It’s Saturday late in the night, far too late to still be awake. Yet Hazel lies wide-eyed, body rigid and shivering cold, even under the thick duvet. The coldness—it’s in her bones, seeping into every muscle, making her feel limp and extremely uncomfortable despite the softness of the mattress. It’s not like the weather is cold or anything…. the thought that’s lingering in her mind is.‘Tomorrow. Lennox will be here. Tomorrow.’She can’t believe it. She refuses to believe the thought pounding relentlessly in her mind. And what worries her even more is the fact that she doesn’t know the exact time he’ll be here: Morning? Afternoon? Evening? It’s all too much. Suddenly, she bolts upright, her gaze shifting to the alarm clock on the bedside drawer; 11:50 PM.10 minutes to midnight and she still can’t sleep. Hazel’s legs instinctively swing off the bed, and she finds herself pacing around her room for a few minutes, trying to stop herself from seeking that one presence that comfor
“No! Mom! Dad! Please,” I cry, staring at my parents, as I struggle with two huge men aggressively dragging me out of my house. “You can’t do this to me! You can’t just sell me off like this!”Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my life would turn out this way.I have dreams and goals I look forward to, and I’m happy with whatever life has in store for me. But that doesn’t include being hauled away by several men, and forced into marriage with a mafia boss. The day starts like any other—actually, better than most.I’ve just wrapped up my third year in college, now in a taxi heading home for summer break. Today is better than most days not because I’m going home but because I get to see my younger brother, Andrew again. He’s the one I care for the most.Better than most days ‘cause I don't have to stuff my face in textbooks. My college life is stressful and hectic– normally it shouldn't be, but because I have to work twice as hard as top students to maintain my full-time schola
“Wife?”I must not be hearing correctly, because did I just hear this creepy man, who looks more than twice my age, call me his wife?This isn’t real; this must be some kind of joke. Yes, a prank! Because I will never believe this; I will not accept it.My head instantly snaps in my parents’ direction, searching their faces for any sign of protest, some kind of denial, but all I see is guilt and resignation etched deep in their expressions. My mother avoids eye contact, her hands clutched tightly in her lap, while my father stares blankly ahead.“Mom, Dad, this must be a joke, right?” I ask, hoping they tell me, yes, and this is just some extreme welcome-back party.“It is not, Hazel,” my dad answers curtly, making my eyes widen more than they already are.“Wha… what do you mean?” I ask, my lips trembling, my voice breaking. “What do you mean it’s not, Dad? Who is this man, and why is he calling me his virgin—” I yell.“He is Lennox Zephyr, and you will be getting married to him, Haze
They shove me into one of the luxury vans and My eyes widen, caught off guard by the design I had only seen on TV. Instead of the usual rows of seats all facing forward, two plush seats face each other.They force me down into one of the chairs, carefully binding my wrists. Across from me, the brute man settles in, his men occupying the other seats.“Don’t worry, Hazel darling,” he says, His eyes gleaming with a sick satisfaction. “Your life from now on will be filled with so much enjoyment and luxury. You’ll be crowned the queen of an empire. Just make sure to obey me, and everything you desire will be yours.”"I don't want anything from you but for you to let me go!" I snap.His smirk deepens. “And if I do, where will you go? Back to that family that sold you? The ones who will hand you over to another organization the moment they’re in debt again? You don’t understand the situation you’re in, Hazel. You have nowhere to go, no one to run to—except me.”I hiss, biting back the angry
“It’s time to begin the second part of your day.” Adora's voice greets me from behind. Almost immediately after the extremely attractive man walks out of my sight.I turn on my heel to face her, my brows raised, “Second part?”She nods “Our tour is over. It’s time to check, then clean you up.”“Check?… Clean?”Before I can question further, they whisk me away to another room with a doctor in it. I lie nervously on the hospital bed in a loose-fitting hospital gown. Watching as a woman in a white coat approaches me, her hands encased in gloves.“To make this experience less hateful," she says in a flat tone, "I plead with you to simply follow my instructions.”I stare at her, speechless.Her eyes remain emotionless. “Open your legs wide for me.”My body freezes, and my heart slams against my ribs. “What? Why? What do you want to do?”“A hymen examination.”The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My chest tightens, as my hands grip the sides of the bed. So this is what the check-up is
My mind fills with thoughts as my hair and makeup get done.My body is here, but my mind isn’t, it’s trapped back in that suffocating room where I signed away my freedom and my future, just to protect Andrew.Now i will never be able to escape, because if I try, Andrew’s life will be taken.Kill my dad for all I care, but not Andrew, he’s the one I will do anything to protect.Mr. Zephyr has won.When they finish with my hair, makeup and get me dressed. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, not even recognizing myself. I have never seen myself this beautiful.My tousled light brown hair is styled in elegant French curls, and my makeup is light, enhancing my features. My lashes are darker, longer and thicker, framing my light brown eyes perfectly, nails are perfectly polished. All these are things I never had the luxury to care about.My entire life, I’ve never had enough time or money to care about myself.I was always doing chores in my house, studying, crocheting, or searching for
