war would break out, and I would be trapped in the center of it. No matter how distant I felt from them, my loyalties were now bound to Ryuu. If a battle ignited between our families, I wouldn’t have
POV: RyuuI had been restless since leaving Vincenzo’s estate. The drive back felt like a slow suffocation, each mile stretching the unbearable silence pressing against my skull. The second we pulled into the garage, I tossed the keys aside and sank into the passenger seat, my knuckles aching from how tightly I had gripped the wheel. I couldn’t bring myself to go inside. Not yet.Leaving Beatrice there had been the right decision. That’s what I told myself, over and over. But the gnawing unease in my gut told a different story.I had woken early that morning, ready to force the conversation we kept avoiding. I wouldn’t allow this distance to stretch any further. I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers. But instead of finding her in bed, still curled in sleep, I found empty sheets.She was gone.The panic had been instant, raw. A vice around my ribs. Every worst-case scenario slammed into me at once. The house wasn’t impenetrable—someone had already gotten to her once. If they had c
POV: BeatriceHis hold tightened for a moment before he pulled back just enough to scan my face, his eyes running over every inch of me like he needed to memorize my existence, to confirm I was real. There was no mistaking the raw emotion in his expression—a mix of fury, fear, and something darker, something unspoken."Come home," he said, his voice both a command and a plea.I shook my head, my resolve solidifying even as my body ached from his warmth. "I can’t. I won’t."His brows furrowed, his grip tightening just slightly. "Why not?""That house..." I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "It suffocates me. I shouldn’t be afraid to exist just because it doesn’t fit your idea of safety.""It’s for your protection!" he snapped, his desperation cutting through the anger.I met his gaze head-on, forcing him to see the truth in my eyes. "This isn’t about protection, Ryuu. It’s about control. And I can’t live like that. The more you try to trap me, the harder I’ll fight to escape."His nostr
POV: Beatrice"Shit…" I muttered, pressing my face into the pillow, trying—failing—to smother the rising panic. "What have I done? How could I forget how powerful Ryuu is?"Sophia’s firm grip on my shoulder pulled me back. Her fingers squeezed lightly, grounding me until I finally lifted my eyes, the heat of my tears still burning my cheeks. Her gaze was steady, an anchor in the middle of my storm."Beatrice, look at me," she said, her voice softer now but no less certain. "Nothing bad is going to happen to you. My uncle won’t let it. We’re here for you. I’m here for you." She squeezed my hand, her warmth seeping into my skin, offering a comfort I hadn’t expected. "If you need to talk, I’m ready to listen. About that night… or whatever is going on between you and Ryuu. This stays between us."The tears kept falling, uncontrollable. I never imagined I’d have someone like Sophia, someone willing to fight for me. Before my marriage, support was scarce, limited to my aunt… and my cousins.
POV: BeatriceThe mansion was silent, but the weight of its presence pressed down on me, suffocating. Every breath felt stolen, every step a betrayal. I moved through the corridors with the precision of someone who knew the cost of getting caught. The cold marble beneath my feet sent a chill up my spine, grounding me in the reality of what I was doing. I was running. Escaping. Finally breaking free from the cage that had held me captive for too long.Each shadow felt like a threat, each flicker of movement a warning. My pulse hammered in my ears as I reached the grand entrance, fingers trembling against the cool brass of the door handle. The night air hit me like a slap, crisp and unforgiving, but I welcomed it. It was the first real breath I had taken in months.I didn’t have time to hesitate. The estate was crawling with guards, men who answered to Ryuu, men who wouldn’t hesitate to drag me back inside. My only advantage was that they never expected me to run. Not like this.Then, f
POV: Beatrice Sophia didn’t bother with pleasantries."You look awful," she said, her gaze steady, sharp. "Problems with Ryuu?"I exhaled slowly, sinking into my seat at the small café. My fingers curled around the warmth of the teacup, grounding myself. Outside, the city hummed with life, indifferent to the storm brewing inside me."I hate that he’s always the first topic," I muttered, voice tight.It was inevitable. Every conversation circled back to Ryuu, to the Morunaga name that clung to me like chains. Even when I tried to escape, he was there, lurking in the shadows of my thoughts."Alright." Sophia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, studying me. "So, what do you want to talk about?"I forced a smile, but even I could feel how brittle it was."How are your classes?" I asked, reaching for anything that wasn’t my life.Sophia’s expression darkened instantly, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup."Don’t get me started," she groaned. "I spent days on an essay, a
POV: BeatriceIt all made sense now. Every twisted, broken piece of the puzzle fell into place. My mother had taken her own life because of his betrayal. And me? I had been cast into the very family that had destroyed her, all to soothe the wounded pride of a man who deserved nothing but ruin."You… you’re disgusting," I spat, tears burning my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.He didn’t try to defend himself. He simply lowered his head in disgrace."I am many things," he admitted bitterly.My hands trembled with unspent rage, my nails digging into my palms. I looked at him then, and all I could feel was contempt."A father isn’t one of them. And neither is a husband."He stepped toward me, but the warning in my eyes kept him frozen in place. He wouldn’t dare.The shrill buzz of a phone sliced through the suffocating silence. He glanced at the device, relief flashing across his face as he reached for his jacket."I have to go," he muttered, not daring to meet my eyes.I nodded, unm
POV: BeatriceI woke to a weight pressing against my chest, familiar and suffocating. Next to me, Ryuu worked in silence, the dim glow of his screen flickering across his face. No words were exchanged. I couldn’t even look at him properly when I stepped out of the shower, dressed, and left the room with the sole purpose of avoiding him.The irony wasn’t lost on me. He had spent our entire marriage keeping me at a distance, and now, I was the one retreating. A cruel reversal, but necessary. Until I knew the truth—until I confirmed whether Ryuu had a hand in the lies surrounding my mother—I couldn’t stand being near him.The photographs I had found haunted me. My mother had not died in a hospital after my birth, as I had been told. No, she had died here, in the Morunaga estate. The weight of that revelation made my stomach churn. I needed answers. And I knew exactly where to get them.Downstairs, I found Fukui in the kitchen, his usual composed demeanor at odds with the storm inside me.