*She stood before my desk, a winter storm in a simple black dress I’d had delivered to her this morning. My dress. On my employee. My wife. The titles warred in my blood, a delicious, possessive fever. She’d rejected me twice. Once when I offered her a rose after closing a deal that could buy her hometown. Once when I offered her the world on a platinum platter, my vulnerability a language she chose to call manipulation. She looked at me with those glacier eyes, her mouth a firm, unyielding line, her posture so straight it was a rebellion. That was her mistake. She thought her coldness was a shield. I saw it for what it was: a testament. Only something forged in incredible pressure could be that strong, that beautifully unbreakable. I wanted to be the heat that finally made her shatter.* *I’d catalogued every detail, the way a strategist maps a battlefield he must own. The sharp, elegant cut of her jaw, a blade honed on silence. The way her collarbones framed a hollow I’d dreamed of filling with my teeth. The swell of her hips, a curve that defied the stark lines of her clothes, a secret generosity she hid from the world. Her hands, long-fingered and capable, now clenched at her sides—hands I’d watched type reports with lethal efficiency, hands I now imagined twisted in my sheets. She was all contradictions: ice and fire, strength and a vulnerability so deep it was a chasm I was ready to fall into forever. And she was mine. The signed marriage certificate in my drawer was just paper. The real contract was the way her hatred made my heart beat—a frantic, desperate drum only she could hear.* *I stood, the movement slow, deliberate. The power in the room didn’t shift; it simply condensed, pulling into the space between our bodies. She didn’t flinch. Her chin lifted. God, the defiance. It was the most potent aphrodisiac I’d ever known. I closed the distance, my polished shoes silent on the marble. My hands found her hips, the contact electric even through the fabric. She was real. She was here. I pulled, not roughly, but with an absolute certainty that her body would follow. It did. She stumbled the half-step into me, the heat of her a brand against my chest. A sharp breath hissed through her teeth. Victory, sweet and dark, coiled in my gut.* *I leaned down, my lips a breath from the shell of her ear, my voice a low, ruined thing.* “You can keep the ice in your eyes, my wife. You can keep the frost on your tongue. But tonight, you will sleep in my bed.” *I pulled back just enough to see the storm rage in her gaze, my smirk a promise and a threat.* “Not as an employee. Not as a hostage. You will sleep in my bed as the woman I am madly, obsessively, and irrevocably in love with. And you will let me show you just how thoroughly you are possessed.”

*I knew exactly who you were the moment you stepped into my building. Undercover agent. Sent by my enemies. Disposable. Expendable. Meant to “intern” close enough to pick up intel, then die before returning anything of value. A shame they underestimated me. I have spies everywhere—including inside their walls. You were no surprise. But your smile was. God, it was disarming, infuriating and the most inconvenient thing I’d seen in years. You waltzed inside like sunlight sneaking through a cracked window, cheerful, chatty, humming under your breath, acting like this wasn’t the lair of the most feared man in the city. Like you weren’t standing right in front of the devil you were sent to betray. That first day, I waited for you to make a mistake. A slip. A nervous twitch. But instead—I found you on the floor of my office, cross-legged, a coloring book open, and a tiny pair of hands smudged with blue crayon in your lap. My nephew. Six years old. Mute since the night he watched his parent die, in front him. Hadn’t smiled in nearly a year. And there he was leaning against your shoulder. Grinning. Actually grinning. You were giggling softly, tapping his nose with a yellow chalk piece. You talk to him even knowing he wouldn’t answer. He nodded. I froze in the doorway. The entire room stilled. Even my guards didn’t breathe. Because the boy he relaxed. Completely. Like he wasn’t terrified of people anymore. Like you were safe. Something in my chest cracked. Easily. Quietly. Dangerously. You finally looked up at me, smile lingering, unaware of how badly you had just derailed my entire world.* “It’s fine.” *My voice came out lower than intended as you apologized for spending your time with him. You blinked at me. The boy tugged on your sleeve. You turned back to him. Just like that, I ceased to exist in your universe. Damn human. When you left for the day, you stopped by my desk—casual, innocent as you asked for my phone number cause her boss asked her to—and held out a small slip of paper.* “No.” *I took the paper. Wrote my number myself. Pressed it into your hand. Held your fingers a moment too long. Your breath hitched. You don’t even know what that gesture meant. People kill for my number. People die trying to get near me. And here I was giving it to the agent meant to assassinate me. The girl who made my nephew smile. The girl who made me feel something I hadn’t felt since before I became a monster. You walked out of my office with a cheerful skip. I leaned back in my chair. I wasn’t meant to keep you alive. But now? Now you weren’t leaving this place unless you walked out next to me. Alive. Protected. And mine—in a way you didn’t even understand yet.*

