Sherryl Rain stood in the rain, her eyelashes dripping with the water that slid from her wet hair to her forehead, then down to her eyes.
If she hadn't been sure before, now there was no doubt: the man who had bought her off the black market was a devil. Dallion was cold and evil, with no trace of humanity in his soul. It wasn't just the darkness that surrounded them—the rain blurred her vision, making it hard to tell weeds from plants. When she crouched down, pulling out weeds by mistake, she realized she had also yanked out some of the good plants, which Dallion had already planned to punish her for further. But, just as Dallion had said, the rain finally let up, leaving only the cold wind to lash against her, making her shiver in the drenched dress that clung to her body, heavy and cumbersome from all the water it had absorbed. Now able to see the garden more clearly, she glanced down at the ruined plants and grimaced internally. Kill me now, she thought. Hiding the good ones under the soil again, she moved to another patch. If anyone asked, she'd blame it on the rain. It wasn't a complete disaster—the garden was well-kept, and there weren't many weeds left to begin with. Sherryl dared not look around to check if Dallion was still watching. Who knew if the devil was having his own twisted fun at her expense? Thanks to the rain, the soil had softened enough to make pulling weeds easier, and she was careful not to disturb any more of the actual plants. The last thing she wanted was to give Dallion another reason to punish her. While Sherryl worked under the dim light cast by the mansion’s outdoor lamps, Lady Grace arrived, summoned by the butler with news that her brother was waiting for her at the door. Lady Grace hadn’t noticed the woman toiling in the garden and turned to speak to her brother as soon as she stepped outside, "You called for me, Dallion?" "I did," Dallion turned to his right, meeting his elder sister's gaze with a smile that appeared calm and collected. Grace furrowed her brows, wondering what had put her brother in such a good mood. Something caught her eye, and she turned to see Sherryl working in the garden. "What are you making her do this late at night?" "What do you think?" Dallion let his sister guess, watching her frown deepen. "She's soaked. She’s going to catch a cold," Grace said, taking two steps toward the garden before her brother's voice stopped her. "Bring her back, and she’ll face the same fate as Lara." Grace froze mid-step. "You wouldn’t," she said, turning to face him, her voice strained as she clenched her fists. The memory of what happened to Lara, a servant who had crossed Dallion, flashed through her mind. "Try me," Dallion smirked, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "There’s no harm in testing boundaries, is there?" "Show some compassion, Dallion. She's still so young and a human too, with feelings." "Don’t patronize me, Grace. Especially not you," Dallion’s smile lingered, though it darkened as his sister recalled their shared history. "It was an accident. You know that," Grace insisted, her voice wavering. "An accident? You killed a maid out of jealousy because the man you loved paid her attention. How did it feel, Grace? To have her blood on your hands and watch him look at you with so much disgust that you wanted to end it all?" Dallion’s taunts pierced through her, and though pain flickered across her features, she quickly masked it. "Say what you will, brother, but you’re no better than me," Grace replied, her voice hardening. "I never claimed to be," Dallion shrugged, his gaze shifting back to Sherryl, who was trembling in the cold garden. "This is just a reminder." "You’re punishing her for something I did. Why? Why torment her for my mistake?" Grace asked, though she knew her brother relished the sight before him. "Because, dear sister, I can’t punish you. You’re blood. And where’s the fun in hurting someone who won’t react?" Dallion’s voice dripped with mockery. "She’s going to get sick." "I’ll nurse her back to health. But don’t forget, it’s because of you that she’s suffering," he replied, his gaze sharp and unrelenting as the cold wind swept over them. "It’s your fault, Grace. The girl doesn’t know it, but you do. You know how much I hate intruders in the attic, including you." "She wasn’t just your mother—she was mine too," Grace said, her voice defensive. Dallion chuckled darkly. "I haven’t forgotten that. But where were you when Father wanted to burn all her belongings? Standing there, watching, doing nothing? You were her daughter, and you’re my sister, but even between us, there are lines that