The meeting room was silent like a graveyard. Liam sat at the head of the table, relaxed yet commanding, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest of his chair. His golden mask covered half his face, making his aura all the more impenetrable.
Mr. Parker cleared his throat nervously, forcing a smile as he gestured toward his son.
"Sir," he began respectfully, bowing slightly, "thank you for granting us this meeting. I had wanted to introduce my son to you last night, but you left. He has recently returned from Country Z and will be taking a more active role in our company. I believe, with him, our partnership will..."
Liam raised a hand, cutting him off. His voice was sharp, calm, yet deadly cold. "There will be no partnership."
Mr. Parker froze, his smile faltering. "P–pardon?"
Even Caleb, who was standing behind the door, couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Parker had done to make his master to cancel the contract. This man called the Devil always had a way of surprising people.
"I've canceled all contact with your company," Liam repeated, his tone final.
The words struck like thunder. Daniel's brows furrowed, his jaw tightening as he leaned forward. "You can't just cancel...."
Liam's cold gaze cut to him, silencing him mid-sentence. The air thickened, pressing down on Daniel's chest until he was forced to sit back.
Mr. Parker quickly interjected, his voice pleading. "Please, Sir… our company....this contract...it means everything to us. Surely, there must be a way to fix whatever has displeased you?"
Liam's silence stretched painfully before he finally spoke. "If you want me to even consider signing another contract with Parker Enterprises…" His gaze flicked briefly to Daniel, then back to Mr. Parker. "…your son must return back to Country Z. Immediately."
Last night when he returned home, he couldn't stop thinking about the way Daniel had stared at Alina. Not that he cared, at least, that's what he told himself but he hated when people dared to meddle with his properties. And he always made sure to remove such people from the picture.
Daniel's chair scraped harshly against the marble floor as he shot to his feet, his voice hot with anger.
"What the hell does that mean?!" he snapped, fists clenched. "You don't get to order me around. I don't care who you are...."
"Daniel!" Mr. Parker barked, panic in his tone, but his son ignored him.
Liam leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable beneath the mask, though his eyes glittered with something dangerous. "It won't take me a minute to cut off your tongue."
Daniel stiffened, fear flashing in his eyes, though he tried hard to hide it. That morning, his father had warned him about who this man truly was, the Devil himself. A man feared by all, respected by many. But that didn't mean he was ready to obey him.
"I just returned to this country after so many years," Daniel said, his voice calmer this time though defiant. "You can't ask me to leave."
Liam simply stared at him, as if trying to decide whether the boy was worth his breath. Then his voice came low and firm. "I don't go back on my words."
"I'm not leaving. You can't tell me what to do," Daniel spat, before turning and storming out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
Caleb shook his head slowly. Perhaps Daniel didn't understand who he was speaking to. To walk out on the Devil without permission… he might as well dig his own grave.
Mr. Parker's face had gone pale. He turned desperately to Liam. "Please, Sir, forgive him. He is young, hot-blooded, doesn't know how to...."
"Enough." Liam's voice was final, cold, absolute. He stepped away from the table. "This meeting is over. And as for your son…" He paused, his tone dropping to something that made Mr. Parker's knees weaken. "If he dares to touch what belongs to me… he won't live to regret it."
Then, without another word, Liam left the room, Caleb following swiftly behind him.
Mr. Parker slumped into his chair, his hand trembling as it rubbed his forehead. His thoughts raced. What was it that belonged to the Devil? What could Daniel possibly touch? His son had only just returned after so many year out of the country, eager to help with the company, and now the Devil wanted him gone.
Why? Why would he make such a decision?
_____
Back in the mansion, Alina couldn't stop thinking about what Liam had said before he left. It had been more then an hour, and he still hadn't returned. What kind of punishment would he possibly give her?
She got up from the bed and walked into the bathroom, filling the tub with warm water. She needed to relax, to calm herself. Slowly, she undressed and slipped into the bath. The heat embraced her.
Closing her eyes, tears began to fall. Her life had never been unlucky, first the sickness that stole her time, leaving her with only a few months left to live, and now, trapped in the house of the Devil himself. She was never free, always inside, a prisoner in every sense.
The more she thought about it, the heavier the ache in her chest became, until a sob escaped her lips.
She stayed in the water for a while before finally forcing herself out. Drying off, she slipped into a simple white gown she had brought from home.
Just as she was about to lie down, a knock came at the door.
"Miss, lunch is ready," a maid's voice called.
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry," Alina replied quickly.
She collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling endlessly. But then, her gaze shifted to the bookshelf. Rows upon rows of books lined the shelf, neat and inviting. A small smile tugged at her lips as she got up and walked over.
Running her fingers along the spines, she realized with surprise that they were all romance novels. For a moment, she wondered why Liam had chosen romance for her? She had expected mysteries or something darker.
After scanning the titles, her hand paused on one. She pulled it out gently. Whispers of the Forgotten Moon by Evelyn Hart.
Carrying it back to the bed, she curled up against the pillows and opened the book.
Caleb stepped out of the car as he quickly opened the door for Liam, who came out and strode past him without sparing a glance, as he walked straight into the house.
He didn't pause in the living room or replied any of the maids gretting, Instead, he went straight to the stairs. He was going to Alina room so she would face the punishment he had promised her.
At the top of the stairs, he stopped in front of her room. His hand rested briefly on the doorknob, and a faint smirk curved across his lips cold, dangerous, almost amused. He didn't bother to knock. With a swift push, the door creaked open.
