Chapter 1

one

Phoebe – 21 Years Old – Two Years Later

I sit in the precious café with my student books out in front of me, the biochemistry course kicking my ass today.

This paper is worth 70% of my grade.

I don't have classes today, but I had to get here at 6 AM, much to my disappointment. I like my sleep.

I huff, feeling grouchy.

"What are you huffing about, malen'kaya ptitsa ?"

And I cannot stop the grin from forming on my face. Alexandr stands over me, his bright blue eyes looking at me like I'm all he sees. He's in a suit this morning, a black shirt underneath his suit jacket with a couple of buttons undone, showing some of his muscled chest and his ink, making him look amazing as always. I breathe in and smell his musky cologne and something that is just him, then smile wider.

"You're late, agapi mou ," I say, smiling, and he chuckles. He bends down and kisses my forehead, making my heart flutter. Then he places a peck on my lips, and he grins back at me. We're meeting much earlier than our usual 3 PM date, because of his niece's birthday party and a meeting he couldn't get out of. Alexandr's sister-in-law did invite me, but I have too much coursework to complete before tomorrow. I made sure to buy little Mila the biggest princess treehouse I could find, which Damian found hilarious when she screamed at me.

"I love you, Phe Phe; you're my favorite."

Sergi and Damian scowled hard at me, while I was in a fit of giggles with Sofia, trying to hold each other up. We'd become very close when she came home, getting along right away, like long-lost friends, much to Sergi's disappointment. Apparently, I'm his, which brought Alex into the argument, stating that I'm engaged to him, so technically, I'm his . They argued for an hour over it.

Alex's mom, Maria, and dad, Dimitri, tried to hold in their laughter when Mila stated I was the favorite, which didn't last long when Mila turned to her uncles, saying, "You have some catching up to do."

She said it so seriously that Sofia and I fell to the floor with tears running down our cheeks. His parents lost it then, too, while Damian was biting his lip, eyes full of amusement, and Sergi chased after her. She giggled like crazy while Alex came to us and helped us up.

"That's it, the wedding is off. I can't have my fiancée take my niece from me, too. It's bad enough, fighting with Sergi for the top spot," Alex stated, dramatically. We were back on the floor, dying of laughter. After that, he just shook his head at me.

I smile at the memory. I love his family. After I finally decided to give the idiot a chance, we became close. Maria is like a mother to me, and Dimitri, well, he's more of a father than my own, and Damian says I'm the little sister he never wanted, which makes me smile every time. Family—that's what we are.

I finally feel like I belong.

"Are you ever going to tell me what that means, sweetheart?" Alex questions, bringing me back to now, and I chuckle.

"I told you, learn Greek."

He shakes his head. This is our weekly argument. Once he finally learns Greek, he'll know that I'm in love with him. It's something I didn't think could happen. The first meeting we had, I sat here with my books, like I am now, but ignored him while he tried to talk to me. I'd done that for two months, when he finally had enough and placed a very delicious aero mint muffin in front of my nose.

I looked at it, then at him, then back at the muffin, and stated,"Okay, we can be friends." Then I proceeded to eat said muffin while he chuckled. Since then, we have become extremely close; he was my first kiss, and I don't regret it. He's my everything.

He speaks, pulling me out of my thoughts again. "And how many times have I told you I haven't got the patience to try and learn it, even when I remember to take my meds?" He tears off a part of one of my muffins and shoves it in his mouth, and I shake my head at him. He's lucky I love him; otherwise, he'd lose a finger for taking my muffins.

"Then you'll never know. Stop using your ADHD as an excuse to not have to learn something. We both know you can concentrate better than anyone actually knows." I smirk, and he scowls at me, hating when I give it to him straight. "Did you finally win, favorite Uncle? You know, it seems as though I'm her favorite aunt and all," I tease.

His brother's wife left him on their wedding night after she found out he was cheating on her with other women, and that their whole relationship was a lie. She wasn't aware it was an arrangement like mine and Alex's, so she was hurt and betrayed, and decided to run. Something I contemplated several times in the first few months, but suddenly, there were extra guards, so I had no hope. I tried twice, but Alex and my father just shook their heads at me and continued with their days, like the guards didn't drag me back to the house.

Alex sighs, and I put my pen down, join my hands over the books, and tilt my head at him, giving him my full attention. He mirrors my body, doing the same.

"No, I swear, when this boy is born, Sergi isn't getting within an inch toward of him, and neither are you." He looks down, sulking, and I place my hands over his on the table, squeezing them to placate him, letting out a little chuckle.

"I'll tell you what I told Sergi yesterday; she loves you both the same, just not as much as me, so stop sulking." He looks back at me and smiles, chuckling, and I grin.

