Chapter 2: Welcome to Hell, Mrs. Knight

The Knight mansion was not a home. It was a prison made of glass and marble.

Elena stood in the giant living room, her small bag in her hand. Her cheap white dress was gone — the guards really burned it. They gave her a silk red dress that cost more than her mother's hospital bed for a month.

"Mr. Knight will be down soon," the housekeeper, Mrs. Rose, said coldly. "Rule one: Don't touch anything. Rule two: Don't go to the east wing. Rule three: Don't embarrass him."

Before Elena could answer, high heels clicked behind her.

"Well, well. So you are the new wife."

Elena turned. A tall, beautiful woman in a black dress walked in. Blonde, perfect, lips red like blood. Vanessa.

Adrian's girlfriend. Or ex? Elena had seen her on I*******m — Vanessa Lane, supermodel.

"You must be Elena," Vanessa smiled, but her eyes were knives. "I'm Vanessa, Adrian's real fiancee. He told me about your little... arrangement. So pitiful."

Elena's chest tightened. "We are married —"

"Contract marriage, darling. For one year. Then he dumps you and marries me." Vanessa walked closer, circling her like a shark. "Let me give you advice. He hates you. He told me what your family did. So don't get comfortable. Don't fall in love with him. He will never love you."

The front door slammed.

Adrian walked in, his tie loose, his face tired and angry. When he saw Vanessa, his jaw tightened.

"What are you doing here?"

"Baby, I missed you!" Vanessa ran to him, kissing his cheek. "I came to see your new... pet."

Adrian pushed her away gently but firmly. "We are done, Vanessa. I told you last week."

"Because of HER?" Vanessa shouted, pointing at Elena. "She's nothing! Look at her!"

Adrian didn't answer Vanessa. He looked at Elena. From head to toe. The red dress hugged her body perfectly.

"Come here," he ordered.

Elena walked to him, legs shaking.

He grabbed her chin, hard. His eyes burned into hers.

"From today, you sleep in my room. You eat where I eat. You smile when I tell you to smile. And if Vanessa or anyone disrespects you, you slap them. Because you are Mrs. Knight now. My property. And nobody touches my property."

He said it loud enough for Vanessa to hear.

Vanessa's face turned white. "Adrian — you can't —"

"Get out," Adrian said coldly. "And don't come back without invitation."

Vanessa grabbed her bag and ran out, tears in her eyes.

Silence.

Elena was still trapped in his grip. His thumb brushed her lip, rough.

"You are going to regret signing that contract, Elena," he whispered, so close she could feel his breath. "Because I am going to make you fall in love with me all over again... and then I am going to break your heart the way you broke mine."

He let go.

"Your room is upstairs. First door on the left. Be ready at 7pm. We have a dinner party. My whole family wants to meet the woman who trapped me."

He walked away, leaving Elena alone, her heart beating like crazy, her lips burning where he touched her.

What did he mean — she broke his heart? What did she do that night?