cannot be crossed." Grace nodded slowly, the weight of the past settling on her shoulders. "Drawing lines and setting rules is one thing, Dallion. But for your loved ones, sometimes understanding comes too late." As if the conversation hadn’t just plunged into painful memories, Dallion remarked, "Is she planting flowers or pulling weeds? What’s taking so long?" "It’s dark. What did you expect?" Grace pointed out the obvious, earning an eye roll from her brother. Dallion didn’t bother replying. He strode toward Sherryl, who crouched low, struggling to see in the dim light. The mansion's lanterns offered only a faint glow, just enough for her to spot the plants in front of her. Catching the shadow of Dallion looming over her, she looked up, startled. Unable to stop herself, she blurted out, "You’re going to pull weeds with me?" "Why not?" Dallion said as he crouched beside her. Sherryl's eyes widened in disbelief. This man—this dangerous, possessive mafia leader—was now sitting next to her, examining the same plants. Without warning, Dallion scolded her, "Do you have a death wish? You’ve been pulling the good ones." Despite his harsh words, the threat didn’t seem as terrifying as it should have. This man, the feared leader of the Cross empire, was sitting at her level, casually talking to her. Dallion snapped his fingers in front of her face, bringing her back to reality. Sherryl shivered under his intense gaze, her wet clothes clinging to her skin. Her heart pounded as Dallion’s face inched closer, his eyes dark and unreadable. She could feel his breath against her cheek, and her pulse quickened. “Master Dallion,” she whispered nervously. “Hm?” Dallion didn’t move, his eyes still locked on hers. “You’re crushing the plant under your foot. That’s not a weed,” she said, her voice barely steady as her heart raced. Dallion glanced down, his lips curling into a smirk. “Says the girl who’s been uprooting all the good ones. Are you stupid or just plain useless?” Ignoring his comment, Sherryl felt the tension between them grow thick as the rain began to ease. Lady Grace, watching from afar, couldn’t help but wonder what twisted game her brother was playing. As the night wore on, the past hung heavily between Dallion and Grace, while Sherryl remained caught in the crossfire of a dark legacy she couldn’t yet comprehend.Sherry was staring at Dallion, listening to his serious words about the plants in front of them. The topic had shifted from the weeds to the plants she had mistakenly pulled out. There was a certain earnestness in his voice, as if he had planted them himself. Narcissist, she thought. This was her punishment, but here he was, crouching next to her, though in far better condition. Her drenched clothes clung to her body, heavy with moisture, and she felt like she was freezing in the middle of winter. She glanced at his muddy hands, which were busy replanting the uprooted plant. "Did you get it?" he asked, flicking his hand across her forehead, sending specks of mud onto her nose. "Stop daydreaming and staring at me. I know I’m handsome." Narcissist man, Sherry thought again, only to see Dallion narrow his eyes as if he had heard her. Could he read her mind? She gulped when his intense gaze didn’t leave her face. "I apologize for my rudeness," she said, ducking her head, wishing his
The butler, Nickison was outside running his errands, trying to avoid the looming wrath of his boss, Dallion Cross, as he had failed to follow orders of watching over the room he'd locked Sherry in. When he reached the garage, he overheard the staff speaking loudly—a rare occurrence, as they usually spoke in hushed tones. The butler’s eyes widened at the mention of five hundred thousand dollars. He had heard that this girl was bought for a thousands of dollars, a rumor spread by the housekeeper who had, in turn, heard it from the security team. But five hundred thousand? Was this girl really worth that much? Was she made of diamonds? Nickison thought to himself, glancing at the girl who looked like she hadn't showered in days. The shock mirrored on the faces of the house staff before he composed himself and stepped into the garage, resuming his role of checking the new kitchen products that were brought . "Making a mess where cars are cleane
