Viella’s Pov

When consciousness returned, my head started paining like hell

My eyelashes fluttered. The room sharpened into view. Black silk curtains. Marble floors.

My pulse stopped.

Dante’s room.

I jerked upright. For one delusional second I hoped the whole thing had been some fever dream.

Then I saw it.

The mirror beside the bed reflected a dark, vicious handprint wrapped around my neck. A bruise shaped exactly like his fingers.

I touched it.

"...So it wasn’t a dream."

My heartbeat throbbed painfully. His voice echoed in my head.

"Who are you?"

He wasn’t asking out of curiosity. He was asking because he knew something was wrong. Because he could smell the lie I never meant to tell.

If he digs too deep...

If he thinks I deceived him...

I swallowed. This world had too many ways to kill me.

I rubbed my forehead, spiraling.

"I never asked him to like me. Never manipulated anybody. Why is my life tied to the mood swings of a mafia lunatic?"

Then-

Click.

The door opened.

Light footsteps entered

I turned.

Alina stood there with a glass of water with a smirk on her face

"Bold," I said flatly. "Acting like you’re the owner of this room now huh."

Her smile didn’t falter. It deepened,

"Ah... forgive me," she breathed. Then added

"I mean....it soon will be anyway~"

"Oh really?" I raised my eyebrows at her confidence.

But then, without any warning-

SPLASH.

Cold water hit my face. I sucked in a sharp breath as it ran down my skin, dripping onto the sheets.

Silence.

I slowly lifted my gaze.

Alina lowered the empty glass and blinked innocently.

"Oops," she cooed. "My hand slipped.

My jaw clenched.

I leaned forward.

"Don’t you think you’re forgetting your place, Alina... or should I say-your role of a timid shy pure Heroine?"

Her eyes trembled. For a split second the sweet mask cracked.

Then she smiled again, razor sharp.

"So you’re not as stupid as you pretend to be, Miss Fake Viella." She tilted her head.

"I already knew you can’t be that dumb since you took my place. Deceived My Dante.

But it’s okay. Dante already knows how fake you are now, right?"

I stared at her.

She stepped closer, hand trailing up... then stopping exactly on the bruise around my throat. The dark imprint left by Dante

She tapped it once.

"So sad," she whispered. "You tried to take my place... but he saw the truth. He saw you. Through this."

Her nails grazed the bruise.

"You tried to take him away from ME. But sadly he will always be mine.. and uh lord how I wished him to use all of his strength and...."

She started chuckling

"It’s okay I will make sure of it....soon"

I let out a slow breath, slicking back my wet hair with one hand. A smirk tugged at my lips.

"Keep talking."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Tonight," she hissed, leaning in, "Dante will announce who he belongs to. And you will finally be kicked out."

She stepped away, her expression twisting into something manic before she masked it again.

"And when that happens..."

Her smile sharpened into pure venom.

"...I’ll make sure you regret ever stepping into my story."

She turned and left.

The door clicked shut.

I wiped the water from my jaw.

Her story? Seriously? I rolled my eyes.

"...Does she really think that just because I’m not the ’real’ Viella she can do whatever she wants?"

A laugh tore out of my throat.

This world might really drive me insane someday.

Tsk.

"Now it seems like I really need to show this Alina her place..."

I muttered, cracking my neck

"But hmm..."

I tapped my chin.

"She mentioned a party... we’re having a party tonight?"

My eyes widened.

"Oh great."

A slow grin curled up my lips.

"How can I miss this opportunity?"

-------------

BAM.

The door suddenly burst open so violently

Several maids rushed, and behind them walked a heavily accessorized woman

She gave me one single up-and-down look.

I swear she judged me

"She’s the fiancée of Lord Dante?" she asked sharply, arching a brow.

One of the maids nodded nervously.

The woman turned back to me, nose wrinkling

...Excuse me?

Did she just look at me like I’m a creature she found under her bed?

My fingers twitched.

I genuinely had to stop myself from yanking her eyelashes out one by one.

Before I could snap, the maids rushed to me.

"Lady Viella, Lord Dante ordered us to get you prepared for tonight’s party," one said quickly.

"And she is the top makeup artist."

Oh hell nah-

Since when were we doing a full makeover episode?

But they were already dragging me to the vanity

---

55 Minutes Later

I stared at my reflection.

My jaw dropped.

"...Holy-"

I blinked again.

No cuts. No bruises.

Not even the faintest shadow of Dante’s death-grip

The makeup artist had erased all signs

And the result?

I looked beautiful.

I leaned closer.

"Damn... Viella is really a beauty."

Maybe I should stop threatening to pluck this woman’s eyelashes out.

She may have traumatized me with her attitude, but my face?

Yeah... I’ll let her keep her eyes for now.

The makeup artist scoffed lightly, rolling her eyes.

"Now I can see why Lord Dante chose you," she muttered with pure jealousy

Then she spun around and walked out,

The door shut behind her.

I smirked.

"Well... now the party’s going to be fun."

But before that... Dante.

Just thinking his name made my neck sting where his fingers had been.

How am I supposed to deal with him?

And where even is he?

Is he really planning to do what Alina said?

"Tsk."

I clicked my tongue and looked away from the mirror.

If he really does it-if he really throws me away tonight like Alina bragged-it would mean one thing:

I’d be free from his obsession.

But would that actually be good?

Logically, yes. Any sane person would sprint away from a psycho’s obsession

But realistically...

"No one has dared to touch me because I’m under his protection..."

If he removes that protection-

Then Alina would finally get the perfect opening.

And the writer?

That psycho number 2 who wants to erase me from this story?

I’d be an easy kill.

