GENESIS“Wake up, you little freak.” That was my morning greeting before a bucket of freezing water drenched me, soaking my thin bedding and making me shiver uncontrollably.“What do you think you’re doing, sleeping this late? Do you think you’re royalty while we serve you?” Mark, my stepbrother, sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. Before I could fully wipe the water off my face, he kicked my bed, sending me tumbling to the floor with a painful thud. My jaw slammed against the wooden boards, sending a jolt of pain through my skull.But I knew better than to stay down. If I valued my life, I had to get up, quickly. Without a second thought, I pushed myself off the ground, ignoring the ache in my jaw as I stood upright.My shoulders instinctively hunched as I faced them, bracing myself for whatever came next. Mark was bad enough, but Jimmy, the older of my stepbrothers, was far worse. His cruelty wasn’t just physical, it was insidious, calculated.Jimmy stepped forward, and I stif
KIER“Welcome back, fam! You know what it is, live and loud from my favorite spot in the city,” I tilted my phone, the live stream capturing the pulsing lights and packed dance floor of the club. The chat exploded with messages, half drooling over me, half trying to get noticed.I leaned back against the VIP booth. My tailored black shirt clung perfectly to my chest, the top few buttons undone to show just enough skin for effect. I raked a hand through my tousled hair, pretending not to notice the camera lingering on my face.“In case you forgot, you’re tuned into the Kier Blackwood channel, where you watch me live a life you’ll never afford. But hey, at least you can pretend.”I scanned the chat, smirking at the flood of comments. ‘Kier, you’re a god!’ ‘Notice me, please!’ ‘What’s tonight’s drink of choice?’I swirled the champagne in my glass, holding it up to the camera. “Champagne, because why settle for anything less? And before you ask, no, it’s not the cheap stuff. But you prob
GENESISI stood in the court, in disbelief. I was marrying someone I didn’t know, a man who clearly didn’t want to marry me. I knew it for sure. First, he was late to the court wedding. Second, his eyes never looked at me with warmth. His gaze wasn’t full of hate, but it wasn’t tender either. It was more like he was inspecting me, sizing me up, with no real interest. There was no hunger in his eyes like there was with Jimmy. Instead, when he looked at me, it felt like disappointment, as if I wasn’t what he had expected.Well, we were both in the same boat. This wasn’t what I had expected either. When Monica had called me downstairs last night, I thought I was in trouble. I thought I had done something horribly wrong. But no, instead, she told me I was getting married. Then came the yelling, the slaps, and the broken objects flying through the air.“How dare he? How dare he think he can just waltz back into your life?” Monica screamed at me, throwing things as she went on. Who was this
KIERThree days laterFamily Estate mansion"Y... young master," Richard, the butler, called out just as I was about to leave for the company.I froze, my hand on the door handle of my car. I had bigger things to worry about than whatever insignificant problem he was about to bring up.Not only had I been forced into a marriage with some random woman, but now I had to step into my father's company and learn how to "take charge" of a business I was already well-versed in. I went to business school for this, for God’s sake. I didn’t need to be babysat.I turned and gave him a sharp look. "What is it?"Richard fidgeted, rubbing a hand over his forehead, looking like he'd just run a marathon. "It's about your wife," he stammered.My jaw tightened. My wife? The woman I was married to for a few days now, and still didn’t even know? Why would Richard come to me with this?I exhaled sharply. "What about her?"He hesitated, then spoke in a near whisper. "She hasn't... she hasn't left her room
GenesisThree days.Three long, suffocating days since I was brought to this cold, lifeless mansion. It felt like I’d been dropped into another world, a world too quiet, too clean, too alien. No Monica. No Mark. No Jimmy. No yelling, no beatings, no… anything.I should have felt relief, but the silence only kept me on edge.When I first arrived, I thought it would be like my old home. Rules to follow. Voices barking orders. But this house was nothing like that. The people here, like the butler, Richard, brought me food every day. I barely touched it. The plates were piled high with things I didn’t recognize. Meat glistening with strange sauces. Bread that smells sweet. It was too much. Too strange.I wasn’t allowed to eat like this before, so how could I now?My stomach twisted in hunger, but I couldn’t bring myself to take more than a few bites. What if they were testing me? What if eating too much would bring punishment?The bathroom was another thing. It was bigger than my old room
KIER I gently led her trembling body toward the stall, concern etched on my face. "What’s the matter?" I inquired, noticing the thick steam billowing from the shower head. It was clear she had cranked the water up to an intense heat.I quickly adjusted the temperature, setting the water to a more comfortable level. The steam began to fade a bit, and I turned my gaze to her fragile, exposed form pressed against the wall, hunched and shivering, my jaw clenched tight.How could someone be so terrified of a simple shower?Her front was still to me, the scars on her skin stark against her pale complexion. Just seeing them made my chest constrict. I forced myself to take slow, deep breaths. Losing my cool wouldn’t do her any good.“Genesis,” I said gently, stepping a little closer. She flinched but didn’t retreat this time. I took that as a sign of progress.“You’re okay, it’s just water,” I reassured her, keeping my voice steady. My hand hovered near her shoulder, but I refrained from tou
