I woke up not to pain, but to the sound of approaching footsteps—rhythmic, steady, and eerie.
I tried to move, but my body was restricted by the chains that bound my wrists and legs.
The sound grew closer, then the door opened with a bang, letting a sharp light hit my eyes.
I looked up, trying to focus on the figure that appeared in the doorway.
A man stood there, his body erect and his aura of power so strong it almost felt like physical pressure.
I knew who he was.
Stilliam Albert Nostra.
Compared to Thomas-no-not even compared to Max Nolan... this man was far more dangerous.
His name alone was enough to make anyone in the underworld tremble in fear. The leader of the Nostra family, who was said to have no qualms about taking out anyone who got in his way.
He was known not only as a mobster, but also a king who ruled the dark world with cruelty and deceit.
His sharp eyes looked at me with an unreadable expression.
"So, you killed Hector?" His voice was low and firm, as if the question was just a formality. "Cassie Moonstone. The traitor who managed to get everyone's attention."
He approached, his steps calm and powerful, as if this underworld belonged to him.
I tried to look at him, even though I was bound and full of wounds. Cold sweat ran down my forehead, but I tried not to show my fear.
If there's one thing I've learned from this world, it's to endure pretending not to be afraid of people who should be afraid of you.
But then I realized.
Something was wrong with my body.
My lower abdomen felt empty. Not just the pain of torture, but deeper than that-it was as if a part of me had simply disappeared.
My bound hands reflexively clenched into fists. Memories began to return like shards of glass piercing my mind.
Blood.
I remember the blood.
I remember the pain that radiated so violently before I lost consciousness.
I remember how I held my stomach, how fear wrapped my body as I knew something precious was being taken away from me.
I lost my child.
My chest tightened, as if my lungs refused to function. I wanted to scream, wanted to curse the world, wanted to let this grief out in any way.
But I couldn't.
I was still bound. Still in his presence.
Stilliam assessed me from top to bottom, like a predator observing its prey before tearing it apart.
"I didn't kill him on purpose," I said hoarsely, trying to defend myself.
Stilliam laughed softly, as if hearing an unfunny joke. "Then what makes you feel like someone worth living for?" he asked in a sharp tone.
I looked at him deeply. Horror began to creep into me.
"I was just defending myself from the person who tried to kill me. I can't just stand by when someone is ready to point a gun at me."
Stilliam looked at me, then smiled faintly-a smile that didn't make me feel safe. "You're interesting, Cassie Moonstone. Not many people can escape from the underworld with so many people wanting to kill you."
I swallowed.
Of all the things that happened, of all the losses I experienced, this is what he still cares about?
"I could kill you right now," he said, walking closer. "But I won't."
Then what will you do to me?
The question was stuck in my throat, but Stilliam had already answered it first.
"You have two choices, Cassie Moonstone," he said softly, but clearly. "Marry me... or die."
My blood almost froze when I heard those words.
I stared at the man I feared the most, hoping that I had just misheard. But no. His gaze remained cold, sharp, as if he had just offered a non-negotiable business deal.
I should have prepared myself mentally for the worst—torture, interrogation, even execution. But marriage?
I chuckled, bitterly, more to myself. "You're joking, right?"
Stilliam didn't answer right away. He simply crouched in front of me, his cold fingers outstretched, lifting my chin gently. The touch felt like another shackle on my body.
"I never joke," he said softly, almost a whisper.
My heart beat so fast that I feared he could hear it.
I could see his eyes more closely now-black, deep, mysterious. There was no sign of tenderness there. No hatred either. Just an attraction that made me feel even more trapped.
"I could kill you right now," he continued in a tone so calm it was as if he was discussing the weather. "But I won't."
I swallowed, trying to control my raging thoughts.
"Why?" I asked, trying to understand his game.
A faint smile was etched on his face. "Because I've been watching you for a long time, Cassie Moonstone."
I froze.
What do you mean?
Stilliam didn't answer directly. Instead, he stood up and walked around the chair I was tied to, like a tiger circling its prey.
"You caught my attention a long time ago," he finally said. "And now that you're here, I see this as an opportunity."
I felt as if I'd fallen into a trap I never even realized was there.
Marriage? To a man whose very name made the underworld tremble?
This wasn't a choice; this was an ultimatum.
I closed my eyes for a moment, and images of Wisley filled my head-his sweet promises, his soft words, then his betrayal.
I foolishly believed that he would marry me. But in the end, he went off with another woman, leaving me behind like trash that was no longer useful.
And now, another man offers marriage. Not with the promise of love. Not with happiness. But with threats.
I raised my face, looking at Stilliam with all the strength I had left in me.
"And if I refuse?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
Stilliam smiled, but that smile was anything but reassuring. "You know the answer, Cassie."
I bit my lip, trying to control the tremors in my body.
I lost my child.
I lost my future.
Now I have to lose my freedom too?
Do I really have a choice?
