I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my cold fingers gripping the skirt of the white wedding gown that trailed to the floor. The lace detailing on the bodice shimmered under the lamplight, making me look like a woman truly about to walk into her happy ending.

If only my life were as simple as the reflection in that mirror.

Four engagement rings had once graced my finger. Four times, everything had ended before it could turn into a sacred vow. This time was different. It had to be different.

I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

“This is the last one,” I murmured to my own reflection. “I'm getting married today.”

Outside the preparation room, footsteps sounded faintly. The church had been arranged for us. An intimate wedding in Bali. No guests and no crowd, just the two of us exchanging vows before God.

My hands clenched at my sides.

I didn't know why my heart kept pounding so fast, even knowing it would only be the two of us in there.

Someone knocked on the door.

“It's time.”

I nodded slowly before stepping out. The hallway leading to the church's main entrance felt longer than usual. Every step of my heels echoed back at me, making my chest tighten further.

Ahead of me, the church doors were still shut tight.

I gripped my bouquet tighter. Once those doors opened, I would see Owen standing at the end of the aisle, smiling at me.

That was how it was supposed to be.

The great wooden doors slowly swung open.

I lifted my head. But the smile that had been about to form on my lips froze instantly.

The man standing at the end of the aisle wasn't Owen.

My body stopped reflexively.

Another man walked toward me. His face was blank, his gaze sharp, his stride steady, as if everything was already going according to plan.

“Keep walking to the altar,” he said without preamble. “Mr. Blackridge is waiting. Don't make him lose his patience.”

My brow furrowed.

“Who is Mr. Blackridge?” I asked, confused. “Why is he at my wedding?”

The man didn't answer.

Instead, his hand clamped around my arm with force.

“Hey!” I tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron. My body was forced to move with his rhythm. “Let go of me!”

I struggled with all my strength. My bouquet nearly slipped from my hands from how wildly I was thrashing. But the man didn't budge an inch. It was like being dragged by a walking wall.

Every step brought me closer to the altar.

Closer to the figure standing with his back to me.

When we arrived, the man finally released my arm. He bowed respectfully to the figure before me.

“Your bride is ready, sir.”

My chest tightened instantly.

The man turned slowly to face me.

I recognized the man in front of me. There was no way I wouldn't recognize him.

Maximilian Blackridge. The Mafia King from Italy who had recently been operating extensively in the United States.

The tall man stood upright in a perfectly tailored black suit that traced the lines of his body. His black hair was combed neatly, while his dark gaze made the air around him feel colder. There was no warm smile, no friendliness, only a mysterious aura that pressed down on anyone near him.

I swallowed hard.

“What are you doing at my wedding?” I asked, my voice trembling.

His gaze didn't shift from me for even a moment.

“Our wedding.” He corrected me.

I shook my head quickly.

“No.” My voice rose. “Today I'm marrying Owen. My fiancé is Owen.”

I took a step back.

“I just need to call him. Maybe he's—”

Before I could pull out my phone, Maximilian caught my wrist first.

I tried instinctively to pull free.

At the same moment, the man who had dragged me to the altar earlier took up a ready position beside us.

Their gazes made my breath catch.

Maximilian raised his phone. “You mean this Owen?”

I looked at the screen. My blood seemed to stop flowing.

There, Owen sat tied to a chair. His hands were bound behind his back, his eyes covered with a black cloth, his mouth sealed with tape. He kept struggling to free himself, but in vain.

“OWEN!” My voice broke.

I reached instinctively for the phone, but Maximilian pulled it back.

“What have you done to him?!” I screamed. “Let him go!”

The man's gaze remained calm.

“Marry me, or your fiancé dies.” Maximilian said the words without raising his voice. And it was precisely because they sounded so flat that a chill ran down my spine.

If anyone else had said it, I might have dismissed it as an empty threat. I could have just walked out of the church, called the police, and reported him.

But the man standing before me now was Maximilian Blackridge.

A man whose name made the highest figures of the criminal underworld bow their heads. A man the American police preferred not to cross, even as evidence of his crimes seemed to pile up without ever managing to put him behind bars.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

“Then ... if I marry you …” My voice was barely audible. “Will you let Owen go?”

“I promise.”

I stared at his face for a long moment. My hands were shaking. Tears began to blur my vision.

With a heavy breath, I finally nodded.

“I'll marry you.”

Several people quickly entered, carrying a folder of documents.

My hands still trembled as a pen was held out to me.

