The mansion was silent.
Talia sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the soft glow of the city lights through her balcony window. Her heart was still racing from the encounter with Serena earlier.
She had barely slept, every sound in the house echoing like a warning.
A soft knock on her door startled her.
"Come in," she whispered.
The door opened slowly. Adrian stepped inside, his silhouette framed by the hallway light. His dark eyes were unreadable, but the air around him was... heavy. Possessive.
"Talia," he said quietly, his voice lower than usual, "we need to talk."
She frowned. "About what?"
"About tonight," he replied, stepping closer. His gaze was intense. "About you."
Her pulse quickened. "About me?"
"Yes," he said simply. "You. Me. This... marriage."
He stopped just a few feet away, but the space between them felt electric.
"You're worried about Serena," he continued. "About the rumors. About her trying to intimidate you. And you shouldn't be."
"I can handle her," she said softly, though her chest was tight.
"You don't have to," he interrupted. His tone left no room for argument. "I'm here. And I will protect you. Always."
Her breath caught. The words were possessive, real, and... dangerous.
Adrian moved a step closer. Talia's heart thudded painfully in her chest.
"You're mine, Talia," he said, his voice low and firm. "And don't you forget it."
Her hands trembled slightly. She wanted to deny it. To remind herself it was just a contract. But the warmth in her chest said otherwise.
"You... you can't just claim me," she whispered.
"I already have," he said, stepping closer until only a breath separated them. His eyes darkened with intensity, and the heat between them was undeniable.
For the first time, Talia saw Adrian not as a cold, untouchable billionaire, but as a man... a man who wanted her.
The silence stretched, heavy with tension, until she finally turned away, forcing herself to take a step back.
"I... I need to sleep," she murmured.
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Tonight," he said softly, almost a growl. "You won't be alone. I won't let anyone threaten you. Not her. Not the world. Not anyone."
Her chest tightened again. His presence was suffocating, consuming... and she realized with a jolt that this was only the beginning.
"Goodnight," she whispered, retreating to her bed.
But as she lay down, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't ignore it.
The way her heart raced. The way her body remembered his nearness.
The way she knew... she was already falling.
