CHAPTER 2

The words had haunted me for weeks.

“I am sorry, but we were unable to determine the cause of your mother’s death.”

I had replayed them over and over in my mind, hoping that somehow, the answer would change—that someone would call and say they had made a mistake, that new evidence had come up. But silence was all I received.

How was it possible?

She was healthy. She had no medical conditions, no history of sudden illnesses. She had gone to work that evening like any other day, only to never return. And worse—her belongings had never been found. No ID, no phone, no car. As if she had vanished from existence, only for her body to reappear lifeless on the roadside.

I clenched my fists, the frustration burning inside me as I sat on my bed. The grief hadn’t lessened—it had only settled into something heavier, something that weighed me down with every breath.

With a sigh, I forced myself to stand, my limbs stiff from hours of sitting in the same position. I made my way downstairs into the kitchen, the air thick with memories I wasn’t ready to face.

Saturdays used to be our favorite day.

Mom and I would cook together, music playing in the background as we sang along, our laughter filling the space. She always let me pick the songs, even though she loved old-school classics.

Now, the silence was deafening.

I opened the fridge, my eyes landing on the untouched pizza I had ordered last night. I hadn’t eaten it—I hadn’t had much of an appetite in weeks. But my stomach grumbled now, reminding me that I couldn’t keep neglecting myself.

As I picked up a slice, my eyes drifted toward the calendar hanging on the wall.

Tomorrow.

My 21st birthday.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Worst birthday ever.

If Mom were here, she would have made me pancakes in the morning, singing Happy Birthday in her off-tune voice just to annoy me. She would have dragged me out for shopping, insisting I pick a gift even though I always told her to surprise me.

I wondered what she would have chosen this year.

The thought was too painful to linger on, so I shoved it aside, forcing myself to chew the now-cold pizza.

The sudden ring of the doorbell startled me.

I quickly wiped my hands on a napkin and smoothed down my sweater, composing myself before heading to the door. When I opened it, I found my uncle, Alexander, standing there with a casual smile.

“Hey, pumpkin.”

He ruffled my hair as if I were still a child, and I forced a small smile, stepping aside to let him in.

“Hey, Uncle.”

He walked inside, settling onto the couch like he owned the place. I sat on the armchair across from him, studying him curiously. Alexander was my father’s younger brother, a businessman with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. He was the only one from my father’s side who visited me every once in a while.

Still, something felt off. He hadn’t called before coming, and there was an odd seriousness in his eyes.

“Lovely weather,” he commented, looking toward the window.

I nodded. “Yeah, not too cold.”

He exhaled and leaned forward, rubbing his hands together. “Anyway, I’ll cut straight to the chase.”

A strange feeling crept over me. Why did that sound ominous?

“Since your mother is dead, you have no parents anymore.”

I stiffened at his bluntness, my grip tightening on my sweater.

“Uncle—”

“Even though you are legally independent, you have no means of taking care of yourself,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “So, as a family, we decided that the best thing to do is to get you married.”

Silence.

His words didn’t register immediately. It was as if my mind refused to process them.

Then, my stomach dropped. “What?”

“Look, sweetheart.” His voice was calm, patronizing. “We are doing this for your own good. We all have our own problems, and we can’t afford to take care of you. To ensure you a better life, we found a suitor for you.”

I gaped at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. “You… you want me to get married? Just like that?”

“It’s not just about you, Mariane.” He sighed. “This marriage will benefit the family business. It’s a win-win situation.”

“A win-win for who?” My voice trembled. “Because it sure as hell isn’t for me!”

His face darkened. “You don’t have a choice.”

I shot up from my seat, my entire body shaking. “I am not getting married to some stranger because you don’t want to deal with me!”

Alexander stood as well, towering over me. “You think you can survive on your own? With what money? Your college degree won’t be enough to support you right away, and you have no one else to turn to.”

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “I’ll figure it out.”

“No, you won’t.” His voice was cold now. “You don’t understand, Mariane. This isn’t a negotiation. It’s done. You will marry Heinrich Volkov, and that’s final.”

The name sent a chill down my spine.

Heinrich Volkov.

Even I had heard of him. A man whose name carried weight in every corner of the city. Feared by men, adored by women. Ruthless. Dangerous. Powerful.

And they wanted me to marry him?

I shook my head in disbelief. “Why him?”

“Because he agreed.” Alexander smirked, as if that was supposed to make me feel better. “He wants a wife, and we want security. It’s a fair exchange.”

A fair exchange?

My life had been bargained off like some business deal.

My breaths came out uneven. “And if I refuse?”

Alexander’s expression turned cold. “Then you’ll be on your own. No support. No financial help. Nothing.”

I swallowed hard. He was right about one thing—I had no one. No money. No resources. If I refused, I would be completely alone, struggling to survive.

I felt trapped. Cornered.

My knees buckled, and I sat back down, my head spinning. How had my life come to this?

Alexander patted my shoulder, his voice softer now. “Look, Mariane, I know this is sudden. But this is the best option for you. Heinrich is a powerful man. You won’t have to worry about anything.”

