006.

A R I A N A

The moment I stepped into the foyer, the air turned cold.

My father stood at the top of the staircase, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, the sharp black suit he wore made him look more like a king than a father. And the way he stared at me like I was a disappointment, which I was

If only I had listened and not gone against his words.

My heart dropped.

We had never been close not since I was a little girl, not since I realized love, to him, was conditional.

And now? Now, I had broken his biggest rule.

Never to belittle myself for the minors, to him they were nothing but slaves that would brown down to his mercy or any other elite.

He had warned me about Angelo, warned me he was nothing and that he’d make me regret my decision of choosing him over family.

And I hadn’t listened.

I had fought for Angelo, defended him and him against my father’s wishes.

And now?

Now, I was standing here, broken, betrayed, and worst of all proving my father right.

Tears burned my eyes I couldnt hold them back anymore.

"I’m sorry," I choked out, my voice shaking. "I I was wrong you were right about him. I should have listened… I—“

My father didn’t move his frown didn’t falter if anything it only deepened even a little.

"You made your choice," he said coldly. "Now you will live with the consequences."

I flinched at his tune.

Consequences? What did that mean?

Mum stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Not now, Ricardo. Can’t you see the state she’s in? She needs rest—"

"There’s no time to waste," my father cut her off, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I stared between them, confusion twisting in my chest, what was happening?

Then my father spoke again, his words like a death sentence.

"You’re marrying Dante Russo."

The world stopped.

What?

My breath caught in my throat my hands trembled at my sides.

Dante Russo.

The most ruthless man in the city.

The heir to the Russo empire.

A man that was ten years older than me.

Reality hit me hard like a slap.

I stood there frozen my father's words ringing in my ears like a death sentence.

You're marrying Dante Russo.

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him. My mouth opened, then closed again clearly I was mistaking.

“What!?”

“You heard me loud and clear!” He thundered.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms thr pain grounded me this wasn't a nightmare.

"No," I finally choked out, shaking my head violently. "No, I can't marry him. He's...he's older than me! And he's the son of your biggest rival! What are you saying?"

My father's expression darkened like a storm and if looks could kill I would be six inches under the ground.

His jaw tightened, that familiar vein in his temple pulsing dangerously I'd seen that look before right before he destroyed someone, his enemies preciesly when they stepped in his way.

Now it was directed at me.

"You are in no position to argue," he said, each word sharp as a knife. "This marriage will end the decades-long rivalry between our families. It's already been arrangedl

Mum gasped beside me, her hand flying to her mouth. "Ricardo, you can't be serious! She just came home, she's hurt—"

"This is not a discussion!" My father's voice boomed through the marble halls, making both of us flinch. "She disobeyed me. She humiliated this family by running off with that...that nobody. Now she will fix what she broke."

The injustice of his words burned through me like fire I walked forward, my grief and anger boiling through my veins.

"I won't do it," I spat, my voice trembling with rage. "I won't marry some stranger you picked out like I'm some business deal! Not after everything that's happened. You can't force me! I just got out of and alignment and you want to get back into another one and with Dante Russo? Seriously!"

My father's eyes turned to ice. "Watch me."

Something inside me snapped all the pain, the betrayal, the loss it came pouring out my breath hard and heavy.

I’ve never been the one to talk back at my father but not today. I had to nuture by broken heart, I no longer belive in love, marriage, men in general.

I’ve already made that mistake once and it wasn’t one I was willing to make again.

"Over my dead body!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the high ceilings. "You never cared about me! You only care about your money, your power! Well I'm done obeying you! I'd rather die than—"

The crack of his palm against my cheek cut off my words.

The force of the slap whipped my head to the side my skin burned, the pain radiating through my entire face.

I stumbled back, catching myself on the staircase railing as more tear sprang to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

Silence.

Mum gasped.

My father stood over me, his chest heaving, his hand still raised and I could alst swear that for the briefest moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes regret? But it was gone as quickly as it came.

"You will marry Dante Russo in two days," he said, his voice deadly calm. "You will be the perfect bride, and you will end this feud. Or you will no longer be a Melendez."

The threat hung in the air between us.

Mum rushed to my side, her hands fluttering over my reddening cheek. "Ricardo! How could you—"

"Take her to her room," he ordered, already turning away. "She doesn't leave until the wedding."

As he walked away, his polished shoes clicking against the marble, the reality of my situation crashed over me.

I was marrying Dante Russo.