Elena’s POV:

I was washing my clothes when Dad called me.

Elena: “Yes?”

Without taking his eyes off the TV, he pointed toward a box. I walked to it and opened it. My breath hitched.

Inside lay a dress—purple, elegant, adorned with shining diamonds. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Roman: “Some guests are coming tomorrow. I don’t want any mistakes.”

I nodded silently and went back to my room.

Elena’s POV

Next day:

I cooked several dishes since guests were coming. It was rare—almost strange—for someone to visit us.

Roman: “Are you ready?”
Elena: “Just five minutes.”

I rushed to my room, completely engrossed in getting ready. Half an hour later, the guests arrived. I picked up a tray and served them tea. Everything felt normal—until I noticed him.

He was sitting on the sofa while the others stood behind him.

Black suit. Clean. Classy. A mischievous, dangerous vibe.

His eyes never left me. A chill ran down my spine. I quietly left the room. An hour later, Dad came to me. He grabbed my elbow and dragged me back to the living room, then released me with a harsh jerk.

Roman: “She’s all yours now.”

I stared at him, shocked.

Elena: “What?”

The man stood up and walked toward me. I watched his every move. He stopped right in front of me and raised his hand to brush a strand of my hair—but I stepped back.

He smirked.

Alex: “Your dad just sold you to me.”

My eyes widened. I looked at my father. He remained neutral.

Elena: “Dad, no—please. I’ll give you all the money.”

Tears blurred my vision.

Alex: “It’s not about your money. He had only two options—death or money.”

Elena: “Shut the fuck up.”

I tried to move toward my dad, but someone yanked me back by my hair.

Alex: “Watch your tongue before you speak. There’s no ‘sorry’ in my dictionary.”

His jaw clenched. His eyes burned with hatred—or maybe pure anger. He shoved me away.

Alex: “Take her.”

Before I could protest—Darkness swallowed me.

My head throbbed.

A dull, relentless pain pulsed through my skull as consciousness slowly crept back. My eyelids felt heavy, like lifting them required more strength than I had left. Panic rushed through me. I forced my eyes open.

A large room—dimly lit. A white ceiling. Too clean. Too unfamiliar. The room looked expensive. Minimal. No windows.

I swallowed hard. Footsteps echoed.

Slow. Unhurried. Controlled.

The door opened. He walked in.

Same black suit. Jacket discarded. Sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms marked with faint scars. His presence alone made the room feel smaller.

He stopped a few feet away, studying me.

Alex: “You’re awake.”

My lips trembled, but I lifted my chin and stood on my feet.

Elena: “Leave me.”

He chuckled softly—low and dangerous.

Alex: “You don’t make demands here.”

He circled me slowly, like a predator inspecting its prey.

Elena: “My dad—”

Alex: “Is alive… for now.”

I sucked in a shaky breath.

Elena: “Tell me what’s going on.”

He chuckled again. I hated it.

Alex: “My name is Alessandro Romano. Occupation…”
Pause
Alex: “Mafia.”

My heartbeat spiked as fear crawled up my spine.

Alex: “Your dad mortgaged you and took fourteen crore. Obviously, he failed to repay the debt. Now—you're mine.”

I took a long breath. Somewhere inside, I wasn’t even surprised. I was cursed from the moment I was born.

Elena: “He promised money. I’ll give it to you. Let me go.”

He stepped forward. Too close. He bent down until his face was level with mine.

Alex: “Do you think I’m mad to give your dad such a heavy loan?”

I stared at him.

Alex: “I offered him money.”

Elena: “Why?”

His eyes darkened.

Alex: “Because I’m obsessed with you.”

My heart pounded violently. Something unreadable flashed through his eyes. My stomach dropped.

Elena: “I’m not a thing.”

He straightened, his expression hardening.

Alex: “In my world, everyone is.”

He turned toward the door, then paused.

Alex: “You’ll stay here tonight. Tomorrow, you leave with me.”

Elena: “Leave… where?”

He glanced over his shoulder. A slow, wicked smile curved his lips.

Alex: “To my territory.”

The door slammed shut.

I closed my eyes, tears slipping silently down my cheeks.

Whatever world he belonged to—

I had just been dragged into it.

Elena’s POV ends.

Next day:

The mansion stood silent in the early morning light, its grandeur masking the darkness woven into its walls. From the outside, it looked like a palace—white stone, wide balconies, carefully trimmed gardens. Inside, every corridor whispered power and possession.

Elena wondered how she had ended up there. She slowly looked around. The room was decorated so beautifully that it resembled a palace from a Disney fairytale—elegant furniture, soft colors, and an almost unreal sense of comfort. Everything felt warm, luxurious, and carefully arranged.

