In the bustling city of Valeshire, where the echoes of opulence mingled with the whispers of danger, I lived as a young girl named Isabella. With raven-black hair cascading down my shoulders and eyes that mirrored the depths of the midnight sky, I possessed an enchanting allure that captured the hearts of those who beheld me.

But beneath the surface of my beauty lay a sorrowful truth. My father, burdened with insurmountable debts, had struck a desperate deal with the wealthy father of a man rumored to be both cold and insanely rich. As fate would have it, that man was none other than Alexander Salvatore, a powerful figure in the city's business world, known to the public as a shrewd and unyielding entrepreneur.

Little did I know that Alexander Salvatore was not just a ruthless businessman, but the hidden puppeteer of a clandestine world. Within the shadows, he pulled strings that controlled the city's underworld as the enigmatic head of the Salvatore crime family. The mafia's power stretched like a dark tapestry over Valeshire, and its threads ensnared countless lives.

He was a tall and incredibly handsome man that exuded a cold and unapproachable aura. His piercing eyes held a thousand untold stories, but he guarded them with practiced ease, leaving people intrigued yet wary. He was the enigma everyone desired to unravel but feared to approach.

One fateful evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the Salvatore estate stood like an ominous fortress. The air was thick with anticipation as I, clad in a gown of ivory and silk, prepared to meet my betrothed for the first time. My heart pounded in my chest, a captive bird yearning to break free. A small wedding was organized in the living room of the Salvatore mansion with both families of the soon-to-be couple as the only guests.

In the grand ballroom, the dance of destiny unfolded. As Alexander and I locked eyes, an electrifying tension crackled in the air. His gaze bore into me, icy and unyielding, sending shivers down my spine. I knew then that I was but a pawn in his game, a means to an end.

Forced smiles adorned my face as we moved gracefully on the polished marble floor. The guests applauded, definitely not oblivious to the charade that masked a far more sinister reality. My family feigned joy, hiding their inner turmoil beneath veils of celebration.

As the night wore on, I slipped away to the tranquil gardens, seeking solace amidst the moonlit foliage. There, I encountered a mysterious stranger, cloaked in shadows, whose eyes held a glimmer of warmth and intrigue.

"I can see the sorrow in your eyes, my lady," the stranger said, his voice a soft melody. "There's more to your story than meets the eye. Tell me, what’s on your mind?"

I hesitated, but an inexplicable connection drew me to confide in this stranger. I revealed the grim reality of my impending marriage to a man of dual nature – a wealthy business magnate by day, and a sinister mafia boss by night according to the rumors.

The stranger listened intently, his presence a comforting embrace in the midst of turmoil. "Don’t be afraid, okay? There’ll probably be a way for you to break free from this so-called union."

As the night waned, the mysterious stranger and I forged an unlikely bond, united by the desire for freedom. Little did I know that this meeting was but the first step in a treacherous journey that would test my strength, challenge my beliefs, and unravel the enigma that was Alexander Salvatore.

And so, the dance of shadows had only just begun, as I found myself entangled in a web of deceit, love, and danger, unsure of who to trust and what the future held for a girl thrust into a marriage with a cold and insanely rich business man, secretly a mafia boss.

“ You know I might eventually even be controlling the so-called crazy man, that we’re all scared of,” I said with a silent laugh. The stranger chuckled and was about to say something when my mom, Agatha, was heard calling out for me.

“I guess that’s enough chat for today then,” said the stranger. “I’ll take my leave then and I also promise to visit you occasionally.” As the stranger was about to jump the flower hedge to mix with the shadows again, I stopped him with a question. “Will you visit me occasionally?” I said with a hint of tears in my voice.

He looked back still with his hood covered and head bent downwards. “Of course,” he paused. “You’re my cause.” With that, he left, leaving me in shock trying to figure out what he meant.

“What are you doing here? The event is about to...” My mom's speech was interrupted with a hug and tears from me. “I don’t want to!” I cried.

My mother was also moved to tears, ruminating over my predicament because of their incapacity as parents. “I’m sorry” was all that could escape her lips.

“Look at me, baby, it’s gonna be fine, okay?!” She raised my face up to hers, staring into my eyes passionately. “Just be seen, not heard, alright?!” She buried my face back into her chest.

“Let’s go,” she said as she held my hands, leading me back to the event. Once we were inside, Alexander came to my mom's side and said, “I would like to take my property and be on my way!” He said with a cold gaze on both mother and daughter.

