Vincent Blackwood had finally cemented his reign. At just 21 years old, he was an undisputed ruler of the financial world, a man who had conquered an empire that once belonged to his father and twisted it into something far greater. The Blackwood Family, once known for its brutality and iron grip over both the legal and illegal worlds, was now something else entirely—an empire led by a man whose name struck awe and terror in equal measure. Vincent's brilliance had reshaped the family, making it two times stronger than it had ever been under his father's rule.
Yet, despite his terrifying rise, he had never crossed a certain line. He had never once sought to surpass the Vasilievs.
It was not out of fear. No, Vincent Blackwood feared nothing. It was not out of hesitation, either. If he wanted, he could have crushed the financial world under his feet and become the uncontested ruler of wealth and power. But there was one thing—one person—who held him back, or rather, whom he willingly submitted to.
Anastasia.
Vincent knew her better than anyone. He understood her intelligence, her terrifying mind that surpassed even his own. Some believed he was the greatest genius to ever exist, but Vincent knew the truth—Anastasia was different. She was something beyond human comprehension. No one in the world could match her, not even him. And he loved that about her.
Perhaps in another life, Vincent would have fought to be the greatest. He would have battled against her, against the Vasilievs, against the world, to stand at the top. But in this life, he had already lost—to her. He had lost the moment he fell in love with her.
And he was happy.
The world thought otherwise.
To the outside world, Vincent and Anastasia were enemies. Rivals. At most, they were distant friends who acknowledged each other's power but stood on opposite sides. The greatest genius of the Blackwood Family and the untouchable heiress of the Vasilievs—two names that shook the earth whenever they were mentioned together. People speculated endlessly about their relationship. Some believed they despised each other, constantly trying to outmaneuver one another in business and influence. Others thought they were simply the only two people in the world who could understand each other, but their ambitions kept them apart.
No one knew the truth.
No one knew that, behind closed doors, Vincent belonged to her.
No one knew that, in the dead of night, when the world thought them to be scheming against each other, Vincent was whispering his devotion to her, surrendering to her in ways no one would ever imagine. No one knew that the ruthless and untouchable king of the Blackwood empire would kneel before only one person—her.
It had been two years since he had overtaken his father. Two years since he had secured his place as the true ruler of the Blackwood Family. Now, his father and brother were mere figureheads, their influence reduced to nothing but empty titles. The world knew it. The Blackwood empire was his, and his alone.
There were no challengers. No one could hope to stand against him.
No one except Anastasia.
Vincent smiled to himself whenever he thought about it.
He was a king. A ruler. A monster feared by the entire world.
And yet, he would bow only to her.