Matthew's POV I let Adrain fall on the couch like a bag of rice and went for the door and locked it. When I was sure it was well locked and no one could come in, I turned back to him.A smile tugged on my lips as I watched him all helpless and defenseless before me."Never thought you'd imagine this day" a smirk plastered on my lips. This day, I will forever hold in mind.The day I ruined the great Adrain Throne and reduced him to nothing."Today, you will scream and beg me to go easy on you but you know what? I won't...I will do exactly what you did to Lily, I will break you in the hardest and roughest way and you, will be at my mercy"My friends weren't the only ones that had plans, I did too. I pulled out a herb from my jacket, I was told it helped to stimulate sexual urges. Some people call it aphrodisiac incense but whatever the name is, I want nothing but a result.I placed it on a cigarette plate, brought out my lighter and lit it. The smoke was small at first but as it burne
Matthew's POV It felt like a new beginning, as I stretched out my hands yawning at the now fresh bright morning staring at me. Last night was a tug of war and I'm sure I did complete my mission.My eyes snapped open at that thought, I jumped out of the bed only to cry in pain. My butt hurts, like...Damnit! What just happened?I couldn't believe anything, whatever my mind was telling me. It can't be me right? It's him.It's supposed to be Adrain feeling this pain, not me. I was the one to do all these things to him.Then, the memories of last night came flooding my head, he's got me. Just right where he was supposed to be but it just didn't work as planned. That bastard always has to win in the end. It's a shame how many times I've been trying to get him to beg for my mercy only for me to end up begging.On the bed where we knew clothes. I'm sure he much have kept them for me but fuck him, I won't wear it.I forced myself to walk, I grabbed my clothes on the floor only to see how t
Matthew's POV I hated the way Adrian looked at me, that irritating smirk on his face making me want to punch it away.With gritted teeth, I rolled my eyes at him and turned to face my dad."What’s so serious about what you want to talk to me about?" I paused before adding, "You’ve never been one to involve me in your business.""This isn’t my business, Matthew," Dad growled.I gave him a half-shrug. There was nothing he could say to convince me otherwise. All of this was his business—it benefited no one but him."This is about our family and—" He stopped, cutting himself off before he could say something that might expose him.Letting out a heavy sigh, his voice softened."There’s a problem."I frowned, confusion and unease building inside me."Mr. Adrian can’t marry your sister anymore."That was what he called a problem? This was good news. Something worth celebrating.My heart pounded with excitement. This—this was the best news I’d had so far. Did this mean my efforts had finally
"You should have been working beside me, but I guess I'll find someone else," he said, turning to face me. His expression was cold, unreadable. "When I discovered what your slutty sister did, I feared everything I had built—everything I planned—had crumbled. But then, surprisingly, Adrian seemed interested in you."He paused, studying me with mild amusement."I wonder why he saw you," he mused. "But whatever the case, I'm glad the deal is still on. And you, my son, will take your sister’s place.""No," I interjected, my voice shaking but firm. "Never. I won’t do it, Dad. I won’t be what you want me to be."I forced myself off the floor, my body aching from the weight of his expectations."I'm not my sister. I don’t cower in fear or cry my eyes out. I am a man, and I will defend myself from you. I won’t marry that devil, and I won’t let you, a greedy bastard, dictate my life!" The words rushed out, sharp and unfiltered. "And if you think you've done enough for me, then stop. I’ll pay y
There was no mercy in his eyes, no warmth—only the cold satisfaction of a man reveling in his own success."Stop. I'll do it." The words left me like a jagged lump forced from my throat, scraping and cutting on their way out.Was this what I wanted? To be his puppet, his stepping stone to greatness? No.But what choice did I have?I glanced at my sister—her fragile frame slumped in the chair, her wrists raw from the restraints, her skin sickly pale under the dim light. Even unconscious, she looked like she was in pain, her face twisted in a silent nightmare she couldn't escape. And maybe she never would.If I didn't act now, the consequences would be irreversible.Saving her cost me everything—my freedom, my peace, my happiness.And yet, if given the choice again, would I do it?Yes.Because if I didn't, no one else would. Because the thought of a world without her—without her stubbornness, her laughter, her constant nagging—was unbearable. I'd rather suffer under my father’s thumb, c
I stood in the middle of the grand yet suffocating room, dressed in a pristine white suit. Ordinarily, I would have admired how well it fit me, how the fabric sat perfectly against my frame, exuding a kind of effortless elegance I usually took pride in. But today wasn’t an ordinary day. Today, nothing felt right.Because today was the day I was getting engaged to that bastard, Adrian.The very engagement I had fought to free my sister from had now become my own personal prison. No, not just a prison—a pit. A deep, dark abyss where my fate had been sealed, and there was no escaping it. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a relentless hammering that made my breath come short and uneven. I wasn't forced into this, not physically. No one held a gun to my head or dragged me here against my will. But was it truly free will when the alternative was unthinkable? When a single refusal could cost me someone I loved?From the left corner of the room, my father stood, watching me. Smiling. Like
