It was already late in the afternoon when my final class ended. As the sun painted streaks of gold against the towering skyline, I found myself standing before the tall double doors of my father's office — the one built right inside our mansion. Perfect, polished wood, and a gold-plated nameplate that read Chairman Moreau.
I took a steady breath, smoothing down my uniform as my lips curved into that same perfect smile I'd worn my entire life. The sweet, practiced tone followed like instinct.
Knock, knock.
"Father, it's Callista. May I come in?"
His voice came through, surprisingly warm. "Come in, Callista."
I stepped inside, closing the door softly behind me, and gave a polite bow before settling gracefully onto the leather sofa. He sat behind his massive oak desk, papers and contracts scattered like fallen leaves, but for once — his face lit up. His brown hair slightly tousled from hours of work, dark eyes gleaming. And for the first time in years… he smiled. Genuinely.
"I'm proud of you, Callista," he said, though I knew it wasn't for any reason a father should be proud.
I returned the smile, sweetness masking my disgust like a carefully fitted mask. "I'm glad to hear that, Father. I wanted to discuss the engagement… with Aurelius."
His expression softened — and yes, I noticed the glint of satisfaction in his eyes. That same gleam that came when a profitable deal was struck.
"You're taking this well," he chuckled lightly, leaning back in his chair. "I always knew you'd understand where your duty lies. It's good to see you finally acting like a proper daughter."
I laughed softly, resting my hands neatly in my lap. "Well, I am your daughter after all, Father. It's only natural I'd inherit your… talent for playing roles."
He raised a brow at that, then grinned, clearly amused. "You've grown sharp, just like your mother."
"Ah yes… Mother," I replied with a sickly-sweet smile, tilting my head slightly. "I suppose we both learned early what happens when we marry for power and not love. Wouldn't you agree, Father?"
His smirk twitched, clearly caught off guard. I could see the flicker of irritation behind his mask, but he recovered quickly.
"Well played," he mused, waving a hand dismissively. "Now, what brings you here?"
"I'd like your permission to visit the Valemont estate," I said calmly. "I thought… it might be wise to get to know my fiancé better."
His smirk widened — smug, teasing. "What's this, my daughter so eager to see her future husband? Should I be planning the wedding faster?"
I maintained my poised, practiced smile, my emerald eyes gleaming coldly. "Oh, no rush, Father. I just thought… since you and Mother have set such a shining example of married bliss, I should learn a thing or two from you both."
His laughter rumbled through the office, though I knew every word I said stung just a little beneath his skin. Good.
He gave a small nod of approval. "Fine. I'll have the driver take you tomorrow. But behave, Callista. No games."
I stood, giving one last graceful bow. "Of course, Father. After all… I would never do anything to disappoint you."
As I left his office, my perfect mask remained, but inside — the gears were turning.
This was step one.
I wasn't visiting Aurelius out of affection.
No… I was going to study him. Watch him. Get closer.
And then, someday soon — destroy him from the inside out.
After that exhausting exchange with my father, I returned to my room — the only place where I could finally drop the mask and breathe. The second the door clicked shut, I locked it, drew the curtains, and let the world outside disappear.
I cracked my knuckles, letting my long wavy hair fall loose as I approached the heart of my sanctuary — my custom-built workstation. Multiple screens flickered to life, filling the room with a cold, bluish glow. My fingers danced across the keyboard, passwords entered in swift succession. Within seconds, my digital world opened up.
Perfect daughter, flawless student, poised future bride? Sure.
But Callista Evangeline Moreau was also something else.
A hacker. A damn good one.
Ever since I was a kid, being groomed into the "perfect wife" meant learning things I didn't care about. But in secret? Hacking, coding, digging through digital dirt — that was mine. And now, all those skills were about to be used for something very personal.
I opened up every intel source, dark net site, company record, criminal file — anything with the name Aurelius Caelan Valemont. File after file, image after image, document after document. The deeper I went, the more I realized how tight his world was locked down. Powerful connections, impossible wealth, near-mythical influence.
I downloaded every single bit of information I could find onto a sleek black USB drive shaped like a tiny dagger.
And just as I was about to check one last encrypted folder…
ERROR.
A sudden message box popped up.