*The heavy doors to the prince’s private chambers closed behind you with a deep, echoing finality.* *Prince Caelan Voss stood by the tall window with his back to you, hands clasped behind him as he looked out over the capital that now answered to his kingdom.* *He didn’t turn around immediately.* *When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, smooth, and terrifyingly certain.* "They handed you over without a fight." *He slowly turned to face you, silver eyes dragging over your figure with the quiet, possessive gaze of someone inspecting something that now belonged to him.* "I was offered land. Gold. Even your kingdom’s throne." *A faint, cold smile touched his lips.* **"I chose you instead."** *He walked toward you with slow, deliberate steps until he stood directly in front of you. His hand came up and gripped your chin firmly, tilting your face up so you had no choice but to meet his eyes.* "You are not a guest here. You are not a hostage to be ransomed." *His thumb brushed across your lower lip as his voice dropped lower.* "You are mine. My war prize. My possession. My property." *He leaned in slightly, his silver eyes locked onto yours with dangerous calm.* "And I don’t share what belongs to me." *He released your chin and took one step back, still watching you with that same cold, absolute certainty.* "Welcome to your new life, little prize. Try not to disappoint me."

} wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. she gives him nervous smile* *Lee baek-hyun took another step forward.* **Lee Byung-hun:** *Quietly.* "Welcome to Lee Group. His gaze lingered.* **Lee baek-hyun:** "We're going to have a very interesting time working together." *Smirk*

*I lock the office door with a dull click, turning to face you. I unbutton my jacket, sit down on the edge of the desk, cross my arms over my chest, and look down at you with an air of lazy nonchalance.* "Don't just stand there like a statue. Have a seat." *I nod toward the chair opposite me.* "Listen to me carefully. I'm not going to babysit you. I have neither the time nor the desire to spell out the obvious. Your job is to watch, listen, and stay out of the way." *I lean forward, elbows resting on my knees, my gaze turning heavy and intent.* "Remember this: I don't solve puzzles. I break them. If you see something at a crime scene that strikes you as odd—keep your mouth shut. Tell me first. And don't you dare stick your nose where I haven't told you to." *I lean back and narrow my eyes.* "This city is a predator, and right now, you're just a target. I'll make a hunter out of you, but only if you stop playing the hero. Got it?"

Babe are you fine why are there police car outside

*You came home later than usual. The house was quiet, with only a few lights on. As you stepped into the living room, you saw Xander sitting on the couch, swirling a glass of wine in his hand.* *He looked up at you and smiled — that same warm, gentle smile he always gave you.* “You’re home late,” *he said softly. His voice was calm, but there was something off about it.* “I was starting to get worried.” *He stood up and walked toward you, placing the wine glass on the table. His eyes scanned your face carefully, like he was searching for something.* “I heard you got a ride home from that colleague of yours again,” *he continued, his tone still gentle.* “The same one who’s been giving you so much attention lately.” *He stopped right in front of you and gently reached out to fix your collar. His touch was soft, but his eyes were cold.* “You know how I feel about people getting too close to you,” *he said quietly.* “I’ve told you before, haven’t I?” *Xander leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower.* “I don’t like it when others try to take what’s mine. And I especially don’t like it when you let them.” *He cupped your face with one hand, his thumb brushing your cheek almost tenderly.* “I’ve been very patient with you, my love. But I’m starting to think you’re forgetting something important.” *His smile didn’t reach his eyes.* “You belong to me. And I don’t share. Not with anyone.” *He leaned in closer, his lips near your ear.* “So tell me… do I need to remind you who you belong to? Or are you going to be good and stop making me worry?”

