(Aria pov)
I stood in the middle of the courtroom, my hands pressed tightly against my skirt, trying to stop them from shaking. The air was thick, heavy, filled with the smell of polished wood and old leather. Every eye seemed to burn into me, but the one that froze me completely was his.
Damien Knight.
I had heard of him before, of course. Everyone had. They said he was ruthless, cruel, feared by all, a man who collected debts without mercy. I thought it was exaggeration until I was standing here, about to be handed over to him, sold like a piece of property.
And my stepmother she smiled. That smile. The kind that made my blood boil. She stood proudly, as if she had won some grand prize, while I was losing everything that mattered to me.
"You understand the terms?" the lawyer asked, his voice dry and clipped.
"Yes," I whispered, barely loud enough to hear. My throat felt dry, tight, as if it had forgotten how to swallow. I wanted to scream, to cry, to fight but I couldn't. Not here. Not now.
Damien didn't look at me. He didn't even blink. Calm, cold, untouchable. He was a man who inspired fear with a single glance, and I felt it deep in my bones.
"Yes," he said finally, his voice smooth, low, and steady. "I understand."
The court went quiet. I realized everyone present lawyers, clerks, witnesses
was holding their breath, waiting. They weren't afraid of me. They were afraid of him.
The lawyer pushed the papers toward us.
"Sign here," he said.
My fingers trembled as I reached for the pen. It felt heavier than iron. With that one stroke, my life, my freedom, my future, everything, would be bound to a man I didn't know and didn't trust.
I looked up at Damien. Our eyes met. Dark, cold, unreadable. I didn't see cruelty yet. I saw indifference. And that terrified me even more.
My stepmother nudged me lightly. "Do it," she whispered. "It's for your own good."
I wanted to scream. To tell her it was never for my good. That my life wasn't hers to sell. But no words came.
I pressed the pen to the paper. One signature. One stroke. One step into a world I didn't understand.
The lawyer nodded. "It's done. The marriage is official."
I felt numb. My stomach churned. My head spun. Damien still didn't move, didn't speak. He simply watched. That gaze, quiet and unyielding, made me feel both trapped and small.
After the formalities, the court session ended. My stepmother grabbed my arm and practically dragged me toward the exit. "Come on, Aria. You'll get used to it," she said, smiling as if we were going to a family dinner instead of auctioning me off.
I wanted to push her away. To yell. But then I saw him.
Damien Knight, standing like a statue just outside the courtroom doors. Tall, broad, and perfect in every terrifying detail. His dark eyes fixed on me, unreadable. The way he looked at me made my heart pound, my legs stiffen.
"Follow me," he said finally, his voice low, commanding.
I obeyed.
The drive to the mansion was silent. I tried to speak, to ask questions, but I couldn't. His presence alone was enough to hold my tongue. I felt his eyes on me the entire way, calculating, judging. It was exhausting. Terrifying.
When we arrived, the mansion loomed above me like a fortress. Black iron gates, towering walls, and marble floors that gleamed too coldly for comfort. I swallowed hard, realizing this wasn't just a home. It was a world of control, of rules, of absolute obedience.
The doors opened, and I froze.
A small voice piped up almost immediately.
"Who are you?"
I looked down to see a little girl, no more than five, tugging at the edge of my coat. Her eyes were bright, impatient, curious.
"I… I'm Aria," I stammered.
She tilted her head, studying me, then grinned. "I'm lily and I like you."
I blinked. No one had ever said that to me before. Not like that. Not so freely.
Damien's jaw tightened as he watched. "Lily, behave," he said softly. Not a yell, not a threat just concern. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, protective. She looked up at him, grinning, and he allowed a moment, a tiny flicker in his eyes that softened, showing the depth of his love for her.
I froze as Damien knelt slightly in front of lily, his dark eyes softer than I had ever seen them.
"Bunny, this is Aria," he said, his voice calm but firm. "She's going to be your stepmother… the mother you've always wanted."
Lily's face lit up immediately, her little hands tugging at my coat. "Really? I want a mother! I like her already!"
I blinked, my fear melting just a little at her excitement. " I like you too, Lily," I whispered, smiling softly.
I glanced at Damien, whose gaze lingered on his daughter. For a brief moment, he looked almost gentle. It was strange, seeing the "devil" everyone feared show such warmth.
Lily's attention snapped back to me. "Can you play with me?" she asked, tugging at my sleeve.
I swallowed hard. I wasn't sure if I should be scared or something else. Something warmer. I nodded. " I think I can try."
Damien didn't say anything, but his gaze lingered on us. Not harshly, not angrily, just intensely. It was like he was measuring my every move, assessing whether I was worthy. And in that moment, I realized something terrifying: I was now part of his world. A world where the rules were his, and disobedience had consequences I couldn't even imagine.
A servant stepped forward, motioning toward the main hall. "Miss Aria, your room is ready," she said politely, bowing her head.
I followed silently, Lily skipping alongside me, chattering about flowers and windows. I felt a strange pull in my chest. That little girl
so bold, so innocent already depended on me.
When we reached the room, I looked back. Damien was standing in the doorway, tall, imposing, silent. I couldn't read his expression. But I could feel the weight of his gaze, sharp and cold, like a knife.
I realized then that my life had changed forever. I wasn't just a wife now. I was a part of his world, a part of a family I had no idea how to navigate. And I had to survive.
I closed the door slowly, my hands trembling, and sank onto the edge of the bed. My mind raced with fear, dread, and a strange, stubborn resolve. I would not break. I could not.
Not now. Not ever.
And outside, I could feel Damien watching, his shadow stretching along the hallway.
He didn't smile. He didn't speak. But I knew one thing for certain: he would never let anyone harm Lily, and he would never let me forget whose house and whose rules I had stepped into.