Chapter 3 - THE GILDED CAGE
For three days, the Belladonna estate became my beautiful, terrifying prison. Silk dresses replaced my cheap work clothes, and armed guards followed my every step. Adrian was a ghost during the day, running a criminal empire, but at night, we were forced to dine together under Nonna's watchful eye. "You barely touch your wine, cara," she observed one evening. Adrian seamlessly reached over, his rough thumb brushing my jawline. "My fiancée is still exhausted from the party preparations," he lied flawlessly. His touch sent a traitorous shiver down my spine. I hated that he terrified me, but I hated even more that his physical proximity made my heart race.