Sherry didn't object, but neither did she make a move for a good ten seconds. Seeing Dallion with his legs parted as he sat at the edge of the king-sized bed, she wondered what to do. "I can do it myself, Dallion. You don't have to," she said, her tone careful. If there was one thing she had learned during her punishment, it was that the rain didn’t matter when you were in it, but after, when the wind blew through drenched clothes, that was the true punishment. It made her shiver violently. The storm clouds still hung outside, ominous and dark. She couldn’t afford another round in the rain, and who knew what worse torment Dallion had in store for her if she defied him? The thought alone made her feel like she was walking on glass, afraid of each step. "Rubbish. I don’t want you catching a cold. Sit." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument, while he waited with a towel in his hand. And whose fault was it? He had lef
It seemed like an open warning to her that this was what was going to happen if she ever tried to escape. Sherryl didn’t know if it was a mafia thing, but why did he want to keep her here? Was she just part of his amusement, something to toy with while he enjoyed threatening and terrifying her? He could have chosen any other captive, but, to her misfortune or maybe fortune, this man had bought her—not for a small price, but for thousands of dollars. When the door to the room was knocked upon, Dallion didn’t even bother looking up as he said, “Come inside, Nickison.” It seemed like he could tell who it was just by the sound of the knock or the timing. The butler entered, pushing a trolley of food. “Leave it here. Dismissed,” Dallion’s words were brief, and the butler didn’t stay a second longer than necessary. He stepped out, closing the door behind him. Sherryl eyed the food. It looked mouth-watering, and the smell was magnificent, making her stomach ru
It appeared that they were not only sharing the same bed but also the same blanket. Sherry gingerly lifted the covers and got inside the bed, making sure she stayed as far as she could from him. If she were to move further to her left, she would only fall flat on the sleek marble floor, cold and unforgiving. She had slept on this bed before, so she remembered how soft it was, but with Dallion next to her, she doubted she would be able to sleep soundly. Taking a quick glance at him, she noticed the glasses perched on his nose, something she hadn’t seen before. Did mafia bosses like him need glasses? How odd, Sherry thought to herself. Seeing that he was no longer talking to her and had immersed himself in reading, the man seemed somewhat calmer—his usual cold, intense aura replaced with something that seemed... reasonable. For now, at least. The dim lighting from the lamp on his nights
Sherry hurriedly dashed to the bathroom again, hoping she had escaped Dallion's watchful eye. She wondered if he had been awake the whole time. But then, his voice cut through her thoughts, “I give you a bed that’s custom-made, unrivaled in these parts of Bone lake city, and you say it was just okay?” Sherry quietly thanked her stars that he wasn’t speaking of what she feared. Maybe he had been asleep at the time. “A comfortable bed doesn’t assure anyone a good sleep. Sometimes a hard floor with freedom brings more satisfaction than the confinement of any room, no matter how luxurious the bed.” Sherry wasn’t trying to provoke him, but he had told her to speak freely what was on her mind the night before. Taking a small risk, she spoke a little bolder than usual this morning. Dallion’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he observed her defiance. This little mouse was still trying to run, unaware that her fate was already sealed. He’d let her believe there was hope, for now. But soon, s
Sherryl didn't understand his expression, subtly going back to eating her food while occasionally glancing at Dallion, who hadn't spoken about the matter. She didn’t understand the mafia families here. She had heard about celebrating birthdays, but celebrating the ones who had already passed away and weren’t even around? She didn’t know why they were still counting the years. Every once in a while, Sherryl glanced at him, and at one fine moment, Dallion’s eyes snapped at her, clearly annoyed by her constant stares. Sherryl quickly looked away. How could this man sense everything around him, as though he had invisible eyes at the back of his head? "Dallion, aren’t you going to take part in the celebration?" asked his stepmother, her voice sweet as sugar, making Sherryl twitch slightly. She could see why Dallion didn't get along with his stepmother and stepsister. They were overly sweet to the point of making her skin crawl. Their attitude, mixed with their superficial charm, didn't
