Chapter 1: The Devil Came for Me

Rain lashed against the towering windows of Hart Manor, turning the world outside into a blur of darkness and silver. The mansion had once been a symbol of wealth and prestige, but years of unpaid debts had stripped away its glory. Priceless paintings no longer decorated the walls, the marble floors had lost their shine, and the silence that filled the house felt heavier than the storm outside. Every corner reminded me that my family's fortune had collapsed long before anyone dared admit it.

I found my father sitting alone in his study with a half-empty glass of whiskey resting between his trembling hands. The sharp scent of alcohol mixed with the stale air, and for the first time in my life, he looked like a defeated man instead of the powerful businessman everyone admired. His expensive suit was creased, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and he couldn't even bring himself to look at me when I stepped inside.

"Iris," he said quietly, his voice rough with exhaustion, "close the door."

Something about the way he spoke made my stomach tighten. I obeyed, leaning against the polished oak door as I studied him. "You've been avoiding me for weeks," I said. "Every time I ask what's happening, you tell me everything is fine. Stop lying to me."

He let out a slow breath and stared into the amber liquid in his glass. "I never wanted you involved."

"You already involved me the moment this house started falling apart."

The words hung between us. He knew I was right. Over the last year, I'd watched our life disappear piece by piece. The luxury cars had been sold first, followed by my mother's jewelry, then the company shares he swore he would never touch. Every promise he made had dissolved into another excuse.

Finally, he whispered, "I owe money."

"I know that."

His grip tightened around the glass. "Not to a bank."

The confidence drained from my face. "Who?"

He closed his eyes as though saying the name aloud hurt.

"The Blackthorns."

A chill crawled down my spine.

Everyone in New York had heard stories about the Blackthorn family. Officially, they were billionaires whose names appeared in magazines beside politicians and celebrities. Unofficially, they controlled the city's criminal underworld with ruthless precision. People who crossed them rarely got a second chance. Businesses disappeared overnight, witnesses changed their stories, and enemies simply... vanished.

My throat went dry. "Please tell me you didn't borrow money from them."

"I thought I could pay it back."

"How much?"

When he told me the amount, the room seemed to tilt beneath my feet. It wasn't just a debt—it was a fortune. No struggling business could recover from that. No ordinary man could repay it.

Before I could speak again, three slow knocks echoed through the mansion.

Neither of us moved.

My father's face lost every trace of color.

"They're here."

The heavy doors swung open before either of us could respond. Four armed men entered first, spreading through the room with practiced precision. Their movements were silent, disciplined, and confident, making it painfully clear they weren't bodyguards—they were soldiers.

Then the three men they were protecting stepped inside.

The one in front commanded attention without saying a word. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, he carried himself with quiet authority. His cold gray eyes swept across the room before settling on me, and something about that single glance made it impossible to look away. There was no curiosity in his expression, no surprise—only calm assessment, as though he had already memorized every detail about me before walking through the door.

The second man looked nothing like him. Tattoos disappeared beneath the collar of his black shirt, a scar crossed one eyebrow, and danger seemed woven into every step he took. He wore the relaxed grin of someone who enjoyed violence a little too much.

The third was devastatingly handsome, with effortless charm and a smile that could fool anyone into believing he was harmless. It was only when I met his dark eyes that I realized the smile was nothing more than another weapon.

My father rose so quickly that his chair scraped across the wooden floor.

"Lucien..."

So this was Lucien Blackthorn.

The man newspapers called a billionaire.

The man criminals called king.

Lucien acknowledged my father with a slight nod before returning his attention to me. "Miss Hart," he said smoothly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"There is nothing pleasurable about strangers walking into my home."

A faint smile touched the lips of the tattooed man.

"She's got fire."

Lucien ignored him. "Unfortunately, this house no longer belongs to your family."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He placed a folder on the desk and pushed it toward my father. "Every asset he owned was transferred to us after he defaulted on his payments."

My father reached for the documents with shaking hands, flipping through page after page until his face turned completely white.

"No..." he whispered. "This can't be right."

"It is."

"You tricked me."

Lucien's expression never changed.

"No. You signed contracts you never bothered to read."

The room fell silent.

I looked from the papers to my father, and for the first time, I understood the depth of his desperation.

He had lost everything.

Then Lucien spoke the words that changed my life forever.

"There is only one unpaid debt remaining."

My heart slammed against my ribs as my father's eyes slowly found mine. The guilt on his face answered the question before anyone spoke.

"You didn't..." I whispered.

Tears filled his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

The truth hit me like a knife.

He hadn't come to save himself.

He had traded me instead.

I stared at the man who had raised me, wondering how someone could destroy their own child with two simple words.

"I'm sorry."

Those words weren't enough.

They never would be.

I turned toward Lucien, forcing every ounce of fear from my voice.

"I'm not going with you."

His gray eyes held mine without the slightest hint of emotion.

"That isn't your decision."

Outside, thunder cracked across the sky, shaking the windows.

Inside, my old life ended.