Raven Blackwood met Valerie’s gaze, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart thud painfully in her chest.
His hand slid into hers, cold but unyielding.
The touch sent a shiver down her spine, not of warmth or affection, but of a binding inevitability. Without a word, he turned and led her toward the guest area, his grip firm, as though daring her to resist.
She didn’t.
She couldn’t.
As they neared the seated guests, Raven gestured toward a chair, silently instructing her to sit. His expression betrayed nothing.. no emotion, no hint of warmth.
Valerie lowered herself onto the chair, her mind spinning, her body tense.
She watched as Raven turned his back on her and exited the room without saying a word.
Her eyes followed him as he disappeared into the hallway, and a flicker of hope sparked in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, something would happen to stop this nightmare.
Maybe he wouldn’t come back.
She could almost picture it.. him leaving her here, his plans falling apart.
The small spark of hope quickly dimmed as she knew who Raven Blackwood was. A man like him didn’t walk away from what he wanted.
As if to drown out her thoughts, Valerie focused on the lavish surroundings.
The soft murmur of the gathered guests, the distant clinking of glasses, the low hum of chatter.. it all seemed distant, almost dreamlike.
But there was no waking from this.
The suffocating weight of reality pressed down on her.
Meanwhile, Raven had made his way toward the public area, where the official attendant stood. He exchanged a few words, his tone smooth and calculated. It was all business to him, even marriage.. especially marriage.
He turned around to return to Valerie, but something caught his eye.
Rowan.
Raven’s steps faltered slightly as he watched Rowan enter the hall with a woman and a child.
The boy, no older than four years, had the same sharp features as Rowan.. dark hair, striking eyes.
A younger version of him.
Raven’s gaze darkened, a flicker of confusion crossing his usually unreadable face.
When did Rowan have a child?
And then he recognized the woman… Amara… Amara Moretti..
A cold wave of realization washed over him. Amara Moretti.. She was the daughter of the Moretti family, Falcone’s enemies.
The connection was dangerous.
Why was she here, with Rowan, and with a child who looked like Rowan’s younger version?
Rowan caught Raven’s stare and smirked slightly, his expression calm but knowing.
Raven’s curiosity couldn’t be contained, and he strode toward them.
“I don’t think that much time has passed since I last saw you, Rowan,” Raven remarked, his voice edged with suspicion. “Since when do you have a kid?”
Rowan looked down at the boy beside him, Vaughn, who was gazing up at Raven with wide, curious eyes. “Indeed,” Rowan replied smoothly, his tone unfazed. “And aren’t you too shameless, stealing my business deals just to marry her?”
Raven’s lips curled into a thin, predatory smile. “If it helps, why not?” His eyes flicked to Amara, assessing her as he continued, “You must be Amara Moretti. I’ve heard about you.”
Amara met his gaze without flinching, her expression cool and collected. “I am,” she replied, her voice steady. “Congratulations on your wedding.”
“Thank you,” Raven said, though the way he said it carried an air of mockery. “Please, enjoy yourselves. I need to call my lady.” He gave a nod to both of them before turning on his heel.
As Raven walked away, Rowan glanced at Amara, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Don’t mind him,” he said, his tone light. “Let’s sit.”
Amara studied Rowan, her mind wandering.
There was something about him and Raven that felt too similar.. two men driven by power and ambition, willing to manipulate anyone to get who and what they wanted.
Rowan caught her staring and chuckled inwardly, his amusement barely concealed.
Vaughn looked up at Rowan with curious wide eyes. “When are you getting married, Uncle Rowan?” the boy asked innocently.
Rowan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his question. “Whenever your mommy agrees,” he replied smoothly, casting a sideways glance at Amara.
Amara shot him a glare, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Don’t talk nonsense,” she muttered under her breath, annoyed by his teasing.
Rowan put on an innocent expression, though his eyes gleamed with mischief. “I’m not talking nonsense,” he said with mock seriousness.
Amara rolled her eyes, but the exchange was short-lived as they took their seats.
Beside them, Axel Stone sat, his gaze thoughtful as he observed the interaction between Raven and the guests, his presence a silent reminder of the darker currents running beneath the surface of this wedding.
Axel’s emotions were same as Raven’s as he saw Amara and Vaughn.
As the minutes ticked by, more guests arrived, taking their seats in the grand hall.
The atmosphere was tense, though no one spoke of it aloud.
Conversations were hushed, smiles tight, as if everyone knew there was more at play than just a simple wedding.
Finally, Raven re-entered the room, his hand gripping Valerie’s as he led her down the aisle.
She moved like a ghost beside him, her steps mechanical, her face pale and expressionless. Her hand in his felt like ice, but Raven didn’t seem to notice.
His gaze was fixed on the official attendant waiting at the front of the room.
The moment they reached the attendant, the ceremony began.
The officiant’s voice droned on, but Valerie didn’t hear a word of it. Her thoughts were miles away, spiraling in a dark, endless loop.
She wanted to scream, to run, but every option seemed to lead her back to the same cold, unfeeling truth.. she was trapped.
As the words of the ceremony filled the room, Valerie glanced at the audience.
Strangers’ faces stared back at her, none familiar, none offering any hope of escape.
Her friends weren’t here.
Elara, Trance..
None of them were here..
They had been deliberately kept away, isolated from her in this moment of her deepest despair.
She turned her head slightly to look at Raven, standing beside her, the man who had orchestrated this entire nightmare.
His expression was calm, almost serene, but she could feel the darkness underneath, lurking beneath his composed exterior.
He had won.
He always won.
When it came time for the vows, Raven’s voice was low, steady, and confident as he spoke.
His words felt like chains wrapping tighter around her, binding her in a prison she could not escape.
Valerie’s own voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke her part, each word tasting bitter on her tongue.
The room erupted into applause as the officiant pronounced them husband and wife.
Raven turned to her, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he leaned in and kissed her…
Valerie attempted to turn her face.. but Raven gripped the back of her neck..
And it was a possessive, claiming kiss that made Valerie’s skin crawl.
As the guests rose to congratulate them, Valerie’s heart sank lower into a pit of despair.
She had vowed silently to herself that she would make Raven pay for this, but in this moment, it felt impossible.