Callista's POV
The moment those words left his father's mouth — "Both of you should sleep in one bed together tonight." — the entire room stiffened. I could feel their stares, sharp as daggers, sinking into my skin. Even the stoic bodyguards and pristine staff froze like statues.
And then… him.
Aurelius turned toward me, that insufferable smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes gleamed with mischief, practically shouting I win. My stomach twisted in knots, horror threatening to crawl up my throat.
Sleep in one bed…? With this arrogant snake?
I wanted to protest, to spit venom back in their faces — but I couldn't.
Not here.
Not in front of him — the most dangerous man in this city. The man whose single word could erase my family's name and fortune without a trace. No, I couldn't afford to break character.
But then…
A flicker of something darker sparked inside me.
No — this could work.
If I played this right, if I acted like the perfect little fiancée for just one night… maybe I could get him to lower his guard. Maybe I could seduce a secret out of him — the one thing I needed to burn the Valemont name to ash. It's a risk. But a necessary one.
I straightened my back, pushed a calm, practiced smile onto my lips — one I'd worn a thousand times in front of people I despised. Slowly, I lowered myself into a flawless curtsey, raising my chin to meet those icy blue eyes.
"It would be an honor… to share a room with my beloved fiancé, if it is your wish, Sir Valemont."
The air shifted.
A ripple of shock passed through the room — even Aurelius' smugness flickered for half a heartbeat.
Good.
Two can play your game, Valemont.
He clapped once, a low chuckle rumbling from his throat.
"Well, well… the kitten bites."
His voice was low, playful — and utterly irritating.
His father gave a simple nod.
"Escort them to the guest chambers. Make sure they have… everything they require."
I swallowed hard.
Everything we require? What the hell does that mean?
But I kept my smile intact. That was the game, wasn't it?
As we walked side by side down the gold-lined corridors, Aurelius leaned in, his breath brushing against my ear.
"Careful, mademoiselle… you might actually enjoy it."
I shot him a glare sharp enough to slit his throat, but my lips curved into an ice-cold smile.
"You'll break long before I do, Señor Valemont."
He only chuckled, and I could feel it — this was just the beginning.
And I'd win. No matter what it took.
As we walked down the endless, gold-trimmed hallways, I couldn't help but glance at Aurelius beside me.
God, why is he so tall?
I'm barely 5'1", and this man's easily towering over me by more than a foot. 6'2"? 6'3"? Whatever it is — it's unfair.
I furrowed my brows, that stupid imbalance making me scowl for no reason.
Just to break the suffocating silence hanging between us — and to irritate him a little — I reached up and poked his cheek.
Firm. Warm. Annoying.
"Aurelius…" I muttered.
He turned to me with that same maddening smirk, bending down slightly as we continued walking, his voice dipped into a teasing lilt.
"Does my lady need me?"
If his father weren't lurking somewhere nearby like some mafia specter, I swear — MMA training or not — I would've flipped him over my shoulder by now.
Instead, I smiled sweetly, keeping my steps even and graceful as always.
But as he leaned close, giving me the perfect opening, I whispered low against his ear — just enough so the guards wouldn't hear.
"Are you the unknown sender?"
His reaction was golden.
He stiffened. Blinked once. Then again. His ever-cocky grin faltered for the first time, and I nearly grinned in satisfaction.
"How… how did you… know?" he stammered, like someone caught stealing cookies from the jar.
Wait.
I narrowed my eyes.
Was he seriously not aware of how obvious he'd been?
Or was this another of his infuriating mind games?
Then came his retort — a little too defensive, a little too rushed.
"Are you the stalker?"
I blinked up at him, genuinely baffled.
Huh??
Was this man for real?
Before I could retort, we finally arrived at the massive double doors of the guest room. The servants lined up, bowing in perfect unison, their hands clasped neatly in front of them.
"Welcome, Young Master. Lady Callista."
Then, like a well-oiled machine, they turned and left, leaving only the silent bodyguards standing at attention by the doors.
The room's doors opened with a soft creak.
I stepped inside.
And just like everything else in this ridiculous estate — it was insane.
Velvet drapes, a chandelier bigger than my bathroom at home, a bed that could fit a family of ten, and a massive window overlooking the gardens.
Aurelius stepped in after me, closing the door with a soft click.
Now it was just the two of us.
I turned to him, arms crossed, eyebrow raised.
"Well? Answer me, stalker."
His smirk returned, though this time, there was a slight pinkish tinge on his cheeks he was definitely trying to hide.
"I might plead the fifth… mademoiselle."
I rolled my eyes.
"Coward."
And just like that — for a fleeting second — it felt… less like a forced engagement and more like two rivals circling the same dangerous flame.
But I wouldn't forget my mission.
This is my chance.
I thought, the corners of my lips twitching up ever so slightly.
I could feel Aurelius's gaze burning into me — sharp, expectant, daring me to answer.
But instead of shrinking back, I smirked.
The memory of that little discovery flickered in my mind — the moment I'd hacked into the unknown sender and found a stash of uncensored videos, explicit photos, and questionable collections.
And it was him.
Oh, he might pretend he didn't know about the stalker… but I knew better.
I shrugged casually, tilting my head in that sweet, melodic tone I always used when I wanted to play innocent while stabbing someone in the gut — figuratively, of course.
"My, my~" I cooed, lacing my voice with honey and venom.
"I must be pretty skilled to see that the unknown sender has… oh, I don't know… uncensored videos, photos, and many more~"
Then, I giggled.