"Tsk."

I shook my head hard.

Let’s not think about it right now.

Not until I have a plan.

Suddenly-

"Lady Viella?"

A maid peeked in, bowing quickly.

"I’m here to escort you. Lord Dante is... a bit busy."

I exhaled in relief so hard my shoulders dropped.

"Much better," I muttered under my breath.

The last thing I needed was to face Dante before I figured out how to survive his suspicions.

Before I decided whether to lie... or tell just enough truth to keep my head attached to my body.

At least for now-

"Let’s go," I said, standing up.

The maid nodded, opening the door for me.

I stepped out, heels clicking softly as I followed her down the hallway, trying not to think about-

---

Everyone’s gaze snapped toward me the moment my heel touched the top step.

Whispers. Stares.

Great. A whole audience.

I scanned the crowd, trying to locate him-the walking red flag-but I didn’t see Dante anywhere.

Instead I spotted Lucian leaning against a pillar. He waved, smirked, and pointed to my right.

My eyes followed.

...My family?!

They were here too?

Oh wow. Perfect. Just the exact type of chaos I didn’t ask for.

Just as i reached the final steps-

A hand appeared in front of me.

Black leather gloves.

My heart stalled for half a beat.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze.

Dante stood at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in an immaculate black suit. The lights overhead caught the sharp angles of his face, but his eyes-

They were unreadable.

Not cold.

Not angry.

Not soft either.

Just... calm.

I hesitated, but then placed my hand in his.

His grip tightened instantly-firm

A low hum vibrated in his chest as he pulled me the last step down, positioning me beside him like I belonged there.

"Looking stunning," he murmured, leaning just close enough that only I could hear it. His smirk curved slow, deliberate. "My little wife."

My breath hitched.

What?

My brows furrowed as I looked up at him.

Why was he acting like nothing happened?

Why was he calm?

Why was he smiling?

Dante lifted my hand again, this time brushing his thumb over my knuckles in a slow, almost... possessive stroke.

His tone was too smooth

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, eyes still forward, attention on the crowd yet voice solely for me. "Did you expect me to hold a gun against your head instead?"

I swallowed.

His eyes slid to the side, finally meeting mine.

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Relax," he whispered. "Tonight is important."

Important?

Alina’s words flashed in my mind.

Tonight Dante will announce who he belongs to.

So... was she right?

My heart clenched. If he really cut me off tonight, I’d lose his protection. I’d be exposed. Easy to erase.

But then-

He slid a hand around my waist.

Firm.

For a second my mind went blank like always.

"Aish! My babiesss!"

Nonna’s voice thundered across the hall

I blinked.

Oh right... she exists.

Before I could prepare myself, she barreled toward us with open arms and snatched me from Dante’s grip

"You can continue this in your bedroom later," she scolded Dante without even looking at him. "Let me take my baby girl."

I swear I saw Dante’s jaw twitch.

I exhaled

Thank god.

Wait-

Oh no.

Nonna dragged me straight toward my parents.

Another awkward encounter

"Uh... hello?" I tried, giving them a polite-but-not-too-polite smile.

My parents stared at me with the same disappointed expression as before.

"Viella, behave," my mother muttered before smiling sweetly at Nonna again.

I was already inching backward, planning my escape, when a wine glass appeared beside my face.

I turned.

Of course.

Marcella. My lovely, demonic sister. Wearing-

MY dress.

She noticed the look on my face.

Smirked.

Took a slow sip as if she wasn’t committing fashion treason.

I ignored her and attempted to slip away again-

But Nonna clamped her hand around my wrist like a hawk on its prey.

"Come, come! Meet the guests!"

Thirty. Whole. Minutes.

Thirty minutes of smiling so hard my cheeks were about to fall off.

Thirty minutes of shaking hands with strangers who kept calling me "the lucky fiancée of Lord Dante," as if I wasn’t currently planning how to murder the book’s original main cast.

Suddenly the lights went off.

I finally escaped, I dashed out onto the balcony and inhaled cold air like a dying fish.

Freedom.

Night breeze. City lights. Silence.

Perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

I felt someone standing beside me-tall, still, too close.

I turned.

Even in the dark, I recognized that jawline, that aura.

Sharp eyes glinting like he already knew every secret I had.

Mr. Writer.

"Interesting view, isn’t it, Miss Viella?" His voice was smooth silk laced with venom.

I faced him fully. "Hmm, it was-until I came face to face with someone far more interesting than the view."

He chuckled.

A low, deep sound that didn’t match his young face.

"I do have to agree," he murmured. "I sure am interesting..." he leaned slightly closer, "but alas, I find you far more fascinating."

I tilted my head, lips curling.

"Then it’s an honor... Mr. Writer. Or should I say-Elias?"

His smile sharpened.

"Smart," he whispered

Half his face caught the city lights-revealing a smirk that was too calm

"I assumed," he continued lightly, "that once you discovered who I am, you’d beg me to save you. Maybe even help you return to your world."

His eyes slid over me.

"But aww... you’re being such a brave little kitten."

I laughed softly, mockingly.

"This book might be yours," I said, stepping slightly closer, "but the plot is in my hands now."

I tapped a finger on the balcony rail.

"You failed to control your own story. What a pity, isn’t it?"

That got him.

Elias’s eyes darkened-glinting with something close to hunger.

"What a feisty little thing," he whispered.

"Careful, Viella. I adore spirited characters... but they tend to die first."

I smirked.

"Not in my version."

His smile widened.

This man was trouble.

Meanwhile somewhere around the mansion, Alina is celebrating her upcoming Victory...

.

.

.

.

Way too soon.

TO BE CONTINUED