GENESIS“Stop fiddling with your food and eat,” he commanded, his voice echoing with a deep authority that made me catch my breath. He was sitting uncomfortably close to me on the adjacent stool, right by the counter.It wasn’t that I didn’t want to eat; the meal looked absolutely delectable, and my stomach rumbled like a beast at the mere sight of it. The real issue was that if I consumed more than my allotted share, I would face punishment, and that was something I desperately wanted to avoid.“Go ahead, take more,” he urged as I twirled the spaghetti around my fork. I hesitated but eventually took a bit more, quickly bringing it to my lips before he could demand that I stuff my mouth even fuller. Despite the bath he had given me and the moments of apparent kindness, I knew better. People like him were the worst, pretending to care while hiding a monstrous side, unpredictable and dangerous, much like Jimmy.I understood that I had to stay alert, to keep that lurking monster within h
Kier's POVI couldn't believe what I was seeing. This girl had to be joking. What on earth did she think she was doing? “What are you doing?” I asked, and once again, she flinched. Honestly, the number of times she had reacted like that whenever I spoke or got too close was beyond counting.She turned to face me from her spot on the floor. After tending to her injury and putting a band-aid on it, I carried her to my room, determined to avoid a repeat of the chaos that had previously happened in her room.That meant saying goodbye to Sofia, the sweet brunette I had wanted to bang today. As soon as I set her down, she jumped onto the cold, hard floor beside the bed. Who does that? Apparently, she does.“What are you doing on the floor? Get on the bed,” I instructed, and she stared at me with wide eyes, as if I had just suggested the most absurd thing imaginable. I couldn’t blame her; it was a ridiculous request, even to my own ears. I wasn’t one to share a bed unless I had just fucked
GENESIS He was gone before I woke up. I didn’t even get to kiss him like he had told me.I sighed, propping myself against the headboard. My pencil and book rested on my thighs as I skimmed through the rule he had given me yesterday.To say I wasn’t surprised would be a lie.But I had to do as he said, of course.After going over the book one more time, I climbed off the bed and made my way to the bathroom.What am I going to do today?It was Monday. He was probably at work. Daisy would be in school too.She was the only person I talked to.So that meant I’d be here alone.I shed my clothes and stepped into the shower stall. The moment the water hit my head, I shivered, even though it was hot.I closed my eyes, but the second I did, I was there again.That cold, musty room…My eyes snapped open, my chest rising and falling too fast. I quickly shut off the shower and stepped out, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts.Gripping the sink, I stared down at the white porcelain, then sl
Kier's POV"Does your father still think we’re in the 1800s? Who still forces their children to marry some random girl they don’t even know?" Veronica huffed, clearly more annoyed by the situation than I was, the one actually in it.I let out a small, humorless smile, but as my eyes drifted toward Genesis, the smile vanished.Why was she smiling?I glanced at Charlie, who was leaning in too close to my wife, that ridiculous grin plastered on his face—the same one he always wore around women he fancied.And she wasn’t even pulling away.Okay, she wasn’t exactly leaning in, but she was sitting there, smiling at him.I didn’t like that.Wait—saying it like that made me sound like a controlling asshole.I just didn’t like that she was smiling at him.I thought she didn’t like strangers. She barely even talked to me. But now, she was completely comfortable, amused even.And that bastard was—"Kier, are you even listening to me?"Veronica’s voice snapped me out of my blatant gawking—no, no,
GENESIS "And who might you be?" Veronica asked, stopping just a few feet away from me. Daisy clung to her hand while she used the other to remove her glasses. Without them, I was met with sharp, cat-like eyes that swept over me from head to toe. I couldn’t deny that I did the same. She was stunning. Platinum blonde hair sleekly pulled into a ponytail, perfectly arched brows, and an air of quiet authority that made it impossible to look away. One perfectly manicured brow lifted, her lips parting as if she were about to speak— But before she could, Daisy tugged on her hand. "Aunt Vera, that’s Uncle Kier’s wife," Daisy said innocently. "And she can’t talk." The second the words left her mouth, Veronica’s fingers slackened. The glasses she had been holding slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a sharp clang. Her eyes widened, horror and disbelief flashing across her face. "Wife?" she whispered, barely audible. She swayed slightly, unsteady on her feet. Instinct kicked in
