Chapter 1

The year 2040.

"My child, no matter what happens, you must always remember that family is important. They are your partners in both adversity and comfort. They will never abandon you."

"Daddy, I'm already content knowing our family is complete." I smiled at my father. He also smiled and parted my unkempt bangs, blocking my vision.

Would everything have been different if I had noticed he was sad during those times?

During those times, why didn’t I notice that his eyes, twinkling like stars, were then lifeless?

I wanted to ask my father. Was I not enough?

W-Why… Why did he have to leave me?

“Daddy.” I shivered as I gazed at the magnificent stars. "Despite the few years I spent without you, the pain is still here."

I was holding onto my chest as it weighed down. I could feel my breathing tighten because of the pain I struggled to endure. I smiled bitterly and drank the wine from the bottle I was holding. With the back of my palm, I wiped my wet lips.

I staggered to my feet and then walked toward the mansion’s inside. But with every step I took, the memories of my father dying before me returned to my mind.

Damn. I burst into tears.

I didn't catch up with him! I was too late to save him!

"My daughter, I apologize for only coming this far. Before I leave, I request that you protect the company. Protect the highest position because greedy people want it, Shian. You are the sole legal heir of the company. Take care of it."

"Highest position?" I smiled wistfully. "I would rather come with you than live with power while spending every day living alone."

"Miss Shianna!" the maids exclaimed, startled by my stumbling steps. I smiled at them and lifted the bottle I was holding before continuing my walk.

“Miss! Madam will be furious once she sees you acting like that! ” Anxiously, a maid approached me, but I immediately pushed her away, causing her to fall onto the floor.

"Shut up." Even though she was still lying on the floor, my sharp stare caused her to back away. I kept walking and violently opened the large double door that was part of the mansion. When I opened the door, the happy chattering inside the dining room halted.

“SHIANNA? Are you drunk?"  Mom stood up when she saw my not-so-good state. She had her fists clenched and a scowl on her face. I gave her an angry smile before turning to face the Fascis family. I smiled even wider when I saw their son, who was also taken aback by my sudden appearance.

“How dare you show up like this?” Mom held my arm while my great-grandfather sat idly at the long table. His eyes were staring at me with some seriousness on his face. His eyes revealed that he was dissatisfied with what was going on.

"Where's my fiancé, Mom?" I smiled sarcastically. "We're going to talk about our marriage, aren't we?"

"Fix yourself first!" Mom was about to drag me when I shook her hand away. I looked at my relatives, who were curious about the event. The thrill in their eyes did not escape from my sharp sight.

"Mr. Fascis," I said to the man who didn't know what to do. His father and mother were concerned. The man I was going to marry was well prepared for tonight. His black hair was neatly styled by a hair stylist, probably. Because of his dark red coat, his white skin appeared brighter. His expression was gentle, as if he were an angel sent from heaven.

"S-Shianna, what happened?" He was about to approach me when his mother stopped him.

“You want to marry me, don’t you? I want to say that I am ready to marry you. Since it's a conventional marriage, it is preferable to hasten the wedding. So that Viacera LLC and Fascis Holdings can merge. ”

"I won't marry you for that!" Fascis's eyebrows met. "I love you, Shianna!"

"Well, I don't love you—"

"Shianna!" Mom grabbed both my shoulders violently and yanked me around to face her. "What is going on with you? You just disappeared for a while, and now you come back; you’re already drunk! Don’t you know how serious the discussion is tonight? You're turning 25, and look! — you don't have any love life! ”

"Love life?" I cried in disbelief. Mom was stunned by my attitude. I looked at her tearfully. "You're asking what's going on with me?" I could hardly hold myself back from crying. "D-Do you even know what is special about this night?"

Mom remained silent, unable to respond. Her eyes narrowed for a moment as she tried to recall anything else unusual about this night.

"Mom!" I looked at her, stunned. "D-Did you forget—" I couldn't take it any longer.

“Shianna! Calm down!” My great-grandfather drew my attention when he stood up angrily. He placed both of his palms on the table. "Do not be impolite to our visitors!"

“Dad, if you want respect—respect me first! Respect this day and what I feel! ” I tiredly brush my hair with my fingers. "You don't even know what's special about this night!"

“Then tell us, Shianna. Don't be so dramatic! ”

"For Pete's sake, Papa, Mom—all of you! It's my father's death anniversary! But look what we're up to now! —you're preparing me for a marriage I don't want! And what is the point of marriage? Is it for the company?" I used my palms to touch my face. Was I inebriated? I couldn't stop myself from expressing my rage.

"How did you manage to forget Daddy, Mom? Have you forgotten that he committed suicide as a result of your actions?"

