His mind was elsewhere-far beyond the sterile luxury of the jet's interior, beyond the looming pow

her from his thoughts, shoving her memory into the darkest corners of his mind. She represented ev

was the key t

heart. Sebastian couldn't afford to consider anything else. His father's condition was deteriorating faster than expected, and the empire t

ed into a union that would entangle him in a web of deceit, manipulation, and power struggles. Elena was no innocent bride-she was

A sprawling mansion hidden away in the hills, isolated from the rest of the world. It was a symbol of

Sebastian's chest tightened. He was not rea

nce. The black marble façade of the mansion loomed over him, as if it were waiting, watching, for him to enter its depth

e reason-duty. Not

alert. The silence between them was suffocating. There was no comfort in these moments, only a co

ss the marble floors. Servants moved in silence, as if they, too, knew the gravity of the situation. And then, as if on cue, a figure a

a Ca

e, and cold. Her dark eyes locked onto his, and for a fleeting moment, there was something in her gaze-somethin

steady, but inside, his thought

ite reach her eyes. It was a smile of control, a

ut there was a sharp edge to it, one that he knew too w

rger than themselves. This marriage was not about love. It wasn't even about mutual

s never leaving hers. "And I intend to kee

Cantu had never been one to hide her emotions, yet this was different. There was a coldness in her demeanor tha

s words were softer now, almost as if she were speak

ze hardened. "

uine smile this time, but it held

ngerous than the last. But Elena was different. She was his past, his future, and now his presen

nd of power-the kind that didn't come from wealth or force, but from

nd them, Sebastian knew one thing for certain: This marriage, this force

ried to avoid it, Elena Can