Kier's POV"Aren't you supposed to be home with your new wife instead of checking out single ladies?" Charlie teased, his tone dripping with mockery.I barely spared him a glance, raising a brow in silent thanks as the bartender slid my whiskey across the counter.Then, turning to Charlie, I shot him a glare. "Would you lower your damn voice? Do you want everyone to know I'm married?"He scoffed. "Really? That’s what you're worried about? When you called me, while I was in Rome, by the way, and told me you were getting married, I was surprised. No, actually, I was shocked. Then I was happy. And then…" He took a dramatic pause. "I was horrified."I took a slow sip of whiskey, letting the burn sear the back of my throat. That was exactly what I needed.Maybe it'd knock some sense into me.Because I had taken my wife against the wall. Like some kind of maniac.I shook the thought off. Dwelling on it only made things worse. And not just because of the guilt.Turning back to Charlie, I exh
Genesis’s POVWarmth spread across my face. My eyes were closed, but that wasn’t the only thing I felt. My entire body ached, sore yet not in a painful way. There was a lingering sensation, a hum of pleasure woven through the soreness, making me want to stay in bed, to keep sleeping.But something wasn’t right.One of the rules was that I had to kiss him every morning.So I needed to wake up.My eyes fluttered open, the sunlight filtering through the blinds warming my skin. I closed them again, adjusting to the brightness before blinking back to awareness.I turned to the side, expecting to find him beside me, but he wasn’t there.Panic jolted me upright and u realized I was naked."Ugh." I groaned, pressing a hand to my face as the memories rushed in.Oh god.How could I have been so… wanton?What was different about his… his…Even in my own thoughts, I couldn’t say it.Yet I had screamed and moaned from the overwhelming pleasure of his…I clenched my eyes shut.Why had it felt so go
Kier’s POVDamn it. I wanted to hear her moans. I wanted to hear her scream my name, to make sure she knew exactly who was inside her and never forgot it.But since I couldn’t have that, I’d make sure she felt it.With every thrust of my hips, I’d etch myself into her body, deep enough that she’d never want to lay with another man.The thought was possessive. Animalistic. And yet, it was me. It had always been me. Even as a child, I hated sharing what was mine. As I grew, that feeling only became fiercer, especially with the women I fucked.But they were never for keeps. When I took them, they knew, as long as they lingered around me, only I got to touch them. And when I was done, the others could have them.But this? This was different.She was my wife. My wife. And I didn’t just want to claim her, I wanted to own her in every way. Even men who hated their wives still refused to share them. That was just how it worked.And right now, as I looked down at her, I knew one thing for cert
Genesis's POVIt was happening.And I was scared.Things like this had happened before—but in more violent ways.When he placed me on the bed, flashes of Jimmy surfaced in my mind. I forced them away.I had fought before. But as time passed, I learned that resistance only led to more pain. It was easier to shut down, to detach, to let it happen.That was what I planned to do now.But for some reason, it wasn’t working.My heart pounded in my chest, my breaths shallow. I felt fear, yes—but something else lurked beneath it. Something unfamiliar.Anticipation.That made no sense. There was nothing to anticipate. Sex was pain. It had always been pain.Yet as I was pressed against the wall, my legs wrapped around his waist, his mouth warm against my neck, kissing, licking—this strange feeling only grew.I told myself this was for the baby they needed. Once it was done, I could leave. I wouldn’t let my past haunt me forever. I would do what I had to do, no matter how much it cost me.But wh
Kier’s POVYou could ask me what the damn movie was about, and I wouldn’t have an answer.But if you asked me what I noticed about my wife?I’d have about ten things to say.One: she had four tiny birthmarks—just little dots—on the left side of her neck. How I even noticed them in the dim lighting of that fucking cinema was a question for another day.Two: she always bit down on her lips when she was concentrating, like right now. I was sure she had completely forgotten I was even here.And there were more. I could keep listing them. And why I did this? I had no idea.But I couldn’t deny it anymore—I was getting attracted to my wife.She wasn’t my usual type. Yeah, I didn’t know how many times I’d said her face was beautiful, but a pretty face alone never got me as hard as a rock for a woman. That was just one part of it.And yet, here I was, hard as a damn brick, and it was freaking me out.I had spent days wondering how I’d be able to knock her up when I couldn’t even get it up for
Genesis's POV"Right here, Mr. Blackwood," a lanky man in a wine-colored shirt and jeans said. I looked up at him, noticing the easy smile on his face as he spoke to my husband. But when his gaze shifted to me, awe flickered in his eyes.I quickly looked away, pressing my face against my husband's torso."Look away," Kier said, his voice calm but firm. The man cleared his throat awkwardly, nodded, and turned to lead us toward a large, red-colored door.He pushed it open, and my mouth fell open in surprise. Rows upon rows of seats stretched across the vast, empty hall, yet not a single person was inside. It was only then that I realized something odd—aside from this man and the one who had given Kier popcorn and soda earlier, I hadn’t seen anyone else around.I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice we were moving toward the seats until kier spoke."Where would you like to sit?"His voice startled me. I turned to him, my pulse skipping as I realized he was staring down at