CHAPTER 3: BRUNO

“Strong bone density. Checked.”

“Firm muscle tone, untouched and highly fertile. Checked.”

She approved every single metric on the list, officially logging my name into the system as a successful prime candidate. Reaching over, she pressed a glossy red button mounted on the wall. Less than a minute later, a pair of maids entered the room to usher me out.

They led me down a grand hallway that dwarfed my father's house ten times over. Eventually, the maids halted outside a set of towering golden double doors, flanked by three heavily armed elite guards. After a brief, quiet exchange between the maids and the security detail, one of the guards stepped forward and knocked three times in a distinct, rhythmic pattern.

The heavy doors unlocked and swung inward on automated hinges.

I was gently nudged inside.

The sheer scale of the room took my breath away. In the center sat a massive, opulent bed draped in pure white silk—easily five times the size of my bed at home.

The air carried the rich, comforting scent of cedarwood and fresh moss.

I took a cautious step forward into the room. But my breath caught completely in my throat as my eyes locked onto the creature guarding the space.

It was a massive, terrifying dog. The beast had a heavy, wrinkled brown face and a colossal frame that could easily be mistaken for that of a fully grown bear. Its ripples of thick muscle looked strong enough to tear a man apart.

Saliva dripped from its mouth like a slow fountain. The creature was far larger and more menacing than anything I had been told to expect.

The dog's massive head rested calmly against its paws, but there was nothing peaceful about it. It looked dangerously alert, its dark eyes observing and calculating every single movement inside the room.

I swallowed hard, forcing down the sudden surge of adrenaline, and stepped fully into the chamber.

My gaze drifted past the beast, moving across the luxurious space until it finally fell on the billionaire lying in the center of the massive bed.

Ethan Vance.

His eyes were closed, making him look as though he were merely trapped in a deep sleep.

Thick, dark, curly hair contrasted sharply against the white silk pillows. He possessed a fiercely sharp jawline, long dark lashes, and large, sculpted hands resting quietly over his chest.

Yet, even unconscious and entirely motionless, an oppressive, commanding aura rolled off him. Something about his stillness felt incredibly off.

Suddenly, a subtle ripple flickered through the muscles of his forearm.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.

In a split second, his eyes flew wide open. They were intense, piercing, and they locked directly onto me.

My breath hitched completely in my throat.

He's awake!

The room exploded into complete chaos. Panicked maids scrambled past one another, screaming for a doctor.

Within five minutes, a medical team and a few authoritative figures rushed into the chamber. Yet, not a single soul dared to step within an inch of the colossal hound. They all stood at a safe, trembling distance near the far end of the bed, observing from afar.

Only the primary physician gathered the courage to approach the billionaire. Snapping on a pair of latex gloves, he cautiously examined the patient's vitals.

“His breathing is entirely stable,” the doctor announced, studying the monitors. “He remains deep in the coma.”

Peeling off his gloves, he whipped around and glared at me. It was a look that screamed, Are you insane? without him having to utter a single word.

“It seems someone needs to be taught that being cunning won’t get her very far in this estate,” he hissed. He packed up his medical instruments and marched out of the room, his suspicious gaze locked on me until the door closed.

“But I saw him...” I started, but the scalding glares from the remaining maids forced me to swallow my words.

I swear his eyes had opened. He had looked directly at me. I would stake my very life on it.

“Enough out of you. Stay right there, wait for the other contestants, and do not cause any more trouble,” the head maid ordered coldly.

They turned on their heels and exited, leaving me entirely alone with the terrifying hound and the seemingly lifeless billionaire.

A few minutes later, the golden doors flew open. The other contestants filed in one by one, looking incredibly sharp and regal in their rich, expensive velvet gowns.

Every single pair of eyes dripped with immediate disgust the moment they landed on me. It was as if I had dropped in from another planet. They clasped their hands over their mouths, whispering venomous remarks about my tattered, oversized dress.

Before long, the room was filled with a suffocating blend of expensive perfumes.

Two ladies walked in last, clearly holding the highest status. One wore an ivory-colored gown that swept elegantly across the floor; her nails and makeup were flawless, and she was flanked by personal maids carrying wrapped packages.

The other was a universally recognized actress, legendary for her striking beauty and immense wealth.

I let out a tired, heavy sigh as I glanced down at myself. My gown looked little better than a beggar’s rags, and the state of my shoes didn't help—the worn-out leather split open at the toe, looking as though it were laughing at my misfortune.

The doors opened yet again, but this time, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Vance walked in, carrying themselves with the absolute grace of a king and queen.

Every woman in the room dropped into a synchronized, elegant bow. I was a second too late, caught off guard by their commanding presence.

Mr. Vance’s sharp eyes scanned our faces, calculating and cold.

“I formally welcome you to the Vance estate,” he began, clearing his throat. “You all know exactly why you are here. And you know quite well that whoever is chosen by the hound will be the winner. Take note: this beast has killed before. If any of you wish to forfeit, do it now. Once the trial begins, no one will be permitted to run.”

His eyes swept the lineup one last time.

No one moved.

No one dared to show weakness.

“Very well then... let the selection begin,” he signaled with a wave of his hand.

A confident, red-haired girl was the first to step forward, and a rigid queue quickly formed behind her. She marched toward the bedside with absolute certainty.

The massive dog lay entirely still, his heavy eyelids drooping as if he were completely oblivious to her approach.

A smug smile crept onto her lips, seeing how calm the beast appeared.

But the exact millisecond she stepped within an inch of his perimeter, the hound bolted upright. With a single, brutal thrust of his massive chest, he sent her flying across the room.