Nora woke up early the next morning. Outside her window, the dark ocean looked flat and gray under a cloudy sky. She hadn't slept well in the huge, unfamiliar bed. Every hour, she kept waking up to the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs. And every time she opened her eyes, she saw the little security camera in the corner of the ceiling. Its steady red light kept blinking, reminding her that she was being watched.
She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her feet hit the cold hardwood floor. She didn't have her phone or a watch, but the faint light outside told her it was probably just past six in the morning.
Her stomach growled loudly. She hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. Viktor had mentioned leaving food for her, but after finding out she was locked in, she hadn't even bothered to look.
Nora walked over to the heavy bedroom door, hesitated for a second, and turned the handle. She pushed.
To her surprise, the door opened smoothly. The long, modern hallway outside was completely empty. The lock must have been on a timer, or maybe someone had turned it off from a central security room downstairs. Nora stepped out, walking quietly down the carpeted corridor.
The house was completely still. The only sound was the quiet hum of the air vents. As she walked down the massive floating staircase, she felt a chill. She knew there were hidden cameras everywhere, tracking her every move.
She found the kitchen at the back of the first floor. It was huge, full of shiny stainless steel appliances and smooth black countertops. On the massive marble island, someone had left a covered silver plate and a small, typed note.
Nora picked up the paper.
Breakfast is ready. Your new wardrobe is in your dressing room. Mr. Blackwood expects you in his study at exactly nine o'clock. Do not be late.
There was no name signed at the bottom, but the cold tone meant it had to be from Viktor.
Nora lifted the silver cover. The plate was filled with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and fresh fruit. She sat on a leather stool and ate quickly, realizing she was absolutely starving. When she finished, she washed her plate in the sink, watching the water swirl away. She wondered what her father was doing right now. Was he still asleep on the floor of their old apartment? Did he even care that she and Leo were gone?
She shook her head, forcing herself to stop thinking about him. Arthur Finch was a waste of time. She needed to focus on the man who actually held her leash now.
Nora went back upstairs to check the dressing room. When she walked in, she stopped in her tracks. Her two old, taped-up cardboard boxes were completely gone. Someone had taken them while she was downstairs eating. Instead, the huge walk-in closet was packed with rows of brand-new clothes.
Everything was organized perfectly by color. There were nice trousers, silk blouses, soft sweaters, and long dresses. But as she touched the fabrics, her throat tightened. Every single item was cream, gray, black, or dark navy blue. There was no bright color, no fun patterns, and nothing that looked like something a normal twenty-four-year-old girl would wear.
It was a wardrobe built for a puppet. The future Mrs. Blackwood.
Nora picked out a plain black sweater and a pair of gray trousers. They fit her perfectly, almost as if someone had measured her while she was asleep. She pulled her dark hair back into a neat, low bun. She avoided looking in the mirror because she didn't want to see the ghost she was becoming.
By the time she walked down to the west wing, her heart was beating faster. She found the study at the end of a dark, wood-paneled hallway. The door was cracked open.
Nora knocked gently.
"Enter," a deep voice called out.
Nora pushed the door open. The study was huge and smelled like old books, leather, and Killian's expensive cedarwood cologne. The walls were covered in massive bookshelves stretching all the way to the ceiling.
Killian was sitting behind a large desk made of dark oak. He wore a crisp, navy blue suit, his tie perfectly straight. He looked like he had already been working for hours. He didn't look up immediately, keeping his eyes on a stack of legal documents.
Nora stood in front of the desk, keeping her back straight and her hands behind her back. She didn't say anything. She refused to speak first and show him that she was nervous.
After a long, quiet minute, Killian finally set his pen down. He leaned back in his leather chair, crossing his arms. His icy gray eyes locked onto her face, scanning her from head to toe. He took in the new clothes, the neat hair, and the angry look still burning in her eyes.
"You're on time, Nora," Killian said, his deep voice filling the quiet room. "A good trait for a wife."
"I'm only here because you have my brother," Nora said coldly, keeping her voice steady. "Let's not pretend this is a real marriage."
A faint, dangerous smile appeared on Killian's lips. "Direct. I like that. It saves time. Sit down."
Nora didn't move. "I prefer to stand."