I skimmed the first page, but the letters seemed to dance before my eyes. In the end, I simply signed my name.

Maximilian did the same.

The document was closed.

He stepped closer until only a few inches separated us.

“You're mine,” he said quietly. “Always mine.”

I held my breath.

“We're married now.” I looked at him without blinking. “Now let Owen go. Let me see him.”

“You can only choose one.” Maximilian's jaw hardened instantly.

I froze.

“I'll release Owen safely and let him return to New York on his own.” Maximilian traced the line of my jaw with his fingers. “Or I'll release him and let you see him, but you'll find him without breath left in his body.”

I stared at him, disbelieving.

“So the rumors were true.” My lips trembled with rage. “You really don't have a heart!”

Far from being offended, Maximilian only gave a faint smile.

I bit my lower lip until it stung.

“Fine.” I took a deep breath. “Whatever it takes, as long as Owen makes it back to New York safely.”

Maximilian nodded slowly. His gaze shifted to the man in the corner of the room, who had been watching us the entire time.

“Take care of it.”

The man bowed briefly before turning and striding out of the church.

I was still staring at the door slowly closing when a large hand suddenly wrapped around my waist.

My body tensed instantly.

Maximilian pulled me until I was nearly pressed against his chest.

“I've already let him go.” His lips moved right beside my ear. “Now the only thing left to let go is your dress. We're honeymooning in here.”

“In your dreams!” My shout echoed through the empty church.

I shoved Maximilian's hand off my waist, my breath coming fast with both anger and fear.

Far from being offended, the man laughed.

His laugh was soft, deep, and low, as if I'd just told the most entertaining joke he'd ever heard. The faint curve of his lips did nothing to soften the coldness of the gaze that had been fixed on me the whole time.

My chest rose and fell as I held back my emotions.

Bastard.

I didn't know what else to do. Screaming wouldn't change anything, crying would only make me look weak, and hitting him would probably just break my own hand.

Without another word, I turned around.

If I couldn't fight him right now, at least I could still walk away from him. Before my foot could land its third step, Maximilian's voice stopped me.

“One more step away from me, and I can have someone put a bullet in your fiancé's head—ah, no. Your ex-fiancé's.”

My body froze. My feet felt nailed to the church's marble floor.

I knew he wasn't bluffing.

Ever since seeing the video of Owen tied to that chair, I'd understood one thing. Maximilian Blackridge never made a threat he wasn't capable of carrying out.

I clenched both fists.

Out of my four failed engagements, Owen was the only one who had truly made me believe love still existed.

Owen had never made an issue of my past, or asked why four other men had left me. He'd simply held my hand and told me that everyone deserved a chance at happiness.

I couldn't let myself be the reason a man that good lost his life. Slowly, I turned back around.

“Why me?” I asked quietly. “Why are you doing this to me and Owen? What did we do wrong?!”

Maximilian started walking toward me. He moved like a predator that knew its prey had no way left to escape.

I stepped back instinctively. But before I could take a second step, his large hand was already wrapped around my neck.

I gasped. His grip didn't choke me, but it was firm enough to catch my breath. My body was lifted slightly, drawn closer to him. Our faces were now only inches apart.

I could see my own reflection in his dark gray eyes.

“Because I want to,” Maximilian answered, each word deliberate.

I glared at him despite my heart hammering wildly.

“Just because you want to, you'll ruin someone's life? Do you know how important this wedding is to me?” I hissed.

Instead of responding, Maximilian lowered his face. His nose moved slowly along my cheek.

I held my breath.

Then, like a wild animal recognizing its prey, he breathed me in. A shiver ran down my spine.

“Naughty little cat,” he murmured softly. His nose trailed lower until it brushed the side of my neck. “Your life will fall apart even more without me.”

My body trembled. I squeezed my eyes shut as his warm breath swept across the skin of my neck.

Disgust. Fear. Anger.

Everything blurred together.

How was I supposed to fight a man like this?

Maximilian held Owen's life in his hands. He had men everywhere. And from everything I'd heard, it seemed the world always sided with a man named Maximilian Blackridge.

Without letting go of my hand, Maximilian pulled me out of the church. Sunlight blinded me the moment the church doors opened.

Rows of gleaming black cars stood parked neatly in the front courtyard. The man who had dragged me to the altar earlier was already waiting there. His hands were pulling something along.

I frowned.

A few seconds later, my eyes went wide.

“Is that ... my suitcase?”

The pink suitcase I'd left at the hotel was now in that man's hands.

