NOTE : The ♡ symbol indicates a change of scene.

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I was never meant to be more than a pretty little chess piece in my father’s empire. A daughter, not an heir. A name to be married off, not a force to be reckoned with. From the moment I was old enough to understand what power meant, I knew one thing: I would never be free.

Growing up Moretti meant being born into a kingdom of wealth, power, and cold, ruthless ambition. My father, Leonardo Moretti, was a king dressed in designer suits, ruling over his empire with an iron grip. He built Moretti Global from the ground up, turning it into one of the most powerful financial firms in the world.

He was untouchable. Terrifying. And entirely void of love.

And I was his biggest disappointment.

I never wanted to be a socialite.

While the daughters of billionaires spent their days shopping for couture and perfecting their fake smiles, I spent mine clawing my way into boardrooms. I graduated at the top of my class in business school, sacrificed sleep and sanity to prove I was just as ruthless and capable as any man in the company.

But no matter how many deals I closed, no matter how many times I outperformed my competitors, I was always met with the same dismissal.

"You should be focusing on marriage, Isabella."

"This world is too cutthroat for a woman."
"Your brother will take over—stay in your place."

Always the same words. Always the same rejection.

Gabriel, my older brother, was the golden boy. He could do no wrong in my father’s eyes—even when he barely lifted a damn finger to earn his inheritance. He partied, he gambled, he made reckless business choices.

And yet, everything I fought for was handed to him on a silver platter.

Still, I pushed harder. Worked harder. Fought harder. I spent years earning my place, proving myself in every boardroom, every contract negotiation, every sleepless night spent perfecting financial reports.

And just when I thought I had finally done it—secured my place in the company, carved out a future that was mine—my father took it all away.

Because tonight, Leonardo Moretti was going to sell me off like a prized possession.

♡

The moment my mother called me, I knew something was wrong.

"Your father expects you for dinner tonight, Isabella."

Her voice was calm, careful. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew how this family worked.

Moretti family dinners weren’t about bonding. They were strategic meetings disguised as tradition. They only happened when something big was coming.

I tightened my grip on my phone. "I’m busy."

"Cancel your plans," she said, tone quiet but unyielding. "This isn’t a request."

I wanted to refuse. I wanted to say I don’t care, but refusing Leonardo Moretti wasn’t an option.

So, I went.

♡

The Moretti estate was a monument to power—an intimidating, fortress-like mansion nestled on the outskirts of the city. The kind of place where secrets were buried beneath polished marble floors and power was woven into every cold, elegant detail.

As I stepped out of my car, the air was crisp with the scent of trimmed hedges and expensive cigars. The butler opened the front doors before I could knock, as if he had been waiting.

Inside, everything was the same as it had always been—pristine, suffocating, perfect. The towering crystal chandelier cast a golden glow over the grand staircase, the silence of the house so thick it pressed against my skin.

I walked down the long corridor toward the dining hall, my heels clicking against the marble floors. The doors opened with a slow, ominous creak.

And there they were.

Leonardo Moretti sat at the head of the table, his presence as suffocating as the room itself. Composed. Calculating. Always in control. My mother was beside him, her expression unreadable, hands neatly folded in her lap.

And Gabriel—smirking, relaxed, like he already knew something I didn’t.

I exhaled slowly. Something was wrong.

I took my seat at the far end of the table, my back straight, muscles wound tight.

Dinner was served. No one spoke.

That was the first red flag.

"Why am I here?" My voice was sharp, cutting through the tense silence.

My father finally set his knife down, meeting my gaze with that same cold authority I had spent my whole life fighting against.

"You are to be married."

The words hit like a gunshot.

The room tilted. My fingers curled into fists. My chest tightened.

"What?"

Gabriel chuckled, swirling his wine like this was some goddamn joke. My mother let out a quiet, slow breath—like she had been holding it in for hours.

"You’re getting married," my father repeated, his tone calm. Unbothered. Like this was just another business transaction.

My throat went dry. My mind screamed NO.

"To who?"

"Dominic Devereaux."

The world fucking stopped.

The name slammed into me. I had heard it before. Everyone had.

Dominic Devereaux was a legend in the corporate world—ruthless, feared, untouchable. A man who built his empire through calculated destruction.

And now, I was supposed to be his.

"No." The word came out sharp. Immediate. Absolute.

My father merely raised an eyebrow.

"It’s already done."

My pulse pounded. This wasn’t real. This wasn’t happening.

"I am not—" My voice cracked, rage burning through me. "I am not some fucking asset you can trade!"

Gabriel chuckled again, shaking his head. "Damn, Bella. You should at least hear the terms before you throw a tantrum."

I whipped my head toward him. "You knew about this?"

"Of course. Everyone did. You were just the last to find out."

The air in my lungs turned to ice.

I looked at my father, my hands trembling under the table. "I’ve worked my ass off for years, and you want me to just walk away from it all? My position—"

"Your position will go to Gabriel."

Silence.

I couldn’t breathe.

"What?" My voice barely came out.

"After you marry Dominic, Gabriel will take over your division."

Everything I had fought for. Gone. Just like that.

Gabriel smirked. "Don’t look so pissed, sis. You were never meant to keep it anyway."

I turned to my mother, the only person who had ever given a damn about me.

"You let this happen?"

She didn’t answer.

And that silence? It shattered me.

"You have no choice, Isabella," my father said, his voice like iron. "You will marry Dominic. That is final."

I wanted to burn this place to the ground.

But all I could do was stand there, drowning in the realization that I was no longer a businesswoman.

I was a bride.

And Dominic Devereaux was about to become my fucking cage.

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END OF CHAPTER 1