The massive iron gates of the Moretti estate groaned as they swung open, revealing a winding driveway lined with ancient oaks that looked like skeletal hands in the midnight storm. Ava pressed her face against the window, her breath fogging the cool glass. She had lived in New York all her life, but she never knew a place like this existed—a fortress of wealth hidden away from the prying eyes of the world.
As the Rolls Royce pulled up to the grand entrance, a line of servants stood in perfect formation, despite the pouring rain. They were motionless, like statues. At the center of the stairs stood a woman who looked like she was carved from ice itself.
"That's her," Liam muttered, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "My grandmother, Donna Beatrice Moretti. Remember what I said, Ava. Do not flinch. Do not look away. And for God's sake, don't speak unless she addresses you."
Ava's heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. "Liam, I can't do this. Look at me... I'm wearing a stained waitress uniform and cheap flats. She'll see right through me."
Liam turned to her, his hand reaching out to grip her chin. He forced her to look into his piercing blue eyes. "She will see what I want her to see. You are the woman I chose. That alone makes you powerful. Now, put on the mask."
The car door was opened by a butler in a tuxedo. Liam stepped out first, and for a moment, he looked every bit the billionaire tycoon the world feared. Then, he reached back into the car and offered his hand to Ava. It was an invitation into his world—and a warning.
As Ava stepped onto the wet gravel, the cold wind whipped her hair across her face. Liam immediately pulled her against his side, his large coat shielding her from the rain. The warmth of his body was the only thing keeping her from collapsing.
They walked up the marble stairs, every step feeling like a march toward a guillotine. Donna Beatrice stood under the stone archway, her silver hair pulled back in a tight, elegant bun. Her eyes were sharp, black beads that scanned Ava from head to toe with visible disdain.
"Liam," the old woman's voice was like a whip. "I heard the news. The paparazzi are calling it a scandal. I call it a disaster. Who is this... creature?"
Ava felt the sting of the word 'creature,' but Liam's arm tightened around her waist, a silent command to stay still.
"She is my fiancée, Grandmother," Liam said, his voice cold and steady. "And she is the future mistress of this house. I suggest you treat her with the respect her title deserves."
Beatrice let out a dry, mirthless laugh. "A fiancée? Found in a nightclub during a brawl? She smells of cheap soap and desperation, Liam. Do you think I am a fool?"
She stepped closer to Ava, her cane clicking against the marble. She leaned in, her face inches from Ava's. "Tell me, girl. What did you do to bewitch my grandson? Or did you just happen to be in the right room at the right time with your clothes half-off?"
Ava's face burned with shame. She wanted to scream, to tell the old woman that she was only here to save her mother. But then she felt Liam's fingers brush against her side—a subtle reminder of the ten million dollars.
Ava took a deep breath, her voice trembling but clear. "I love him, Ma'am. And in the dark, the scent of soap doesn't matter as much as the loyalty I offer him."
A heavy silence fell over the hallway. Liam's gaze shifted to Ava, a flash of surprise—and perhaps something else—flickering in his icy eyes. Donna Beatrice narrowed her eyes, her lips thinning into a straight line.
"Loyalty," Beatrice spat. "A word used by those who have nothing else to sell. We shall see, girl. We shall see."
She turned and walked into the house without another word. Liam exhaled, a sound that was almost a sigh of relief. He looked down at Ava. "That was... unexpected. You have a spine, after all."
"I have a mother to save," Ava whispered, pulling away from him as they entered the grand foyer.
The inside of the mansion was even more intimidating. Gold-leafed ceilings, priceless paintings, and a staircase that seemed to climb into the clouds. But to Ava, it didn't feel like a home. It felt like a museum where she was the latest exhibit.
"Marcus will show you to your room," Liam said, his tone returning to its business-like coldness. "Tomorrow at 6 AM, the trainers arrive. You will be scrubbed, polished, and taught how to breathe like a Moretti. Sleep while you can, Ava. The nightmare officially begins at dawn."
As Ava followed the silent butler up the stairs, she looked back one last time. Liam was standing in the middle of the dark foyer, looking at the blood on his cuffs. He looked lonely, she thought. But then he looked up, his icy gaze meeting hers, and the wall was back.
She was alone in this palace of glass and gold. And the Ice King was her only protector—and her greatest threat.
As Ava reached the final step of the grand staircase, Marcus pushed open a heavy, intricately carved door. Stepping inside, Ava's breath caught in her throat. It wasn't just a room; it looked like a miniature palace. Velvet curtains draped elegantly from the walls, a crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, and in the center sat a bed so massive that her entire family could have easily fit on it.
"This is your room, Miss Brooks," Marcus said in a formal, detached tone. "A few garments have been placed in your wardrobe. Breakfast will be served here in your room at precisely six in the morning. Mr. Moretti has given strict instructions that you are not to leave this room without permission."
The thud of the door closing brought Ava back to reality. She stood in the center of the vast space, where the silence felt sharp enough to pierce her skin. With trembling hands, she reached out and touched the silken sheets of the bed. It was so surreal—just yesterday, she was sleeping on a tattered sofa in a cramped apartment, and today, she was in the mansion of the wealthiest man in the world.
She opened the large wardrobe nearby. Inside, expensive silk gowns and designer shoes were neatly arranged. Ava pulled out a white gown and held it up against herself in front of the mirror. The girl staring back looked like a stranger. There were dark circles of exhaustion under her eyes, and her face had turned a ghostly pale.
"Can I really do this?" she whispered to herself.
Suddenly, her gaze shifted toward the window. In the distance, the faint lights of the hospital flickered, marking the place where her mother was fighting for her life. She looked down at the diamond ring on her finger. This piece of stone was the price of her mother's breath. She steeled her heart. No matter how cruel Liam Moretti might be, he was giving her the only chance to save her mother.
She changed her clothes and lay down, but sleep was miles away. Outside, the lightning continued to crack across the sky. Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway. They were heavy, deliberate steps… it was Liam. The sound stopped right outside her door. Ava's heart raced. He lingered there for a moment, perhaps wondering if she was asleep or not. After a few moments of heavy silence, the footsteps slowly faded into the distance.
Ava breathed a sigh of relief, yet a strange void filled her heart. She realized then that living in this house would be like fighting a war. Every wall here had ears, and every shadow hid a secret.
She walked over to the window and sat down. Looking down into the garden, she saw Liam still standing there, drenched in the rain. He was as still as a statue, his eyes fixed on the city lights far away. For the first time, Ava realized that as glamorous as Liam's world appeared, it was just as cold and lonely on the inside.
"Ice King," Ava said softly. She finally understood why he was given that name. He had frozen his emotions like ice so that no one could ever hurt him.
It was three in the morning when Ava finally managed to close her eyes. But even in her dreams, those piercing blue eyes and that cold bargain haunted her. She had no idea that when morning came, the most difficult trial of her life was about to begin.