His Heartless Vows

Aria~ "Aria, hurry up the guests are waiting in the garden!" Mother's voice sliced through the bedroom door, sharp with panic. It squeezed my chest tight as I stood frozen in front of the mirror, my fingers shaking while tangled in the heavy white dress. The lace scratched my skin, the silk felt too smooth against my body, and the veil draped softly over my shoulders. The dark makeup and red lipstick transformed me into the perfect bride or so it seemed. But inside, my stomach churned with pain, my heart weighed down like lead. This was supposed to be Elara's wedding, my beautiful sister's day. Yet she'd run away, leaving me to wear her dress and walk her path. How did one note destroy everything? I'd found her room first destroyed, clothes thrown everywhere, suitcase vanished. On the floor lay one crumpled note: I'm sorry. I can't marry him. I love someone else. Don't look for me. Be happy for me someday. Father's business was dying, debts piling up lik

Aria ~ The room was bathed in dim red light like blood pooling on the walls. Damien stood shirtless in the center, belt unbuckled, eyes glinting with something feral. The bed had black silk restraints tied to all four corners. On the table: vibrator wand, lube, blindfold, ball gag, "PROPERTY" paddle. My eyes bulged. My knees gave out. This wasn't punishment. This was destruction. "Lock the door behind you, Aria," Damien said, his voice calm but laced with absolute menace, like a predator playing with prey. "Take off that disgusting gray dress you've been wearing all morning. We're starting your real training right now punishment comes first, then you'll learn exactly what I expect from my perfect wife." "Damien, please... what are all these things laid out on the table?" I backed away slowly, my voice shaking uncontrollably as my hands flew up to protect myself. "I already cleaned up every single piece of that broken breakfast plate, and I apologized to you over and over again p

Aria ~ As I headed downstairs to start breakfast preparation like every other morning, maids' hushed voices from the hallway stopped me dead in my tracks. Their cleaning supplies clattered softly as they whispered urgently to each other. "Miss Sophia's finally back from abroad today," the first one said, her voice dropping even lower. "She's joining the family gathering tonight. You know Mr. Blackwood always treats her like she's something really special." The second maid laughed softly. "Sophia? Oh yeah, the one he's protected since they were kids? I heard she's like family to him but even closer. Everyone's excited she's here." I slipped away quickly before they noticed me, my heart suddenly pounding hard against my ribs. Sophia? Who the hell is this Sophia everyone seems to worship? In the kitchen I moved automatically—eggs sunny side up exactly how he liked, bacon crisp but never burned, coffee strong and black. My hands shook slightly as I plated everything

Damien's POV I fucking hate her. I hate Aria Harrington with every goddamn fiber of my being, and tonight proves why she's nothing but poison in my life. Pushing Sophia into that pool what the hell was she thinking? Sophia's so fragile, always has been since we were kids. One wrong move and she could've drowned right there, her lungs filling with water while I stood helpless watching it happen because of this jealous, spiteful bitch I unwisely married. Aria Harrington daughter of that useless sack of shit Richard Harrington, the man whose mountain of gambling debts forced this nightmare marriage on me. I regret every second of signing those papers, every glance at her fake perfect-wife act. Should've let her family rot in bankruptcy instead of playing savior. She's no Blackwood. She's a replacement, nothing more a placeholder for the sister who actually ran but left me stuck with this trash. Tonight at the villa, everyone saw it. My own mother slapping the truth into her face, r

Aria's POVLegs felt leaden descending those last few stairs, every step echoing too loud in my skull as their laughter faded into awkward quiet. Forced a tight smile that didn't reach eyes, nodding at Sophia's bright greeting like it didn't twist knives in my gut. Damien's gaze flicked up brief cool assessment, no warmth before returning to her with that easy affection I'd kill to earn once.Seeing them there together on our sofa, thighs brushing casual, her hand lingering light on his knee... it hit wrong, deep and nauseating. I knew how our marriage started arranged mess to bail out my family's debts, no love, just resentment from day one. Fine. Accepted that long ago. But he's married to me now, vows spoken in front of God and witnesses. Doesn't give him free pass to parade another woman through our home, laughing like she owns the space. Especially not her Sophia, the fragile first love he chose over his drowning wife without second thought. Jealousy burned ugly and justified.