The devil's rules

Aria...

I didn't sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my father's guilty face, Ethan's betrayal, and Lucian's emotionless expression as he claimed me in front of the entire city. By the time the first rays of sunlight slipped through the floor-to-ceiling windows, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones.

The bedroom was larger than my entire apartment from college. White marble floors gleamed beneath my bare feet, and expensive paintings decorated the walls. A walk-in closet filled with designer dresses stood beside the bedroom, every piece in my size.

It made me sick.

He hadn't just planned my arrival.

He had prepared for me.

A knock echoed on the door.

"Miss Romano?" Mrs. Hayes called softly. "Breakfast is ready."

"I'm not hungry."

"I'm afraid Mr. Devereux insists everyone eats together."

I laughed bitterly.

"Of course he does."

I stood in the middle of the dining room, refusing to move. The aroma of freshly baked bread, coffee, and warm pancakes filled the air, but I ignored it. Lucian sat at the head of the long mahogany table, calmly cutting into his breakfast as though I wasn't standing there defying him. Every servant remained perfectly still, too afraid to even breathe.

"Sit," Lucian said without looking at me.

"I said I'm not eating with you."

His knife and fork came to a stop. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet mine. They were cold, unreadable, and somehow more frightening than if he had shouted.

"I won't repeat myself."

"Then don't.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The tension in the room was suffocating. Mrs. Hayes lowered her head, silently praying I would give in.

Instead, I turned around.

"I'd rather starve than obey you."

Without waiting for a response, I walked out of the dining room with my head held high.

The mansion fell eerily silent.

A few seconds later, Lucian's deep voice echoed through the hallway.

"Mrs. Hayes."

"Yes, Mr. Devereux."

"Gather every member of the household."

Within minutes, every servant, chef, maid, butler, and security guard stood in the grand foyer.

I watched from the staircase, my stomach tightening.

Lucian descended the last step with the same calm expression he always wore. He slipped one hand into his pocket and looked at the staff.

"From this moment forward," he announced, "Miss Romano is not to be served a single meal."

Confused murmurs spread among the servants.

Mrs. Hayes looked horrified.

"Sir..."

He silenced her with a single glance.

"No breakfast. No lunch. No dinner."

My heart skipped.

"You can't be serious."

Lucian finally looked at me.

"If she asks for food..."

His voice remained calm.

"...you will refuse."

A young maid nervously swallowed.

"For how long, sir?"

"Until I say otherwise."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You'd let me starve?"

"I offered you breakfast."

"You ordered me."

"I gave you a choice."

I laughed bitterly.

"That's not a choice."

"It was."

Mrs. Hayes hesitated before speaking again.

"Mr. Devereux... she's young. She hasn't eaten since yesterday."

His expression didn't change.

"Perhaps hunger will teach her what pride cannot."

Every servant lowered their heads.

"Yes, sir."

Rage burned inside me.

"You think this will make me obey you?"

Lucian took a slow step toward me.

"No."

He stopped only a few feet away.

"I think you'll eventually realize that every decision has consequences."

His words were calm, but they struck harder than a scream.

I refused to let him see how shaken I was.

"You'll regret this."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I rarely regret anything."

With that, he turned and walked toward his office without another glance.

The front doors closed behind him.

Silence settled over the mansion once more.

Mrs. Hayes looked at me with pity.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Romano."

"It's fine," I whispered, forcing a smile.

"I don't need anything from him."

But as the hours passed, the smell of food drifted through the halls from the kitchen. My stomach growled painfully.

The maids avoided my eyes.

The chefs looked guilty every time they passed me.

No one dared break Lucian's order.

For the first time since arriving at the Devil's mansion...

I realized everyone feared Lucian Devereux far more than they pitied me.