The wedding reception officially started at one p.m and the after-party drags on till some minutes to past five. I stay by Mr. Zephyr’s side the entire time, plastering on a forced smile as he drinks and laughs with his friends.My mind keeps drifting to Ryan, my eyes searching for him. Right after we took some family portraits he disappeared from my sight.In a mansion full of nothing but monsters, it feels like he’s the only one who isn’t entirely a monster. It feels like he’s the only one that will listen to me.I need to talk to him. Looking at the round table I sit at in the midst of Mr. Zephyr and his friends. I know I can only use the "I have to pee" card once, so I must be careful. I glance at my so-called husband seeing his glass sway in his hand, his eyes glazed with drunkenness. I suck in a deep breath. “Can I step away for a moment?” I ask, keeping my voice soft and sweet, like the obedient bride they warned me to be. “I… I have to use the restroom.”Zephyr blinks, p
“Mmh…” a moan escapes my lips as an aching pain surges through my body. As I slowly gain consciousness, my eyes flutter open to a blinding light. I glance to my sides—I’m the only one lying on the king-sized bed, tangled in soft sheets. The vast, luxurious room is empty, no one in sight. I scan for a clock and find it. The time reading 6:30 a.m. But the last time I can recall, it was 8:13 p.m. I can’t recall a single thing—literally nothing from that time. My mind is a void. There’s nothing—no memory, no sensation—just an empty space where hours should have been. But then, one sentence drifts back from the fog of blurry memories. "Your body belongs to me." Lennox’s words creeps in, his voice sounding very clear and chilling, as if he was right behind me. It worked, Ryan’s pills actually worked. Grateful I try to move under the blanket but my body feels too sore and heavy as if every muscle has been battered. My legs, thighs, arm, waist back. Finally i become more aware of
It’s Saturday late in the night, far too late to still be awake. Yet Hazel lies wide-eyed, body rigid and shivering cold, even under the thick duvet. The coldness—it’s in her bones, seeping into every muscle, making her feel limp and extremely uncomfortable despite the softness of the mattress. It’s not like the weather is cold or anything…. the thought that’s lingering in her mind is.‘Tomorrow. Lennox will be here. Tomorrow.’She can’t believe it. She refuses to believe the thought pounding relentlessly in her mind. And what worries her even more is the fact that she doesn’t know the exact time he’ll be here: Morning? Afternoon? Evening? It’s all too much. Suddenly, she bolts upright, her gaze shifting to the alarm clock on the bedside drawer; 11:50 PM.10 minutes to midnight and she still can’t sleep. Hazel’s legs instinctively swing off the bed, and she finds herself pacing around her room for a few minutes, trying to stop herself from seeking that one presence that comfor
RYAN’S POVAnger surges through me like wildfire as Rafa grabs Hazel’s hand roughly. My eyes darken with anger.“Get your hands off her!” I shout sharply, shoving his hand away from her. I instinctively pull Hazel back, closer behind me and step forward to face Rafa. But he laughs—a low, mocking chuckle that sets my nerves on edge. “What’s going on between you two, Ryan?” he asks, raising a brow. I freeze in response, momentarily shocked. Panic seizes my breathing for a fleeting second as his question catches me off guard, but I quickly compose myself, hardening my expression.“Nothing,” I snap curtly, my tone leaving no room for doubt. I can’t afford to slip— not even a second of guilt or uneasiness— if not, we’re done for. Rafa’s too perceptive and catches on to things very quickly. The smallest crack in my façade will give him the confirmation he needs. Turning to Hazel, I drop my hand from her arm. “Hazel, leave,” I order firmly, my tone soft but filled with urgency. K
Two days later, it’s Ryan’s graduation day. At first, I hesitated to go, worried his friends might recognize me. But when I hear Selene is coming along with Melody, I decide to go, Allowing Selene to play the stepmother role while I continue as the college girlfriend. Fortunately, it all goes smoothly. I’m just glad I was able to be there for Ryan on his special day. That night, he heads out to another party and the following day, we hardly get a chance to be alone. The house seems to be bustling with more staff preparing for Zephyr’s arrival, leaving us with only stolen moments and fleeting kisses. On Friday afternoon, I sit alone in my room on my bed watching a series I’m not too interested in when an idea suddenly strikes me like lightning, making me feel foolish for not thinking of it sooner. I leap off the bed and rush out, heading straight for Ryan’s room. When I reach his door, thankfully, he’s there. He opens it almost immediately. Our eyes lock, but mine later fli
