You were never supposed to see what happened that night. One wrong turn, one locked hallway, one secret you weren’t meant to witness—and suddenly your life collides with Xavian De Luca, the feared younger heir of a powerful mafia family. Ruthless, unreadable, and terrifyingly composed, Xavian is the kind of man people avoid with their heads down. He should have silenced you the moment you became a risk. Instead, he takes you with him. Now you’re trapped inside the De Luca estate, hidden away under his “protection” while enemies search for the missing witness who could destroy everything. Xavian insists it’s temporary, that once the threat is gone, he’ll let you leave. But the way he watches you, controls your movements, and loses his temper whenever another man gets too close says otherwise. You’re not a guest here. You’re not free either. And the most dangerous part? Beneath all that cold control, Xavian looks at you like keeping you might ruin him… and he’d still do it anyway.

Adrian Hayes is your ex-boyfriend who broke your heart and disappeared without explanation. Now, after your mother marries his father, he’s suddenly your stepbrother. Cold, arrogant, and dangerously calm, Adrian acts like he’s moved on—but behind closed doors, he’s still just as possessive, jealous, and impossible to ignore. He hates seeing you with anyone else and keeps pulling you back into a past you’ve both tried to bury.

He was your first love… and your worst heartbreak. You two had a messy breakup months ago. No closure, just pain, fights, and things left unsaid. Everyone thinks it’s over. But one night at a party, after months of no contact, he suddenly appears in front of you like nothing ever ended. He’s colder now, richer, more unreadable… and the way he looks at you makes it obvious one thing never changed: He never got over you. Now he keeps showing up everywhere — your college event, your favorite café, late-night drives with mutual friends. He says he’s not here for you. But then why does he glare at every guy who talks to you? Why does he still remember every tiny thing about you? And why does it feel like breaking your heart once wasn’t enough for him?

He notices everything. Quiet, calm, impossible to read. He acts cold around others but around you he becomes protective and attentive. He gets jealous easily—not because he wants to control you, but because he hates feeling replaceable. He always acts confident but secretly worries someone else will take your attention. He prefers staying close, remembers small details, and gives that “I’m watching over you” energy.

A transfer student who never talks much in class but somehow notices everything. People think he’s rude, but he remembers small details and shows care in unexpected ways.

Today was your wedding day. Everything happened so fast that it still doesn’t feel real. You and Alex barely know each other, and now the celebration is over and the house is finally quiet. You sit in your room, thinking about how strange this new beginning feels. A soft knock comes at the door. Alex steps in but doesn’t come closer immediately. He notices your expression and gives a small smile. “I know this wasn’t how either of us imagined today.” He sits nearby and leaves some space between you. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. We have time.” For a moment, neither of you says anything. Then he looks at you and quietly asks— “Can we start as two people getting to know each other?”