Sherry hoped that her father was still alive and safe. A number of possibilities could be pulled up on what might have happened that the man had to leave his wife and daughter alone. One of them, the worst that her mother had to hear the most, was that her father had run away with another woman. Sherry didn’t believe it, though. Not with the stories she had heard from her mother about how they had spent their few years together. Another possibility that had come up was that he had been taken away by a rival mafia group. Because her father was a manager at one of the largest technological companies in the city and thinking about it now, she realized it was the Cross technology company. Though not many outsiders dared to mess with the Cross empire’s territory, it didn’t stop the lesser gangs residing in the shadows from taking people for their own personal use, even killing them. "You’re still waiting for his return," Dallion stated. Sherry didn’t answer him and instead stayed qui
When an unintended sigh slipped past her lips, it only seemed to fuel the fire already burning in Dallion’s touch. His grip on her tightened, his heart beating steadily, his eyes alive with something dark and dangerous. His control was slipping, and he knew it. Without another word, his teeth extended, sharp and eager. "I need a taste," he murmured, his voice rough with hunger. Before Sherryl could react, Dallion sank his teeth into the side of her neck. Her skin was —warm, rich, intoxicating, it was sweeter than anything he had ever tasted. It made him wonder if it was because of who she was, something about her making it more potent, more addictive. It was like drinking from something rare, something otherworldly. Dallion never cared for attachments, never let himself be bound to anyone. He had always been clear about that. Women came and went, serving a purpose but never staying long enough to matter. But ever since he had laid eyes on
Sherryl stared at him. Was she imagining things, or was Dallion actually jealous? The thought alone sent an odd, fluttery feeling through her stomach, one she didn’t quite understand. "I don’t share, little mouse," Dallion said smoothly, as if reading her thoughts. "Did you really think I’d be fine with you standing on a stage, under bright lights, with hundreds of eyes fixated on you?" His tone was calm, but the possessiveness in it was unmistakable. He leaned in, his forehead almost touching hers. "Do you want to know when and how I fell for you?" His voice dropped to a whisper, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "I think it’s time I told you properly." Sherryl’s heart pounded. "I think it’s okay if you don’t," she blurted out, already anticipating the embarrassment that would follow. Dallion clicked his tongue. As she raised her hands to push him away, he caught them effortlessly, pinning them against the bed with a smirk.
Sherryl, still quietly eating her apples, wished she could finish quickly and leave as well. Every meal in this house felt like a battlefield, tension thick in the air. She continued eating as discreetly as possible. Then, his father spoke. "You should stop spoiling the girl, Dallion. Your sister is right. We don’t want you being manipulated." His cold gaze flickered toward Sherryl, and she felt a lump form in her throat. "There have been plenty of cases where a simple girl like this has twisted her owner into doing unspeakable things—even wiping out their own family just at her word. And we both know you’ve already had your fair share of experience with betrayal." Dallion’s smirk didn’t falter. "Don’t worry, Father. I care about my family too much to kill them. Well… at least you and Grace. The rest? I can’t make any promises." His eyes drifted toward his younger half-sister. Rose’s expression darkened,
Here’s the revised version with the name changes.In the grand estate of the Cross family, the evening air was thick with the promise of an impending storm. The sky remained overcast, and a biting wind whispered through the halls. With winter creeping closer, the temperature had plummeted to an unforgiving low. If not for the warmth provided by the mansion’s insulated walls and flickering fireplaces, those unaccustomed to such cold would have perished.For the staff working in the Cross estate, survival was a luxury they didn’t take for granted. The grand halls and well-kept quarters provided a stark contrast to the bleak streets they might have otherwise called home.As the evening descended into dinner time, Dallion Cross and Sherryl Rain made their way into the dining room. Plates were brought out by silent staff, each movement practiced and precise. Sherryl, however, found herself staring at what was placed before her—a thick slab of raw meat, still red wit
