Chapter 81

• Aria stood by the window, wearing a simple white sundress that felt more like a shroud than a garment. She stared blankly at the world outside, her heart heavy with despair. Trapped in this lavish prison, all she could do was wait for Zander. It had been months since he had vanished, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
• Dante had been gone for a while, and while she was relieved he hadn’t come to force himself on her every night, his absence left her feeling uneasy. His sudden change in demeanor was unsettling. The ruthless mafia king who had shattered her life now acted as if he cared for her. He had decided to marry her, and with that promise came luxury—opulence she had never wanted.
• His guards and staff treated her with a strange reverence, bowing their heads as if she were a queen. Even Ricco, his right-hand man, showed her respect, which only deepened her confusion. How could the man who had caused her so much pain now present himself as a caring fiancé?