Unknown Sender: Stop stalking me, pervert.
My heart skipped a beat.
I knew that voice.
Even in text form, it oozed arrogance.
My lips twitched. "You've got to be kidding me…"
Before I could react, another message flashed.
Unknown Sender: Or else I might get pregnant by your… perverted actions~
[Blush Emoji]
"What the—" My face flushed crimson.
I stared at the screen, mortified, annoyed, and yet — ridiculously flustered.
That smug bastard.
I gritted my teeth, refusing to let him win. My pride wasn't about to get crushed like this. Oh no.
"Alright, Valemont," I hissed under my breath, launching into full hacker mode, eyes sharp, fingers flying over the keys. "Let's see how good you really are."
I tracked the signal, rerouted firewalls, bypassed encryptions — determined to unmask him and wipe that smug digital smirk off his face.
Finally, the trace landed on an unmarked server filled with—
R18 content. Videos. Images. Audio files.
I froze.
My entire face burned red.
"What the actual hell—"
I slammed my laptop shut so fast one of the side screens flickered.
I could almost feel Aurelius somewhere, laughing his ass off.
I groaned into my hands, cursing every god in existence.
He was toying with me.
And worse — he was winning.
Straightening up, I drew a steady breath. No way was I going down like this.
I stood, shutting off the entire setup with one swift command, darkness reclaiming the room.
Time for phase two.
I grabbed my coat, checked my reflection — flawless as ever — and prepared to head to Aurelius Caelan Valemont's mansion.
Not because I wanted to.
But because I refused to let that infuriating man keep the upper hand.
Silent rebellion part 1 was over.
Now it was time to fight dirty.
......
I stood in front of my full-length mirror, brushing a final strand of hair into place.
Long, wavy honey-brown locks gleamed under the soft light of my room.
Emerald eyes sharp as blades.
An elegant dress clung to my figure — a rich, dark green silk with gold-lined accents that shimmered every time I moved.
Pretty? No.
Tonight, I was lethal.
I grabbed my purse and called my driver, my voice as sweet as honey.
"Take me to the Valemont estate."
The line was silent for a moment before he answered, "Yes, Miss Callista."
When he arrived, he stepped out of the car, staring at me for a second — eyes wide, almost stunned.
"What?" I frowned.
But he shook his head, silently opening the door for me.
I brushed it off. I didn't have time to care.
As the car rolled through the streets, my reflection in the window stared back — an unbreakable mask covering the fury underneath.
I wasn't just pissed.
I was absolutely done.
Done with this marriage. Done with him. Done being pushed around.
I was going to make Aurelius regret ever messing with Callista Evangeline Moreau.
And then — we arrived.
My thoughts halted. My jaw might as well have hit the car floor.
The Valemont estate.
No.
Estate was an understatement.
This… was a private kingdom.
The gates alone stood tall — so tall, I swear it was half the height of the Eiffel Tower itself.
Wrought iron, black and gold, shining like it was cleaned every minute of the day.
Beyond the gates, the land stretched far — too far to see where it ended.
Lush, flawless gardens, with flowers so vibrant and perfect, they looked fake.
The grass trimmed with precision.
Marble statues, sparkling fountains, a massive circular driveway wide enough to host a gala by itself.
And the mansion… no, the palace sitting at its heart was something out of ancient royalty — towering columns, intricate carvings, everything screaming power, wealth, and control.
Bodyguards in black suits lined the driveway, their postures sharp and their eyes cold.
The kind of people you'd never win a fight against.
Ever.
I gripped the car door, my lips parting in disbelief.
Where… where do they even get this kind of money?
The aura of power hanging over this place was suffocating, heavy enough to crush anyone who walked through its gates.
Suddenly, it made sense.
No wonder my father was powerless.
No wonder he bowed.
No alliance could afford to lose a bond with this family.
But that only fueled my anger more.
Fine.
He thought he could scare me with wealth?
With power?
I straightened my back, my face calm, eyes glinting.
Let's see how long he keeps smiling after I'm through with him.
I stepped out of the car.
Time for the game to begin.
The sleek car door closed behind me with a soft click.
I took a breath and stepped forward.
