"None, Father. Everything runs smoothly. Aria hasbeen cooperative and compliant. No escape attempts. No behavioral issues. She's adjusting exactly as anticipated."
So neutral. So professional. Like I was just another asset in his portfolio requiring management.
But I could see his hands. Clenched into white-knuckled fists at his sides. Could see the iron control it took to maintain that neutral facade.
"Excellent. Maintain that standard until my return." Salvatore's eyes narrowed fractionally. "Remember what's at stake should anything go wrong."
"I remember perfectly."
Lia. Always Lia. The leverage Salvatore wielded to keep his son compliant.
"And my daughter? You're well, Lia?"
"Fine, Father. Everything here is fine."
Lia's voice could have been a recording. Carefully modulated. Drained of authentic emotion. Years of practice hiding her truth.
"Good. I'll be home in less than two weeks. We'll begin wedding preparations immediately. Aria, I expect you to be ready."
Ready. To become his possession. To let those cold hands touch me. To spend whatever remained of my probably abbreviated life being owned.
"Of course, Don Salvatore. I'll be ready."
The lie nearly strangled me on the way out.
The screen went dark. Silence rushed in to fill the void—oppressive, suffocating.
Luca straightened. "I'll continue security rounds. Perhaps we can all retire for the evening."
Lia nodded, shot me one sympathetic glance, and fled.
Luca followed, but not before fixing Kai with a stare that communicated volumes. I'm watching. I see everything. You're not as clever as you think.
Then just us. Kai and me. Alone with the ghost of my future husband still lingering in the air.
I stared at the blank screen. At the portal that had just connected me to my nightmare. To reality.
This was my life. Video calls with a man who saw me as property. Answering questions about my behavior like a child under evaluation. Being owned in every way that mattered.
The fantasy with Kai and this supposed love wasn't real. This was real. Salvatore was real. And he was coming back in less than two weeks.
"Aria—"
"That's my future." The words emerged flat. Dead. "Answering to that man. Being his obedient little wife. Performing for his approval like a trained animal."
"No." He crossed the distance in three strides. Grabbed my shoulders. "That's not your future."
"Yes, it is." I turned to face him fully. "We need to stop lying to ourselves, Kai. This thing between us—it can't work. Not without blood. Not without people dying. We're living in a fantasy and that call just dragged me back to reality."
"I'm gathering evidence—"
"Evidence won't save us!" Hysteria built in my chest like pressure. "Your father is one of the most powerful men in this world. He has connections, resources, an army of people who would kill without question. And you think some evidence will make him disappear?"
"The Council has rules—"
"The Council doesn't care about rules!" My voice cracked. "They care about power and money and maintaining order. Your father provides all three. Why would they sanction him?"
"Because what he's done violates their most sacred laws—"
