Prologue

“What have you done?”

A low voice laced with disdain asked.

“What have you done Dimitri?!”

Dimitri ignored the accusation, his movements deliberate as he approached the lifeless body sprawled across the bedroom floor. He knelt beside her, his dark eyes fixed on her pale face. With precision, he placed two fingers on her neck, his jaw tensing as he confirmed the truth.

The woman kneeling beside Ava's body, her red hair a stark contrast to Ava's limp form, looked up at Dimitri with tears and venom in her eyes. “You killed her! You monster! You should have sent her back to us if you didn’t want her!”

Dimitri rose to his feet, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I should?” His gaze locked onto Ava’s mother, her features a haunting echo of her daughter’s.

“Return my daughter to me this instant!” Mrs. Bianchi begged, her voice cracking.

Dimitri’s response was a cold, calculated smile, his eyes glinting with a hint of menace. “The last time I checked, you forcefully thrust her into this world despite my disapproval.”

“I… I…” Mrs Bianchi stammered before shaking her head wildly. “I can't accept this. I can't. We will never accept this.”

With that, she stood up, her dead daughter's head fell on the cold floor as she walked to the bed to grab her purse all the while shaking her head as if in denial.

“My beloved daughter won't die in vain. She won't.”

She took her mobile phone and dialed her husband. Dimitri didn't stay behind to listen to her rantings and instead went back to his office.

When he got there, his secretary Mara was already waiting.

“What happened?” Mara asked as soon as she saw her boss step into the opulent office.

“Ava is dead. Check the cameras.”

Mara's light brown eyes widened, her voice barely above a whisper. “Oh God, what happened?” She hesitated, her gaze locked on Dimitri. “No woman should be subjected to the gruesome fate of dying on her wedding day.”

“Let me know after checking it.” Dimitri said dismissively and walked towards his huge polished desk. He sat on a polished high-backed leather chair behind the desk.

Basically, today was supposed to be his wedding day even though it was against his wish. However, his supposed wife was found dead in her bedroom that same day and truth be told, he was somehow at fault and he knew he must have been one of the deciding factor of the murder or suicide.

He sighed and focused his attention on the files on his table. Then, he drew one of them closer and decided to start working on it.

However, he was interrupted by the loud slam of his door and an angry Mr Bianchi with black hair and some whites trutted in.

“You!” He pointed his index finger at him as he walked towards his table. “You killed my daughter!” He slammed his fists on the table.

Dimitri gazed up lazily, as he dropped his pen. At that moment, Mara rushed in panicking.

“I'm so sorry Mr Santini, I tried to stop him—”

Dimitri waved her off and shifted his gaze back to Mr Bianchi. “I didn't kill my wife.” He said mockingly. “But if I had, would it surprise you?”

Mr Bianchi’s face reddened, his fists clenched. “You are a monster!”

“Now, if you could please excuse me before your chance runs out and you will follow your beloved daughter but with a bullet through your head.”

Mara intervened, her voice shaky as she smoothed her palm on her black straight skirt nervously. “That's enough Mr Bianchi. Please leave before this escalates.”

“You will repeat that at the court you monster. I'm assuring you that. The odds are stacked against you.”

With that, Mr Bianchi rushed out of Dimitri's office.

As Mr Bianchi departed, Dimitri's gaze lingered on the door, his expression unreadable. Mara's nervous glance didn't escape his notice.

“Sir?” Mara ventured, her voice laced with concern. “Perhaps, it's wise to—”

“Not now.” Dimitri interrupted and stood up.