CHAPTER 8

The closet was enormous—larger than my entire bedroom back at my mother’s apartment. The walls were lined with rows of designer clothes, all neatly arranged by color and style. Shoes of every kind—heels, boots, sneakers—were displayed on glass shelves like works of art. The scent of expensive leather and delicate perfumes lingered in the air.

I ran my fingers over the fabrics, feeling the smooth silk of a dress, the soft cashmere of a sweater. There were handbags, purses, even jewelry—glittering diamonds, delicate chains, and statement pieces that looked like they belonged in a museum rather than on my neck.

Everything was so beautiful. So expensive. It was overwhelming.

"Wow," I breathed, my fingers lingering on an emerald-green dress that looked like it was made just for me.

"Don’t drool over the clothes," a deep voice drawled behind me.

I jumped, spinning around to find Heinrich standing at the closet entrance. He was barefoot, fresh out of the shower, with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. His dark hair was damp, droplets of water sliding down his sharp jawline and disappearing beneath the towel’s edge.

My throat went dry.

Ah, right. I had forgotten that he had been in the shower when I wandered in here.

“How did you know my size?” I asked, my voice coming out a little weaker than I intended.

Heinrich smirked as he stepped further inside, his emerald-green eyes dark with amusement. “Does it matter?”

I swallowed, my gaze involuntarily dipping to his chest. He was all hard muscle, his skin tanned and smooth except for a few faint scars that marred his torso. But what really caught my attention was the massive tattoo that covered most of his back.

The intricate design was a mixture of dark ink and detailed shading. A large serpent coiled around a dagger, its fangs bared, as if ready to strike. The detail was incredible, every scale on the serpent's body rendered with precision. It was almost hypnotic.

I must have been staring because Heinrich let out a low chuckle.

“Like what you see?”

I snapped my gaze back up to his face, heat rushing to my cheeks. “You wish.”

His smirk widened, but he didn’t push the subject. Instead, he walked past me, heading towards the drawers where he kept his clothes. He pulled out a pair of black silk pajamas, his movements slow and deliberate.

“Your size,” he finally answered, “was easy to figure out.”

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the way my heart was still racing. “How?”

He threw the pajamas onto the nearby chair and turned back to me. “I had someone take your measurements while you were asleep.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I needed to make sure everything fit,” he said simply, as if that was a perfectly normal thing to do. “Can’t have my future wife walking around in ill-fitting clothes.”

I gaped at him. “That is such an invasion of privacy!”

He raised a brow. “Would you have let me measure you while you were awake?”

“No! That’s not the point!”

He shrugged, completely unbothered. “Then it was the best option.”

I threw my hands in the air. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Yet here you are, admiring the results,” he teased, nodding towards the clothes.

I scowled at him, but he wasn’t wrong. As uncomfortable as the idea was, I couldn’t deny that the wardrobe was incredible. Everything fit me perfectly. It was clear that Heinrich spared no expense in making sure I had the best.

That didn’t mean I had to be happy about it.

“Don’t expect me to be grateful,” I muttered.

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming in the confined space. “I don’t need your gratitude, Mariane.” His voice was low, smooth, almost hypnotic. “I need your obedience.”

I stiffened. “I’m not your puppet, Heinrich.”

“No,” he agreed, tilting his head slightly. “But you are mine.”

My breath caught.

There was something possessive in his tone, something that sent a shiver down my spine.

Before I could retort, he turned away, heading towards the bathroom once more. “Get dressed. We’re having dinner.”

And just like that, he was gone, leaving me standing in the middle of the extravagant closet, my heart pounding.

I let out a long breath, forcing myself to shake off whatever strange spell he had put me under.

This was just an arrangement. A forced engagement. Heinrich didn’t own me.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

I stood in the middle of the extravagant closet, my fingers still curled into fists as I glared at the spot where Heinrich had just stood. The nerve of that man. I need your obedience. Who the hell did he think he was?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

This was just an arrangement. A forced engagement.

He didn’t own me.

But the way he had looked at me—the possessiveness in his voice—made my skin prickle with unease.

I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside as I turned my attention back to the clothes. If I was going to be forced into this, I might as well take advantage of the ridiculous wardrobe he had provided.

My eyes fell on a satin slip dress, deep burgundy in color, hanging beside a row of silk robes. It was soft under my fingertips, the fabric flowing like liquid when I pulled it from the hanger. It wasn’t something I would normally wear, but something about it called to me.

