His Reluctant Bride

Serena Moretti's world had collapsed in a single night. One moment, she was the daughter of a powerful businessman, living a life of luxury. The next, she was standing at the gates of Adrian De Luca's secluded estate, about to be handed over like a bargaining chip.

Her father's debts had destroyed them. The man who had once been respected among the elite had gambled away everything-their fortune, their home, their dignity. And now, to save himself, he had made a deal with a devil.

Her husband-to-be.

The gravel crunched under her heels as she stepped out of the sleek black car. The cold evening air bit into her skin, but she barely felt it. All she could feel was the knot tightening in her stomach, the burning rage coiling in her chest.

The De Luca estate loomed like a monster in the distance-all dark stone and towering columns. The sprawling mansion sat atop a cliff, overlooking an endless expanse of ocean. Waves crashed violently against jagged rocks below, as if the world itself was warning her to run.

The driver, one of Adrian's men, barely spared her a glance as he stepped out and pressed the intercom. A deep, mechanical voice crackled through the speaker.

"Bring her in."

The gates creaked open with an ominous groan, the sound echoing in the night.

Her heart pounded as she stepped forward, her fingers trembling against her coat. Every step felt heavier than the last, like she was walking toward her own execution.

When the massive front doors swung open, Serena's breath hitched.

He was there.

Adrian De Luca.

Tall. Imposing. A presence that demanded control without saying a word.

He leaned against the marble entryway, dressed in a tailored black suit, his arms crossed over his chest. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his sharp jawline looked like it had been carved from stone. But it was his eyes that sent a chill down her spine-a cold, unforgiving storm of gray.

Those eyes pinned her in place, stripping her bare without ever touching her.

This was the man she was supposed to marry.

Her pulse spiked with rage, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. She refused to bow to him.

But before she could speak, her father's voice rang through the entryway.

"Serena, be respectful."

Her body tensed, and she turned to glare at the man who had sold her like property.

Arthur Moretti stood a few feet away, a broken shell of the powerful man he used to be. His once-proud shoulders sagged, his face lined with shame. But Serena felt no pity. He had ruined their lives, and now he was handing her over to a man who would surely crush her spirit just as easily.

Adrian let out a quiet chuckle, low and mocking. "She doesn't look happy to see me."

Serena clenched her fists. "Because I'm not."

His smirk deepened, but there was no humor in it. "I don't need your happiness, sweetheart. Just your obedience."

The words sliced through her like a blade. "Obedience". As if she were a pet he had purchased, not a human being with her own mind and soul.

Arthur cleared his throat, his voice shaking. "Serena, this is the only way. You'll be well taken care of-"

Adrian pushed off the wall and stepped forward, cutting him off.

He moved like a predator.

Slow. Deliberate. Dangerous.

Serena's breath caught as he closed the distance between them. He was even more intimidating up close-all sharp edges and quiet authority.

"You don't get to make decisions anymore," Adrian said, his voice low and laced with venom. "The deal is done. You belong to me now."

Serena's chest tightened, her heart slamming against her ribs like a caged bird.

"You can own this marriage," she bit out, lifting her chin in defiance, "but you don't own me."

His smirk returned, slow and knowing. "We'll see about that."

Adrian turned to her father, extending a hand like this was a mere business transaction. "I expect the paperwork to be finalized tomorrow. Your debt is cleared. Our arrangement is over."

Arthur nodded, his eyes glassy with relief. "Thank you, Mr. De Luca. I-"

Adrian's gaze darkened. "Leave."

Arthur flinched, casting one last look at Serena. She stared back, her heart aching with betrayal. He wasn't even going to fight for her.

Without a word, her father turned and disappeared into the night.

The doors slammed shut behind him.

Serena was trapped.

Her throat burned, but she refused to let herself cry. She wouldn't give Adrian the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Instead, she stood tall, meeting his icy gaze head-on.

"What now?" she asked, her voice sharp as a blade.

