Ruby watched in silence as Don Gray's screams faded into nothing. His body twisted and convulsed in agony until the fire consumed him completely. His last movement was a desperate, futile roll across the floor....then stillness. The room smelled of burning flesh and smoke. Hector took one last glance at the charred corpse, then waved his hand. “Dump him in the river,” he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. The men moved at once, hauling what was left of Don Gray away. But Camila was not there to witness it. She sat in her bathtub, submerged in warm water, yet feeling no warmth at all. Her mind was miles away, trapped in the past. She saw it again...the gun in her hand, her finger pulling the trigger, Hector flinching as the bullet grazed his hand. She had tried to stop him. Tried to save Ruby. But then Ruby had fallen at Hector's feet begging to be his dog, just to spare Camila. Camila squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the edges of the bathtub as nausea threate
After watching Don Gray’s body disappear, Ruby turned and walked away. She didn’t look back. She made her way to Hector’s room. Hector followed her, his sharp gaze fixed on her back. He expected something....a reaction, a flicker of emotion. But she was quiet. Too quiet. Hector prided himself on understanding people. He could break them, twist them, strip them down to their very core and know what made them tick. But her? She was an enigma. What was she thinking? Was she disturbed by Don Gray’s death? Did she regret anything? He hated this uncertainty. Hated that he even cared. In the past, he would have used pain to get the answers he wanted. A knife. A whip. A gun to the temple. But now? The thought of hurting her made him sick. The realization burned inside him like a slow fire. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "Are you okay?" Ruby looked at him, her expression calm. “I’m fine.” A lie. But he didn’t push. Instead, he changed
ANYA Valentine’s Day; The day of lovers, the day I had been waiting for with my heart in my throat and dreams in my eyes. Today was going to be my day. My perfect day. I rushed into the bar, my heart pounding in anticipation. The sight of Cross made my breath catch, as it always did. He was sitting there, looking effortlessly perfect. His hair was slightly messy, his smile casually charming, and his presence magnetic. I had loved him since high school, and even now, in college, that love hadn’t faded. If anything, it had only grown stronger. He was the guy all the girls wanted, yet somehow, he remained single. That was part of his charm...unreachable, mysterious, untouchable. But not to me. I believed I had a chance. I wasn’t supposed to school at Kings college. My parents had wanted me to attend a more prestigious one, but I had whined, begged, and complained until they sent me there.....where Cross was. To me, nothing mattered more than being near him. Yesterday, I had done
ANYA The sound of laughter erupted behind me, sharp and mocking. Cameras flashed, their lenses pointed at me like spotlights, capturing every humiliating second. I clenched my fists, trying to block out the noise. I knew this would happen. I knew Hunter Steele would humiliate me, but I didn’t care. If enduring this proved my love for Cross, it was worth it. I kept reminding myself: By the end of today, I’ll have my first kiss.....from the love of my life. Cross will see how much I love him, and everything will be perfect. But then Hunter’s annoyed expression softened. A chuckle escaped his lips, sending a chill down my spine. Before I could process it, his face turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer. My heart raced as he loomed over me, his presence suffocating. “Why is he so close?” I thought, frozen in place. He reached out, his hand catching my chin. His grip was firm but not painful, and his intense gaze seemed to dissect every inch of my face. “Is he going to
ANYA I couldn’t decide what was worse: the fact that Cross wanted nothing to do with me or that Hunter Steele, of all people, had decided I was going to be his wife. My chest tightened as the memory of Hunter’s kiss flashed through my mind. I wiped my lips again, as though I could erase the feeling. "Oh, Cross," I thought miserably. "What can I do to win you back? You were the one who told me to approach Hunter Steele. I only did it for you, but now I’m the one paying the price." My phone felt heavy in my hand as I scrolled to Cross’s number. Desperation gnawed at me. I just needed to explain, to tell him what really happened. Maybe if he listened, he would forgive me. But when I called, the automated voice informed me that my number had been blocked. The rejection hit me like a slap. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I still remembered the look on his face before he walked out of the bar....the disgust in his eyes, the finality in his voice. And the stares of e
HUNTER I can’t remember the last time I willingly let a woman get close to me. To me, they were a necessary evil—useful when needed, but never trusted. If it weren’t for my father constantly nagging me to settle down, I wouldn’t have entertained the idea of marriage at all. I was only twenty-six. What was the rush? That was before last night. When I walked into one of my bars, planning to inspect it before gifting it to a friend, I expected nothing more than the usual. The place was buzzing, people minding their drinks and business—until her. A young woman, trembling yet determined, stepped in front of me and asked the most ridiculous question I’d ever heard: “Will you marry me?” Women had thrown themselves at me countless times—clinging, scheming, desperate. But no one had ever dared to ask me to marry them outright. At first, I was annoyed, but her fear-stricken face caught my attention. There was something strangely compelling about her bravery. She looked so fragile, y
