Sophia stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection like she didn't recognize the girl looking back at her.
The dress fit perfectly.
Of course it did.
Soft fabric hugged her figure, elegant but simple—cream-colored, just enough to make her look… refined.
Presentable.
Like she belonged here.
Her jaw tightened.
"I don't belong to him," she muttered, gripping the edge of the vanity.
But the image in the mirror told a different story.
She looked like she fit perfectly into Luciano's world.
And that terrified her.
A soft knock came from the door.
"Miss Sophia?" Rosa's voice.
Sophia exhaled slowly. "I'm coming."
She took one last look at herself before turning away.
This changes nothing.
She stepped out of the room.
The hallway felt different this morning—brighter, but no less intimidating.
The same guards stood in place, the same silence lingered, the same feeling of being watched never left.
Rosa waited for her, offering a small, approving smile.
"You look beautiful."
Sophia didn't return it. "Where is he?"
Rosa gestured down the hall. "Dining room."
Of course.
Sophia walked ahead, her steps steady even though her heart wasn't.
She wouldn't let him see any hesitation.
Not again.
Not today.
They reached the dining room doors.
Large.
Imposing.
They opened instantly.
And there he was.
Luciano Vitiello Marino sat at the head of the table like a king on his throne.
A cup of coffee rested near his hand, untouched, as if he had been waiting.
For her.
His eyes lifted the moment she walked in.
And just like that—
The room felt smaller.
Tighter.
Focused.
On her.
His gaze slowly moved over her, taking in every detail of the dress, the way her hair fell, the way she carried herself.
Assessing.
Approving.
Possessive.
"You're late," he said calmly.
Sophia stopped a few feet from the table. "I didn't realize I was on a schedule."
Luciano's lips curved slightly.
"There's always a schedule."
Of course there was.
She walked toward the table and took a seat across from him without waiting for permission.
A small act of defiance.
She watched carefully for his reaction.
There it was.
A flicker in his eyes.
Not anger.
Interest.
"Careful," he murmured, leaning back slightly.
"You're getting comfortable."
Sophia picked up a glass of water, meeting his gaze directly. "I'm just not scared of you."
Another lie.
But she said it anyway.
Luciano didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he reached for his coffee, taking a slow sip—never breaking eye contact.
"You should be," he said quietly.
A chill ran down her spine.
But she forced herself to stay calm.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you can control people? Because you can buy them?"
His expression darkened slightly.
"I don't buy people," he said.
Sophia raised a brow. "Really? Then what am I?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Luciano set his cup down slowly.
"You're collateral," he said at last.
The word hit harder than she expected.
Collateral.
Like she was nothing more than an object.
A transaction.
Sophia laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Right."
Food was placed on the table by the staff, who moved quietly, quickly—like they were afraid to stay too long.
Sophia barely noticed.
Her attention was locked on him.
"So what happens when the debt is paid?"
she asked. "You just… let me go?"
Luciano's gaze held hers.
Unblinking.
"We'll discuss that when the time comes."
Her stomach dropped.
That wasn't an answer.
"That wasn't the deal," she said, her voice tightening.
"It was," he replied calmly.
"Then say it," she pushed. "Say you'll let me go."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"No."
The word was quiet.
But absolute.
Sophia felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
"What?" she whispered.
Luciano leaned forward slightly, his eyes darker now, more intense.
"I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."
Her pulse spiked.
"So you lied to me."
"No," he said calmly. "I told you what you needed to hear."
Anger exploded inside her.
"You don't get to just decide my life!" she snapped, standing abruptly.
The chair scraped loudly against the floor.
The room went still.
The staff froze.
But Luciano—
He didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
If anything…
He looked more focused.
More alive.
"Sit," he said.
Sophia shook her head. "No."
A mistake.
She knew it the second his expression changed.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
The air shifted.
He stood slowly.
Every movement controlled.
Measured.
Dangerous.
Sophia's breath caught as he walked toward her.
One step.
Then another.
Until he stood right in front of her again.
Too close.
Always too close.
"I don't repeat myself," he said quietly.
Her heart pounded, but she held her ground.
"I'm not one of your men," she shot back.
"You don't get to order me around."
A long silence followed.
Then—
Luciano reached out suddenly.
Grabbing her wrist.
Pulling her down into the chair.
Not rough.
But firm.
Decisive.
Sophia gasped, glaring up at him. "Don't touch me!"
He leaned down slightly, his face inches from hers.
"Then stop giving me reasons to."
Her breath hitched.
The intensity in his eyes was suffocating.
Dangerous.
Unavoidable.
"You want freedom?" he murmured.
Her pulse jumped.
"Yes."
"Then earn it."
Her brows furrowed. "What does that mean?"
Luciano straightened, releasing her slowly.
"It means you behave," he said.
"You follow my rules."
"And then what?" she demanded.
He looked down at her, his expression unreadable.
"Then maybe," he said softly, "I'll consider it."
Hope flickered—
Small.
Fragile.
But there.
Sophia hated it.
Hated that he could control even that.
She looked away, her hands tightening in her lap.
"Fine," she said quietly.
Luciano's gaze sharpened.
"Say it again."
Her jaw clenched.
"I'll follow your rules."
The words tasted like poison.
But she forced them out anyway.
Because if there was even the smallest chance—
She had to take it.
Luciano watched her for a moment longer.
Then—
He nodded once.
"Good."
He turned and walked back to his seat like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't just shaken her entire world again.
Sophia sat there, staring at her plate, her appetite gone.
Her mind raced.
Follow his rules.
Earn your freedom.
Fine.
She could do that.
She would play along.
Pretend.
Wait.
And when the moment came—
She would leave.
For real this time.
But across the table…
Luciano watched her quietly.
His eyes dark.
Thoughtful.
Possessive.
Because unlike Sophia—
He already knew the truth.
She could follow every rule.
Make every right move.
Do everything perfectly.
And it still wouldn't matter.
Because letting her go…
Was never part of his plan.