But what he found inside made him pause.
Alina was lying on the bed, half-turned on her side. The blanket was a tangled mess, draped loosely over her legs as though she had tossed and turned before surrendering to exhaustion. An open book rested on her chest, the pages fluttering gently with her breathing. Her long lashes lay delicately against her pale cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted in sleep.
She had fallen asleep reading.
Liam stood there for several moments, silent and unmoving. The smirk on his face softened into something else. He had come here ready to punish her but instead he found her like this peaceful, unguarded, innocent.
Like a lost angel, he thought. An angel who had wandered into his hell and didn't even know it yet.
Slowly, he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. His gaze never left her face. With a careful hand, he picked up the book lying on her chest and placed it gently on the bedside table. The small gesture surprised even him. He wasn't used to gentleness. Not with anyone.
But there was something about the way she slept, her breaths soft and steady, that made it impossible for him to unleash what he had intended. Instead, he found himself studying her, every curve of her cheek, every strand of hair scattered across the pillow.
He had planned to put her in the basement to spend the night there but here she is sleeping peacefully.
His hand lifted almost on its own. He brushed his fingers through her hair, the silky strands slipping between them like threads of gold. He twirled them idly, lost in thought, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Minutes slipped by as he sat there, listening to the rhythm of her breathing.
Finally, his gaze drifted lower, to the flutter of her lashes. He leaned closer, close enough to feel the faint warmth of her breath against his skin. Slowly, his fingers moved, brushing lightly against her lashes as if testing whether she would stir. She didn't.
"You are my property," he whispered, his voice low and possessive, as though speaking to her unconscious soul. "My property. No one else will ever touch you."
His finger traced the curve of her cheekbone, lingering there as though to mark his claim. Then, slowly, he trailed down to her lips, soft, full, and unbearably tempting. He hovered there for a moment, his thumb brushing across them.
He sat there for a while before finally rising from the bed. He glanced back at her once more, before reaching the door, he turned off the light and before stepping out.
***
"Dad, he can't tell me what to do!" Daniel snapped, his voice rising in anger. "I'm not going back to Country Z. What reason would I even have to be there?"
"Big brother, please…" Helen's tone was urgent, almost pleading. "You need to calm down. The man we're talking about isn't just anyone, he's dangerous. He's… the devil himself. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Daniel clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "I don't care who he is. He can't command everyone around like some god. If he doesn't want to sign a contract with our company, then he can go straight to hell!"
Mrs. Parker's sharp voice cut through the air. "You fool, don't you realize? He is the hell. Keep defying him, and you'll fall right into it. You need to shut your mouth and listen to your sister."
"Mom!" Daniel turned toward her, frustration blazing in his eyes. "Are you really saying I should run back to Country Z just because he wants me to? This is unfair! Dad, say something!"
All eyes turned to Mr. Parker, who had been silent, his brows furrowed deeply in thought. He coughed lightly before speaking, his tone measured. "Enough. We need to keep our heads. I'll speak to him again. For now… let's all calm down."
Daniel exhaled heavily, but a flicker of mischief lit his gaze as he added, "Fine. But you know, I heard Alina is staying with him. Maybe there's a way out of all this. I think I like her, and I'd love to spend the rest of my life with her."
Helen's eyes widened, her earlier worry melting into delight. "Really? That's wonderful! Alina is my friend, and she's a good girl. I think she might like you too."
Mr. Parker's lips curved into a calculating smile. "Then perhaps there's a chance. I'll speak to the devil about it. If he allows it, we'll arrange for her release. And once she's free, the two of you can marry immediately."
Helen squealed with excitement, grinning from ear to ear, already lost in the picture of her brother and best friend together.
The heavy roar of thunder split the sky, jolting Alina awake with a loud scream.
She shot up from the bed, her eyes darting to the window. Darkness had already settled outside. She remembered reading while waiting for Liam… she must have dozed off.
Was Liam back? And if he was, why hadn't he woken her, was he planning to punish her later, or had he simply forgotten? No… Liam never forgot. Maybe he was just waiting for her to wake up.
Another crash of thunder rattled the walls, louder this time, as if the world itself were tearing apart. Alina stumbled back from the window, her body trembling. She hated thunder, the sound fears her.
Just as she reached to close the window, a third strike tore through the night. Startled, Alina abandoned the window and bolted from the room. Before she realized it, she was standing in front of Liam's door.
Without knocking, she pushed it open and ran inside.
Liam, who had been lying on the bed, sat up in surprise. His brows knit as he stared at her, mouth slightly open. For a second, he thought someone might have been chasing her.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice low as he rose to his feet.
"I… I'm scared. I don't like the thunder," Alina admitted, her voice trembling.
Liam studied her, unsure whether to believe her. She was terrified of thunder, yet not of him? The thought almost made him scoff, she was unbelievable.
Before he could respond, he felt movement on the bed. Alina had slipped under the covers beside him. He looked down at her, stunned.
Her teary eyes met his. "I can't sleep alone," she whispered, then shut her eyes without waiting for his reply.
Liam froze, staring at her. What the hell was she thinking? Didn't she realize how dangerous this was for her?
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself, then glanced back at the girl lying beside him. His hand twitched, ready to push her away, but instead, he sighed and pulled the blanket over her.
With another deep breath, Liam lay back down, his gaze fixed on her.