Chapter 3: Shocking Discovery

The ride to the Brooklyn mansion was smooth, but the silence suffocated them in the car. No one dared to start a conversation, as every one of them was buried in their thoughts.  

Ivana’s fingers drummed nervously on her thigh as she awaited the moment the car would stop. 

Davis noticed her trembling hand and quickly placed his over hers to calm her down. 

He had insisted on joining them to make sure she was fine with everything. Not like he cared, though. He just doesn’t want Ivana to change her mind along the way.

“If you act like this in front of Tardrain, I bet you won’t survive a day,” Lilico muttered, staring at them through the driver’s rearview mirror.  

“Come on, stop painting him to be a villain . You’re scaring her. Besides, he’s also human like us,” Davis defended, gripping Ivana’s hand tighter. 

Lilico let out a short, dry laugh. Marveled at how Davis was pretending to care about Ivana’s feelings, when she already knew he was in for all the benefits.

Suddenly, the car stopped, and Ivana’s heart stopped with it. 

Finally! Now she wished the car should’ve slowed down a bit.  

Lilico turned to face them, her gaze roaming from Ivana’s face down to her hands. “You’re shaking,” she observed before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.  

‘Does this seem like a joke to her? If it was that easy, why didn’t she do it herself?’ Ivana lamented within.

Ivana’s hand clenched into a fist. “Maybe because I’m not a professional killer,” she muttered, lowering her gaze.   

Lilico’s laughter died abruptly as she recalled how she had hired an Italian stripper to do the job for her, only to discover that the girl was head over heels for Tardrain. 

No! 

That’s not what Lilico wanted. 

She wanted someone who hated Tardrain like her, someone who had no atom of feelings for him, and Ivana was the perfect candidate for it. 

It’s safer to say that Ivana is obsessed with Davis, which left her no room to fall for Tardrain. 

Secondly, Ivana had eyes for the money involved.  

Lilico flashed Ivana a smile. “Trust me, I could’ve gotten one for this job, but…” She trailed off, staring at Ivana as if appraising her. “There’s something different about you that attracted me.” She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “Remember the saying, ‘The devil has the prettiest face.’ That’s your case here.”  

“I’m not a devil,” Ivana snapped, rolling her eyes.

Davis and Lilico laughed at her pouted lips. They just loved how naive Ivana was.  

“You’ll be fine,” Lilico assured. Ivana nodded, though she doubted it. “Remember,” Lilico began, “Marry him, make him fall In love and then—”  

“I know the script,” Ivana interrupted, rolling her eyes before stepping out of the car.  

Ivana froze as her gaze swept the Brooklyn estate. No doubt, this was heaven on earth. 

The mansion loomed in black marble and tinted glass, its architecture screaming wealth. Motion-activated lights snapped toward them, no shadows to hide in, cameras everywhere. Even the air smelled expensive; cold citrus cleaners and moneyed silence.  

Lilico led them to a door that looked like glass but felt like metal. She flicked a card in front of it, and the door slid open.  

‘Not even a key. Damn it! Money is good.’  Davis thought, grinning wider.

Lilico strode inside, gesturing for them to follow. Davis leaned toward Ivana, whispering, “We’re rich, babes,” with a childish giggle. He could only imagine owning half of this mansion, just like Lilico had promised him, if the plan went successfully.  

Ivana leaned back. “Who are ‘we’?” she asked, raising her eyebrows to stifle a laugh.  

“Mom!” Lilico called, darting upstairs and abandoning them.  

Davis seized the opportunity, dragging Ivana to the nearest couch. “This is our golden ticket,don’t snooze,” he whispered.  

Ivana’s lips stretched into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “When did you become this greedy?” she asked, staring at him as her heart ached over how far he’d fallen. 

This was not the man she had fallen for.  

Before Davis could reply, a woman in her mid-fifties descended the stairs with Lilico by her side.  

Mrs. Gladdis’s face was scrunched into a hard frown as she descended to inspect the perfect candidate Lilico had talked about.  

Davis and Ivana stood quickly, bowing slightly as she approached. Mrs. Gladdis’s lace gown shimmered, radiating billionaire arrogance. She ignored them, her heavy makeup failing to soften her stern expression.  

Ivana and Davis sat back down, clutching each other’s hands. ‘If she knew my mission here… she’d be crying nonstop for her son,’ Ivana scoffed inwardly.  