I love his smile.

We stay at the café for a couple of hours while he tries to help me with my class, but we laugh most of the time instead. It's like this every time.

He drives me home in his Mercedes-Benz like he does every time we meet, drops me off at the front door, kisses my cheek, then pecks my lips after giving me a tight hug. Then he waits until I'm inside before driving away.

I sigh.He's the highlight of my days.

I walk into the kitchen, where my father and sister are sitting at the kitchen island laughing quietly, and as soon as I enter, they stop. I ignore them both and head to the fridge for a water bottle. My father doesn't even acknowledge me, while my sister, the only person other than Sergi I thought I could count on for years before I was sent away, sneers at me. It's been this way since it was decided I would marry Alex instead, but she was hiding her disdain for me long before that. I'm just not sure why.

To her, I'm no longer her sister, but a man-stealing whore—her words, not mine, even though she's the one who decided to play games to get her own way. I ignore her and walk out again, heading to my room to continue my schoolwork. Despite having to marry, Alex is very encouraging about my studies and my dream to become a vet. He's even looked up some veterinary schools in the area. I smile, feeling lucky to have him and his family's support.

Walking up the stairs, I hear my sister snark, "I don't understand why she's still living here, Bampás . I asked you to move her into her own apartment; why can't you? You know I made a mistake with Alexandr, and now I have to watch my sister steal my man, my future."

I pause on the staircase, tears forming in my eyes while I hold my breath, waiting for his reply, hoping he doesn't disappoint me.

"I already told you, pep?n , she's already tried to run twice, and now that I am Nonos , I need to keep her close before the wedding in five months. Once she's married off, we don't need to see her again, okay? Then, after five years, Alex should divorce her, and if you still want him, go for him. I doubt she'll care."

I don't wait for her reply and run to my room. Once inside, I lock the door, then turn and slide down until I'm sitting on the floor. My eyes tear up, but I hold them in.

Since being with Alex, my "other side" has slipped away. I used to be immune to their cruel words, but now it's starting to get to me. The tears fall, and I curse myself, willing my training to kick in. I take a deep breath, wipe away the traitorous tears, and stop feeling sorry for myself for the lack of family I have inside this house.

I grab my school stuff, place them on the bed, and go to my bathroom, quickly scrubbing my face to hide the evidence the tears left behind, before putting my mask of indifference back on, and go to finish my homework like the last twenty minutes did not happen.

About three hours later, my phone pings with an incoming message. I look at the time, and it's just gone lunchtime. I furrow my brows and put my schoolwork away, then grab my phone. I know it can't be Alex; he said he had a business meeting before Mila's party, and Sofia will be busy with Maria getting ready. Sergi is on "Mila duty", while Damian will probably be hovering around Sofia. She's heavily pregnant with their second child, and he's apparently turned into a helicopter—her words, not mine…unless she's messaged me to tell me she killed him and needs help hiding the body. I chuckle and pick up my phone. My smile disappears, and my brows furrow in confusion.

Unknown: link attached.

I place my thumb over it. I know you shouldn't click on links that someone you don't know has sent you, but I'm a curious person. I click on it, and I turn up my volume when I hear someone talking. Suddenly, I'm regretting clicking on the link.

"It's about time you got your sexy ass here, Selene," an unknown voice states.

I don't know who the woman is, but she's tall and blond, wearing only lacy, black lingerie. I scowl, confused as to why someone sent me this. I already know Selene dabbles with the opposite sex; it's not news to me. She'd go to anyone willing to spend money on her.

"Sorry, Daddy took me shopping because he wouldn't send my sister to her own apartment. Still, she stole my fiancé, the least she could have done was fuck off."

I sigh, realizing exactly how much of a spoiled bitch she's become over the years.

"Don't worry, darling, it's only for five years, but speaking of Alexandr," the unknown woman smirks, walks over to my sister, and kisses her. I gag and go to end the stream but the unknown woman speaks again, making my heart drop to my stomach.

"He's finally knocked me up, so we can all be a happy family once we get rid of your sister. We just have to let the marriage paperwork go through so he can get the inheritance you mentioned, and then you contact your guy for the Romanians to pick her up. Alexandr has agreed." She laughs, and I can't believe it—Alex wouldn't sleep with these women, especially not with my sister! This must be a setup, and he certainly wouldn't give me to the same men who killed my mother.

I wait for Selene to laugh like it's a joke, but she doesn't, she just smiles wide, and I shake my head. How can she hate me so much? She blames me for something I had no control over. My father gave me the arranged marriage because she's the one who spitefully let everyone know she was seeing a woman.

It takes a moment, but something hits me…what she just said…. How the fuck does she know about my inheritance?

