LOGINAria's POV Rough hands grabbed me suddenly from underwater not Damien's familiar grip, but strong and unfamiliar. A younger guy surfaced right beside me coughing hard, his dark hair plastered flat against his forehead from the water. "Hold on tight, I've got you!" It was Damien's cousin Marco, the one with the cocky grin I'd seen earlier inside I barely recognized him through the blur of chlorine stinging my eyes. He hooked both arms firmly under mine and hauled me up gasping onto the cold pool deck, where Sophia was already shivering wrapped in thick towels. Damien's arm held tight around her shoulders while he murmured something low and reassuring just for her. The crowd around us buzzed even louder now, their whispers quickly turning into outright stares and pointed fingers as I collapsed there coughing up water from my burning lungs, my ruined emerald gown clinging like dead weight. Before I could even catch my breath or stand properly, my mother-in-law came storming
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
Aria ~ Two days of absolute hell in this marriage. Every morning I forced myself out of bed at 6 AM sharp despite the bruises that still throbbed from that nightmare punishment, racing downstairs to prepare what Damien demanded as his "perfect" breakfast by exactly 8 o'clock. Sunny-side up eggs with runny yolks, bacon cooked extra crisp but never burned, black coffee strong enough to wake the dead. Yesterday he complained the toast was too crumbly around the edges. Today the eggs were a touch overcooked even though I triple-checked the timer. No matter how hard I tried to meet his impossible standards, he always found something to tear apart. This battle is completely unwinnable. He'll never accept anything I do. This morning while I carefully plated his usual meal with shaking hands, he barely glanced up from scrolling through his phone. "Listen carefully, Aria. Tonight my parents and brother are coming here for family dinner. I expect you to actually cook
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~ Ice-cold water slammed my face, yanking me from exhausted sleep. I jolted upright, gasping, sheets drenched, hair dripping down my neck. Damien loomed over the bed, empty glass dangling from his fingers, his face twisted in pure disgust. "Jesus Christ, Aria—it's 8 AM already! What kind of new bride sleeps till noon like some lazy whore? This isn't your daddy's pathetic little house anymore. Get your ass up!" I choked on water and tears, wiping my face with shaking hands. "Damien, please—I barely slept at all last night. I just kept thinking... how am I supposed to survive this marriage? How does any of this even work when you hate me this much?" The truth poured out raw I'd sobbed till my eyes burned, imagining endless days of his cruelty carving me hollow. He laughed, a cold, hollow sound that made my stomach drop. "Oh, poor little baby, crying over her new reality? Let me give you your first lesson since you're clearly too stupid to figure it out. You want to be the pe
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