ANYAI finally understood why people said Hunter Steele was ruthless. He didn’t just make threats; he acted on them without hesitation. The fear in my mother’s eyes, my father collapsing on the floor, my brother trying to stay strong....it was all my fault. I had dragged my family into this nightmare.As I stared at Hunter, who stood tall and unyielding, I hated him more than I’d ever hated anyone. But despite my hatred, a few hours later, I found myself standing beside him in court. His presence was suffocating, his control absolute.The ceremony was brief, emotionless. Before I knew it, the judge pronounced us husband and wife. My heart sank as the reality of my new life hit me. This wasn’t a fairytale. This was a cage.Once we stepped outside the court, Hunter pulled out his phone and made a call. “Send a hundred-billion-dollar contract to Blake Enterprise,” he ordered. “They’re my in-laws now.”I stared at him, shocked. A hundred billion dollars? My family’s company had been teete
ANYAI swallowed hard, tears threatening to spill from my eyes as I stared at Hunter. I felt powerless under his intense gaze, his presence suffocating. For a fleeting moment, I thought about fighting back....maybe kneeing him to escape. But fear gripped me. If I acted recklessly, my family would undoubtedly pay the price.Suddenly, his hand moved from under my dress, and he gently caressed my cheek. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but it wasn’t from comfort....it was the unsettling control he seemed to have over me.I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to look at him.“Open your eyes when I speak to you,” he commanded, his voice cold but firm.I reluctantly obeyed, opening my eyes to find his face mere inches from mine. His lips almost brushed mine, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine with a chilling intensity.“My beautiful wife,” he whispered, his tone deceptively soft. “There’s something you need to understand. In this house, my word is law. So, when I say, ‘Go take a
After watching Don Gray’s body disappear, Ruby turned and walked away. She didn’t look back. She made her way to Hector’s room. Hector followed her, his sharp gaze fixed on her back. He expected something....a reaction, a flicker of emotion. But she was quiet. Too quiet. Hector prided himself on understanding people. He could break them, twist them, strip them down to their very core and know what made them tick. But her? She was an enigma. What was she thinking? Was she disturbed by Don Gray’s death? Did she regret anything? He hated this uncertainty. Hated that he even cared. In the past, he would have used pain to get the answers he wanted. A knife. A whip. A gun to the temple. But now? The thought of hurting her made him sick. The realization burned inside him like a slow fire. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "Are you okay?" Ruby looked at him, her expression calm. “I’m fine.” A lie. But he didn’t push. Instead, he changed
Ruby watched in silence as Don Gray's screams faded into nothing. His body twisted and convulsed in agony until the fire consumed him completely. His last movement was a desperate, futile roll across the floor....then stillness. The room smelled of burning flesh and smoke. Hector took one last glance at the charred corpse, then waved his hand. “Dump him in the river,” he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. The men moved at once, hauling what was left of Don Gray away. But Camila was not there to witness it. She sat in her bathtub, submerged in warm water, yet feeling no warmth at all. Her mind was miles away, trapped in the past. She saw it again...the gun in her hand, her finger pulling the trigger, Hector flinching as the bullet grazed his hand. She had tried to stop him. Tried to save Ruby. But then Ruby had fallen at Hector's feet begging to be his dog, just to spare Camila. Camila squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the edges of the bathtub as nausea threate
A few hours later, Hector straightened his cufflinks and glanced at Ruby. “It’s time,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of excitement. "Get ready." Ruby could tell this was important to him. The sharp suit. The polished shoes. The way his men stood straighter when he spoke. She dressed quickly, slipping into one of the red dresses he had given her. Almost all of them were red. She didn’t bother to ask why. She tied up her hair and stepped out. The same men from the last execution attempt were present and four more, with the exception of the dead ones were there as well. The air in the room was humming with silent anticipation. But this time, something had changed. Ruby was not thrown into a cage. She was not told to sit on the floor like an animal. Hector pulled out the chair beside him and motioned for her to sit. The men exchanged glances. They noticed. They understood. Ruby’s place in Hector’s world had shifted. No speech. No grand declaration. Hector simp