I spun toward Maximilian.

“You went into my hotel room?!”

“No.” Maximilian looked utterly at ease. “I've been with you here the whole time.”

I let out a long breath.

Of course. If it wasn't him, it was his men. I wasn't even sure which was more terrifying.

Sighing in irritation, I walked quickly to the suitcase. I snatched the handle from the man's hand and pulled it to my side.

“Just let Lucas carry it.” Maximilian's voice came from behind me.

The man named Lucas immediately took the suitcase back from me. His movement was so quick I didn't even have a chance to hold on to it.

“Hey!”

Lucas only gave me a polite nod without saying a single word. Every one of Maximilian's orders was law, not to be questioned.

Maximilian approached me. “Starting today, you'll be staying in my room.”

I shook my head at once.

“No.” I looked him straight in the eye. “You're a stranger to me, Mr. Blackridge.”

Maximilian's eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced at the expensive watch on his wrist.

“Even with Owen already on the plane, I can still have it blown out of the sky if you don't cooperate with me, Emery,” Maximilian said flatly.

“Do you think everything will go according to your plan just because you threaten me?” I tilted my head.

This time it was Maximilian who fell silent. His gaze traced my face, trying to read what I was thinking.

That was the moment my eyes caught a nun pushing a food cart toward the building beside the church. On the metal tray sat some cutlery, and a kitchen knife.

Without thinking twice, I ran.

“Emery!” Maximilian's voice echoed behind me.

I was faster. My hand snatched the knife's handle before anyone could stop me. In one motion, I pressed the blade's edge against my own throat.

Everyone froze.

“Did you think …” My breath came in ragged gasps. “That you're the only one who gets to make threats here, Max?”

Maximilian's eyes widened. I could see the shift in expression finally break through on that ice-cold man's face.

My hand shook. Without meaning to, the sharp edge of the blade nicked the skin of my neck.

It stung. A single drop of blood trickled slowly down past my collarbone.

I winced.

This was the biggest gamble of my life. If Maximilian didn't take the bait, I'd die alone in a country that wasn't even my own.

Maximilian let out a slow breath.

“What do you want, naughty little cat?”

I blinked a few times. Maximilian had taken the bait?

I gripped the knife's handle tighter so my hand wouldn't look like it was shaking.

“At the very least, give me my phone. I need to call Owen and make sure he's safe,” I answered, stretching out my free hand toward him.

Maximilian shifted his gaze to Lucas. Without a word, he gave a short nod.

Lucas immediately pulled my phone from his jacket pocket and handed it back to me.

My hand moved quickly to unlock the screen, then searched for Owen's name in my contacts.

Just as my thumb was about to press the call button, Maximilian said, “You'll only be disappointed if he doesn't answer.”

“You threatened him?” I accused.

My fingers still gripped the phone tightly, my eyes fixed on Maximilian standing a few steps in front of me.

Maximilian's gray gaze stayed calm.

“I didn't need to threaten him.”

That short answer made my chest tighten even more.

I didn't want to believe him. But somehow, the way Maximilian said it sounded so certain that it only made me more afraid of a worse possibility.

Without wasting time, I pressed Owen's name in my contacts.

I kept my eyes on Maximilian without blinking. The man met my gaze, as if he had no intention of looking away from me for even a second.

Owen's number was unreachable. I bit my lower lip.

“Owen ... what's happening, please .…”

Before I could try again, Maximilian spoke up.

“He's on the plane.” The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Try again later if you're lucky, naughty little cat.”

I looked up immediately. “Why didn't you say so earlier?!”

My irritation slipped out before I could think it through.

Maximilian fell silent. For a moment, his face showed an expression I couldn't quite read, as if no one had ever dared raise their voice at him directly before.

Beside him, Lucas and a few large men moved forward instinctively. Their gazes turned sharp toward me.

Maximilian raised one hand.

“Easy. She's my wife.” His gaze shifted to me. “She's allowed to scold me.”

All his men stopped at once.

I frowned. For some reason, that sentence only made my stomach turn.

Wife? That status existed only on a piece of paper he'd forced me to sign to save Owen. Nothing more.

Maximilian stepped closer.

“Come with me. We're leaving now.” His gaze dropped to my neck. “That wound needs to be treated too.”

I wanted to refuse. But remembering the string of threats that had come out of his mouth so far, I finally followed Maximilian's steps without a word.

The long black car was already waiting in front of the church.

Maximilian got in first. I sat beside him a few seconds later. The door shut tight. The confined space suddenly felt stifling.

