The corridor leading to Adrian's private chamber felt colder than usual.
Every step echoed louder.
Heavier.
The man walking through it couldn't stop the slight tremor in his hands.
He wasn't weak.
Far from it.
But the information he carried—
It was dangerous.
Too dangerous.
His heartbeat quickened as he reached the door.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then knocked.
Once.
Twice.
A pause.
"Come in."
Adrian's voice came from inside.
Calm.
Deep.
Unaware of what was about to be said.
The man pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was dim, as always.
Adrian stood near the window, his back facing the door, one hand in his pocket.
He didn't turn immediately.
But he already knew—
Something was off.
He could feel it.
"Did you find anything?"
His voice broke the silence.
Sharp.
Controlled.
The man swallowed, forcing himself to stay composed.
"Yes… boss."
Adrian turned slowly.
His gaze landed on him instantly.
Piercing.
"Speak."
The command was simple.
But heavy.
The man took a breath.
Steadying himself.
"Boss…"
A pause.
Then—
"He wants the girl."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
For a split second—
Nothing moved.
Nothing breathed.
Then—
Adrian snapped.
In two long strides, he reached the man and grabbed his collar, pulling him forward violently.
"What did you say?"
His voice dropped.
Dangerously low.
The man held his ground despite the fear creeping in.
"He specifically asked for her."
Adrian's grip tightened.
His jaw clenched so hard it looked like it might break.
"That bastard…"
His voice came out through gritted teeth.
"…doesn't have the right."
His eyes darkened.
Burning with something far beyond anger.
Possession.
Rage.
Something primal.
"To take what's mine."
The words weren't loud.
But they carried weight.
Deadly weight.
He shoved the man aside roughly and turned immediately.
Decision made.
No hesitation.
No second thought.
He walked out of the chamber with long, purposeful strides.
The air around him felt suffocating.
Heavy with intent.
—
Inside her room—
Elena stood near the window.
Looking outside.
But not really seeing anything.
Her mind was elsewhere.
Still tangled in everything that had happened.
The fear hadn't left her yet.
It lingered.
Quiet.
Unsettling.
A storm she couldn't escape.
Then—
The door burst open.
She flinched violently, her body reacting instantly.
Her head snapped toward the door.
Adrian stood there.
His presence filled the room instantly.
Sharp.
Dominating.
Unavoidable.
She stood up quickly.
Her heart racing.
"What happened?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Because something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
He walked inside, closing the door behind him with a firm sound.
His eyes locked onto her.
Intense.
Unreadable.
She felt it instantly.
That shift.
That tension.
It made her uneasy.
"Adrian…?"
She took a small step back.
Instinctively.
His jaw tightened.
And then—
Without warning—
He spoke.
"We're getting married."
The words hit her like a physical blow.
Her body froze.
Her mind went blank.
For a second—
She didn't understand.
Couldn't.
"What…?"
Her voice came out barely audible.
Her breath hitched.
"I— I don't understand…"
Her hands trembled at her sides.
"How can you just—"
She stopped.
Her throat tightening painfully.
Her mind trying to process what he just said.
Marriage?
With him?
Like this?
So suddenly?
Adrian took a step closer.
Then another.
Closing the distance between them.
"You don't need to understand."
His voice was firm.
Final.
"That's not a request."
Her eyes widened.
Fear mixing with confusion.
"Then what is it?"
Her voice broke slightly.
Adrian stopped right in front of her.
Towering.
Dominating.
"A decision."
The word landed heavily between them.
Her breath grew uneven.
Her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
"Why?"
That one question slipped out.
Soft.
Broken.
But real.
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
As if choosing his words.
Or maybe—
Choosing how much to reveal.
Then—
"Because you're not safe."
His tone was colder now.
Controlled.
"Not outside."
"Not here."
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Confusion deepening.
"And marriage will fix that?"
Her voice carried disbelief.
Hurt.
Something fragile.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"It will make things clear."
A pause.
"To everyone."
The meaning behind his words hit her slowly.
Her breath caught.
"You mean…"
Her voice trembled again.
"…you're doing this because of him?"
Adrian didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it either.
But his silence—
Said enough.
Her chest tightened.
So this wasn't about her.
Not really.
It was about control.
Protection.
Possession.
"I'm not something you can just claim like that."
Her voice came out stronger this time.
Even though her body still shook.
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And yet—"
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"You're already under my roof."
His voice dropped lower.
"You live by my rules."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"And now…"
A pause.
"You'll carry my name."
Her heart skipped a beat.
Her mind spiraling.
"No—"
She shook her head immediately.
Stepping back.
"I can't—"
Her back hit the wall.
No space left.
No escape.
Adrian didn't move away.
Didn't give her space.
"You don't have a choice."
His tone was calm.
But unyielding.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
Her voice broke completely.
"Why are you doing this to me…?"
That question—
It lingered.
Heavy.
Raw.
For a brief second—
Something flickered in Adrian's eyes.
Something softer.
Something human.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
Replaced by cold determination.
"Because I don't share what's mine."
The words were quiet.
But final.
Her tears fell freely now.
Her body trembling under the weight of everything.
Fear.
Confusion.
Helplessness.
"You're cruel…"
she whispered weakly.
Adrian didn't react.
Didn't deny it.
Because maybe—
He already knew.
A knock suddenly came from the door.
Sharp.
Urgent.
Adrian's expression darkened again.
"Enter."
The door opened slightly.
One of the guards stepped in.
"Boss…"
He hesitated for a moment.
Then—
"There's a message."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What message?"
The guard swallowed.
"It was delivered at the main gate."
A pause.
"And it's addressed to… her."
The room went still.
Elena's breath hitched.
Adrian's gaze shifted slowly toward her.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"Bring it."
His voice came out cold.
Commanding.
The guard nodded quickly and stepped out.
A few seconds later—
He returned.
Holding a small black envelope.
No name.
No marking.
Just darkness.
He handed it over carefully.
Adrian took it without hesitation.
His eyes fixed on it.
Calculating.
Then—
He opened it.
Inside—
A single card.
He read it.
Once.
And his expression—
Changed.
Darkened.
Dangerously.
Elena watched him, her heart racing.
"What does it say…?"
Her voice was barely there.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He turned the card toward her.
Her eyes fell on the words written in bold ink—
"You can have her body…
But I will have her soul."
Her breath stopped.
Her body went cold.
And below that—
A single name was written.
Not fully.
Just one word.
—Her beloved Skull
The room fell into suffocating silence.
Adrian's grip on the card tightened slowly.
His jaw clenched.
His eyes burned with something terrifying.
Because now—
It wasn't just a threat.
It was a challenge.
And he never backed down from one.
Not ever.