Chapter 2

‎‎Victor’s POV

‎My world ended nine years ago.

‎Sometimes I still feel it....the exact moment everything split in two. Before… and after.

‎Before, I had a family. Friends. Laughter in the house.

‎It started as a simple land dispute. But it ended with my parents dead… and a third body burnt beyond recognition in the ruins of our home.

‎I remember standing there as a boy, my fists clenched so tightly my nails cut into my palms. The air smelled like ash and melted metal. Men spoke around me, voices low and cautious, but all I could hear was the roar of the fire replaying in my head.

‎Till today, no one knows who that third body belonged to.

‎I’ve spent years searching. Pulling strings. Paying people. Threatening others.

‎Nothing.

‎The body was destroyed beyond recognition....as if someone wanted it that way.

‎After my parents died, my grandfather took me in. He didn’t raise me with bedtime stories or comfort. He raised me with rules, discipline… and truth.

‎That was when I learned about the family business.

‎The Mafia.

‎I still remember the first time he said the word. I felt something inside me crack.... and something darker take its place. From that day on, I stopped being a boy and started becoming the man I am now.

‎A man with blood on his hands.

‎A man feared in rooms he hasn’t even entered yet.

‎A man who learned that mercy is expensive… and weakness gets you buried.

‎But no matter how powerful I become, one thing hasn’t changed.

‎My parents’ deaths are still a mystery.

‎And I will uncover the truth.

‎That is why I must marry Alice Smith.

‎The only girl I ever truly loved.

‎…At least, I did once.

‎Now? I’m not sure I know what love feels like anymore.

‎My life is chaos......women, deals, enemies, blood, money. Nothing stays long enough to matter.

‎Except her.

‎Alice is one of the few good memories from my childhood. One of the few things untouched by the darkness swallowing my life.

‎But everything changed the night my house burned.

‎I can still remember how I felt when I saw her lying unconscious at my gate.

‎I remember running toward her, my heartbeat slamming against my ribs. I remember dropping to my knees beside her, shaking her shoulders, calling her name. Her skin was cold. Her face streaked with soot.

‎What was she doing there?

‎That question has followed me for nine years.

‎I’ve tried to approach her many times. Tried to start the conversation. Tried to demand answers.

‎But every single time, I stop.

‎Because this isn’t a question I can ask without a plan.

‎And I never move without a plan.

‎This marriage will give me that chance.

‎It will put her close enough that she won’t be able to run from the truth.

‎

‎And yes…

‎The letter is fake.

‎My father never arranged any marriage between us.

‎No promises were written. No agreement was made.

‎I forged it.

‎Perfectly.

‎Because sometimes the only way to uncover the truth…

‎is to force fate’s hand.

‎

‎Alice’s voice drifted through the half-open door.

‎“I'm not going to marry him.”

‎I stilled in the hallway.

‎Her father’s voice came sharp and heavy. “You must. A promise is a promise.”

‎A chair scraped. Footsteps thundered.

‎The study door burst open and Alice stormed out....straight into me.

‎She hit my chest with a soft thud.

‎My hands instinctively caught her arms to steady her.

‎For a second, neither of us moved.

‎She looked up.

‎Mu breath caught.

‎Nine years… and she was still the girl who could knock the air from my lungs without trying.

‎Her fingers were still pressed against my chest. I wondered if she could feel how violently my heart was beating.

‎“Hello, Allie,” I said softly, a crooked smile forming. I added a playful wink, masking the sudden rush of nerves. “Long time.”

‎Colour flooded her cheeks instantly.

‎The sight hit me harder than i expected.

‎God… she still blushes.

‎“I am not getting married to you,” she snapped, though her voice wavered slightly.

‎I tilted my head, amused, but there was a faint ache behind my smile.

‎“Oh, my little Allie,” I murmured, the old nickname slipping out before I could stop it. “You will marry me.”

‎I watched her closely, searching her face for any sign the name still meant something to her.

‎“I will never marry you!” she shot back. Her hands clenched at her sides. “You’re promiscuous, wicked, and terrible.”

‎The words struck.

‎For a brief moment, something raw flickered in my eyes....hurt, sharp and unexpected.

‎But i swallowed it, letting a teasing grin replace it.

‎“Ah… promiscuous?” i echoed lightly, folding my arms. “What made you say that?”

‎I leaned closer, lowering my voice playfully.

‎“Have you been stalking me?”

‎Her eyes widened in outrage.

‎“That’s not.... I don’t....”

‎I smiled fully this time, and for a heartbeat she froze, clearly thrown off balance.

‎Then her expression hardened again. She shoved past me, shoulder brushing mine, and disappeared into a room down the hall. A door slammed.

‎I exhaled slowly, staring after her.

‎She still affects me.

‎I rubbed the back of my neck, forcing myself to focus, then turned and walked into the study.

‎“Mr. Smith,” i greeted respectfully.

‎Alice’s father looked up, relief softening his face. “Victor, my boy. How are you?”

‎“Fine, sir.” i stepped forward, posture straightening, voice turning serious. “I need your help.”

‎Mr. Smith frowned slightly. “What do you need, my boy?”

‎I hesitated just long enough to feel the weight of what i was about to say.

‎Then i met the older man’s eyes.

‎“I need Alice’s inheritance.”

‎Silence crashed into the room.

‎Mr. Smith’s face stiffened.

‎“What?”

‎