"What? You want me to get married to a total stranger?" Liya screamed at her parents in annoyance. She paced around the room, expecting a reasonable explanation from them.

"You have to; it's for our sake, " her mother said.

"What sake? Did you inform me? All you did was sign papers on my behalf, and boom, I'm married. Really? Mum, dad?"

"My dear, you know things aren't the way they used to be; the company is at stake, and that was the only option to save it, "her mom explained, avoiding direct contact with her.

"So I'm a superhero-saving company now?"Why can't you guys be selfless for once? "Did you even think about me being okay with it? Did you think about telling me? Did you consider your daughter's feelings at all?" Liya said this with tears flowing down her cheeks.

'We are sorry,"

"Sorry, mom? Dad is not saying anything. I have a fiance, remember?"

"We are aware,"

"So"

"You call off things with him. Ryan is a nice man, but he isn't what we want; we want someone powerful and wealthy."

"I love Ryan! And I'm not breaking things off with him to marry a stranger," Liya said, wiping her tears.

"That's enough!" Her dad said this, slamming his hand on the small stool in the sitting room.

"Dad?" Liya called out with sadness written all over her face.

"We already signed the papers; you are marrying Jude, and that's final!" He firmly said, stood up, and left in annoyance.

Liya's mom stood and hugged her daughter. "It's okay, dear. This is the best decision to secure your future. At least your children will be rich."

Liya disengaged herself from the hug, feeling disappointed at her parents for signing her off to marry a billionaire without hearing her opinion. How will she tell Ryan that she is marrying someone else? How will she explain to him? frustrated, she ran out of the house to her safe place, Ryan House.

...

It was midnight, and Liya couldn't put herself to sleep. She watched TV for a while, but she ended up crying as the movie was emotional. She turns off the TV and plays music, which helps lift her mood.

Liya's room was a mess; the bed was unarranged, snack wrappers were everywhere, food crumbled on the floor, tissue papers were on the floor, and there was a smell of fish in the room.

Liya was listening to Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Arianna Grande, tears flowing freely as the lyrics hit straight to her heart. She suddenly heard noises, and someone was tapping her window. Liya paused the music.

Someone is trying to break into her room.

"Am I dreaming?, or am I seeing things?" Liya wondered if what she was seeing was real.

The person's shadow blocked the moonlight, trying to break in through her window.

"Am I being kidnapped?" Liya ran to her wardrobe and got a hanger, which Ryan gifted her on her birthday. 

"Hello? Who are you?" She said this to the intruder.

The intruder tapped on the window, saying something, but Liya couldn't figure it out because her window was closed.

Ryan's call came in immediately, and Liya picked it up.

"Baby, I think someone is trying to break into my room," Liya said, frightened.

"Hey, listen, open your window; no one is trying to break in; I'm the one."

"You? But... What are you doing here?" Liya looked at the figure; it does belong to Ryan.

She slid open her window. "Ryan? "

"Hi, baby," Ryan said, kissing her.

"It's midnight; why are you here? And why are you climbing my window? You should have come in in a normal way.

"What way?"

 "Through the door!" Liya said, pointing to the door.

"You expect me to knock at your house at 2 a.m.? With your parents and neighbors asleep, that's disrespectful, "Ryan stated.

Liya sighed"Fine,"

"Besides, your dad warned me against coming here."

"My dad? Why? " Liya was shocked to hear that.

"He said I'm brainwashing you to be disobedient towards him; he also said you are another man's property, and me coming here will be trespassing."

"I can't believe this. I'm sorry my dad said that to you."

"You should because I was hurt."

"Now to business, baby. I will be asking you a few questions, which I want you to answer sincerely."

"What questions?" Liya asked curiously.

"Do you want to get married against your will?"

"no"

"Babe, let's run away."

I can't leave my family or my home."

"Not for us?" Ryan asked, unhappy.

"Baby, I..." Liya wanted to explain, but Ryan interrupted her.

"Never mind; I thought you changed your mind. I'm sorry for bothering you."

"Ryan." She hugged him from behind.

"Bye; I wish you a happy married life in advance," he said, walking towards the window.

Unexpectedly, he turned back, went to Liya, and kissed her deeply. The two kissed passionately. Ryan took Liya to the bed, and he took his lips to her neckline, kissing and giving her soft bites.

Liya let out a soft moan as he did that. Ryan wanted to take off her clothes, but Liya stopped him.

"Let's not do this, "she whispers to his ears.

Ryan adjusted, "Mm, I'm sorry."

"I wanted to have a taste of you for the last time."

"I understand," Liya said, standing up to kiss his forehead. "Take care of yourself."

Ryan left unhappy.

…

A tall man with a muscular build, always dressed in expensive designer suits and wearing a Rolex watch. He walks with a swagger in his step, exuding confidence and power. His well-groomed hair is always styled perfectly, and his facial features are chiseled and angular. He speaks with a deep, assertive voice that commands attention, often interrupting others mid-sentence.

He has a haughty gaze that makes people feel inferior in his presence.

He is used to getting what he wants, and his sense of entitlement is greatly expressed in his demeanor.

His arrogance can be seen in the way he talks, in his gestures, and in the way he treats others. He doesn't listen to others' opinions, dismisses any constructive criticism, and dismissively deems his ideas as the only feasible ones.

All in all, he is a self-righteous, overbearing individual with a massive ego.

He is Jude Sebastian.

The CEO of the Sebastian Empire has lots of companies under him. Oil and gas, textiles, entertainment, video gaming, house estates, and an import and export business.

Jude Sebastian is famous in the eyes of the public because, apart from being filthy wealthy, he does charity work like paying for children's surgeries in hospitals, visiting orphanages, giving jobs to unemployed men, giving out scholarships to students, and so on.

Apart from his status, Jude is famous for his angelic look. If handsomeness were a person, he was. He won the title of the first-most handsome man in his country three times; yes, he won it three times. He was also the third-most handsome man in the world.

But even a mighty man has a weak one.

Jude has one weakness.

And that weakness is...