I breathed in slowly, but Maximilian's soft cologne filled my senses first. A scent of wood, a touch of citrus, and something warm. Damn it! Exactly the type of scent I liked.

I turned my face to the window. The closer I was to him, the harder it became to breathe normally.

Before my thoughts could settle, Maximilian opened a small first-aid kit.

“What are you—”

“Quiet.” Maximilian took out cotton and antiseptic. Before I could pull away, his fingers were already cupping my chin carefully. I froze.

The man who, moments ago, had threatened to kill Owen was now the one cleaning the cut on my own neck. His touch was so gentle it was almost imperceptible.

I found myself staring at Maximilian's face without meaning to. His brow was slightly furrowed, completely focused on making sure the cotton didn't hurt me.

My heart started pounding fast again.

Wary. Afraid. Confused.

Everything blurred together.

I swallowed hard. I didn't know where else to look. In front of me was only Maximilian Blackridge. The cruel man who had ruined my life. And, damn it, on top of everything, the man had an almost perfect face.

His eyelashes were long. His jaw was sharp. Combined with the soft scent of his body, he was nothing like what I'd imagined a mafia king to be.

“Done.” Maximilian pressed a small bandage to the side of my neck.

I was just about to pull away when his voice sounded again. “Do something like this again, and I'll clean your wound by sucking it myself, naughty little cat.”

I froze instantly.

“What?” I blinked several times.

Unbidden, my mind pictured Maximilian's face leaning toward my neck, his lips touching my skin to draw out the blood.

I shook my head quickly.

God. What was I thinking? My reason immediately slapped that ridiculous image away.

The drive to the hotel turned out not to take long. A few minutes later, the car stopped in front of a luxurious building facing straight out onto the sea.

I stepped out slowly. A private elevator carried us up to the top floor. The moment the suite door opened, my eyes swept across the entire room.

Spacious. Elegant. Dominated by black, gray, and gold. A massive glass window stretched from floor to ceiling, revealing an expanse of blue sea shimmering under the midday sun.

The view was beautiful. Unfortunately, I had no reason whatsoever to enjoy it.

I'd only taken a few steps when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around my waist from behind.

My body tensed. Maximilian held me close. His lips brushed my earlobe gently. I shivered instinctively at the ticklish sensation.

“Don't—”

I tried to pull away.

But his arms held too tight. “We haven't had our first wedding kiss yet.”

I turned my head to look at him.

“Is that even necessary?” I asked, frowning. “We didn't marry for love.”

Maximilian gave a faint smile.

“Marriage doesn't need love.” His gaze bore straight into mine. “Look at us now.”

I tried again to break free.

“Let go of me.” His arms still held on.

“Getting married may not need love, but keeping it together certainly does, Mr. Blackridge!” I snapped.

Maximilian went quiet. I felt his arms loosen slowly. Seizing the chance, I pulled free at once and stepped back several paces. My ragged breathing hadn't yet returned to normal.

I looked at him directly. “Don't you dare touch me again until I've made sure Owen has landed safely in the United States.”

Before Maximilian could answer, Lucas entered the suite. Lucas approached and whispered something into his boss's ear.

I couldn't make out what they were saying. But I saw Maximilian's jaw harden instantly. His gaze turned far colder than before.

Maximilian turned to me. “Stay here. And don't try to run or do anything reckless. You know I can do whatever I want to your precious Owen.”

Without waiting for my answer, Maximilian turned around. Lucas followed him out.

The suite door closed. I ran to it at once. I twisted the handle, but it wouldn't budge. I tried again. Still locked. I searched around the door for a key card or key, but found nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I was locked in.

“Damn mafia king!” I cursed, kicking the sofa leg lightly.

I swept my gaze around the room. That was when I realized there wasn't a single pair of scissors, fruit knife, or any other sharp object anywhere in sight.

I clicked my tongue in irritation. Could it be that Maximilian had deliberately removed every sharp object from this room after I'd threatened myself earlier?

Hour after hour passed. The spacious suite only grew quieter and quieter. I tried calling Owen several times, but the result stayed the same.

Without realizing it, I began glancing at the door every few minutes, waiting for Maximilian to return.

When my phone finally chimed, I grabbed it at once, my breath catching. My eyes went wide reading the sender's name.

“Owen.”

With trembling hands, I opened the message.

[I'm sorry, Emery, my love. This will be my last message. I really am a coward. Forget about me. I’ll be safer without you.]