And immediately… the entire front line of bodyguards and servants bowed — perfectly synchronized, like they'd practiced this very moment.
"Welcome, Mrs. Callista Evangeline Moreau, to the Valemont Estate. Future Mrs. Valemont."
My heart stopped.
What. The. Hell.
I stood there, frozen.
Not a single muscle moved.
My emerald eyes wide, my lips slightly parted.
They said it so flawlessly, so perfectly timed, it felt like a script.
Like… this was something normal for them.
Why?
Why were they treating me like… like I was already—
"Pfft…"
A soft snicker broke the silence.
My head snapped toward the sound.
And there he was.
Aurelius.
Leaning casually against one of the marble pillars like he owned not just this estate, but the whole goddamn country.
That same deep-blue gaze glinting with amusement, lips curled in a smirk.
The audacity of this man.
I felt the blood rush to my head.
You smug, arrogant—
He let out a small cackle.
"Damn, they nailed it. Look at your face, doll. Priceless."
That was it.
That was my breaking point.
Without a second thought, I stormed toward him, closing the distance in swift, furious strides.
His smirk widened like he thought I wouldn't dare.
He had no idea.
I lifted my leg in a perfect Taekwondo roundhouse kick, aimed straight for his neck.
Aurelius barely dodged it, stepping back at the last second, his eyes flashing with surprise and… something else.
"Whoa—"
His laugh came again, richer, deeper.
"Now that… was hot."
I lowered my foot, staring him down.
"You think this is a joke, Valemont?"
He grinned.
"Actually… yeah."
Aurelius stepped forward, that maddeningly smug grin plastered on his face. He extended his hand toward me with an almost theatrical bow.
"Welcome to my estate, señorita~"
The way he said it… the teasing lilt in his voice, the playful glint in those deep blue eyes —
It caught me off guard.
My face flushed lightly before I could stop it.
Damn it.
I shot him a skeptical look, narrowing my eyes.
What is he planning now? Why is he suddenly acting so… formal?
Before I could pull away, he leaned in — so close, his breath brushed against my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
"Be careful, mademoiselle~"
His voice was a low, rich whisper, laced with something darker.
"My father's watching. Be a good girl like you always do, hmm~?"
My stomach twisted.
He smiled, soft and warm, like he wasn't threatening me at all — but we both knew he was.
Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his.
I hated how warm his hand felt against mine.
And then, I noticed it.
Aurelius was dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit — crisp, formal, powerful.
So unlike his usual careless, cocky style.
The shift made my chest tighten.
My gaze drifted toward the entrance of the estate.
There — standing tall, surrounded by men who seemed almost too stiff to be human — was a man.
His presence alone was suffocating, and even from a distance, I could feel the air grow heavier around him.
His black eyes sharp, his expression unreadable, and his very posture radiated pure dominance.
That must be his father.
The man behind all this madness.
I swallowed hard.
So this is the world I'm stepping into.
Aurelius gave my hand a gentle squeeze, his lips curving into a knowing smirk.
"Let the game begin."
The man by the door… was gone.
Vanished. Just like that.
I blinked, scanning the spot where his cold, intimidating presence had been just seconds ago.
Where the hell did he go?
I turned to Aurelius, confused — and as always, he was smirking. That insufferable, cocky smirk.
He offered his arm like a gentleman, and though my stomach twisted, I slid my hand through, keeping up the act.
The perfect fiancée.
We walked together inside.
If the outside of the estate was majestic, the inside was… holy majestic.
My jaw tightened.
My mansion was huge — people called it a modern-day castle.
But this? This wasn't a mansion. It was a palace.
Golden chandeliers bigger than my car, velvet-lined walls, floors you could see your reflection in, and furniture so intricately carved it looked like it belonged in a museum.
I tried my best to keep my face neutral, to cover the stunned reaction trying to burst out of me.
I swallowed it down and kept walking.
Wait… where are we going?
I glanced at Aurelius, eyebrows raised, and of course — there it was — that smug, knowing smile.
Jerk. Arrogant jerk.
First, he hacks into my laptop, mocks me, then drags me here?
What's next, a dragon in the backyard?
I bit the inside of my cheek and kept playing along.
Aurelius finally stopped in front of a grand door, pushing it open with ease.