Except my own safety.

Except the fact that I was being forced into a marriage with a man who was nothing but a whispered warning in the city.

My hands curled into fists. No. This wasn’t fair.

“This is… this isn’t fair.” My voice trembled as I spoke, my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

Alexander merely leaned back against the couch, crossing his legs as he regarded me with an indifferent gaze. “What do you prefer? Being miserable until God knows when or marrying Heinrich and having a better life?”

I bit my lip, my throat tightening. I didn’t want either of those options. I wanted my mother back. I wanted my life to return to what it was before she disappeared that night.

I stayed silent.

Because deep down, I knew he was right.

I had no money, no safety net, and no family willing to take me in. I had barely managed to afford food with the little money my mother had left behind. My savings wouldn’t last long, and there was no way I could juggle working full-time while finishing my degree.

But marrying Heinrich Volkov?

A man whispered about in every corner of the city. Women wanted him, men feared him, and no one truly understood him.

What kind of life would that be?

Alexander sighed as if he had already grown tired of the conversation. “This is for your own good.”

My own good? I wanted to scream.

“I need time to think about it.” My voice was small, pleading.

“There is no time.”

Panic coiled around my ribs. “But, Uncle… this is too sudden.”

He shook his head. “I know. But what choice do you have?” His words were a dagger to my chest. “The wedding will happen in three weeks. Everything will be prepared by him.”

Prepared by him.

I felt sick.

Alexander stood, straightening his suit jacket as he glanced at me one last time. “You’ll see, Mariane. It’s for the best.” Then, without another word, he left.

The sound of the door clicking shut echoed in the silence.

I sank onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. Why had things turned out this way?

As if losing my mother wasn’t enough, now I was being pushed into a marriage with a man I had never met. A man I knew nothing about, except for the chilling whispers that followed his name.

Heinrich Volkov.

A name that never left people’s lips.

Women fantasized about him. His wealth, his power, his striking appearance—he was the kind of man who made women swoon with a single glance.

Men feared him. Because behind his alluring presence was something much darker. His name was tied to violence, to ruthless business dealings, to secrets that no one dared to speak aloud.

And now, he would be my husband.

I took a shaky breath.

Maybe… maybe it was for my own good.

I could barely afford my next meal. If I married him, I wouldn’t have to worry about survival. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be as bad as I feared.

But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, a sinking feeling in my stomach told me otherwise.

I needed to do something.

I grabbed my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed the police station. I needed answers.

The line rang twice before a familiar voice answered. “Hector Police Department, Officer Daniels speaking.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “Officer Daniels, it’s Mariane… Mariane Evans.”

A beat of silence. Then, a quiet sigh. “Miss Evans.”

His voice was careful, as if he had been expecting my call.

“I wanted to ask… is there any progress in my mother’s case?” I forced the words out, even though I already knew what his answer would be.

Another pause.

Then, his voice softened. “I’m sorry, Miss Evans, but… there’s still nothing.”

My heart plummeted.

“Nothing?” My voice cracked.

“No new leads, no witnesses. We still don’t know what happened to her that night.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “What about her car? Her belongings?”

“Nothing has been found. It’s as if they disappeared along with her that night.”

A lump formed in my throat.

It had been three weeks. How could there still be nothing?

How could my mother’s death be so… empty?

No cause of death. No belongings. No answers.

Just silence.

I dug my nails into my palm. “There has to be something. She was found by the roadside—someone must have seen something.”

Officer Daniels hesitated. “We’ve searched the area, but… there were no security cameras, no witnesses. Whoever left her there didn’t want to be seen.”

A shiver ran down my spine. Whoever left her there.

So someone had left her.

I clung onto that thought, my mind racing. “What about the autopsy? There had to be something, right?”

His sigh was heavier this time. “I know this is hard, but… the autopsy didn’t give us anything conclusive.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

“There were no signs of external injuries, no signs of struggle. Toxicology reports came back clean. It’s as if…” He hesitated.

“As if what?”

“…As if she just… stopped living.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

That didn’t make sense.

People didn’t just… stop living.

I forced myself to take a deep breath. “So you’re telling me that my mother, a healthy woman with no medical conditions, just dropped dead in the middle of nowhere?” My voice wavered.

“Miss Evans—”

“And not only that, but her belongings vanished without a trace?” My frustration bubbled over. “You don’t think that’s suspicious?”

“Of course it’s suspicious. But without evidence, we don’t have much to go on.”

Tears blurred my vision. “So that’s it? You’re just giving up?”

“We’re not giving up. But cases like this… they take time.”

Time.

Time that I didn’t have.

Because in three weeks, I wouldn’t even be Mariane Evans anymore.

I swallowed hard. “Please, Officer Daniels. I just… I need something. Anything.”

His voice was laced with sympathy. “I promise, we’ll keep looking. If anything new comes up, you’ll be the first to know.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Thank you.”

“Take care, Miss Evans.” The line went dead.

I lowered the phone from my ear, staring blankly ahead.

No cause of death. No evidence. No leads.

It didn’t feel real.

It didn’t feel right.