Adrian's eyes gleamed with something dark.

"Now?" He stepped closer, his voice a quiet threat. "Now, you learn what it means to be mine."

Serena swallowed, every instinct screaming at her to run.

But there was nowhere left to go.

Her cage had closed.

And Adrian De Luca held the key.

The silence that followed Arthur Moretti's departure was suffocating.

Serena stood frozen in place, her mind racing as the weight of her situation pressed down on her. The walls of Adrian's estate seemed taller, the air inside colder, more stifling.

Adrian was watching her-measuring her.

"Follow me." His voice was smooth, yet laced with authority.

Serena didn't move.

She was still standing in the grand entryway, surrounded by polished marble floors and golden chandeliers that cast an eerie glow over the space. It was beautiful, extravagant, but to her, it was nothing more than a gilded cage.

Adrian let out a low chuckle. "You're already testing my patience?"

Serena's chin lifted defiantly. "You said I belong to you, but that doesn't mean I'll be your puppet."

His amusement flickered, replaced by something more dangerous. He stepped closer, his towering frame sending a shiver down her spine.

"This marriage isn't a game, Serena. You will act like my wife, and you will obey me."

She refused to back down. "And if I don't?"

Adrian leaned in, his voice a whisper against her ear. "Then I'll make you."

A chill ran through her, but she masked her fear with fury.

He turned and started walking down the hall, his stride slow, calculated. "You have two choices-either you come willingly, or I carry you myself. Your call."

Serena's heart pounded, her nails digging into her palms. She had no doubt he meant it.

Grinding her teeth, she forced herself to move, following him deeper into the mansion.

They walked through a long corridor, the air thick with tension. The walls were adorned with priceless paintings, and elegant sconces cast flickering shadows along the hall. The deeper they went, the more suffocating it became.

Finally, Adrian pushed open a set of massive wooden doors.

"This is your room," he announced.

Serena stepped inside and nearly gasped.

The bedroom was enormous-a king-sized bed with silk sheets, a fireplace crackling in the corner, a balcony overlooking the endless ocean.

It was beautiful. Breathtaking.

And yet, all she saw were the bars of her cage.

Adrian leaned against the doorframe, watching her reaction.

"You'll find everything you need here," he said. "Clothes, toiletries, whatever you require."

Serena turned sharply. "What I require is my freedom."

His smirk was slow, deliberate. "That's the one thing you won't get."

Her hands clenched. "You can't keep me locked up like a prisoner."

"I'm not." He gestured to the luxurious room. "You're free to roam the estate."

"And leave?" she challenged.

His smirk faded, his eyes darkening. "That's not an option."

Serena's stomach twisted. She had suspected it, but hearing the confirmation sent a wave of helplessness through her.

She was trapped.

No matter how big or beautiful this mansion was, it was nothing more than a cage with no exit.

The moment Adrian left, Serena tested the doors.

Locked.

Of course.

Her chest tightened as she paced the room, her mind racing for an escape plan. There had to be a way out.

Her eyes landed on the balcony.

Without hesitation, she ran toward it and yanked the doors open. A rush of cold air hit her, but she didn't care. She stepped out, gripping the railing, her heart hammering.

Below, jagged cliffs stretched down toward the sea, the waves crashing violently against the rocks. No way down.

She bit her lip, glancing toward the sides of the mansion. If she could climb down to a lower level...

A voice broke through her thoughts.

"Trying to run already?"

Serena spun around, her heart jumping into her throat.

Adrian stood by door, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

Damn it.

"I was just getting fresh air," she lied.

His smirk was slow, knowing. "Right."

She braced herself as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

"I don't think you fully understand," he murmured, his fingers grazing the balcony railing beside hers. "There is no escape."

Serena swallowed, refusing to let him see her fear.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "You can fight all you want, sweetheart. But in the end, you're mine."

Her pulse pounded. "You don't own me."