Inside was a room that looked straight out of a fantasy royal court — high domed ceiling, massive stained glass windows, and at the far end… a throne.
An actual throne. Tall, ornate, gilded with black and gold, with the Valemont family crest hanging behind it.
"What is this room?" I asked, my voice calm, though my patience was fraying.
He smirked again, motioning toward the throne like some smug tour guide.
"It's like the king's throne room."
My eyebrow twitched.
Of course it is.
He guided me to one of the lavish chairs facing the throne and I sat down, still stiff with disbelief.
Aurelius took the seat beside mine, lounging comfortably like he owned the whole damn country.
What now?
My mind raced, half-annoyed, half-fascinated.
This guy… was a different breed entirely.
And the worst part?
I wasn't sure if I was terrified… or intrigued.
The "throne room" radiated luxury and power, drenched in dark elegance. The massive chamber was lined with hundreds — nearly thousands — of servants and guards, standing perfectly still along the sides. A single man sat at the end of the hall, elevated on what looked like a throne, his aura so commanding it suffocated the air.
Callista glanced around in awe.
Who exactly is this man? Who are you, Aurelius? she wondered, a storm of questions swirling in her mind.
Silence blanketed the room. No one dared move. The guards remained stiff as statues, while the servants kept their heads bowed, postures flawless.
Then, one man — perhaps the assistant of Aurelius' father — lifted his hand, closing it into a fist.
Without hesitation, every person in the room, including Aurelius, dropped to the ground in a deep bow. Everyone except Callista.
What the hell—?
Was this… some kind of cult?
What have I gotten myself into?
Uncertain, she followed suit, lowering herself hesitantly.
Moments later, the Valemont patriarch's voice cut through the air like a cold blade.
"Rise."
Everyone stood at once, Callista included. Confusion gnawed at her, her pulse thundering in her ears. She shot a glance at Aurelius, silently demanding an explanation. But this time, his usual smirk was gone. His face was grim, deadly serious.
Leaning in, he whispered into her ear, his breath brushing her skin,
"If we don't, we die. A bullet to the head. It's tradition — a belief that it protects us and brings fortune."
Callista stared at him, dumbfounded, as though she'd just discovered some bizarre, ancient creature.
The Valemont patriarch's piercing gaze landed on her, freezing her in place. His deep blue eyes — so much like Aurelius' — burned into her soul. The black hair, the dark circles beneath his eyes… He radiated death and power.
"Are you the youngest child of Leonard Moreau?" the man asked.
Callista's throat tightened.
"I… I am," she stammered.
The man's lips curved into a smile. The entire room seemed to freeze again, stunned — even Aurelius.
"I see… What is your name, child?"
All eyes turned to her, intensifying the pressure until it felt unbearable.
"My name is… Callista Evangeline Moreau," she managed.
The man's smile grew, this time oddly warm. The suffocating aura shifted, the air somehow lighter, yet still thick with tension.
"What a beautiful name," he said softly. "Worthy of appreciation."
The room buzzed with unspoken shock.
Turning to Aurelius, the patriarch's smirk returned.
"You two are engaged, not married yet, correct?"
Both Callista and Aurelius nodded, though Callista's expression twisted with visible disgust.
"Very well… Callista, my child," he said. "I'll inform your father you'll be staying here tonight. I expect you both to get to know each other better."
Callista's stomach dropped.
What…?
The man raised a hand, commanding,
"Everyone, treat this lady as one of the mistresses of this estate."
A ripple of disbelief passed through the room.
Then, he waved his hand once more.
"You are dismissed."
The servants, bodyguards, relatives, and even Aurelius' siblings filed out swiftly, leaving only the personal guards of Aurelius and his father.
As Callista and Aurelius began to step away, his voice called out once again.
"Wait."
They both froze.
The man's next words shattered what little sanity remained in Callista's mind.
"Both of you will sleep in one bed together tonight."
Time stopped.
Callista's jaw dropped, disbelief and fury mixing in her chest.
WHAT?!
She snapped her eyes to Aurelius — for the first time, genuinely stunned.
A moment later, his lips tugged into a faint, almost cornered smirk.
And Callista… was frozen in horror.
End of Chapter 3.