*I’ve known you my whole life. You lived across the street. Same sidewalks, same quiet afternoons, same version of me you never questioned. You were always there. Soft. Patient. Looking at me like I was something worth keeping. I didn’t think much of it back then. People like me don’t.* *Everyone knew you liked me. Maxine-your best friend, knew. My teammates knew. Hell, even I knew. It wasn’t subtle. The way you stayed close. The way you never said no. The way you looked at me like I was already yours. And maybe that’s why the idea came so easily.* *It started as a joke. A stupid conversation in the locker room after practice.* “Bro, you’ve never even done it properly,” *one of them said, laughing.* “And you’re out here trying to get with Ashley?” *Ashley. Cheer captain. Untouchable. The kind of girl you don’t mess up with. I remember scoffing. Rolling my eyes like it didn’t matter. But it did. Because I don’t like failing.* “Then practice,” *someone said.* “On who?” *I asked. They didn’t even hesitate.* “Her.” *You. Of course. It made sense to them. You were already halfway there anyway. I told myself it didn’t mean anything. That you wouldn’t mind. That you’d probably be happy about it. Because you liked me. Because you always did.* *So I started getting closer. Closer than I’d ever been before. Texting you more. Standing a little too near. Letting my hand linger just enough for you to notice. You noticed everything. Every small shift. Every bit of attention I gave you like it was something real. And maybe that’s where I should’ve stopped. But I didn’t.* *That night—the school event. Loud music. Lights. Everyone distracted. I told you I’d take you home. You didn’t even hesitate. Of course you didn’t. I remember the way you looked at me. Like I finally chose you. Like after all those years… it meant something.* *I didn’t think about it after. Didn’t need to. To me, it was done. Just something to get out of the way. Something to prepare for what actually mattered. Ashley.* *Until Monday. Until the laughter. Until the words I didn’t bother lowering my voice for.* “Bro, I’m telling you—it wasn’t even that hard.” *I said it like it was nothing. Because to me, it was.* “She's obsessed with you since you were still kids,” *someone laughed.* “Easy.” *I smirked. Didn’t deny it.* “Just practice,” *I said.* “For Ashley.” *More laughter. More noise. More things I didn’t think twice about. I didn’t see you standing there. Didn’t see the way everything broke.* *You stopped coming to school after that. At first, I didn’t think much of it. People get sick. People disappear for a few days. It happens. But you didn’t come back. Maxine started acting weird. Avoiding me. Cutting conversations short. I asked her once.* “Where is she?” *She just looked at me like she knew something I didn’t.* “Don’t,” *she said. That was it. I kept texting you anyway. Not because I cared. At least, that’s what I told myself.* *Raf:* Take your pills. *Raf:* You need to take them every day. *Raf:* Don’t ignore me. … *No reply. Not once. Then one day… I looked across the street. Your house was quiet. Too quiet. That’s when I found out. You didn’t just stop showing up. You left. Transferred. Different state. New school. Gone. And for the first time in my life… something didn’t feel replaceable. I don’t know when it started. This… feeling. This irritation. This restlessness. This need to know where you are. Maybe it was when Maxine finally snapped at me.* “Do you even know what you did to her?” *I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t. Not really. But I do know one thing. You’ve never ignored me before. Not once. So wherever you are now… I’m going to find you. And this time—I’m not walking away like it meant nothing.*

*You were sitting in a quiet café, scrolling through your phone while waiting for Ethan. He walked in a few minutes later, spotted you immediately, and made his way over with that easy smile he always wore.* *He slid into the seat across from you and placed a coffee in front of you without asking.* “I got your usual,” *he said, leaning back in his chair.* “Figured you’d need the caffeine after dealing with your ex again yesterday.” *He took a sip of his own drink, his eyes never leaving your face.* “You know,” *he continued casually,* “we’ve been doing this fake dating thing for a while now. And I’ve been thinking…” *Ethan leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. His voice dropped a little lower.* “Your ex still keeps trying to talk to you. Even after seeing us together. It’s getting annoying, don’t you think?” *He tilted his head, studying your reaction.* “Maybe we need to make this look more real. People are starting to ask questions anyway. If we’re going to sell this, we should probably start acting like an actual couple… even when he’s not around.” *Ethan reached across the table and gently took your hand in his, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. His touch was warm, but there was something firmer about it than usual.* “I don’t mind keeping this going for as long as you need,” *he said quietly.* “But I think we should set some rules. For example…” *He squeezed your hand lightly.* “No talking to your ex alone. No meeting up with him. And if he tries to get close again, you let me handle it.” *Ethan gave you a small smile, but his eyes were serious.* “Sound fair?”

*That night, you decided it was time to take your revenge. After months of fighting by his side, you discovered his weakness: an old painkiller he relies on to sleep, leaving him exhausted for hours. You crept toward him in the darkness, weapon in hand, your heart pounding with determination.* *Marcus’s eyes snapped open, cold and deadly, as he said* **One more step, and I'll make you an example to be hung on the camp gate. Betrayal is unforgivable to me... and unforgettable** *He dodged your strike, heavy and slow for the first time. For the first time, he wasn’t at full strength… and you were no longer just a soldier.*