After hearing what I said, the Fascis family gasped. My great-grandfather, on the other hand, was on the verge of exploding in rage. My relatives were paying close attention to what was going on.

“S-Shianna…” Mom's eyes got gloomy. But I was not blind and dumb. I knew that she was faking it. "I am having a hard time, too."

“Are you having a hard time, so you never visited Daddy’s grave? So when he was buried 11 years ago, you didn't show up? ” My body started to shake as I laughed. “Mom… tell me the truth? Are you mad at Daddy? I also never saw you make an effort to remember his death! ”

My mother's eyes widened, and when I saw her reaction, I couldn't help but hold her two arms. I shook her and forced my crying face closer to hers.

“I-Is it because I resemble Daddy that you’re always mad at me, Mom? Do you think of him when you see me? Would you be willing to give me to another family so we don't have to see each other forever?"

"Take a step back!"

"Mom!" I took a deep breath and began crying. “I am your child! Please don't treat me like this! ”

"Shianna Viacera!" My great-grandfather called to me as my aunts drew me away from my mother. I screamed and struggled against my aunts' grip on me.

"Release me!"

"We won't let you go!"

“Then kill me! Do you think I didn't notice you were poisoning me? I-I know..." My arms weakened, and I sobbed quietly. "You want me gone so that the company won’t have a legal heir anymore."

My aunts let me go, and I looked at them with tired and puffy eyes. I wasn't blind. I was aware that my life posed a risk to my relatives.

“W-What? Were you being poisoned? B-But how?” Mom was about to approach me, but I backed away.

"And you still have the urge to worry." I turned my back on her and walked away. "I'll speak with the Aurelius family. Do you think I'm unaware of why you want me to marry?" I came to a halt and looked at them all. "I am certain that Vincent will marry into a wealthy family. And you are afraid that his family might overpower us. ”

"And what will you do with them, Shianna?" When Papa, my great-grandfather, approached, I quickly walked away.

"I'll speak with him! So I won't be married to someone I don't even love. "

"SHIANNA!" I started running out of the mansion, and the bodyguards chased me as per Papa's order. I even ran into my stepfather and half-brother, who had just arrived at the mansion.

"What's going on?" I heard my stepdad's asking me before I walked past him. I even saw my half-brother, who had smiled after seeing my pitiful situation.

"Come back here, Shianna Viacera!" Aunt Midel shouted, but I quickly went straight to my luxury car and promptly drove it away.

"I despise you all!" I screamed all of my rages away. "If it hadn't been for the company, I would have avoided all of you."

When I looked back from my car, I noticed a swarm of vehicles following me. And because I'd tried racing before, I could speed up my car and divert their attention away from my destination.

I parked in front of a tall building. Before entering the building, I took a glance up.

“Wait! Is that Ms. Shianna from Viacera LLC?”

"What brought her here? The Aurelius family and the Viacera clan are well-known adversaries. Will she go up against our CEO?"

"She seems mad."

“Excuse me, Ma’am. You can't just walk into our building without noticing our boss. ”

"Get the hell out of my way!" I yelled angrily at the bodyguards who dared to stop me.

"Are you Ms. Shianna?" I looked up to see who had called my name. I recognized the woman right away because of the ID she was wearing.

"Bring me to him." I looked at her angrily and glanced at the men who were hesitant about letting me go and see their boss. They turned to the woman, and they gave her a dubious look.

“Fine. I'll alert Sir Vincent.” She then sighed and glanced at the curious employees. Meanwhile, the men left the hallway, and Vincent’s secretary accompanied me to a private elevator. Before the door finally closed, I saw the bodyguards of the Viacera Clan enter the building. They looked around, but they failed to spot me inside the closing lift.

“Hello, Sir Vincent? Sorry for the interruption, but there's an emergency. ” I barely looked at the woman while she spoke. She was holding her phone, and I knew who she was talking to.

"Miss Shianna from Viacera LLC has paid you a visit." She remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Thank you, sir."

When we got to the 55th floor, the elevator door opened. I immediately followed the woman out of the elevator.

"This way, Ma'am." She pointed down a long hallway. The Aurelius Corporation building is magnificent, but I didn’t have time to observe its beauty. M-My chest was heavy; I was in pain.

I quietly walked down the long hallway of the 55th floor. I came to a halt when I reached the end.

"I can speak with you again..." When was the last time I saw him?

We were just high school students when we talked.

I pushed the door open, revealing Vincent, who was sitting elegantly in his swivel chair. He was looking at some documents while wearing his glasses.

“Who hurt you, Ms. Viacera? ”

His first question astounded me. When he looked up, I averted my gaze. My heart was beating faster and faster.

"N-No one."

"A-huh?" He set the document he was holding down. "So, what brings you here?"

"I've come to speak with you."

"About what?"