I quickly changed into it, feeling the cool fabric glide over my skin. The dress hugged my figure without being too tight, the hem ending just above my knees. I grabbed a lightweight cashmere cardigan to throw over it, not wanting to feel too exposed in Heinrich’s presence.

Once I was dressed, I hesitated at the doorway, biting my lip.

Dinner.

With him.

I already knew it wasn’t going to be a peaceful meal.

With a resigned sigh, I left the closet and made my way downstairs.

The dining room was just as extravagant as the rest of the house. A long mahogany table stretched down the center, its glossy surface reflecting the warm glow of the chandelier above. The walls were lined with intricate gold-trimmed wallpaper, giving the room a regal air.

Heinrich was already seated at the head of the table, dressed in a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His emerald-green eyes flicked up to meet mine as I entered, a slow smirk tugging at his lips.

“You actually dressed up,” he mused, his gaze trailing down my body before settling back on my face. “I was half-expecting you to show up in one of my shirts.”

I rolled my eyes and sat down at the opposite end of the table, putting as much distance between us as possible. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t complain.”

I ignored him and reached for the glass of water in front of me.

A moment later, a maid entered, setting down a plate of food in front of me before placing one in front of Heinrich. The meal looked delicious—perfectly seared steak, roasted vegetables, and a side of creamy mashed potatoes.

The aroma alone made my stomach rumble, but I didn’t want to give Heinrich the satisfaction of knowing he was feeding me.

Still, I wasn’t about to starve myself out of stubbornness.

I picked up my fork and took a small bite, chewing slowly.

Heinrich watched me, his gaze unreadable. “Are you still mad?”

I stabbed my fork into a piece of steak a little harder than necessary. “Take a wild guess.”

He smirked. “You’ll have to get used to my methods, sweetheart. I don’t play by your rules.”

I clenched my jaw. “This isn’t a game, Heinrich.”

His expression darkened slightly. “It is to me.”

I set my fork down and leaned forward. “Well, forgive me if I don’t find my life being played with very amusing.”

He studied me for a long moment, then took a sip of his wine. “You’re angry now, but one day, you’ll understand.”

“Understand what?” I scoffed. “That I’m just a pawn in whatever sick game you’re playing?”

His lips curved into a slow, almost lazy smile. “Exactly.”

I exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the table to stop myself from throwing my glass at him.

“Why did you agree to this?” I asked, my voice quieter this time. “You could have anyone. Why me?”

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the armrest. “Because I wanted to.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

I shook my head, pushing my plate away. “You are insufferable.”

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my frustration.

Silence settled between us, tense and charged.

After a moment, he spoke again. “You should eat more. You’ve lost weight.”

I frowned. “I have not.”

His gaze was sharp, calculating. “You have. Your face is thinner. Your collarbones are more prominent than they should be.”

I swallowed, suddenly self-conscious. “I’ve just been… stressed.”

His expression didn’t change. “Eat.”

It wasn’t a suggestion.

I sighed, picking up my fork again just to avoid another argument.

As we ate, I decided to ask something that had been nagging at me since the engagement was arranged.

“What happens if I refuse to go through with the wedding?”

Heinrich’s jaw ticked slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. “You won’t.”

I arched a brow. “Hypothetically.”

“There is no hypothetically.”

His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it that made me tense.

I set my utensils down and folded my arms. “So I have no choice? At all?”

He took a sip of his wine before answering. “You always have a choice, Mariane.”

I frowned. “Then why does it feel like I don’t?”

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Because I control the outcome of every choice you make.”

I inhaled sharply, my nails digging into my arms. “That’s not how choices work.”

He smirked. “It is when you’re playing by my rules.”

My stomach churned. The way he spoke, so confidently, so assured of his power, made me feel like I was already trapped in his web with no way out.

I needed to change the subject before I lost what little appetite I had left.

“Where were you earlier today?” I asked.

He quirked a brow. “Why do you ask?”

I shrugged, trying to act casual. “You just seem like someone who’s always busy.”

His smirk returned. “Curious about me already?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not in the way you think.”

He chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass. “I had business to attend to.”

Of course. Business. Mafia business, no doubt.

I decided not to press further.

I paused in the middle of chewing my last bite of steak when Heinrich spoke.

“Anyway, we’ll be going to meet my family tomorrow. Everyone will be there,” he said, swirling the wine in his glass.

My stomach twisted uncomfortably at his words. Meeting his family? The idea of facing more people like him—cold, calculating, and controlling—made my skin crawl.

I set my fork down and sighed. “Do I have to?”

