CHAPTER 2 THE DANGEROUS MAN ON BLACK

The mansion doors opened slowly. A cold wind ran through the whole hallway, brushing against the crystal chandelier hanging above like an invisible warning.

All servant lowered their heads instantly.

Even the musicians near the far wall stopped playing.The atmosphere changed completely.

Heavy footsteps echoed against the tiled floor.

Slow. Calm. Controlled.

The kind of footsteps that belonged to a man who never needed to hurry because the entire world already moved for him.

Oriana’s breath caught in her throat.

The maid holding her arm suddenly spoke beside her.

T -That’s him the girl whispered shakily.

Then he appeared. Tall. Dangerously tall.

His black suit fit perfectly across broad shoulders that made the men behind him look insignificant.

Black leather gloves covered his hands, and the dim golden lights reflected faintly against the silver watch around his wrist.

But it was his face that made the room go silent.

Cold.

Handsome in a terrifying way. Sharp jawline. Dark eyes. Emotionless expression. The kind of man who looked like he could destroy lives without blinking.

Behind him came several armed men dressed in black, each carrying the unshakable presence of the underground world. Oriana felt her stomach tighten painfully.

Who were these people? And why did everyone look terrified of them?

Livia immediately stepped forward with a polished smile. Mr. Devereux, she greeted sweetly.

Welcome to the Morreti's estate.”

The man barely acknowledged her.

His eyes swept across the room once.

Only once. Yet somehow,

It felt as though he noticed every

single detail.

Adrian’s mother straightened nervously beside Livia. We prepared everything exactly as requested

She added quickly.

The man removed one glove slowly.

His movements were calm. Elegant.

Deadly.

I dislike delays,” he said quietly. His voice was low, smooth, and dangerous enough to send chills crawling down Oriana’s spine.

Livia forced a laugh. My apologies. We simply wanted tonight’s selection to be worthy of your standards.

Selection. The word hit Oriana like ice water. Her heart skips.

No. Surely not.

Her eyes moved desperately around the room. The expensive drinks. The nervous servants. The strangers were men watching silently from the couches.

Then she noticed the way some of the men were already glancing toward the staircase. Toward her.

Horror slowly spread through her chest. No. She whispered weakly.

One maid tightened her hands on

Oriana’s arm immediately. Please don’t struggle, Madam, the girl whispered fearfully.

But Oriana barely heard her, her mind was going biased.

They weren’t hosting a party.

This wasn’t business. This wasn’t entertainment.

They were selling women!

And she was one of them. A sharp feeling of weakness hit her.

Livia turned toward her slowly, smiling. There she is. She announced proudly. Our most beautiful treasure tonight.

Several men looked interested instantly.

Oriana’s entire body trembled.

No she whispered again, tears burning her eyes. Please, please don’t do this.

Livia’s smile vanished immediately.

Oh, stop pretending to be innocent, she snaps coldly.

She walked forward and grabbed Oriana’s chin harshly. You’ve been living in this house for free while your beloved husband ignores you for months.

The least you can do is repay the family. Oriana stared at her in disbelief.

Repay them? After everything they had stolen from her?

After starving her? Humiliating her? Beating her emotionally every single day? Adrian’s mother folded her arms coldly.

You should consider this an honor, the older woman added. Men like these don’t look twice at ordinary women.

Tears spilled down Oriana’s face.

She searched the room desperately.

Mateo.

Where was Mateo?

He was the only one who ever showed her kindness in this horrible mansion.

The only one who secretly brought her food when the others refused to feed her properly.

If he were here. But before the thought could finish, the mansion doors opened again.

Everyone turned sharply. Mateo entered. His face darkened instantly the moment he saw Oriana being held by the maids.

What is this? He demanded.

Livia rolled her eyes dramatically.

Perfect timing.

Mateo’s gaze ran across the room, landing on the dangerous men sitting comfortably around the hall.

Then realization hit him, his expression changed instantly. No.

He moved toward Oriana immediately. You cannot do this!

Adrian’s mother stepped in front of him sharply. Stay out of this.

Mateo looked furious. "She’s Adrian’s wife.”

"And Adrian abandoned her,” Livia replied coldly. “Which means she’s useless to this family.”

Mateo clenched his fists. "You’re insane.”

One of the underground men chuckled softly from the couch. “This family is entertaining.” But the dangerous man seated in the center remained silent. Watching.

Always watching. Oriana noticed him again.

For some reason, he had not looked away from her once since entering the mansion. Not once.

And something about his gaze unsettled her deeply. It didn’t look lustful like the others. It looked. Personal. As if he knew her.

But that was impossible. She would have remembered a man like him.

Mateo suddenly grabbed Oriana’s wrist protectively and pulled her behind him.

“She’s not part of this auction.”

Livia laughed mockingly. “You don’t get to decide that.”

“I said no.”

The room became tense instantly.

Several armed guards shifted slightly.

The dangerous man in black finally leaned back against his chair.

“Interesting,” he murmured.

Mateo ignored him completely. “She’s leaving with me.” Before anyone could react, Mateo started pulling Oriana toward the hallway.

Hope exploded inside her chest.

Finally. Finally, someone was helping her

But then “Stop.” The single word froze the entire room. The dangerous man had spoken.

Mateo stopped. Slowly, the man rose from his chair. The atmosphere immediately became heavier. Even the guards lowered their eyes slightly.

He walked forward calmly.

One step. Then another.

Until he stood directly in front of Mateo and Oriana. Up close, he looked even more intimidating.

Oriana could perceive faint traces of expensive scents mixed with cigarette smoke.

His dark eyes moved to her face again. Studying her carefully. Too carefully.

Then he lifted one gloved hand slowly

and brushed his thumb against the small shaped birthmark near her collarbone. Oriana froze completely.

Only three people in the world knew about that mark. Her late mother.

Her childhood doctor. And, the man’s jaw tightened slightly.

For the first time since arriving, emotion flickered across his face.

Shock.

Real shock. Mateo immediately pulled Oriana backward protectively. “Don’t touch her.”

But the man ignored him entirely.

His gaze never left Oriana’s trembling face. Then, very slowly, he reached inside his coat and pulled out an old photograph.

The edges were worn from age.

Carefully, he placed it into Oriana’s shaking hands. Her breath stopped.

It was a picture of her. Not recent. Young. Maybe sixteen.

Standing beside a lake with sunlight across her face. A picture she had not seen in years. A picture that disappeared the same night her mother died.

Oriana looked up at him in horror.

“How do you have this?”

The entire room fell silent. Livia’s confident expression vanished instantly. Adrian’s mother suddenly looked nervous for the first time all night.

And then, the man finally spoke.

Softly. Dangerously.

“Because,” he said, staring directly into her terrified eyes, “you disappeared before our wedding day.”