The mansion was silent.
A grandfather clock chimed.
3:00 A.M.
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
She hadn’t slept.
Every time she closed them, she saw Keifer’s cold expression at the wedding.
“I’m leaving,” she whispered.
She changed into black jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers instead of the expensive clothes the maids had prepared.
Quietly, she unlocked her bedroom door.
The hallway was empty.
One step…
Two steps…
She reached the staircase without making a sound.
“Almost there…”
The massive front doors stood only a few meters away.
Her heart raced.
She pushed one of the doors open.
Fresh night air brushed against her face.
Freedom.
She smiled for the first time since the wedding.
Without looking back, she ran.
The gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she sprinted toward the main gate.
“It’s so close…”
Suddenly—
Click.
Powerful floodlights illuminated the entire driveway.
Jay froze.
Dozens of armed guards stepped from the shadows.
No one raised a weapon.
They simply stood in her path.
One guard lowered his head respectfully.
“Madam…
please don’t make this difficult.”
Jay’s smile disappeared.
“So…
I was being watched the whole time.”
No one answered.
The gates remained shut.
A slow clap echoed behind her.
Clap…
Clap…
Clap…
Jay turned.
Keifer walked toward her in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
His expression was unreadable.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Jay glared at him.
“You knew?”
“You’ve been on every security camera since you left your room.”
He stopped a few feet away.
“This mansion has eyes.”
Jay clenched her fists.
“I’m not your prisoner.”
“No.”
His voice was calm.
“You’re my wife.”
“I never chose this!”
“And neither did I.”
Those words caught her off guard.
For the first time, she saw something behind his cold eyes.
Not kindness.
Not affection.
Just exhaustion.
Before she could speak, the distant roar of engines broke the silence.
Several black SUVs sped toward the mansion.
The guards immediately formed a protective line.
One of Keifer’s men rushed over.
“Boss!
We have intruders!”
Keifer’s expression hardened in an instant.
He stepped in front of Jay without thinking.
“Take Madam inside.”
“I can walk myself!” Jay protested.
“No.”
His eyes never left the approaching vehicles.
“It’s not safe.”
Gunfire suddenly echoed beyond the gates.
The guards moved into position as alarms rang through the estate.
Jay’s heart pounded.
This was the first time she truly understood what it meant to be married to the most feared mafia boss.
Danger didn’t knock.
It arrived with bullets.
Keifer glanced at her over his shoulder.
His voice was firm.
“Go.
Now.”
For the first time since their marriage…
She obeyed.