00| Prologue

For white is the tint that embodies her pristine innocence

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Her nervous fingers were tracing the hem of the shiny and fluffy white dress adorned with detailed work of laces. Given any other circumstances, she would be the happiest to be clothed in such a beautiful art of a dress but today is impenetrable in an adverse way.

"Miss, kindly hurry up," the maid standing outside her room urged, her voice trembling with arrant fear, the traces of which travelled straight to Miliani's chest also. She did not expect any harm to the woman outside because of her delay in following the commands but she could not just put herself together to comply.

"Master would not appreciate your delay-," she nervously kept delivering whatever she thought would sound more persuasive.

Miliani had no idea why Daniel Knight would want her to spruce up in that fancy attire, all of a sudden but she had a very bad feeling about this, her sixth sense was frightening her poorly. She heard some of the incoherent words from the maids who entered her room earlier to hand over the heavy dress, a pair of low heels and a brooch pin to tie up her long hair to the veil. They were discussing among themselves about something like a paper marriage but when Miliani queried out of paranoia observing the fancy white dress along with a veil, they quietly neglected her questions.

Why on earth Daniel would suddenly want to marry her off to someone .. moreover she has only turned eighteen. But the veil, its delicate lace and intricate design, was definitely meant for a wedding.

The maid outside tapped on the door desperately, she was given fifteen minutes to be exact and it was beyond an hour already. Miliani held the handles of the door and opened it with a hesitant pull, the maid sighed in relief noticing her clad beautifully in that floor touching, heavy gown.

"This way, miss," she ushered Miliani to the direction where she was commanded to bring her.

When Miliani produced a tentative step forward, her gaze locked onto the imposing tall stature of Daniel in the near distance. He moved towards her with purposeful strides, his jet black suit impeccably tailored over a crisp white shirt and a matching pair of black leather shoes adorned his body. Miliani's breath hitched in her throat at the sight of the man she fears with her entire being. She took two steps backwards nervously before spinning on her heel and fleeting to the stairs, frenzied to avoid whatever trap he had laid for her.

Daniel showed no effort to chase her, in fact, he had a mischievous smirk lingering on his chiselled face like he was daring that helpless girl to run even faster. The maid scurried away clearing his way, her eyes downcast, feeling pity for the girl as the mansion is locked at every exit with heavily guarded protocols. She would not be able to make it any far, her futile attempts would not serve in her favour rather than provoking this heartless beast who was watching her every move with cold amusement.

Hoisting the fabric of her long gown with her hands, Miliani hurriedly ran all the way out of the residential building of the mansion surprisingly finding the entrance of the opulent hall ungated. Her desperate eyes moved all around the places while she kept running through the huge garden yard of the mansion. Whichever exit door came into her view was closed with multiple watchmen nearby.

Having no other way, she opened the only door she found without anyone around - she stepped inside the dark, scary basement. She kept her palm on her mouth to keep herself from making any noise. Hiding here until anyone finds her appeared to be the only way to delay the devil's plan which might also disrupt it. After a moment of catching her breath, Miliani walked slowly in motive to reach the farthest corner of the basement to hide herself better.

After a few steps of hesitancy, passing across the cells of the basement, Miliani shirked out of extreme horror as a cold, bloody hand gripped her leg from a cell staining the pale of her skin and cloth in red.

"Please, free me, Mili, give me some poison," her bastard of a father, Adam's voice rang in her ear. Her father was the man behind all of her misery who sold her off to Tristian Romano, the cruel mafia. She acknowledged a life time of slavery in Tristian Romano's shelter until the day came when Daniel Knight snatched her away from Tristian and brought her to this Knight's mansion. She never knew the reason why he did that, not like she had the courage to ask ... at first, she assumed it was because her father, Adam, was involved with Tristian Romano's family in murdering Daniel's parents, but that seemed to be not sufficient of a reason. And the day, she finally dared to dream of being free, dawned a huge disaster on her turning it into her worst nightmare, a coerced marriage that she feared.

Miliani unsecured her leg forcefully from her father's grip, her hair pin fell down the floor with a thud. Ignoring her father's pleas, she fearfully staggered backwards gulping down the lumps of anxiety that were building like bile while trying to see properly in the dark of the basement when her back suddenly hit a stone hard chest. A strong, veiny arm wrapped around her waist swiftly pulling her feet up from the floor. The smell of nicotine filled her nostrils and the essence of raw dominance braced her terrified body. That arduous embrace kept her rooted to the same damn place effortlessly until her feeble thrashings halted.

"Time's up, bunny," Daniel hushed in her ear, his predatory eyes burning with detrimental determination.

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Like a fragile bird trapped in a storm, she felt the weight of his presence suffocating her every hope of escape.

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