Chapter 1

The Edge of Despair

Selene walked through the heavy rain,

thunder rumbling in the sky like the chaos inside her. She was soaked and shivering, but she had nowhere else to go. Her dad had kicked her out. Just like that. No warning, no explanation. He disowned her and took away her title as heiress like it meant nothing.

Everything hurt.

The most painful part wasn't even that he threw her out. It was what she had just discovered—the truth about her mom. Selene was only eight when her mom died. They told her it was an accident. She believed that lie for years. She searched and begged for answers, hoping someday someone would just tell her what really happened.

And finally, she found out.

Her mom didn't die by accident. She was murdered. By her own dad. And not just him. His mistress was involved too.

Not even a full year had passed after her mom's death when he brought that woman into their home and married her. Selene hadn't even finished mourning when her dad moved on like nothing happened.

Worse, he had been cheating on her mom the whole time. The mistress and her father already had a daughter together. Layla.

Since then, Selene's life had been hell.

She cooked. Cleaned. Got treated like she didn't exist. No one cared about her. No one invited her to family events. She was invisible in her own house. A house that belonged to her mom. And now, they threw her out of it too.

But she had one person left. Noah. Her fiancé.

He was the only one who ever made her feel seen. Loved. Safe. Through all the pain, he was the one constant.

Selene held onto that hope as she walked through the storm to his apartment. Her hair clung to her face, her clothes stuck to her skin, and her heart beat with something between fear and desperation.

She still had a spare key.

She opened the door. The apartment was quiet at first. But then she heard something.

Noises. From upstairs.

Something didn't feel right.

She moved slowly, her body heavy, her steps unsure. She reached the bedroom door and pushed it open.

And what she saw shattered her.

Noah. Her Noah.

In bed. With Layla.

Her own half-sister.

Naked. Entangled.

Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't move, couldn't scream, couldn't cry. Just stood there, staring, like the ground had crumbled under her feet.

Everything she thought she had left was gone.

Her half-sister, Layla, spotted her first. A smirk puckered on her lips, unrepentant, victorious.

"Oops," Layla said, stretching herself languidly across Noah's bare chest. "Looks like she found out."

Selene couldn't move. Couldn't speak. She stared, her mind refusing to believe the scene in front of her was real.

Noah scrambled, guilt finally registering on his face.

"I'm sorry," he stammered. "I didn't mean—"

Before he could finish, Selene slapped him. Hard. The sound cracked through the room.

She glared at him, tears streaming down her face.

"So this is what you meant by going on business trips? Signing documents? It was all just an excuse to be with her?" Her voice broke, but she didn't stop. "Wow. I trusted you. I defended you. I gave you everything."

She stepped back, wiping her face. Her voice was low, but it shook with every word.

"It's over, Noah. We're done. The engagement is over. You can have each other. I hope it was worth it."

She turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her.

Her chest felt hollow. Her feet moved, but she didn't know where she was going.

The rain welcomed her again, soaking her just like before. But now, she didn't even feel it.

No family. No love. Nothing left.

She didn't even know why she existed anymore.

And then the thought crept in. Quiet. Cruel.

Maybe it was better to just… end it.

She found herself walking. No destination. No plan. Until her feet stopped at the edge of a bridge. The water below looked so still. So calm.

"Maybe that's what peace feels like," she whispered.

She stepped closer. Closed her eyes. Took a breath.

If this was the only way to escape the pain… maybe it was worth it.

But just as her toes touched the edge, a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Firm. Steady.

Real.

She gasped, eyes flying open. And there he was. A stranger. Drenched. Silent. Holding on like she was something worth saving.

"Don't," he said gently, but his voice carried something that cut through the storm.

The man holding her stood tall-over her-his thick body dressed in a smooth black suit that managed to look clean despite the hurricane around them. Midnight-black hair framed a hard face, severe and striking.

But it was his eyes that stole her breath.

A stormy, hypnotic silver. Cold, expressionless, yet full of something raw. Something she couldn't quite grasp.

Selene fought, her nails sinking into his sleeve. "Let me go."

His hold didn't relax. "Not going to happen."

Her eyes blurred with new tears. "Why? You don't even know me."

The man's jaw tightened a little. His voice dipped to a whisper, rough and yet somehow soft.

"Because I know what it's like to want to disappear."

Her breath hitched.

He. did he get it?

Selene didn't have time to untangle it before he shifted. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and held her against his chest as if she weighed nothing.

Her body braced. "What are you doing?"

He glanced down at her, his expression impassive. "Taking you home."

She stiffened. "I don't have a home."

His mouth curled up into something short of a smile. "Then I'll take one."

And so, it was settled.

The car ride was silent.

The Man opposite to her had already introduced himself as Lucian Blackwood. She had heard the name somewhere but she was too numb to search her memories for it.

She was still shivering not because of just the cold but behind all the pain she's gone through today.

The car came to a stop. She barely even noticed when Lucian opened her door and stepped out, waiting for her to exit. When she did not, he sighed and leaned down, his voice softer this time. "Get inside. You need to warm up."

Selene waited. This man had just saved her, but why?

She was soo exhausted. She got down from the car only for her to slump forward. She was so weak. She was feeling dizzy.

Without a word, Lucian scooped her into his arms and entertained the penthouse.

The penthouse was breathtaking-floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the city, casting soft shadows across the marble floors. Black furniture and gold trim gave the room an air of power, of mastery.

Lucian took selene to the sleek door of a bathroom and handed her some towels and bathroom.

"Take a warm bath. You are already shivering" Lucian said whiles feeling for Selene's temperature with his palm.

Selene looked at the robe. It was warm, fluffy. Expensive.

Something she didn't deserve.

Her throat closed up. "Why are you treating me so nice?"

Lucian's eyes darkened. He edged closer, his frame overwhelming. "Because someone should be."

Her chest ached.

No one had ever told her that before.

She stood frozen for a moment before walking to the bathroom. She didn't trust him. She didn't trust anyone.

But for some odd reason, she couldn't bring herself to run.

Hours later, Selene sat huddled on the bed Lucian had taken her to. A plate of untouched food rested on the bed beside her, but she was famished.

The door opened. Lucian came in, placing a steaming cup of tea on the bedside table.

She gazed at him warily. "You're being too nice."

Lucian arched a brow. "You say that like it was something bad."

Her fingers tightened in her grip of the blanket. "People don't do things out of kindness for nothing."

Lucian exhaled, his eyes gentler now. He sat on the bed's edge, arms draped on his knees.

"You don't trust me," he breathed.

She was silent.

Lucian's voice was gentler this time, a promise hanging in the air.

"But you don't need to fear me, Selene. No one will ever hurt you again. Not as long as you are mine."

Her heart pounded.

She ought to be afraid.

But for the very first time after an eternity, she felt otherwise.

Safe.

And that only scared her all the more.