Killian's eyes narrowed slightly. The smile vanished, replaced by a cold, commanding look that made the room feel heavy. "When I tell you to do something in this house, Nora, you do it. Sit."
The threat in his voice was clear. Nora bit her lip, swallowed her pride, and sat in the leather chair opposite his desk. She sat up straight, refusing to relax.
"Much better," Killian murmured. He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a sleek black tablet, and slid it across the wood toward her. "Your lessons start today. That tablet has everything you need to know about your new life. There are profiles on every member of my company's board, their wives, and their secrets. There is also a fake story about how we met, where we went on vacation, and why we decided to get married in secret."
Nora picked up the tablet and tapped the screen. The amount of information was insane. Her entire life had been rewritten. According to these files, she wasn't a poor waitress from the slums. She was the quiet daughter of a smart professor who loved art galleries and charity work.
"You've been busy," Nora said, her voice full of sarcasm. "It's a very pretty fairy tale."
"It's a necessary fairy tale," Killian corrected sharply, leaning forward and resting his arms on the desk. "My board votes on a massive shipping merger in three weeks. They need to see that I am a stable, settled man with a dignified wife. They don't need to know about your father's gambling debts, and they definitely don't need to know about the ledger you tried to blackmail me with."
Nora set the tablet down. "And what happens when someone looks into my real past? The city isn't that big, Mr. Blackwood. People know me. The people at the diner, my neighbors—"
"The people at the diner were paid a lot of money to forget you ever worked there," Killian interrupted smoothly. "My company bought the gym you went to, and all your records have been deleted. As for your neighbors, they think you and your brother moved away for a medical emergency. Your past is gone, Nora. It doesn't exist anymore."
Nora felt a wave of fear wash over her. The speed and ease of his power was terrifying. He hadn't just taken her future; he had completely erased her past, leaving her with nothing but the clothes she was wearing.
"You really are a monster," she whispered, her voice shaking.
Killian didn't care about the insult. He just stared at her with cold, empty eyes. "I am the man keeping your brother alive. Remember that before you speak to me like that again."
He stood up, his tall frame towering over the desk and casting a long shadow over her. He walked around the desk, stopping just inches away from her chair. Nora wanted to lean back, but she forced herself to stay completely still.
Killian reached out, his large, warm hand grabbing her chin. He forced her face up so she had to look into his eyes. His grip wasn't painful, but it was firm, his thumb resting right against the pulse point on her neck. Nora's heart started racing, a frantic beat that she hated herself for showing.
"Tonight is our first public test," Killian whispered, his warm breath hitting her forehead. "The annual winter gala for the children's hospital. Every politician, CEO, and reporter in the city will be in that room. They will be watching us like hawks, looking for any sign that this marriage is fake."
"I told you I would play the part," Nora said through gritted teeth, her jaw tight under his fingers.
"You will do more than play it," Killian murmured, his gray eyes turning darker and dangerous. "You will live it. When we walk into that ballroom, my hand will be on your waist. You will smile when I talk to you. You will lean into me as if you love me. If I see even a second of hesitation or resistance, the contract is broken. Do you understand me, Nora?"
Nora stared up at his sharp jaw and cruel, perfect face. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, a powerful force that seemed to trap her.
"I understand," she whispered.
Killian's thumb brushed slowly over her bottom lip. It was a slow, deliberate movement that felt like a threat, showing her exactly how much control he had over her. A slow, wicked smirk spread across his face when he noticed how fast she was breathing.
"Excellent," Killian said softly. He dropped his hand and stepped back, instantly taking his warmth away. "A designer will be here at two o'clock to fit your dress for tonight. It will be red, Nora. Just like your wedding. I want the world to see exactly what happens when a little bird flies into my cage."
He turned back to his desk and picked up his pen, completely ignoring her now. "You can leave. Go study."
Nora stood up, her knees a little shaky, but she held her head high and walked out of the room without another word. As she walked down the long, quiet hallway back to her wing, she clutched the tablet tightly against her chest.
The game had officially started, and she was trapped with the devil. But as she looked up at the security camera at the end of the hall, its red light blinking in the dark, Nora made a silent promise to herself.
He could take her past, control her brother, and force her to smile for the cameras. But he would never break her spirit. She would survive this year, and when the contract was over, she would take Leo and run somewhere Killian Blackwood could never find them again.