“That was the first fucking fantasy I had about you,” Ryan says, his voice thick with amusement as he rises from my body. He shifts beside me, turning over to lie back on the bed with an effortless confidence, while I sit up, my pulse racing. “You’ve clearly never done it before?” he asks, his tone teasing yet curious. I nod slowly, heat rising to my cheeks. “Yes… but… I can learn.” He smirks, the glint in his eyes turning mischievous. “It’s okay,” he murmurs. “At least I’m experienced in that part.” His hands find my waist, steadying me as he shifts closer to the edge of the bed. “Get on your knees,” he says softly, his voice low but commanding. “I’ll teach you.” Swallowing hard, I climb off the bed and lower myself, my knees dropping onto the cold tiles. I move forward settling between his parted legs. My gaze drops to the growing bulge at the crotch of his uniform trousers. It’s only getting harder and harder, the fabric straining against him, making my breath hitch. ‘C
I don’t know what came over me this morning. I fucking malfunctioned—for the first time in my entire life.It was obvious what she was thinking after she saw the lipstick on my hoodie. I could see it in her eyes, hear it in the faint tremble of her voice.‘Ryan went to meet another girl right after having sex with me.’ No, Hazel, that’s not the case!Yet, I couldn’t give her an answer that instant. Instead, I panicked and ran away—like a fucking wuss. It all happened so fast. I wasn’t prepared. I thought she’d still be asleep since she always wakes up late. But there she was, sitting in the living room, catching me completely off guard. I didn’t even know about Jenna’s fucking lipstick stain on my hoodie until her fingers brushed against it. And that thing she said—“you smell different”‘Did Jenna’s perfume also rub off on me?’I was so confused, yet very aware how bad it all looked. I couldn’t risk attempting to lie right then, because what if the wrong word slipped out and ruin
“Ma’am, expect a call from Master Zephyr.”“What?!” I choke on my lunch, my fork slipping from my fingers and clattering onto the plate. My eyes widen in shock as my head snap toward Madam Adora.“Yes,” she affirms with a small nod, her expression calm like she didn’t just drop a bombshell. “Right after you finish eating. Hold on to your phone in the meantime.”I blink at her in silence, unable to form a response, my mind racing with thoughts. Why does he want to call me? Can it be—no!Did Selene already tell him we lied?Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!! Oh my gosh!!!“Mrs. Zephyr?” Madam Adora’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts, her brow lifting in subtle concern. “You’re not responding.”I fumble for my glass of water, nearly knocking it over in my haste, and chug it down in one go. Slamming the empty glass onto the table, I force a weak smile in her direction.“Yes… yes, Zephyr—call. Understood,” I say, in an awkwardly clipped and high-pitched tone.Madam Adora nods once, her shar
~ HAZEL ~My heart thuds loudly in my chest as I watch Ruth walk away to continue her duties.My head aches, my nerves are on edge, as worry course through me like a relentless tide. ‘Where could Ryan be? And why did he rush out, all alone, so early in the morning?’I know he’s an adult, strong, and probably far better equipped to handle danger than me— He can take care of himself. But the worry still clings stubbornly to my heart, refusing to let go. Needing to distract myself, I decide to get busy.I walk back into my room, heading straight to the bathroom to wash up. Maybe by the time I’m done, Ryan will be back from wherever he went. More than half an hour passes. I’m refreshed, dressed in a modest daytime outfit. Because Madam Adora is around, I’m more careful with what I wear. Leaving my room, I check Ryan’s door again, hoping he returned while I was in the bathroom. Still no response.Frustrated, I head downstairs to wait for him, pacing restlessly around the ground fl
~ RYAN ~Everything managed to fall right into place. I’m still not sure how we did it, but we did. Oh, how I’d love to turn back time, to relive the moment all over again— Every second of the feel of me inside her, the taste of her both in and out, her soft erotic moans filling my ears, driving me crazy.Gosh— It’s going to have to happen again soon and I’ll make sure of it. I can’t get enough of her. For now, I sink into my bed after a quick cold shower, my body still humming with the memory of Hazel, wishing she is right, sleeping next to me.Deep in sleep, my body shifts, turning over, but a face suddenly flashes in my head, jerking me upright. “Jenna!” I blurt. “Fuck!” That’s the fucking reason something felt so off the entire time. I completely forgot about Jenna. I never went back to that room to set her free, because I was too focused on getting Hazel back to the car before Aldo could come looking for her. At that time, Hazel was the only thing on my mind. Shit.
My eyes feel heavy as they flutter open to a new day. The soft glow of the nightlight fills the room, dim enough to ease me into wakefulness without the harsh shock of bright lights. Turning to the side of my bed, my eyes land on the alarm clock on the bedside table. “6:02 AM.” I read out the time. “It’s still quite early,” I murmur, my voice raspy from sleep. Sitting up, I stretch lazily on the bed, arms and legs reaching as far as they can. “Mmmh!” A contented moan escapes my lips, and a small smile spreads across my face as a giddy warmth rushes through me. I feel good—way too fucking good!I don’t think I’ve felt this good since the day I set foot in this mansion. I guess this is the real aftereffect of good sex with someone you truly want. A small giggle slips through my lips as last night’s memories flash through my mind, we were extremely lucky.~Last Night~Ryan creeps closer to me.“Let's stay like this for a while,” he whispers softly, his voice warm against my