“What?” I blurted, confusion slamming into me like a freight train, knocking the air from my lungs.My father’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, his fingers digging in like claws, sharp and unyielding. He twisted, his grip merciless, sending a sharp jolt of pain through my body. I bit back a whimper, forcing it down my throat, but he heard it—he always did. A slow smirk curled at the edges of his lips, satisfaction gleaming in his cold eyes. He relished this. The reminder that he owned me.“You know how kids are these days.” He let out a dry, humorless laugh, his grip tightening just enough to drive his point home. A warning. His fingers pressed against bone, his nails biting into my skin. Behave.I kept my expression blank, refusing to let him see how hard my heart pounded against my ribs. This wasn’t part of the deal. I was supposed to get engaged in my sister’s place—not be forced to move in with my mortal enemy.A thick silence wrapped around the room, the tension nearly suffocat
The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them. "What is it?" The question was instinctive, a reflex born out of something I couldn't even name, a desperate hope that something would break the tension in the air, something that would give me clarity. Or maybe I was just expecting a simple greeting—a "hello" would have sufficed.His eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart thrum erratically, but he didn’t respond right away. His gaze lingered on me, as if he was calculating something beneath the surface. For a moment, I thought maybe he would say something, anything, that might make sense of the strange discomfort gnawing at me. But he only took a step back, his voice barely whispering, "Nothing."Nothing? That’s it?A fire ignited inside me. I couldn't help it. I was furious. Was he seriously pulling this kind of joke on me? Did he think I was here to entertain his games? Did he think I would just accept this silence, this mockery? My fists clenched, the mus
Matthew's POV Morning arrived with a golden glow filtering through the curtains, warm and inviting. My body stirred to life, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I awoke with an unshakable sense of peace. I had slept like a baby—no nightmares, no restlessness—just a deep, uninterrupted slumber that left a lingering smile on my lips. Even in sleep, something within me had been content, and the happiness clung to me like a stubborn scent, refusing to fade.But that contentment was short-lived.The moment I sat up, a dry, searing pain scraped against my throat, making me wince. It felt like I had swallowed sandpaper in my sleep. Desperate for relief, I threw off the covers and stumbled out of bed, my bare feet pattering against the cold wooden floor as I rushed down the stairs, my sole mission being water—cool, soothing water.As I reached the kitchen, the sight before me brought my urgency to a halt.Adrian stood at the counter, dressed in a fitted black apron, his sleeves
Matthew's POV The car rolled to a smooth stop before the massive mansion, its towering presence casting long, creeping shadows under the dimming evening sky. The weight of the day pressed against my shoulders, but the moment I opened the door and stepped out, the cool breeze kissed my skin, momentarily easing the exhaustion clinging to me like a second layer.I rolled my shoulders, stretching my legs as I took in the sight before me. The estate loomed in the dying light, its vast windows glowing faintly against the darkening sky. Despite having seen it countless times, the sheer grandeur still held a quiet, suffocating presence.I turned toward the trunk, but before I could reach it, Jordan strolled up beside me, whistling low as his gaze swept over the mansion.“Wow,” he muttered, shaking his head as if in disbelief. “Now I get why you were in such a rush to get back. Damn, this place is huge.” He scoffed right after, shrugging as if the sight didn’t impress him. “Not that I care, t
Matthew's POV After our sauna, we freshened up, the heat still lingering on our skin as we stepped into the cool evening air. A shared sense of relaxation settled over us, but hunger quickly took over. With the card still in my possession, I decided to make the most of it, ordering an extravagant spread of dishes that would have put a feast to shame.The table overflowed with delicacies—succulent steaks, buttery mashed potatoes, crisp salads glistening under the soft restaurant lights, and desserts so rich they melted on our tongues. We ate like kings, or at least we tried to. Despite our efforts, there was still far too much left. Laughing at our own excess, I practically forced my friends to take the leftovers home, pushing takeout boxes into their hands before they could protest.Minutes passed, and the inevitable moment of parting arrived. Kyle and Noah were the first to leave, exchanging lazy waves before disappearing into the night. Jordan, however, lingered, his gaze steady on