I wait to see if they say anything else, but they don't. They start to make out, making me want to throw up, but then I hear a click of a door, and they both pull apart at the sound of a male voice, a voice that I have come to love. The man who bound me to him speaks and comes into view, unbuttoning his black shirt, the same one he was wearing this morning, his six-pack coming into view, with his ink showing over his left chest and shoulder, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"You both started without me?" Alex smirks as I start to sob heavily. I turn my phone off just as he grabs hold of Selene and shoves his tongue down her throat, and bile rises in mine. I run to the bathroom just in time to spew up everything I have eaten. I feel like someone is pulling my insides out. I guess this was his important meeting.

Now I know how Sofia felt. How the fuck did she take her husband back?

I wash my face and quickly brush my teeth, and I look up at myself in the mirror, my hair a mess and my eyes are still shining with unshed tears. I take a deep breath. My body wants to fall apart, but my mind is taking over; my training finally kicking in. My father doesn't want me, my sister is a selfish bitch, and now my arranged fiancé is not only sleeping with said sister but has also gotten another woman pregnant. My blood runs cold, the mask I've perfected around my so-called family cracks and falls away, and I push my heartbreak aside as my stone-cold bitch persona resurfaces.

Time to complete my plan. The contract is now void!

I go to my closet and find the duffel bag I've had packed for a few years, and open it. All my essentials are still in there, as are my weapons and a debit card with over a hundred million dollars that my yia-yia left me in her estate and savings. Thankfully, it's under a ghost account, that can't be traced. My father and sister were pissed when they realized they got nothing in her will; I just didn't know they were aware of what she left me—my inheritance.

I take my phone out, open my emails, and send the feed from the link that I saved on my phone to Damian so he can see why I have left. I type CONTRACT VOID in the subject bar. I know he won't see this for at least three weeks; Sofia is close to her due date. I debate sending her and Sergi a message, but I shake my head because they'll contact Alex.

Going to my balcony, I throw the bag over the side of the second-story mansion that has been on my mother's side of the family for generations. I heard my father promise it to my sister last year, which is laughable because once my mother passed, it automatically went into my grandmother's name. I'm aware my father tried to appeal but didn't get anywhere; he signed a contract stating he would have no legal right over the property.

It's now in my name.

Maybe I should send them an eviction notice—fuck, that would be funny.

After looking around to make sure it's clear and no guards are about, I climb down the trellis connected to the wall, and once at the bottom, I look around again. Security on me has been lax over the last year, so I'm guessing I was no longer classified as a runaway despite what my father said to Selene this morning. When I notice it's clear, I pick up my bag and make a run for it across the massive green lawn, and once I get near the gray wall with stones sticking out of it, I look around again. I see a guard heading my way and quickly jump into the bush to my left, but as I lean against the wall for support, something slices down my arm, and I have to hold in a scream of surprise, clamping my hand across my mouth. I can feel the blood dripping down my fingertips. I look down and see a large open wound on the left side of my arm. It's sliced open wide and will most likely need stitches.

Shit.

I look at the wall and notice sharp blades sticking out of it, and I roll my eyes. Of course, the uneven stones have blades attached.

The guard walks past without stopping as I hold my breath and wait five minutes for him to enter the guard house. Once he's gone, I quickly open my bag, grab the medical kit I put in there, and grab some butterfly strips. I place several on the wound as tears leak from my eyes, and I try to stay quiet, biting my lip hard, then wrap my arm with some gauze. I look around again, see it's clear, and get back to the wall to climb over. I notice the blades are all on the left side of the brick, so I know to keep my feet and hands to the right side. I quickly climb up, and as I reach the top, I chuck my bag over, and promptly jump six feet down.

I land on my ankle funny, and I curse inwardly, rolling my eyes. So much for my training fully kicking in. I gently jog on it to the Buick I had hidden here, in a deeply wooded area, a year ago as a precaution.

My ankle and arm hurt, but nothing is going to stop me. As I get to the car, my heart races, and I keep thinking someone will jump out and shout, "Ha!" I look around again, and the coast is clear. Quickly, I shove my bag in the trunk. I climb into the driver's seat, start her up, and drive off without looking back. California is a good place to settle, even if it is a 43-hour drive. I have looked it up more times than I can count since being forced back to the US.

I've already planned my stops on the way, starting with Cleveland, then Chicago, Iowa, Denver, Utah, and Las Vegas, finishing in Mendocino, where I'll be continuing my veterinary studies at the University of Redwood. I've had an open spot there since graduating high school, and I'll be staying in the ranch I bought two years ago with my inheritance, in my grandmother's birth name; Athena Angelos. I smile a sad smile.

I may be bound by Alexandr, but I'll make sure I still live life as freely as I can.