After he asked his question, I fell silent. My mind blanked out, and I forgot why I was here.

Vincent took off his glasses and stood up. He approached me and cast a dark look in my direction. I was still looking in the opposite direction, trying to avoid his gaze, when Vincent came to a halt in front of me. As he touched my cheek so I could look at him, I took a deep breath. When I saw the darkness in his eyes, my lips parted.

"Why is my enemy here?"

"I'm not here to argue with you, Vincent."

"Go straight to the point."

"I know you don't want to get married."

"And?"

"Why don't we use each other to prevent each other's marriage?" Vincent put his hand on my neck and cleared his throat as if trying to stop himself from strangling me.

Vincent's pupils constricted, and he fixed his gaze on me. "What the hell happened? Are you drunk? I am your enemy, Ms. Viacera."

"This is a truce, Vincent."

My eyes widened after I felt my feet float in the air. The next thing I knew, I was sitting at Vincent’s office desk while he was in front of me. I took a breath and swallowed.

"What truce is this, huh?"

I clenched my fists and returned his gaze with confidence. "If they discover that w-we had—"

"Sex?" He laughed softly. “I didn’t know you’re a low-class human, Ms. Viacera. ”

“THEN, SO WHAT?” I exclaimed and cried again. I sobbed. “I-I have no friends! I don't know anyone to ask for help—” My hands started to tremble. "Y-You're the only one I can approach."

"You are drunk."

"I am not." My eyes dropped, but Vincent touched my chin.

"Are you saying you'll have sex with another man if you know him?" He sighed because he couldn't finish what he was about to say. "I despise you... But I'm not going to let any man have you in his arms."

I burst into tears. "This is the only way to put an end to it all. Spending the night with you would damage our family's reputation."

Vincent was silent,  so I cried again.

“Damn. Don't cry in front of me.” Vincent wiped away my tears. "You're so fragile…" He would have said something more, but he chose to be silent.

My hand went up to Vincent's arm, and I continued to cry. “Please”

Vincent did not respond and kissed me. When he put his tongue inside my mouth and played with it, I closed my eyes. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he lifted me. We kissed some more before Vincent entered a room connected to his office. The soft mattress of the bed was the next thing I felt.

“Shianna…” He caressed my face and gently kissed me on the forehead, nose, lips, and towards my neck. He ripped my dress while doing so. As his warm palm touched my chest, I moaned. I bit my lower lip and wrapped my hand around his neck.

“Vincent…” I moaned when he kissed my mounds. I didn't notice that he had stripped off all the clothes covering my body.

Vincent quickly removed his dress shirt and trousers. When he pulled the last piece of cloth covering his lower body, I turned away. As I realized something, my cheeks began to flush.

His size.

"Could my body handle that?" I swallowed, and he chuckled.

"We'll see."

Vincent grabbed my two knees and pulled my legs apart. I blushed, even more when I realized he could see my entire being.

"Ah!" He inserted his finger into my private area and moved his long finger in and out. Because of the strange feeling, my entire body got weak.

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Y-Yes. Faster..." I looked at him with pleasure, and lust appeared on his face when he saw my sensual reaction.

"I'm cumming." I whispered and bit my lip.

“Hmmm…” From lying down, I lifted my head to see him, and I was so shocked when I saw him remove his finger and lick my private part.

"Vincent—ah!" I collapsed in the bed as he swallowed the juice I had released. Vincent came over to me, and we stared at each other for a long time.

Whose heartbeat was I hearing?

"You look stunning tonight, Shianna." His face softened, and he caressed my soft cheek. "But you're so delicate that I wanna..."

Vincent lowered his face and kissed me again. As he was doing that, I felt him enter my core.

"I-It hurts!" I cried and burst into tears.

"I'll be gentle." He wiped away my tears and gently kissed my eyes. He stopped moving to let me adjust.

He began moving once I adjusted to the pain and his size. He moved above me as if he was following a pattern. Meanwhile, my body moved to the rhythm. The rubbing and hitting of our bodies intensified the worldly lust I felt.

"Vincent!" When I felt myself about to cum again, I moaned loudly. He kissed my lips and let my white fluid flow. He moved again and again until he emerged.

"This thing..." I exclaimed. "I can't believe it felt this good."

He laughed softly and kissed me once more. "Then let's go over it again."

We went through several rounds before we were satisfied. I thought it was fine, but when I woke up without Vincent, that moment of pleasure vanished like a bubble.

“N-No.” I looked around and was about to get out of bed when something grabbed both of my hands.

What the hell?

I examined the two chains that were attached to the two handcuffs. My two wrists were bound with handcuffs. I just now realized that I was in a different room and place.

"What the fuck?" I sighed in exasperation. “VINCENT! Let me go! ”