It didn’t match the fear in her chest.

As her eyes continued to scan the room, they landed on a small balcony. Drawn by curiosity and unease, she walked toward it. Gently, she looked down.

And froze.

There he was…….Alessandro Romano.

His name sounded strange to her—Alessandro Romano. Heavy. Foreign. Like it belonged to a man who was never meant to live a normal life.

Below, he was talking to another man dressed in a black suit.

Of course—black.

Elena couldn’t help the thought that crossed her mind.

Was it necessary for mafia men to always wear black?
They looked less like businessmen and more like they were permanently attending a funeral.

Maybe it was fitting.

After all, wherever Alessandro Romano stood, something—or someone—was bound to lose their freedom.

And she was standing above him now, unknowingly watching the man who had just rewritten her fate.

Christian POV,

Man: "She hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. She refuses to eat."
Christian: "Why?"
Man: "I don’t know. She looks like she is sick, sir."

I nodded. I walked toward the basement. My footsteps immediately alerted her. She looked at me. Her light brown eyes were red now, her face asking me questions, hands and legs red from struggling to get free.

I sighed.

Christian: "I have two options. Either kill you or keep you here for a lifetime."

She looked at me fiercely.

Christian: "What should I do?"

Lucia: "Kill me."

Christian: "As you wish."

I took out my gun and pointed it toward her. Our eyes locked. I pulled the trigger and that’s it. Her scream echoed in the basement.

Christian: "Do you feel pain? You thought it would be easy to die?"

My voice darkened, so did my eyes. She looked at me. Her stomach was bleeding uncontrollably.

Christian: "Or did you think I wouldn’t shoot?"

Lucia: "Do whatever you want, but I won’t surrender for your fragile ego."

Alex: "Oh my baby. So sweet of you."

He said while entering. Her eyes shifted from me to him.

Alex: "You don’t know Christian. He’ll make your life hell."

No response. She sat silently. But fear was nowhere in her eyes.

Alex: "You’re beautiful."

He said while caressing her cheek. She moved her face in disgust. I watched her every move.

Christian: "Lucia, right?"

She looked at me.

Christian: "I don’t like playing, so don’t waste our time."

She rolled her eyes.

Lucia: "You guys think everything is made for you, even death. Like you’re a god. But you’re wrong. I’d rather die than surrender."

Her voice, her boldness, surprised me.
But why is she not surrendering? Why do I see hate in her eyes for me?

Suddenly, she started coughing blood.

Christian: "You know what to do."

I said to one of my men and left from there with Alex.

Christian POV End.

Alex POV,

I came out of my Rolls-Royce car. I was excited to have her. That purple dress was so sexy that I couldn’t help imagining how she would look when I tore it apart.

I walked to the room she was in. One click, and I was inside. She was sitting on the sofa. She immediately stood up. Fear was visible on her face—and I liked that. As I stepped closer, she moved back.

Elena: "What are you doing?"

Alex: "I didn’t pay my fourteen crore for you to just sit."

Elena: "I’m telling you to stop."

Alex: "Sweetheart, you still don’t get it. I’m the king of this territory."

I grabbed her elbow and pulled her closer. Her plump lips were tempting me. I was about to kiss those lips when she jerked me away and stabbed a knife into my hand.

I groaned.

Alex: "Bad move, sweetheart."

She held the knife, pointing it toward me. I chuckled. Within a moment, the knife was in my hand.

Alex: "It’s my daily activity, sweetheart."

With my bleeding hand, I walked toward her.

Elena: "Please stop. Don’t do this."

Alex: "There’s no way I’m stopping today. I waited two whole years for you."

It had been two years since I first saw her. She was watering plants—wet hair, red frock. She looked like a goddess.

Elena: "I won’t let you touch me."

Alex: "You can’t do anything. You’re sold to me. I have every right to do whatever I want… you’re my slave."

As soon as I finished, she ran to the balcony. Before I could process it, she jumped. My instinct was fast enough to catch her hand. My blood flowed from my arm to her as our eyes locked. I ignored the pain and tried to pull her up, but she resisted. My blood boiled.

With all my strength, I pulled her up. The first thing I did was slap her. Tears formed in her eyes as she held her cheek.

Alex: "Are you mad or what? Why did you jump?"

No response.

I held her neck and started choking her.

Elena: "Did you save me just to kill me by your own hand?"

I realized it and left her. But my anger took over. I broke everything possible in the room. Bruises covered my hands, but my rage wouldn’t stop. I moved toward her and tore her dress.

Elena: "Please… don’t rape me."

It came out as a whisper.

Rape?

It startled me. I moved back and left the room.

Alex POV End.