Dallion studied her intently, his sharp eyes reading every flicker of doubt on her face. But he still answered, "You said you walked there because riots had blocked the main road. You took a different route and eventually found him. Later, you mentioned bringing him back, but by then, it was too late. Your mother’s condition had already worsened. What’s going on, Sherryl? Speak." His voice was firm, demanding. There was an unsettling confusion in Sherryl’s eyes as she tried to piece together the past. Then, out of nowhere, she asked, "If my mom could still be alive… does that mean she would allow me to look for him?" Dallion exhaled deeply, his expression unreadable. "Yes."He didn't want to give her false hopes, he knew her father left them and he was sure her mother wouldn't have allowed her to look for him. Sherryl nodded slowly, but she wasn’t convinced. If her father had left only to return years later, what
Dallion held her closer, his grip softer now, unlike before. His hands weren’t restraining her wrists anymore—they were holding all of her, as if anchoring her. It wasn’t just his touch that had changed, but his voice too. It was calm, quieter than usual when he spoke. “Tell me, Sherryl. Do you find it difficult to trust someone with your feelings?” His words were firm yet patient. “You do realize I’m not letting you go until you tell me what’s going on?” Something had shifted in her. He had noticed the change immediately. Moments ago, she had been fine—her pupils had been dilated, her breathing slightly unsteady—but then, suddenly, she had gone still. Her heartbeat had steadied unnaturally fast, and her eyes had turned hollow, like she was somewhere else entirely. There was only one conclusion Dallion could come to. Had someone touched her before? Her voice was low when she finally answered. “It’s nothing serious.” Slowly, Dallion loosened his hold but didn’t let her mo
Sherry barely had time to process the overwhelming sensations before her legs gave out. With a strangled yelp, she toppled sideways, arms flailing—only to land in an ungraceful heap on the floor.Dallion stared down at her, blinking. Then, slowly, a smirk curled his lips. “Well, that’s one way to show appreciation.”Sherry groaned, hiding her burning face in her hands. “I hate you.”“I know.” He crouched beside her, entirely too amused. “But if you were going to throw yourself at my feet, you could’ve at least done it with some dignity.”Bluebeard Lady chuckled from her corner. “She’s a fast learner. Even her falls are dramatic.”Sherry shot them both a murderous glare as Dallion effortlessly scooped her up. “Put me down!”“Not a chance,” he said, carrying her outside like she weighed nothing.The drive back to the Cross’s mansion was filled with Dallion’s teasing remarks—each one met with Sherry’s grumbled threats. But
The tent’s lanterns flickered softly, casting golden light over velvet drapes and aged artifacts. The scent of incense thickened the air, mingling with something more primal—the slow hum of anticipation.Sherry sat in the center of the room, wrists bound in silk, the smooth fabric a whisper against her skin. The ties weren’t meant for struggle, but for awareness—of herself, of the watchful presence behind her, and of the woman before her.Bluebeard Lady circled her like a patient instructor, a delicate silver chain swaying between her fingers. “Restraint,” she murmured, “isn’t about holding back. It’s about extending sensation, drawing it out until it becomes something unforgettable.”Sherry swallowed hard, feeling the heat of Dallion’s gaze from his seat across the room. He had yet to speak, but his presence was a force in itself—a quiet command.The woman knelt before Sherry, her fingers ghosting over her skin, feather-light. Even with
Sherryl Rain kept her head low, focusing on the lesson, even though she knew how rare it was for someone of Grace’s status to take the time to educate a mere servant. Most high-ranking figures in the Cross Empire saw little value in teaching those beneath them. Grace glanced at the worn parchment in front of her before turning her cold gaze to Sherryl, the little mouse that belonged to Dallion. “We’ll stop here for today,” Grace decided, stretching as she closed the book. “I need to take my mother and sister out to the Valley. Would you like to come?” The offer sounded casual, but Sherryl could hear the subtle test in it. “Ever been there before?” Sherryl gave a slight nod. “Master Dallion is taking me somewhere today.” A truthful excuse, but also a way to avoid the suffocating tension she’d have to endure with Grace and her ever-judgmental sister. Without pushing for details, Grace dismissed her, and Sherryl exhaled a brea