After they left the torture chamber, Hector led Ruby back to his room. He stood by the door, watching her for a moment before speaking. “Get enough rest,” he said. “The time for Don Gray’s execution will arrive very soon.” Ruby’s lips curved into a small smile. “You already agreed that I would do the honors.” Hector smirked, shaking his head. She never forgot anything, did she? “I did,” he admitted. Then, for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he added, “Is there anything you want?” Ruby blinked. “I feel like I still need to do something for you,” Hector continued, crossing his arms. “For putting your life on the line for me.” The words felt strange on his tongue. Since when did he care about repaying people like Ruby so much? More than that, why was he being so... considerate toward her? He knew he was attracted to her, but he wasn’t the kind of man who was unnecessarily kind to women. The idea alone made him uncomfortable. Still, he waited for her answer. Ruby
As Ruby pulled away from their embrace, she looked at Camila with a soft but determined gaze. “Hector cares about me, Camila,” she said. “I can see it.” Camila shook her head. “Ruby...” “No, listen to me.” Ruby held her hands firmly. “Apart from the misunderstanding in the beginning, Hector isn’t a bad person.” Camila scoffed, crossing her arms. “Are you even hearing yourself?” “Try to see things from his side,” Ruby insisted. “Don Gray destroyed his family. He killed his parents right in front of him.” Camila’s lips parted slightly. Ruby’s voice lowered, filled with emotion. “Who could bear that?” She took a deep breath and met Camila’s eyes. “Look at me, Camila. Imagine if someone was responsible for your father's death. Wouldn’t you want revenge?” The words hit Camila like a blow to the chest. She gasped softly, suddenly understanding. But she still shook her head. “Ruby… revenge is dangerous. You’re playing with fire.” Ruby gave a small, knowing smile. “Tru
Camila paced her small room, her stomach twisting in hunger. The untouched plate of food sat on the ground, mocking her. She stole another glance at it, but the knot in her chest made it impossible to eat. Then, the door creaked open. Her head snapped up, and she froze. Standing in front of her was Ruby. She looked… different. Dressed in a flowing white dress, her face soft and calm, Ruby seemed untouched by the nightmare they were trapped in. But Camila saw beyond the surface. She saw the sadness in her friend’s eyes, the weight she carried. Tears burned Camila’s vision, and before she could say a word, Ruby ran toward her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Camila clung to her, holding on as if she would disappear. Behind them, Hector stood in the doorway, watching in silence. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and shut the door, leaving them alone. Camila pulled back slightly, her hands gripping Ruby’s arms. “Are you okay?” R
Ruby sat still, her mind racing. She had begged Hector countless times before, pleaded with him to let her go. Yet, every time, he refused. So why now? She raised her head, meeting his gaze. “Why the sudden change of heart?” Hector’s fingers curled into a tight fist. His jaw clenched, but he kept his voice steady. “Why are you questioning me?” Because it didn’t make sense. That’s why. Ruby stayed quiet, watching him. Hector exhaled and turned his back to her. Anger swirled in his chest...not at her, but at himself. If only she knew how hard it was for him to send her away. Still, she pressed. “I just want to know why, Hector. You were so sure before. What changed?” He turned around slowly and walked toward his chair, sinking into it. His eyes locked onto hers. “I have a rule,” he said finally. “A life for a life. You’ve probably heard it before,” he went on. “Since you were willing to give your life for mine, I can’t let anything happen to you. That’s why I’m setting you
Eduardo stormed into the house with an energy that filled the entire space. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he scooped Selena off the couch, spinning her around. She shrieked with laughter, clinging to him as her heart pounded from the sudden thrill. "Eduardo! What’s going on?" she asked, breathless. He set her down gently but didn’t let go of her arms. His voice was thick with exhilaration as he said, “I just found out from a reliable source that Camila is dead.” Selena’s laughter froze. Her body stiffened, her wide eyes locking onto his. "What?" "Hector Morales killed her." Selena gasped, stepping back. Her hands trembled as she covered her mouth. "That mafia boss?" she whispered. "Is he really that ruthless?" Eduardo nodded. His expression darkened, his excitement shifting into something more serious. "You don’t understand, Selena. Hector didn’t just kill Camila—he wiped out an entire casino. And that place? It was practically owned by Don Gray." Selena swallowed
Hector stared at Ruby as he waited for her answers. "My heart could not bear to watch you die." She replied. His jaw clenched, his mind reeling. He narrowed his eyes, his voice low and dangerous. “What does that mean?” Ruby lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with intense emotions. “I know it sounds ridiculous,” she admitted. Her voice was soft, yet unwavering. “I know my place. I know I am nothing but a dog to you, a slave at your disposal. I know that.” She exhaled sharply, lowering her gaze for a moment before looking at him again. “But I couldn’t forget our first meeting. I mean...I haven't been able to forget our first meeting.” His brows furrowed. “Our first meeting?” She nodded, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “I was under the influence,” she continued, “but that doesn’t mean I forgot. That day… what happened between us…the way you fucked me.....the things you did to me, even today...it’s still in me. It’s a part of me.” Hector inhaled. That first day, th