Mrs. Gladdis crossed her legs and tossed a brown envelope in front of Ivana. 

She stared at her from head to toe, impressed by Ivana’s physical features; her long, curly, wavered brown hair; oval pretty face; and slender skin. Her outfit wasn’t revealing either—a fitted red gown with low black heels.  

‘Definitely not a gold digger,’ Mrs. Gladdis thought, forcing out a smile in satisfaction.  

Ivana hesitated and glanced at Davis. He shamelessly made the first move to grab the envelope.  

“And who are you?” Mrs. Gladdis demanded, staring at Davis. Her daughter had never mentioned inviting two people.  

Davis was startled by her voice and quickly composed himself. He dropped the envelope and laughed nervously. “I-I’m Davis, ma’am. Ivana’s… elder brother,” he stammered.  

Ivana nodded, playing along.  

Mrs. Gladdis’s eyes flickered between Ivana and Davis suspiciously, Lilico had never mentioned the girl had a brother, but she brushed it off. “I assume my daughter told you everything.”  

Ivana glanced at Lilico, who lounged silently, engrossed in her phone. “Lilico didn’t say a word to me,” she lied, blinking rapidly.  

Mrs. Gladdis laughed sharply. “Sign the contract. Marry Tardrain for two years. Make him fall in love. Then—”  

Ivana’s jaw dropped. “So you knew about this too?” she blurted. “You’re his mo—”  

“Stepmother,” Mrs. Gladdis corrected sharply, turning to Lilico. “I thought you said she’s cold-hearted. Are you sure she’s capable?” She yelled at Lilico. 

Lilico rolled her eyes. “Mom… she—”  

Davis squeezed Ivana’s hand. “O-of course I’m capable,” Ivana stammered. “Marry him, make him fall in love, and then kill him. That was the deal.” She hardened her voice, burying pity. 

This was about the money, her future with Davis. She couldn’t disappoint him.  

She stood and bowed. “I’m sorry for what I’d said earlier.”  

Suddenly, a vase shattered upstairs, followed by glass crashing and a roar, “You’re all useless! Stupid! You’re fired!”  

Five maids fled down the stairs, tears streaming down their chin. 

Mary, the head maid, halted before Mrs. Gladdis. “I can’t work here anymore! Sir Tardrain poured hot coffee on my arm!” she cried, showing off her red, scalded skin. 

She was among the five servants tasked with tending to Tardrain’s room, a living hell he’d created.  

“Mary, don’t go! I will pay you well!” Mrs. Gladdis pleaded. She didn’t want to lose someone like Mary, who’d worked in the mansion for six years and had briefly managed to appease Tardrain’s whims.  

Mary shook her head. “I’ve endured his insults and abuse. I just can’t!” She ran, the others following suit.  

Mrs. Gladdis stood restless, having tried everything to control Tardrain since his father’s death, only for him to grow worse. 

She turned to Ivana. “Now it’s your turn. Do a clean job. Fail, and you’ll wish Tardrain killed you first,” she barked, walking away.  

Davis hastily handed Ivana a pen. She signed the contract, and he left after hugging and assuring her. 

Her shoulders dropped as she stared at the stairs, facing her reality.  

‘How will I tame this wild dog?‘ Ivana’s mind reeled. 

The first mission was done. Married by contract. Now, the hardest step is to make him fall in love.

Lilico stood up and her shoulder dropped in a long sigh. “Act brave. Don’t let him see your fear. That’s how you’ll win him.” She led Ivana upstairs, each step heavier than the last.  

They stopped at a white door. Lilico leaned over and whispered, “He has dissociative amnesia—part of his memory is lost. Use the marriage to your advantage,” then she before walked  away.  

“He had an accident?” Ivana exclaimed in a whispered, but Lilico was gone.  

Sweat slicked her palms as she gently turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Her heart hammered as she entered the pitch-black room, each step was like a ticking bomb. She tried to steady her heartbeat, her eyes straining to adjust to the darkness of the room.

No light.

No ventilation.  

Suddenly, a glass cup shattered behind her. “Holy Christ!” Ivana gasped, clutching her chest. She slowly turned around.  

“I said, leave!” a voice snarled, low, dangerous.  

Ivana steadied her trembling body. Her eyes locked onto a man in a wheelchair, his gaze cold, empty, piercing.  

‘Holy sanitary fuck! Tardrain Brooklyn is crippled?‘ Ivana’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets.