LOGINThe Vaughn mansion welcomed their return with a grand, stifling silence. The pungent scent of white lilies—Maximilian’s favorite flower—filled the main hall. Elara felt Xavier’s fingers squeeze her waist once before he released his hold, slipping back into his mask of a polite crown prince."Welcome back, darling," Maximilian’s raspy voice echoed from the dining room.Maximilian sat in his wheelchair at the end of a long table laden with silver platters. His face looked slightly fresher, with a glint of triumph that made the hair on Elara’s neck stand up."Maximilian," Elara approached the old man with a sweet smile she had practiced in the jet's mirror. She leaned down, kissing her husband’s cheek softly, acting the part of the world’s most loyal wife. "I missed you so much. How was your therapy today?"Maximilian chuckled, his hands—which were starting to regain strength—stroking the back of Elara’s hand. "Much better now that you’re home. And you, Xavier... thank you for taking suc
Elara’s whimpers were swallowed by the silence of the room, illuminated only by the pale moonlight. Xavier gave her no room to breathe. The touch of his tongue on her most sensitive areas sent electric jolts through her, making her back arch violently. Elara’s fingers clawed at the silk sheets, desperate for a grip amidst the storm of passion that threatened to drown her."Xavier... Ahhh... please," Elara whispered hoarsely, caught between begging him to stop and pleading for something deeper.Xavier lifted his face, staring at her with eyes darkened by lust and possession. He didn’t grant her wish immediately. Instead, he hovered over her, letting their heated skin graze against each other. He gripped her jaw firmly yet demandingly, forcing her to look straight at him."You want this, don't you? You want this monster more than you want the luxury of that useless old husband of yours," Xavier growled lowly.Without waiting for an answer, Xavier stripped off his remaining clothes with
A night on the Amalfi coast should have felt romantic, but for Elara, the air felt suffocating. The luxury resort, perched precariously on a stone cliff, was illuminated by thousands of crystal lights, reflecting off the backless black silk gown that clung to her body like a second skin. The sapphire necklace Xavier had given her felt heavy and cold around her neck, as if the gems were Xavier’s own hands constantly gripping her.Xavier stood beside her in a custom charcoal suit that made him look like a lord of darkness. His hand never left Elara’s waist. His grip wasn't painful, but it was intensely possessive—a silent warning to anyone who dared to look at his wife for too long."Remember my instructions, Elara," Xavier whispered directly into her ear as they stepped toward the private dining room. His warm breath, scented with mint and expensive tobacco, made the hair on her neck stand up. "Stay by my side. Do not smile at anyone unless it’s part of the business deal.""Are you afr
"Why so sudden? I need my Elara, Xavier. You know that!"Xavier smiled bitterly. This morning, at the breakfast table, he had expressed his desire to take Elara on a business trip to Italy with him."Well, what can I do? If you object, Father, I can go alone. But I cannot guarantee the investors will agree if it isn't you or your 'trusted wife' who shows up," he said.Max fell silent. Doubt clouded his mind, but concern for the project’s failure weighed heavier. He wanted Elara by his side at all times—the woman he was obsessed with—but she also had to help him manage the empire. In truth, he trusted Elara more than his own son. Little did Max know, Elara was not nearly as saintly as he imagined."Fine. But please, look after my wife. I have many enemies out there. It would be extremely dangerous for her to go without protection!""Of course, Father. Mother will be safe with me," Xavier said, glancing at Elara with a smile that carried a dark, hidden meaning.The hum of the Vaughn fam
Initially, Elara resisted, but as the seconds ticked by, her body began to betray her. She kissed him back. Their tongues entwined in a desperate, frantic dance, Xavier fueled by a volatile mix of obsession and deep-seated resentment, while Elara surrendered, finding herself perversely enjoying his ferocity despite the crushing weight of her sin.In the midst of that dangerous kiss, a flashback hit Xavier like a spray of shattered glass.Five years ago. A cramped apartment near campus. Xavier, who had renounced the Vaughn name to live a simple, independent life, had prepared a cheap ring bought with months of part-time wages. He had intended to propose to Elara. Instead, that night, he found only a single note left on their rickety wooden table.“I can’t live in poverty, Xavier. Your father was right; love can’t pay my debts. I’m sorry, but I’m choosing someone who can secure my future.”Xavier didn’t know that Elara had been sobbing under the crushing weight of a threat. Her father’s
"You truly are a devil, Xavier!" Elara cried out as she struggled to break free from his grip, fleeing the room with suppressed rage.Xavier watched her go, a smirk spreading across his face. He brushed his thumb over his bottom lip. "This devil is the one who will give you pleasure, Mama!"Tonight, the Vaughn estate felt more suffocating than usual. Elara stood before the large mirror in her room, her fingers trembling as they touched the black choker wrapped tightly around her neck. It felt like an invisible chain, a constant reminder that wherever she went, Xavier was watching."Elara? Are you in there?" Maximilian’s voice called from behind the door, followed by the soft hum of his electric wheelchair.Elara quickly adjusted her silk nightgown—a flimsy thing chosen by Maximilian that always made her feel practically naked. Maximilian looked different tonight. There was a glint of triumph in his eyes, which were usually filled only with frustration."Come here," Maximilian commande







