City Hall

Samuel didn’t bother looking at Ciara. “You heard me,” he said flatly.

Ciara nervously played with the edges of her dirty clothes. In a quiet voice, she replied, “Sir, this joke isn’t funny.”

Samuel scoffed, his voice sharp as he retorted, “Weren’t you planning to marry me from the start?”

His gaze cut into Ciara like a blade, his eyes locking onto hers. Ciara shivered and turned away, but Samuel grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him.

In that moment, Ciara noticed his features more clearly—the cool, sharp lines of his face. He was undeniably handsome, with rugged stubble along his jaw. His suit was impeccably tailored, exuding luxury.

It was clear to Ciara that this man was someone of importance. She glanced down at herself—worn-out, moldy clothes, messy hair, and a dirty face. She hadn’t showered in days, and the smell clung to her. The idea of the two of them getting a marriage certificate seemed absurd.

Lowering her eyes, Ciara muttered, “Sir, do you think just because I’ve been in jail for two years without seeing a man, I’d marry any random stranger, even if he’s ugly and I’ve never met him?”

Samuel’s expression changed slightly as he looked at her again. She was young but had a sharp tongue and an unusual calmness. His disdain for her grew. “Are you trying to provoke me, hoping I’ll take an interest in you?”

Without waiting for a response, Samuel barked an order to the driver, “To the city hall!”

Terrified, Ciara tried to open the car door, desperate to escape. “Let me go! I don’t even know you!”

Samuel moved quickly, pinning her to the seat with his elbow. His eyes bore into hers with a cold, menacing glare. “Listen, woman, if you even think about getting out of this car, you’ll be dead.”

Tears welled up in Ciara’s eyes, her voice trembling. “I... I don’t want to die.”

“To the city hall!” Samuel repeated.

The assistant in the front seat hesitated. “Young Master Samuel, should we go straight there?”

Samuel paused, puzzled.

The assistant glanced at Ciara, then spoke bluntly, “Young Mistress’s clothes are worn out, and she looks dirty...”

“Return to the Fury Residence,” Samuel commanded.

“Yes, Master Samuel.” The driver started the engine and drove off.

An hour and a half later, the car stopped in front of a grand mansion halfway up a mountain. Ciara got out and stared at the impressive Fury Residence. It was a world apart from the rundown place she’d been in just days before. This was like a palace, while the other was a prison. The man who had taken her innocence seemed like a death row inmate in comparison.

Before she could think further, Samuel grabbed her wrist, pulling her along. She had to hurry to keep up with his long strides, like a stray dog trying to match its master.

The maids inside the mansion bowed as they saw Samuel. “Welcome back, Young Master Samuel.”

Samuel led Ciara through the house to a set of smaller rooms in the yard. He handed her over to the maids. “Get her clean clothes and let her take a bath.”

“Yes, Master Samuel,” they replied, guiding Ciara to a bathroom.

As she stood there, Ciara thought desperately about escaping. There was no way she could stay with a man who wanted her dead but also intended to marry her right after she got out of prison.

Lost in thought, she didn’t realize the maids had already removed most of her clothes.

One of the maids sighed. “Those bruises on her neck... are they love bites?”

Snapping back to reality, Ciara bit her lip and said quickly, “I’m not comfortable with others bathing me. Please leave; I’ll do it myself.”

One maid hesitated, asking, “You’re Young Master Samuel’s...”

Ciara interrupted, “Maid.”

The maids exchanged glances, then left the room without another word. Outside, one of them scoffed, “I thought she was Samuel’s woman. Turns out she’s just a maid. And she looks like a loose woman at that. Who does she think she is, letting us bathe her?”

The maid’s sneer vanished when she looked up and saw Samuel standing outside the bathroom. She quickly shut her mouth.

Inside, Ciara stared at herself in the mirror, her face flushed with embarrassment. Her most precious first time had been stolen by a man she had never even seen. And she’d never know what he looked like.

She shut her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks and neck.

“You really are not a good woman,” came a harsh male voice.

Ciara opened her eyes in a panic. Samuel was glaring at her neck with disgust.

She scrambled to cover herself with her clothes, tears of anger and shame streaming down her face. “I just got out of prison, and you kidnapped me. I don’t know you! No matter how dirty I look, it’s none of your business! Now get out!”

Samuel’s cold gaze lingered on her face. He couldn’t see any sign that she was lying. This woman was truly skilled at deception.

“Once you’re done washing up, we’ll get our marriage certificate. In three months, I’ll divorce you and pay you off. When that time comes, even if you beg to stay, I won’t allow it!” With that, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

The maids outside kept their heads down, barely daring to breathe. Everyone here knew how ruthless and commanding Samuel could be. Four days ago, he had taken control of the entire Fury family, driving his opponents into submission.

Samuel was the fourth son of the family, born out of wedlock. Although the Furys were an old, noble family, an illegitimate child like him wasn’t expected to inherit anything. He had been exiled as a teenager but had fought his way back, only to find his mother framed and imprisoned.

Since then, Samuel had carefully plotted every move, waiting for the right moment. Three days ago, he faked his own death and launched a counterattack, taking control of the family.

Now, Samuel was the undisputed head of the Fury family. But when he thought about his past, all he felt was cold bitterness.

His mother hadn’t wanted to be the other woman in his father’s life. She had been tricked into it by his father’s wife, who wanted to keep him tied down. By the time his mother found out about the deception, she was already nine months pregnant.

To give her son a better life, she had stayed with his father, enduring endless humiliation. Eventually, she was framed and jailed. When Samuel finally gained control and freed her, she only had three months left to live.

Her dying wish was for him to marry her cellmate, Ciara Summers. Samuel, unable to refuse her final request, had reluctantly agreed.

Before taking Ciara out of prison, he had thoroughly investigated her. His findings suggested that she had her own agenda for getting close to his mother.

His thoughts were interrupted by a panicked shout from one of the maids. “Something’s wrong, Young Master Samuel!”

Samuel’s expression hardened. “What are you panicking about?”

“That woman... she escaped by jumping out of the window,” the maid stammered in fear.