Elena Rossi barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same photograph.
Damien Moretti.
The cold expression.
The dark eyes.
The warning hidden behind that perfect face.
She hated the fact that she was curious about him.
What kind of man could make an entire city whisper his name?
At six in the morning, Elena finally got out of bed.
She stood in front of her mirror and stared at her reflection.
Today, she would meet him.
The thought made her stomach twist.
She dressed simply in a black dress, tied her hair back, and walked downstairs.
Her father was already waiting.
“You don’t have to do this,” Antonio said.
Elena stopped.
“Then tell me what else I can do.”
He looked away.
She walked toward him.
“I can’t watch you lose everything.
I can’t watch someone hurt you because of a mistake you made.”
“I made that mistake because I wanted to protect this family.”
“I know.”
She reached for his hand.
“And now I’m going to protect it too.”
Antonio’s eyes filled with tears.
“Elena, Damien Moretti isn’t a normal man.”
“I know.”
“He doesn’t forgive betrayal.”
“I won’t betray him.”
“He doesn’t trust anyone.”
“Then I’ll give him no reason not to trust me.”
Antonio stared at his daughter.
“You sound like you’re already accepting this.”
Elena forced a smile.
“I’m accepting a meeting.
Nothing more.”
A black car arrived outside shortly after seven.
Luca Romano stepped out.
Elena walked toward the door.
Her father grabbed her hand.
“Come back.”
She looked at him.
“I will.”
But neither of them knew if that promise could be kept.
The journey across the city was silent.
Elena watched buildings disappear behind her as the car moved toward the wealthiest part of the city.
Eventually, they arrived at a massive black iron gate.
Two guards opened it.
The car entered.
Elena’s eyes widened.
The Moretti estate was enormous.
A modern mansion stood at the center of beautifully maintained gardens.
Security guards were positioned everywhere.
This wasn’t a home.
It was a fortress.
Luca opened her door.
“Welcome to the Moretti estate.”
Elena stepped out.
“I don’t feel very welcome.”
Luca almost smiled.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t plan on staying.”
His expression became serious.
“That may not be entirely up to you.”
Elena ignored him and walked toward the mansion.
Inside, everything was breathtaking.
Marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Paintings that probably cost more than her family’s entire house.
But despite the beauty, the place felt cold.
Like nobody truly lived there.
Luca stopped in front of a large wooden door.
“He’s inside.”
Elena took a deep breath.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
She looked at the door.
For a moment, she considered walking away.
Then she remembered her father’s face.
She raised her hand and knocked.
“Come in.”
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Commanding.
Elena opened the door.
And there he was.
Damien Moretti stood beside a large desk, wearing a black suit with the top button of his shirt undone.
He wasn’t looking at her.
He was reading a document.
Elena stepped inside.
The door closed behind her.
Damien slowly lifted his eyes.
Their gazes met.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Elena had seen his photograph.
But the photograph hadn’t prepared her for the real man.
He was intimidating.
Not because he was trying to be.
It was simply the way he carried himself.
Power seemed to follow him.
Damien placed the document on the desk.
“Elena Rossi.”
She folded her arms.
“Damien Moretti.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
“You’re not afraid of me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
He walked toward her.
Elena refused to step backward.
He stopped only a few feet away.
“You came here because of your father’s debt.”
“Yes.”
“You understand what I want?”
“A wife.”
“Correct.”
“And you expect me to simply agree?”
Damien’s expression remained emotionless.
“No.”
Elena frowned.
“No?”
“I expect you to think carefully.”
He walked past her and poured himself a glass of water.
“You have one week.”
“I know.”
“If you accept, your father’s debt disappears.”
“And if I refuse?”
Damien turned.
“Your family loses everything.”
Elena stared at him.
“You really enjoy controlling people, don’t you?”
“No.”
His answer surprised her.
“I enjoy certainty.”
He placed the glass down.
“People are unpredictable.
Money isn’t.
Power isn’t.
Loyalty shouldn’t be.”
Elena studied him.
“You sound lonely.”
Damien’s expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then the wall returned.
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Neither do you.”
A silence fell between them.
Damien walked closer.
“Perhaps that’s why this marriage could work.”
Elena’s heart skipped.
“Work?”
“You don’t flatter me.”
“I don’t know you well enough to flatter you.”
“You aren’t afraid to challenge me.”
“Maybe I’m stupid.”
“Maybe.”
She narrowed her eyes.
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then a loud crash came from outside the room.
Damien immediately turned.
His entire expression changed.
“Stay here.”
Elena watched him walk toward the door.
“What’s happening?”
He ignored her.
He opened the door.
Luca was standing outside.
“Boss.”
Damien’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“What happened?”
“One of the security men found this.”
Luca handed him a small envelope.
Damien opened it.
His jaw tightened.
Elena couldn’t see what was inside.
“What is it?” she asked.
Damien looked at her.
For the first time since she arrived, she saw something other than coldness in his eyes.
Concern.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Luca looked at Damien.
“Boss…”
Damien raised a hand.
“Not here.”
Luca nodded.
Damien turned back to Elena.
“Our meeting is over.”
She stared at him.
“You’re dismissing me?”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t even given me an answer.”
“You have one week.”
He walked toward the door.
Elena followed.
“Damien.”
He stopped.
She looked directly into his eyes.
“If I agree to marry you, I have one condition.”
He turned.
“What is it?”
“You don’t control my life.”
Damien stared at her for a long moment.
Then he said something she never expected.
“Agreed.”
Elena blinked.
“That was easy.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“It wasn’t.”
His voice dropped.
“Because once you become my wife, Elena, everyone who wants to hurt me will see you as my weakness.”
Her heart pounded.
“And what if I’m not your weakness?”
Damien looked into her eyes.
“Then you’ll become something much more dangerous.”
“What?”
His gaze remained fixed on hers.
“My strength.”
Elena couldn’t speak.
Damien walked away.
But before she reached the door, he spoke again.
“And Elena?”
She turned.
“Don’t trust anyone in this house.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Not even you?”
Damien’s expression darkened.
“Especially not me.”
Elena walked out of the room with her heart racing.
She had come to meet a monster.
Instead, she had found a man hiding behind one.
And somewhere inside the Moretti estate, someone was already watching her.
Someone who knew exactly why Damien had chosen her.
Someone who would do anything to make sure Elena Rossi never became the Mafia King’s wife.