Maverick's POV A thick, almost tangible silence settled between us, stretching for what felt like minutes. The only sounds were the occasional soft drip of condensation and our steady breathing, deep and measured as we let the heat of the room seep into our bones. Steam curled around our bodies, clinging to our damp skin, soaking us in a relentless, humid embrace. Beads of sweat trickled down my temples, carving a slow, deliberate path along my jaw before slipping down my neck like warm fingers. It was suffocating, yet strangely liberating—like standing on the edge of something vast, unknown, and giving in to the fall.I leaned back against the heated wooden wall, surrendering to the sensation, my eyelids growing heavy as exhaustion lured me into a quiet lull. A deep sigh left my lips, my chest rising and falling with the slow rhythm of release. The stress, the anger, the weight of everything beyond these walls—it all melted away, dissolving into the thick air. For once, I felt unbur
Matthew's POV "Wow, this is awesome," Noah exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and I couldn't help but agree.It wasn’t as if we weren’t all rich—we were—but the kind of wealth Jordan wielded was in an entirely different stratosphere. The kind that made even the comfortably wealthy feel like they were still reaching. Jordan, of course, basked in it, making sure his exclusivity remained undeniable. This particular outing wasn’t just about indulgence, though. Jordan never did anything without an agenda, and I had a strong feeling his carefully curated guest list had everything to do with Adrian. The man never let a slight go unanswered, and this was his way of proving a point."That’s the perk that comes with being the wife of a billionaire," Kyle teased, his grin sharp as he flicked me a knowing look.My eyes snapped toward him in warning, and he immediately straightened as if I had physically struck him."No hard feelings," he added quickly, hands lifting in mock surrender,
I paced my room restlessly, the carpet muffling the sound of my dragging steps, but it did nothing to quiet the storm raging inside me. Every stride felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of my anger was physically anchoring me to the floor, grinding me down until I was nothing more than a shell driven by pure, seething rage. My chest heaved, heart pounding so loud it rang in my ears—louder, it seemed, than the silence suffocating the room.And it was all because of him. Adrian.God, why? Why the hell did it have to be him?Out of everyone—every miserable bastard this wretched city had to offer—why did fate tie my life to his? It didn’t feel like destiny. No, this wasn’t fate—it was a punishment, cold and calculated, delivered by a universe that must’ve hated me from the start. A cruel joke played at my expense, and the worst part? I walked right into it. Blind. Foolish.I threw my head back, a bitter, humorless laugh ripping from my throat—dry and broken. The sound echoed o
I quickened my pace, every step fueled by the fury twisting inside me. The distance between us shrank rapidly, my breathing shallow, uneven. Meanwhile, Adrian walked leisurely ahead, completely unbothered. His hands were tucked lazily into his pockets, shoulders relaxed, his gait slow and deliberate—as if the world itself dared not touch him. That infuriating calmness made my blood boil hotter, rage clawing at my insides like a feral beast begging to be unleashed.He didn’t glance back, didn’t spare me a second of his attention. It only made me seethe harder. Every muscle in my body coiled tighter, the urge to hurt him overtaking reason.Before he could slip into the safety of his room, I lunged. My hand shot out, fingers wrapping around his arm in a bruising grip. Without hesitation, I yanked him back and slammed him hard against the cold, unyielding wall. The sharp sound of impact cracked through the corridor, loud and unforgiving. But Adrian—damn him—barely blinked.His dark eyes m
Morning came far too early, dragging me out of sleep before I was ready. The pale light of dawn crept through the half-closed curtains, bleeding into the room with a dull, grey hue that did nothing to warm the sterile air. I blinked slowly, fighting the heaviness in my eyes as I stared blankly at the ceiling overhead, my mind caught somewhere between dreams and the harsh pull of reality. For a moment, I simply lay there, listening to the deafening silence pressing in from all sides.An unfamiliar calm settled over me — not the kind born of peace or comfort, but the kind that came only from pure exhaustion. My limbs felt heavy, my body sore in ways I couldn’t explain. Still, there was one small mercy — the gnawing hunger from last night had dulled. The food, as much as I hated to admit it, had done its job. I could almost taste it still — bland, lukewarm, but necessary. Denying that would’ve been a waste of energy. But swallowing it down had burned worse than any hunger. Every bite fel
I forced myself to sleep, tossing and turning beneath the cold sheets that clung to my skin like a second, suffocating layer. No matter how tightly I shut my eyes or how many times I flipped my pillow to the cooler side, sleep refused to claim me. The more I tried to surrender to the darkness, the harder it became—like my mind was trapped in a cruel, endless loop of restless thoughts, each one dragging me further from the peace I sought. Every memory, every regret clawed its way to the surface, whispering in my ear, refusing to grant me even a sliver of mercy.Silence wrapped around the room, thick and heavy, suffocating in its stillness. But even in that quiet, my body betrayed me. My stomach growled—low, guttural, desperate—the sound bouncing off the barren walls like a taunt. It wasn’t just hunger; it felt like something gnawed at my insides, like worms tearing through flesh, devouring the fragile lining of my stomach, clawing for anything—anything—to fill the hollow void.I could