I was led to a black Rolls Royce Phantom by the chauffeur. Alexander was already in the car by the time I entered with him at the back. “As I settled myself, a voice came coldly, “ Rule one, don’t ever keep me waiting! My time is the most precious thing to me.”

I responded with a slight nod. Other than that, there was a pin-drop silence on the road to my new home in the light of a full moon.

On the outskirts of the town stood a mansion on the edge of a cliff. The color was black, which wasn’t a common color for a house. It was a three-storied epitome of greatness. Three rooms upstairs were visible due to the glass used around them. I guessed those were the master bedroom and probably important rooms judging from the size.

From my view, there were around 12 rooms, each with a touch of magnificence. “What’s one man doing with such an enormous building? What a waste!” I said to myself, while still in awe of the glorious work of art.

There was a pool on the top of the mansion and a nice flower edge which built into something similar to a maze.

The chauffeur drove into a garage similar to an auditorium. When we entered the garage, I understood the essence of such a big building for just a garage.

The entire place was like a site for a car auction sale. All cars were ranging from Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Dodges, Range Rovers; you just mention a luxurious car, and you’ll definitely find it there.

I was still in my own world when the other side of the car was flung open with Alexander coming out from the car. I was contemplating whether to wait for him to tell me to come out or be forward and come out on my own.

While still in a dilemma of what to do, his voice called me back. “Should I beg you to come out?” Alexander said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

The chauffeur quickly came down to open the car door. I came down, head down with fear in my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I said. Alexander responded with a hmph and said, “Follow me.”

I quietly followed him, trying to keep up with his pace due to his long legs. We entered an elevator, with him leading us to the living room. It was more stunning than the outer part of the mansion.

In the heart of the sleek and modern house, the living room exuded an aura of dangerous mystery. The walls were painted in a velvety black, with a hint of smoky grey that added to the enigmatic atmosphere.

The room was adorned with art pieces that sent shivers down my spine - abstract paintings with twisted shapes and dark shadows, carrying a sense of intrigue and secrecy.

At the corner of the living room, a spiral staircase beckoned, leading to the upper floor where the bedroom awaited.

A young man, younger than Alexander, came from a part of the living room. He also looked a little cold, but his smile gave off a bit of warmth mixed with a drop of creepiness.

“Hey, welcome home, Master!” he said with happiness in his voice. Alexander just scoffed at him, not even looking at him.

“And I guess this must be our young mistress, then,” the creepy but handsome man said, turning in my direction. I looked at him with a little joy in my heart, feeling closer to him since he wasn’t that cold to me. I bowed slightly.

“What are you doing? I’m just the butler and house manager,” he said with a full bow. I felt closer to him. “Well, introductions are over, now can you show the lady to her room? I have something to do,” Alexander said calmly while making his way to the stairs going up.

“Alright, let’s not waste time anymore. You must be exhausted. Let me first show you to your room,” the butler said. “Hmmmm,” I replied, following him closely.

The stairs matched the theme, painted in the same dark hues, creating a sense of suspense as I climbed each step, wondering what secrets lay beyond.

“And this is your bedroom,” the butler said, pushing open a huge door on the last floor. Stepping into the bedroom, I was greeted by an alluring yet foreboding sight.

The walls maintained the black and grey motif, embracing the mysterious ambiance. The artwork here was even more captivating and unsettling - pictures of obscured figures and eerie landscapes that seemed to whisper chilling tales.

“So I’ll like you to freshen up and come downstairs for your dinner since our young master likes etiquette before hitting the bed,” the butler said, adding some spice of playfulness in his statement. “You must have had a really tiring day, especially with him around,” he continued, referring to Alexander.

I smiled at his statement, feeling better now. As he was about to leave the room, I called him “Mr. Butler?” and said, “Thanks,” with a smile.

He reciprocated it with an even bigger smile. “And you can call me Jace,” he said before leaving the room.

I settled into the room, laying on the big black bed and staring at the grey ceiling. I thought about my new life and said to myself, “It’s all gonna be fine.”

I freshened up and changed into my night robe. As I was about to descend down the stairs, I heard the noise of hitting and grunting coming from a room down the hall.

To satisfy my curiosity, I tried the path with utmost precision. The sound continued for quite a while. When I got to the extremely large door, I peeped through the slight opening.

“I thought I told you that you can’t hide from me!” Alexander exclaimed, hitting and kicking a slightly built man held by two much more hefty men.

I yelped a little loudly, loud enough for Alexander to stop and look in my direction.

“Get her.”