POV: Adriana
"WHAT?" I couldn't stop myself from shouting.
Did he just say—?
He said my name.
Two weeks. Then I'll be his.
He just dropped that bombshell and walked out like it was nothing.
I didn't move from the couch. Couldn't hear anything except my heartbeat—it was too loud, pounding in my ears.
Did I hear him wrong?
Was I even breathing?
Breathe, Adriana.
No... I heard him clearly.
He chose me.
Why?
Why me?
Regina had practically thrown herself at him. She had the looks. The confidence. She dressed like she knew this was her moment.
And me?
I stayed quiet. I tried to be invisible. I didn't even want to be seen.
So why me?
A sharp scream tore through the silence.
"AHHHHHHHHHH! WHAT THE FUCK!" Regina's voice exploded in the room.
She jumped to her feet, hands clenched, her face twisted in rage.
"What the actual fuck is going on here?! Why did he choose her, Dad?! Why?!" She turned on our father. "He should've chosen me! Me! Look at me! I'm everything a man wants! And he chose her?!"
Her voice kept rising like a storm, until her eyes locked on me.
And I froze.
"You stupid little frog," she hissed, storming toward me. "What did you say to him in that room, huh? What did you tell him to make him choose you?! You don't even talk. You never do anything right! You ruin everything, you stupid fat ass!"
Each word stabbed me straight in the chest. My face burned. My eyes stung. I looked down—I didn't want her to see my tears.
"REGINA, that's enough." Mom stepped in between us, her voice sharp and firm. "You will stop calling your sister names right now."
"She didn't do anything to you, and you know it," Mom continued. "If you want to scream at someone, scream at your father. He's the one who put you both in this situation. Or better yet—go yell at Mr. Wolfe. He made the decision."
Regina let out another scream and shoved past Mom, storming out. The front door slammed with a loud bang.
Then… silence.
Mom slowly turned to face Dad.
"This is all your fault, Victor," she said, her voice low and cold. "Are you happy now? You just sold one of your daughters to pay off your dirty debt. What kind of father does that?"
He grabbed his coat with a shrug, like she'd just told him the weather.
No guilt. No apology. No shame.
"Yeah, well… at least she's finally doing something with her life," he said. "Not just sitting around, taking up space."
And then he walked out the door.
I didn't realize I was crying until the tears hit my hands.
Mom noticed and rushed to my side. She sat next to me and pulled me into a hug.
"Don't cry, sweetheart. I'm here," she whispered, rubbing my back gently.
I clung to her like my life depended on it. I didn't know what else to do.
"But Mom…" I whispered, "why? Why did he choose me? I told him to pick Regina. I even said she was perfect for him."
She pulled back just enough to look into my face.
"I'm glad you're the one he chose."
That made me blink in surprise. "Why?"
"Because this is your chance to escape this hell. To get away from your father. From Regina. From all of this. You won't have to live in this pain anymore."
I shook my head. "But I'll be with him. Darius Wolfe. The man everyone's scared of."
Mom cupped my face gently in her hands. "Everything will be okay. He won't hurt you."
"How do you know that?"
"I don't," she admitted. "But the way he looked at you tonight—it was different. Not like your father. Not like Regina. He looked at you like he was… curious."
Curious?
What did she mean?
She stood up and smoothed down my hair. "Now go wash your face. Get some sleep."
"Okay," I whispered, standing slowly.
As I turned toward my room, she called softly, "Adriana."
I paused and looked back at her.
"Take this as an opportunity. Do all the things you've never had the chance to do. Explore. Breathe. Be happy. Your father may have used you to settle his debt, but I want you to know one thing clearly—I support you. Always."
The tears came again. I ran back and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you, Mom," I whispered.
She kissed my forehead and smiled, even though her own eyes were wet too.
Then I went to my room.
I sat on my bed with my sketchpad in my lap.
But I didn't open it.
My hands were still trembling. I couldn't draw tonight.
Could this really be a new beginning?
I'd spent my whole life being invisible. Unwanted. Reminded over and over again that I was nothing.
But now… in the strangest way… I had been chosen.
As payment for a debt.
By Darius Wolfe—the most feared billionaire in America.
He was dangerous. Quiet. Powerful.
And yet… when he looked at me, it wasn't like I was worthless. It was like I was something more. Something he wanted.
In two weeks, I'd become his wife.
And I had no idea what that meant.
Could I survive it?
Could I become someone else?
Could I finally live?
I pulled my blanket up and stared at the ceiling.
My mind kept replaying it all. Regina's rage. Dad's cold words. Mom's promise.
And that calm, dangerous voice.
"You'll be mine."
My eyelids grew heavy.
As sleep took over, I didn't dream of rainy nights.
I dreamed of him.
Of what it might mean… to belong to Darius Wolfe.