Adrian tilted his head, studying her. Then, to her surprise, he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Not yet."

Her breath hitched as he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the cold night air, her heart racing.

Serena clenched the balcony railing.

This wasn't over.

She would find a way out.

No matter what it took.

Serena stood on the balcony long after Adrian had left. The wind howled through the cliffs, cold and relentless, but she barely felt it.

Her thoughts were a storm of their own.

"You're mine".

His words echoed in her mind, taunting her. No, she wasn't. She would never be.

The truth was suffocating. She had no money, no allies, no way to leave. Adrian De Luca had stripped her of everything except her pride-and even that, he was determined to break.

She wouldn't let him.

With a frustrated sigh, she stepped back inside and surveyed the room again, searching for anything useful.

The phone on the nightstand caught her eye.

She lunged for it, her fingers shaking as she pressed the power button. Her heart pounded as the screen lit up-only to show a blank display.

No signal.

Of course.

She tossed it onto the bed with a curse.

Everything in this house was designed to keep her in.

She had no idea how long she sat there, lost in thought. But eventually, exhaustion crept in. Her body was drained, her mind heavy.

She didn't want to sleep, not in his house, but her body betrayed her.

The last thing she saw before she drifted off was the locked door across the room.

Her prison.

The morning after, Serena awoke to the scent of fresh coffee and something warm brushing against her arm.

Her eyes blinked open, and she jolted when she saw a tray on the nightstand beside her bed-a plate of food, a steaming cup of coffee, and a note.

She grabbed the note first.

"Eat. You'll need your strength".

-A

Serena crumpled the paper in her fist.

The audacity.

She shoved the tray aside and stormed to the door, trying the handle again. Still locked.

Of course, he wouldn't let her roam freely after last night.

Before she could dwell on her frustration, the door unlocked from the outside.

She stumbled back as the door swung open, revealing a woman in a crisp maid's uniform.

"Good morning, Miss Moretti," the woman said with a polite nod.

Serena straightened. "Who are you?"

"My name is Rosa. Mr. De Luca has asked me to assist you."

Serena folded her arms. "Assist me? Or keep an eye on me?"

Rosa didn't react. "Mr. De Luca wishes to see you in the dining room."

Serena's stomach twisted. She wasn't ready to face him again.

But she had no choice.

With a deep breath, she stepped forward, her spine straight, her face set in defiance.

If Adrian wanted a submissive bride, he was going to be sorely disappointed.

Serena was led down a winding staircase and into an opulent dining room.

The table was long and elegant, but only one place was set-at the head of the table, where Adrian sat, sipping his coffee.

She hated how effortlessly powerful he looked, as if he owned everything, including her.

He glanced up at her and smirked. "You didn't eat."

She lifted her chin. "I wasn't hungry."

Adrian gestured to the chair beside him. "Sit."

Serena hesitated, but refusing would get her nowhere. She settled into the chair, but made sure to keep as much distance as possible.

A moment of silence stretched between them before Adrian spoke again.

"I assume you tried to escape last night."

Serena's jaw clenched.

He leaned back in his chair, smirking. "I admire your spirit, but it's pointless."

She gritted her teeth. "You can keep me here, but you can't control me."

Adrian studied her, his gray eyes unreadable. Then, to her shock, he let out a low chuckle.

"I don't need to control you, Serena. You'll come to me willingly."

She scoffed. "That will never happen."

Adrian smirked, leaning forward, his voice dropping. "We'll see."

Serena's pulse spiked. What the hell was he playing at?

Before she could demand answers, Adrian stood.

"Finish your meal. I have business to attend to," he said, adjusting his cufflinks. "And Serena?"

She met his gaze, hating the way her heart stuttered.

"You should get used to this place." His voice was smooth, but laced with finality. "You're not leaving."

With that, he strode out of the room, leaving her seething.

Serena clenched her fists.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

She would find a way out.

And when she did, Adrian De Luca would regret ever thinking he could own her.