Se connecterBy the time I arrived at my studio, my mind was already filled with color palettes, floor plans, and furniture catalogs. I ran an interior design company specializing in art museum displays, high-end wedding designs, and new restaurant concepts. Today’s schedule was packed."Focus, Vivian. Be professional. Don’t float around like a newlywed idiot," I reminded myself, rubbing my temples before grabbing my tablet.My assistant, Martha, peeked in. “Your 10 a.m. client is here, Mrs. Reyes.”I still wasn’t used to that. Mrs. Reyes.“Send her in,” I said, smoothing my blazer.A woman in her late thirties walked in—elegant, sharp-featured, and dressed in a sleek beige suit.“Mrs. Reyes, thank you for seeing me,” she said with a polite smile.“Please, call me Vivian,” I replied, shaking her hand. “How can I help you?”She pulled out a folder. “I’m opening a new art café in Seminyak. I saw your work at Liora Art Museum, and I want something similar—clean, modern lines but with warm lighting an
(Vivian’s POV)Five months after our weddingThe soft rise and fall of Kai’s chest beneath my cheek almost lulled me to sleep, but my mind refused to rest. My body still hummed—sensitive, tender, beautifully ruined by him—but my thoughts wandered in too many directions at once.Five months of marriage.Five months of loving him, wanting him, surviving him.I tilted my head up slightly, trying to study him without waking him. His jaw relaxed, the sharpness of it softened in sleep. His hand still rested possessively on my hip, heavy and warm, as if his body refused to let mine go even unconsciously.“My husband,” I whispered to myself, barely moving my lips.His fingers twitched, almost tightening.God. Even asleep, he was impossible.I eased myself up, intending to slip away to the bathroom for a moment, but the second I moved an inch, his eyes snapped open—dark, sharp, alert. Like he’d been awake the whole time.“Where are you going?” he murmured, voice rough and still thick with slee
(Kai’s POV)The moment the hotel suite door clicked shut behind us, I turned the lock and faced her. My wife.My wife.The word sounded unreal in my head, too beautiful to be true. But there she was—Vivian Rosendale-Reyes now—standing barefoot on the marble floor, wrapped in white silk and innocence she no longer had. At least, not with me.She looked up at me beneath thick lashes, her cheeks slightly flushed from the champagne, or maybe from knowing what came next.“You're mine now,” I said, voice low, deliberate.Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak.Good. I didn’t want her to.I stepped forward, grabbed her by the waist, and pressed her back against the wall with my body. “Do you have any idea what that means, Vivian?”She gave a soft, shaky breath. “You’re going to tell me, aren’t you?”I smiled—dark, possessive. “No, baby. I’m going to show you.”I kissed her like I hadn’t seen her in years. Hard, hungry. She tasted like wedding cake and trouble. My fingers tangled in her hair a
(Vivian’s POV)The cheers still rang in my ears.I couldn’t believe I was finally married to Kai Reyes. My Kai. The man who saved me, loved me, and never gave up on me even when I was broken. The weight of that reality still hadn’t fully sunk in.The reception had ended in a blur of champagne toasts, laughter, and nonstop smiling until my cheeks ached. My fingers kept grazing the wedding band on my left hand, as if checking to see if it was real.Now, we were finally alone.I was sitting on the edge of the bed in our honeymoon suite, still wearing the long white gown, but barefoot, my heels discarded somewhere across the room. Rose petals were scattered across the floor and bed. Candlelight flickered across the walls. The soft hum of jazz played in the background.The door clicked behind Kai, and I looked up. He had just finished a quick call to Willem, making sure everything was settled with the guests downstairs.When he turned to me, his eyes softened—like I was the only thing in t
(Vivian's POV)Two months had passed since that horrific night—since I was kidnapped by someone I once considered a friend. Darius. Just thinking about his name sent a chill down my spine. I had trusted him. I had laughed with him. And yet, behind my back, he was planning the most evil, degrading thing anyone could imagine. If Kai hadn’t found me in time, I don’t know where I would be today… or what I would have become.But Kai did find me.He saved me—like he always does.The nightmares still came sometimes, but they weren’t as paralyzing as before. I had Kai. And his arms were the safest place in the world. With his help, my family’s support, and hours of therapy, I started to feel like me again. Stronger. Wiser. Loved.And today… today, I was going to marry him.“Breathe, Vivian,” my maid of honor whispered, laughing softly as she adjusted my veil. “You’re going to pass out before you walk down the aisle.”I took a deep breath, letting my eyes flutter shut for a moment. “I’m not ne
(Vivian’s POV)My head throbbed like it had been cracked open. The dull ache behind my eyes pulsed with every heartbeat, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was—or who I was.Then I realized I couldn’t move.My wrists were bound above my head. My ankles too—tied together. I was lying on a bed that wasn’t mine, surrounded by dim red lighting and the sickening stench of sweat and perfume.Panic seized me like a wave crashing through my chest.What the hell is this? Where am I?I tried to sit up, to scream, but my mouth was dry and my limbs wouldn’t cooperate. That’s when I noticed what I was wearing—a barely-there piece







