Chapter 2

His words echoed in my ears long after he finished speaking. For a moment, I simply stared at him, convinced I had misunderstood. Marry him? The infamous Mafia King? The most feared man in the city? My fingers tightened around the jacket he had draped over my shoulders as I searched his face for any sign that he was joking. There was none. His expression remained calm, almost unreadable, as though asking a complete stranger to become his wife was the most ordinary thing in the world. The rain continued to fall around us, but I no longer felt the cold. My heart was beating too fast for me to notice anything else.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered, my voice shaking. "Did you just say... marry you?" Dante gave a slight nod. "You heard me correctly." I let out a nervous laugh, taking a small step backward. "You don't even know me." His gray eyes never left mine. "I know enough." Confusion flooded my mind. "Why would someone like you want to marry a woman like me? There are thousands of women who would say yes without thinking twice." For the first time, the corner of his lips lifted into a faint smile. "I'm not looking for thousands of women. I'm asking you."

I looked away, trying to make sense of the impossible situation. Everything had happened so quickly that it felt like a dream. Only hours ago, I had been finishing my shift at the café. Now my brother had been kidnapped, I had no way to save him, and the most powerful man in the city was offering me a deal that could change my life forever. It didn't make sense. Nothing about this night made sense. "There has to be another way," I said quietly. "I'll work for you. I'll repay every dollar. Just... don't ask me to marry you." Dante slipped one hand into his pocket and shook his head once. "Money isn't what I need."

A heavy silence settled between us. His bodyguards stood several steps behind him without saying a word, their faces completely expressionless. It was almost as though they already knew what my answer would be. Dante took another slow step toward me, his voice remaining calm. "The marriage will last one year. During that time, you'll live in my home and play the role of my wife. In return, your brother walks free tonight, his debt disappears, and neither of you will ever be threatened again." My breathing became uneven. It sounded too easy, too perfect. There had to be a catch. "Why me?" I asked again. This time, he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied me for several seconds before speaking. "Because I trust my judgment."

I wanted to refuse. Every instinct told me to run. My grandmother had always warned me that when an offer seemed too good to be true, it usually came with a price far greater than money. Marrying a man I had just met—especially a man surrounded by danger—was the last thing I had ever imagined for my future. I slowly removed his jacket and held it out to him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Moretti... but I can't do it." For the first time that night, something changed in his eyes. Not anger. Not disappointment. Acceptance. He took the jacket back without another word.

"As you wish," he said quietly.

He turned toward the waiting car.

My heart pounded, but I forced myself to stay where I was.

Just as Dante reached the car door, my phone suddenly vibrated.

Unknown Number.

With trembling hands, I answered.

A video appeared on the screen.

My blood ran cold.

Leo was still tied to the chair inside the warehouse.

One of the kidnappers struck him across the face before looking directly into the camera.

"You've got less than six hours now," the man sneered. "If the money doesn't arrive... your brother dies."

The video ended.

My hands began to shake so violently that my phone almost slipped from my fingers.

My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. Leo's frightened face was the only thing I could see. He had always been the one person who stood by me, even when we had nothing. I couldn't lose him. Not after everything we had survived together. Before I could think, my feet were already moving. "Mr. Moretti!" I called, my voice breaking as I ran through the rain. Dante stopped just before getting into his car. He turned slowly, his expression as calm as ever, waiting for me to speak. I came to a halt in front of him, struggling to catch my breath. My pride, my fears, and every dream I had for my own future crumbled in that single moment. There was only one thing that mattered now—saving my brother.

"I'll do it," I whispered, lowering my head. "I'll marry you." The words felt heavy as they left my lips, but I knew there was no turning back. Dante looked at me silently for several seconds, as though making sure I truly understood what I was agreeing to. "This isn't a decision you can regret tomorrow," he said quietly. "Once you become my wife, your life will change forever." I closed my eyes for a brief moment before nodding. "I've already lost everything except my brother. If marrying you is the only way to save him, then I accept."

A faint smile crossed Dante's face—not one of victory, but one of quiet satisfaction. He gestured toward one of his bodyguards. "Make the call." The man immediately stepped aside and spoke into his phone. Less than a minute later, he returned and nodded respectfully. "It's done, Boss. The boy has been released." I stared at them in disbelief. "Just like that?" Dante met my astonished gaze. "I keep my promises." Tears streamed down my cheeks, this time from overwhelming relief. Leo was safe. For the first time since the nightmare began, I could breathe again.

"Thank you," I said sincerely. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you." Dante took one slow step closer until only a small distance separated us. "You already have." His deep voice was calm, yet something about the way he looked at me made my heart beat faster. He gently lifted my chin with two fingers, his touch surprisingly careful. "From this moment on, Aria Bennett, no one will ever lay a hand on you or your brother again." His words should have comforted me, yet they also carried a weight I couldn't explain. It felt less like a promise... and more like a vow.

One of the bodyguards opened the rear door of the luxury car. "Your luggage has already been collected from your apartment," Dante said. My eyes widened in shock. "You... you went to my apartment?" "Everything has been taken care of." "But my clothes... my personal belongings..." "They're already waiting for you." I stared at him, speechless. This man had arranged my entire future before I had even agreed to his proposal. It was terrifying... yet strangely reassuring.

As I slid into the soft leather seat, I looked back through the rain-covered window at the quiet street I had called home for years. In a single night, everything had changed. The frightened waitress who had left work only hours ago was gone. Ahead of me lay a future filled with uncertainty, danger, and a husband I barely knew. The car pulled away smoothly, disappearing into the glittering lights of the city. I tightened my grip on my bag, silently praying I had made the right choice.

Nearly an hour later, towering black iron gates slowly opened before us. Beyond them stood a magnificent mansion surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens and guarded by armed security. The mansion looked less like a home and more like a palace hidden from the rest of the world. My breath caught as the car rolled to a stop beneath the grand entrance. Before I could gather my thoughts, a line of servants opened the front doors and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Moretti."

I froze.

Mrs. Moretti.

The title echoed through my mind as I looked at Dante, who had already stepped out of the car. He turned toward me and extended his hand, his gray eyes locked on mine.

"Come," he said softly.

I slipped my trembling hand into his