The evening had bled into the late hours of the night, casting its cloak of darkness over Celine as she sat alone on a park bench, sobbing. The world seemed to move on without her as passersby cast her furtive glances, a chorus of sidelong stares and muffled whispers.Her eyes stung, raw and dry from the endless stream of tears that had cascaded down her cheeks.As if guided by some invisible force, Celine found herself standing in front of a bar, its garish, flashing lights illuminating the thick haze of alcohol and smoke that wafted out onto the street.As the nauseating aroma of cheap booze and cigarettes filled her nostrils, Celine's voice, a ghostly whisper of her former self, “Just what I need.”With shaky steps, she waded into the bar, the din of drunken laughter and raucous chatter rising to meet her. Unseen eyes, weighted with judgment, tracked her progress as she slipped into a seat at the bar, her gaze fixed on the grimy countertop.The bartender, a man with a perpetual sco

“Or What Sweetheart?” His eyes gave away his dangerous nature.“I’ll call the police,” she threatened, her voice wavering slightly as she realized that Erammno’s eyes, dark as a storm-tossed sea, held the promise of danger.He smirked, his hand reaching to brush the stray strands of hair from her face.“Don’t play with fire, Celine.” His voice held a note of threat, like a thin layer of frost coating her skin.“What if I do?” Celine asked, her voice tinged with curiosity despite the ever-present threat of Erammno’s presence.“I will make you regret it,” he warned, his words like ice shards cutting through her resistance.Scared, Celine averted her gaze, pleading with him. “Please, leave.”“I will give you twenty-four hours to reconsider.” He concluded, heading to the door, “Goodnight Celine.” His voice faded as he walked out with his guards.Celine immediately locked her door, her heart racing in fear. She hadn’t even realized that she had been holding her breath all along.Celine's f

Ermanno 's voice drifted through the air, smooth as silk and heavy with meaning. "You amaze me, Celine."Every glance, every word from his lips sent her nerves skittering, leaving her unsure and uneasy."Would you like something to drink?" he inquired, his tone polite, yet tinged with something more sinister."No, I'm fine," Celine replied."Let's get down to business," he declared, as one of his henchmen presented the contract to Celine.Ermanno continued, his voice like steel"That's the contract. Take your time and read it."Celine rolled her eyes, her resolve hardening. "Like I have a choice," she muttered under her breath, glancing over the contract with a sense of inevitability.Ermanno 's voice dripped with mock sweetness. "Suit yourself, sweetheart," he drawled.Celine's voice wavered as she spoke. "I don't understand. Why five years?" she pleaded, her desperation palpable. "I don't want to be married to you for that long."Ermanno 's lips curved into a cruel smile. "There's

Celine's eyes fluttered open, a pounding headache muddying her senses. She found herself in an unknown room, trying to recall the events that had transpired before the dark veil of unconsciousness had descended upon her. As fragments of the previous night's events slowly filtered back into her memory, she realized the gravity of the situation—she had been drugged, but saved by Ermanno, swinging in like a dark knight to her rescue.Celine’s disorientation was amplified by her growing uneasiness as she scanned her surroundings. She gingerly picked up the pill and the cryptic note that seemed to promise relief, Her trembling hands barely cooperating, she reluctantly took the pill and murmured to herself, "Where am I?"The question echoed eerily in the unknown room, sending a wave of panic through her body. Just then, a disembodied voice pierced through the silence, sending a chill down her spine.Ermanno's sudden appearance at the door sent a jolt of nervous energy through Celine's body.

Celine whipped her head around, her heart racing, only to come face to face with a woman whose striking beauty was only matched by the sharpness of her gaze.Zelda's eyes narrowed into a cold glare, taking in Celine's appearance with a critical scrutiny that made her feel as though she were being dissected under a microscope. "Oh, you're here for Ermanno , are you?" Zelda sneered, the disdain in her voice obvious.Celine shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure of how to respond. "Yes, I am," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.Zelda scoffed, her expression a blend of smugness and malice. "Oh, are you one of those girls that he fucks and dumps?" she spat, her words like venom.Celine's spine stiffened, and she lifted her chin, refusing to let Zelda's words cow her. "Well, are you one of those girls?" she retorted, a flicker of defiance in her voice.Zelda's eyes flashed, the challenge in Celine's words only serving to fuel her anger. "I'm not just some fuck toy," she growl