And now, I was being forced into marriage with a man who was surrounded by nothing but danger and mystery.

I needed to know the truth.

Because the more I thought about it…

The more I felt like none of this was a coincidence.

I decided to bury myself in my studies. It was the only thing that kept me from spiraling into my thoughts.

Monday was my final exam for the first semester, and I needed to focus. But after that? What would I do to keep myself distracted?

A part-time job, maybe. Something to occupy my time, to keep my mind from wandering back to the hollow emptiness that had taken over my life since my mother’s death.

Just as my thoughts began to scatter, the doorbell rang.

I frowned, checking the time on my phone. 9 PM.

Who would come at this hour?

A strange, uneasy feeling crept up my spine as I hesitated before making my way downstairs. The house was eerily silent, amplifying the sound of my heartbeat as I approached the door.

I peeked through the peephole— and my breath hitched.

Heinrich Volkov.

He was here.

A lump formed in my throat. My palms felt sweaty as I gripped the doorknob, hesitating for just a second before pulling the door open.

He stood there, looking as flawless as the rumors described.

Neat. Perfect. Dangerous.

Everything about him was intimidating—his presence, his posture, his tailored black suit that clung to his strong form. But nothing was more chilling than his cold green eyes that bore into me with an unreadable expression.

And yet, despite his frigid demeanor, his next words were almost… affectionate.

“Good evening, my love.”

My love?

The way he said it made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

“Why are you here at this hour?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Is it strange?” His lips twitched slightly as he took a step closer. “We will be getting married soon.”

And then—without waiting for an invitation—he walked in like he owned the place.

Of course. What was I expecting from someone like him?

I swallowed hard, closing the door as I turned to face him.

He scanned the room, his gaze lingering on the small details—the tiny cracks in the wall, the faded couch, the books stacked messily on the coffee table.

“It’s small,” he muttered.

I hissed at the comment, my fingers curling into fists. “If that’s why you’re here, then please leave.”

He let out a quiet chuckle, the sound almost mocking. “Jeez, just messing with you.” He took a seat on the couch, completely unbothered by my reaction. “Come, sit.”

The way he commanded me—like I was already his to control.

I ignored the spot next to him, instead sitting in the armchair across from him. As far away as possible.

I studied him warily, searching for any indication of why he was here.

And then I asked the question that had been clawing at me since I first heard his name.

“Why did you agree to this?”

His gaze flickered to mine, and then—without hesitation—he answered.

“Because I need a wife.”

I stiffened.

“My father wants an heir. Your uncle needed something to boost his business. And you…” He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

“You needed someone to take care of you.”

His words stung.

Like I was some charity case in need of saving.

I clenched my jaw. “I can take care of myself.”

He smirked, tilting his head. “Is that so?”

His gaze swept over me slowly, assessing, calculating. Like he already knew the truth.

Like he already knew that I was barely holding on.

I felt my chest tighten. “And you? Why do you need a wife?”

His smirk faded slightly. “Like I said, my father wants an heir. And I…” He leaned back against the couch, his fingers tapping against his knee.

“…I need someone beside me who knows how to keep her mouth shut.”

My stomach twisted. “Excuse me?”

His eyes darkened. “You’ve heard the rumors about me, haven’t you?”

I swallowed hard, nodding.

Who hadn’t?

He was feared. Respected. Untouchable. A man who had built an empire from the shadows, whose power ran deeper than anyone truly understood.

And yet, despite everything I had heard… no one really knew what kind of man he was.

“So, tell me,” he murmured, his voice low. “Are you scared?”

I held my breath, meeting his gaze.

I should be scared.

I should want to run.

But instead, all I felt was something much worse—uncertainty.

Because Heinrich Volkov wasn’t just a powerful man.

He was a man with secrets.

And now, I was being forced into his world.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Should I be?”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came.

“Smart girl.”

I hated the way he looked at me—like he already knew every move I was going to make.

I straightened my spine. “I’m only doing this because I have no choice.”

“Good.” He nodded, standing up. “Then don’t waste time fighting it.”

I clenched my fists as I stood as well. “Are you done here?”

He stepped closer, invading my space. His scent—a mix of something dark and rich, expensive and suffocating—filled my lungs.

“Not quite.”

I fought the urge to take a step back as he lifted a hand—brushing his fingers lightly against my cheek.

His touch was warm. Unnervingly soft.

“I’ll be sending someone to pick you up tomorrow.”

My stomach dropped. “For what?”

“To move in with me.”

My heart pounded. “What?”

“Did you think we’d be living separately until the wedding?” His lips twitched. “No, Mariane. If we’re going to be married, I need to know you can follow my rules.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.

Rules.

I took a step back, my voice barely a whisper. “And if I don’t?”

His eyes darkened. “Then you won’t like the consequences.”

I stared at him, my breath shallow.

He let the silence stretch between us before stepping past me, heading for the door.

Before he left, he turned his head slightly.

“I’ll see you soon, my love.”

And then he was gone.

I exhaled shakily, my knees nearly buckling beneath me.

What the hell had my uncle gotten me into?