Liza stood in the middle of the wedding boutique, her fingers trembling as they traced the delicate lace of her wedding gown. The air around her felt suffocating, heavy with the scent of fresh roses that adorned every corner of the room. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, just twenty-four hours until she would walk down the aisle and say, "I do."
But the phone call she had received an hour ago had shattered everything.
Her best friend Kylie's voice had been hesitant on the other end of the line. Liza could still hear it replaying in her mind, every word a dagger to her heart. "Liza, I'm so sorry... I never meant for this to happen, but... Christoph and I... We've been seeing each other for months."
Liza dropped her phone, her vision blurring with tears. The weight of betrayal crashed into her, knocking the breath from her lungs. Christoph, the man she was supposed to marry tomorrow, and Kylie, her closest friend—the two people she trusted most in the world—had been deceiving her all along.
She felt numb, her body unable to move as the truth sunk in. Everything had been a lie. Their whispered words of love, the future they had planned, the nights spent dreaming of a life together—it was all a cruel illusion. Her fingers balled into fists, crumpling the lace of the gown she no longer had any reason to wear.
Without another thought, Liza stormed out of the boutique, leaving the dress behind. The crisp evening air slapped her face as she walked aimlessly through the city streets. She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to escape. Her heels clicked on the pavement, a hollow sound against the background noise of the bustling city, but it all felt distant, like a dream she couldn't wake from.
An hour later, Liza found herself sitting in a dimly lit bar, the kind of place she would never normally frequent. It was tucked away in a forgotten alley, filled with shadowy figures that seemed to belong more to the darkness than the light. The bartender gave her a nod as she ordered whiskey—a drink she had never touched before tonight. But this wasn't a night for her usual choices.
As the amber liquid burned its way down her throat, the pain in her chest seemed to dull, if only for a moment. She welcomed the numbness, desperate to drown the images of Christoph and Kylie from her mind. How could they? How could he?
A voice interrupted her thoughts. Deep, smooth, and with an edge of danger. "Drinking alone, especially something that strong, isn't a good idea."
Liza looked up, her tear-stained eyes meeting the gaze of a man standing beside her at the bar. He was striking—blonde hair slicked back, sharp jawline, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her. There was something unsettling about him, an air of power and violence that clung to him like a second skin. Yet, in that moment, she didn't care.
"What's it to you?" she muttered, turning back to her drink.
He slid into the seat next to her, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. "You don't look like you belong here."
Liza let out a bitter laugh, swirling the whiskey in her glass. "Trust me, I don't."
The man's gaze didn't waver. "What brings someone like you to a place like this, then?"
She hesitated, the words almost too painful to say. "Betrayal," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible. "The kind that rips your heart out and makes you wish you never trusted anyone."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then, to her surprise, the man let out a low chuckle. "Betrayal... I know that feeling well."
Liza turned to him, curious despite herself. "And what's your story?"
His eyes darkened, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Let's just say I'm in a business where trust doesn't exist."
She studied him for a moment, taking in the tailored suit, the confident posture, the cold, calculating look in his eyes. This was a man who lived in a world far removed from hers—a world of danger and secrets.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.
He leaned in slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Viktor," he said simply. "And you?"
"Liza," she replied, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Liza," Viktor repeated, as if testing the sound of her name on his tongue. "I have a proposition for you."
Liza frowned, the alcohol making her mind slow and her judgment clouded. "A proposition?"
He nodded, his expression serious. "You said you've been betrayed. I can help you take back control, but it comes with a price."
Her eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into her thoughts. "What kind of price?"
Viktor's lips curved into a knowing smile. "A contract marriage. You become mine, and in return, I'll give you the power to destroy the people who wronged you. Christoph, your so-called best friend, anyone who stands in your way. Together, we'll bring them to their knees."
Liza's breath caught in her throat. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. It was madness—utter madness. And yet, something in her stirred. A deep, primal need for revenge. For justice.
She glanced at Viktor, his blue eyes locked on hers, and she knew that if she agreed, there would be no turning back.
But in that moment, she didn't care.
"Deal."