A soft, wicked little sound that made his face instantly flush a brilliant, furious shade of red — like someone had dumped a whole bottle of crimson ink over him.
Gotcha.
But… that's when something shifted.
His stunned, tomato-red expression twisted into something else.
Not embarrassment.
Not guilt.
It was something… darker.
His eyes, though still wide, gleamed with a glint of something dangerous and unreadable.
"You… really saw that, huh?"
His voice dropped, lower, rougher — the teasing edge gone.
I blinked.
Wait… was he…
Is he not…?
The air between us shifted.
I had planned to tease him.
Toy with him.
Maybe even seduce him if it meant I could pry secrets from his guarded lips.
But now…
I realized I wasn't the one in control.
That smirk, that glint in his eye — this wasn't a man flustered by a scandalous discovery.
No… this was a predator who'd set a trap, watching his prey willingly step inside.
And damn it, I had walked right into it.
"Tch… I was wondering who'd take that bait first."
His voice was lower now, rough, rich with something I didn't want to name.
His hand brushed against mine — a small, almost innocent contact, but it sent a jolt through me.
I should've pulled away.
I should've shoved him, insulted him, anything… but my body betrayed me.
The weight of desire…
It was suffocating.
It settled in my chest, a heavy, unfamiliar ache.
I had trained all my life to be perfect, to be emotionless, to be in control.
But here, in this room, with him, those walls cracked.
"Careful, Senorita," Aurelius whispered, stepping closer until my back hit the edge of the bed.
His fingers brushed my cheek, lifting my chin so our eyes locked.
"You play dangerous games, but you forgot who taught you how to win."
I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering so loud I was sure he could hear it.
I should've slapped him.
I should've laughed it off.
But instead… I smiled.
A soft, defiant curve of my lips as I whispered back, "You think you've claimed me, Valemont? This is just the opening move."
And yet, even as I spoke those words, his hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him.
His warmth, his scent, the intoxicating power that clung to him like a second skin — it drowned me.
He didn't kiss me right away.
He just stared, eyes dark and searing, and for the first time I understood the truth:
I was falling.
Falling into enemy territory.
And before I could even take a breath, he tilted my head up and claimed my lips — rough, possessive, and undeniably his.
The world blurred.
My fists clenched against his chest, part of me wanting to push him away, but the rest… the part that betrayed me… pulled him closer.
This was wrong.
He was the enemy.
He was the man who hacked my laptop, who teased and humiliated me, who lured me here like some pawn.
But this was the weight of desire.
It crushed logic.
Shattered plans.
Rewrote loyalties.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead resting against mine, both of us breathless, he murmured against my lips:
"Mine now, mademoiselle. You came to claim me… but it seems I've claimed you first."
And in that moment — despite every plan, every mission, every vow I'd made —
I knew it.
I was claimed by the enemy.
His lips crashed onto mine without warning — not gentle, not asking permission, but taking.
It wasn't the sweet, careful kind of kiss girls dream about.
It was fire.
Possessive, rough, intoxicating.
I gasped against his mouth, and he took advantage of that, deepening the kiss, his hand threading through my hair as if he'd done it a thousand times in his mind.
I should've pulled away.
I should've fought back.
But my body burned in ways I didn't understand, responding to him like a moth to an open flame.
His other hand slid down the curve of my waist, fingers pressing into the silk of my dress, as though memorizing every line, every inch.
His tongue teased mine, coaxing, demanding, and I gave in — damn it, I gave in.
The taste of him was addictive, dark and dangerous, the warmth of his breath mixing with mine as our bodies pressed together.
I could feel the rapid beat of his heart, or maybe it was mine — pounding in my chest, loud enough to drown out reason.
This wasn't part of the plan.
I wasn't supposed to fall into his arms, to melt against his touch, but the weight of desire…
It was too heavy.
It dragged me down, until I didn't know where I ended and where he began.
He broke the kiss only to trail his lips down my jaw, my throat, leaving a trail of heat in his wake.
I shivered, my hands gripping his suit jacket, nails digging in as if that would anchor me back to reality.
But I was losing this battle — his name barely a whisper on my lips as his touch set my skin ablaze.
"Aurelius…"
His lips curved against my neck, satisfied, claiming, and I felt his breath against my ear when he whispered:
"Mine, mademoiselle. You asked for this… and now you won't escape me."
And in that moment — heart racing, body trembling, mind clouded — I wasn't sure if I wanted to.
Just as his lips claimed mine again, a sharp, unexpected knock rattled the door.
It wasn't like the rehearsed, polite knocks from earlier — it was rushed, uneasy.
A servant's voice followed, trembling.
"S-Sir… it's urgent… the family vault… it's gone."
Aurelius pulled away instantly, his eyes dark and stormy, the heat of the moment ripped away like a curtain.
"What do you mean, gone?" he growled, his tone sharper than I'd ever heard.
I sat up, breathless, confused.
"The Valemont heirloom… the ancient contract… it's vanished. Without that, the engagement—" the servant stammered.
Aurelius's face twisted, fury and disbelief battling in his expression.
He turned to me, eyes narrowing.
"Who else knows you're here, Callista?"
I blinked.
"I—I don't know what you're talking about."
But deep down, I felt it too — the sudden weight in my gut.
This wasn't just about desire anymore… this was bigger. The centuries-old power that bound their family, their wealth, their influence — stolen, right while I was here.
The Weight of Desire had lured me into enemy territory.
And now, without meaning to…
I might have just become the prime suspect.
End of Chapter 4.