Heinrich’s emerald-green eyes flicked up to meet mine, his expression unreadable. “Yes.”

I groaned. “Of course.”

“It’s not a request, Mariane.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Fine,” I muttered, stabbing at the last piece of food on my plate just for something to do.

His family. Great. I could only imagine what kind of people they were. Ruthless criminals, probably. Heinrich was intimidating enough on his own. What if his family was even worse?

The thought made my appetite disappear completely.

Dinner passed in silence after that, both of us finishing our meals without much conversation.

Once we were done, I stood up, stretching my arms above my head. I could feel Heinrich’s gaze on me, sharp and assessing, but I ignored it. I grabbed my plate, intending to take it to the kitchen, but a maid appeared and took it from my hands before I could move.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said softly.

Right.

I wasn’t at home anymore. I was in his house, where everything was done for me. It felt weird. Almost suffocating.

With nothing else to do, I turned toward the staircase, making my way up to the bedroom.

It still felt wrong to call it that. Our bedroom. As if we were some kind of normal couple sharing a space together.

But we weren’t normal.

We weren’t a couple.

This was just an arrangement.

An arrangement that felt more like a prison sentence.

By the time I got upstairs, I was exhausted. The day had drained me completely, from dealing with Heinrich to my conversation with Elizabeth to the tension-filled dinner.

I grabbed a set of pajamas from the closet—soft cotton shorts and a loose T-shirt—before heading to the bathroom to change. The cool fabric felt nice against my skin as I ran a hand through my hair, sighing.

When I stepped back into the bedroom, I saw Heinrich already inside, unbuttoning the cuffs of his black shirt. He had an effortless air about him, like he didn’t have a single care in the world.

Meanwhile, I was suffocating.

I threw myself onto the bed, burying my face into the pillows. At least one thing I liked about this place was the comfortable bed. The mattress was thick and soft, almost as if I was lying on a cloud.

Behind me, Heinrich made a noise of disapproval.

“Don’t ruin my bed,” he said.

I peeked at him from the corner of my eye, a smirk tugging at my lips.

“You’re so dramatic,” I muttered, rolling onto my back.

He rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, his muscles flexing slightly as he did so. “I like things to be in order.”

That only made me want to mess with him more.

I turned on my side, then back to my stomach, rolling across the bed like a child. The sheets tangled around my legs as I did it again, just to annoy him.

He let out a low groan.

“You are such an animal,” he muttered.

I laughed. “What, can’t handle a little chaos?”

His jaw twitched as he walked toward the bed, his hands resting on his hips. “There’s a difference between chaos and being a brat.”

I grinned up at him, knowing I was pushing his patience. “Oh? And which one do you think I am?”

He smirked, leaning down until he was just inches from my face. His green eyes locked onto mine, intense and unreadable.

“Both,” he murmured.

A shiver ran down my spine, but I refused to let him see that he was getting to me.

I scoffed and turned away from him, grabbing one of the pillows and hugging it close. “You’re no fun.”

“I don’t need to be fun,” he said. “I need you to follow the rules.”

I frowned, shifting slightly so I could look at him again. “Rules?”

“Yes,” he said simply, stepping away and undoing the top two buttons of his shirt. “No wandering around the house without permission. No talking to my men unless necessary. No—”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you going to keep listing these rules forever?”

“Until you understand them,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

I sighed, flopping onto my back again. “Fine. Whatever. Anything else?”

He watched me for a long moment before speaking. “Yes. You sleep on your side of the bed.”

That made me sit up. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t like people invading my space,” he said.

I let out a humorless laugh. “That’s rich coming from you. You literally forced me into this engagement.”

He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “That’s different.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

I groaned and fell back against the pillows again, rubbing my temples. “You are impossible.”

He smirked. “And yet, you’re still here.”

I wanted to argue, but he had a point.

I was still here.

Because I had no choice.

The room fell silent for a moment before Heinrich spoke again, his tone more serious this time.

“You’ll be expected to act a certain way tomorrow,” he said.

I turned my head to look at him. “Meaning?”

“Meaning you don’t embarrass me in front of my family.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And what if I want to embarrass you?”

He gave me a knowing look. “You won’t.”

I huffed. “What makes you so sure?”

He leaned in slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. “Because if you do, you will regret it.”

There it was again. That quiet, underlying warning in his voice.

I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the pillow in my hands.

“Fine,” I muttered.

He nodded, satisfied.

I turned away from him, pulling the blanket up to my chest. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t be anything good.

Heinrich’s family. Would they like me or not? Would they treat me well?