Ryan's POV

I honestly expected her to slap me when I kissed Elena back there in front of everyone, I did it only for show to sell the act and to make my father believe that this “relationship” is real. That’s all it was supposed to be... strategy but as I pull away and look at her face, I frown.

She’s… blushing. Her cheeks are pink with her lips parted just a little and her eyes wide like she can’t decide if she wants to yell or faint. For a second she even forgets to breathe.

What the hell?

I blink, confused. She’s supposed to be angry... furious even and instead, she’s standing there flustered like the kiss actually meant something.

I remind myself that it didn’t. That this whole thing is fake and transactional. Just two months with no feelings. That was the rule.

Then again I can’t lie... the way she’s breathing right now fast and shallow, makes something stir inside me that I don’t like. I can’t tell if she’s nervous, scared… or sexually aroused.

She finally leans in and hisses under her breath, “Don’t ever do that again.”

I smirk.

“You’re welcome.”

Her eyes narrow.

“Ryan, I’m serious. Don’t try that move with me again.”

“Relax,” I whisper. “They were watching. My father especially. It was just for show.”

Her glare softens slightly but she still looks like she wants to throw something at me.

I offer her my arm.

“Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

She hesitates then reluctantly takes it. I lead her to the dining table where everyone’s watching us curiously.

“Everyone,” I announce smoothly, “this is Elena.”

I can practically feel her heart pounding through her hand. She forces a smile and gives a small wave.

My father sits at the head of the long table staring at us with those calculating eyes of his... sharply and coldly. My stepmother, Vivienne sits beside him with her face tight with disapproval.

Of course she looks like she just smelled something rotten. She never likes anything I do anyway.

Then there’s Aunt Annie, my father’s sister... the only one in this family who still acts human. Beside her are her two kids, Jessie and Nathan both teenagers who are already whispering to each other and trying not to giggle.

“Elena, meet my father,” I say, motioning toward him. “Mr. Edward Blackwood.”

“Good evening, sir,” she says politely.

He gives her a curt nod, studying her like she’s some kind of puzzle he’s trying to solve.

“And this is Vivienne,” I add, glancing at my stepmother. “My stepmother.”

Vivienne gives a fake smile.

“How lovely,” she says in a tone that sounds anything but lovely. “We didn’t know Ryan had such… taste.”

Elena just smiles politely, not rising to the bait. Smart girl. Aunt Annie leans forward.

“You’re adorable, dear,” she says warmly. “How did you and Ryan meet?”

Elena looks at me quickly and I jump in before she can panic.

“School,” I say smoothly. “We’ve known each other for a while.”

Elena nods quickly.

“Yes. We were… friends first.”

“Friends,” Vivienne repeats under her breath, sipping her wine. “Of course.”

My father doesn’t say a word. He just keeps watching silently and observantly.

We sit down and the servants immediately begin serving dinner. Elena keeps her posture perfect, smiling just enough to look polite but not fake. She’s doing well... better than I expected.

Vivienne tries to ask her personal questions, the kind that sound friendly but are meant to dig.

“So Elena,” she says with a sweet but deadly smile. “What do your parents do?”

“My mother’s a nurse,” Elena answers calmly. “And my father… he’s between jobs at the moment.”

“Ah.” Vivienne leans back, pretending to sympathize. “How… humble.”

I can tell she’s trying to embarrass her but Elena doesn’t even flinch. She just smiles and says, “We may not have much but we’re happy.”

Aunt Annie laughs softly.

“Good for you, dear. Don’t let this cold house make you nervous. We’re not all as scary as we look.”

“Speak for yourself,” I mutter, earning a death glare from Vivienne.

My father barely eats, his focus still on Elena. Every few minutes he asks her another question... where she studies, what she plans to do in the future and what kind of books she reads.

She answers them all calmly and politely, even smiling as if she’s not being interrogated by the most feared man in the city.

I have to admit, I’m impressed.

When dinner finally ends, Elena excuses herself to the restroom and I step outside into the night for some air. I pull out a cigarette, light it and take a drag. Then I hear footsteps. Of course, it’s him. My father.

He stands beside me, silent for a few seconds with his hands in his pockets. Then he says quietly, “Does she know who you really are?”

I exhale a long stream of smoke, staring into the darkness.

“No.”

“Why not?” His voice is calm but sharp.

“Because she doesn’t need to,” I reply. “Elena’s just my girlfriend that’s it. She doesn’t have to know about… our business.”

He chuckles cruelly.

“Afraid she’ll run away if she finds out you’re the heir to the Blackwood Mafia?”

I look at him.

“No. I’m protecting her. There’s no reason to drag her into this.”

He smirks.

“Protecting her, huh? That’s rich.”

I frown.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He turns to face me fully now with his expression cold.

“It means you brought that girl here to make a point. You think I don’t see it? You brought her here because you’re trying to dodge my arrangement.”

I stiffen.

“What arrangement?”

“Don’t play dumb Ryan,” he says sharply. “You know I’ve already spoken to the Senator and his daughter is waiting. A perfect match... powerful, smart and politically connected but instead, you show up with a random girl from your school?”

“It’s not like that,” I say quietly.

He narrows his eyes.

“Then what is it like?”

I flick the ash off my cigarette, trying to stay calm.

“Elena’s not part of this world. She’s too innocent for all that.”

My father laughs but there’s no humor in it.

“Oh, I disagree.”

My heart skips.

“What do you mean?”

He steps closer with his voice low.

“You brought her here. You flaunted her. You wanted me to see her so fine. I’ve seen her.”

He pauses... and his next words make the cigarette fall right out of my hand.

“You’re going to marry her.”

I blink, not sure I heard him right.

“What?”

He smirks.

“You heard me, boy. You’re going to marry her.”

I choke on my own breath.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I almost shout.

He just looks at me like he’s bored.

“You think you can play me? That you can parade some girl around to get out of the deal I made with the Senator? No, Ryan. You don’t get to make the rules. You brought her into this... now you’ll deal with the consequences.”

“I won’t do it,” I snap.

He tilts his head with his tone suddenly icy.

“Then you leave me no choice.”

I go still.

“What do you mean?”

His eyes gleam in the dim light.

“If you don’t marry Elena, I’ll have you declared excommunicado from the Blackwood Mafia.”

Excommunicado?!

Cut off… and disowned with no protection, no inheritance and no power. In our world... the Mafia world... that also means one thing.. open target. My blood runs cold.

“You wouldn’t.”

He smiles faintly.

“Try me.”

He straightens his jacket and takes a step back with his voice calm again.

“You have a week to decide. Either you marry the girl or you’re no longer a Blackwood.”

And with that he turns and walks back toward the mansion leaving me standing in the cold with my heart pounding and my cigarette crushed between my fingers.

I stare at the ground with my mind spinning. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It was supposed to be fake within just two months but now. Now my father has turned it into something else entirely.