Chapter 1

RAVENNA'S POV

(Flashback)

I could feel their eyes on me before I even stepped into the hall. Gazes filled with judgment and conviction.

The grand chandelier above sparkled like the judgment in their eyes—sharp, cold, and frankly unnecessary. Whispers danced through the air like the choking onslaught of multiple perfumes.

"Isn't that the younger daughter of the Moretti family?"

"She's illegitimate, so I heard."

"No wonder she's made to marry a common cripple."

"Poor Lucien… he deserves better."

"She's only doing this for his money."

"Either way, he is just a cripple with no power and position."

"They are perfect for each other. An illegitimate daughter and a crippled, abandoned son."

I stood in place once I got to their side. They instantly kept shut and avoided my gaze, acting like they were not just insulting me and my future husband. I scanned each face and input it into my memory. I would remember, and I would definitely have the last laugh.

I walked forward with that in mind. They would continue to talk, I mean, that's all they could do. The real issue would be if I took their words to heart. I was not a little child who would cry at every horrible word that was thrown my way.

I remembered every scornful expression when I expressed my dreams. Every word that was thrown my way when I tried to establish my rights. Apparently, I didn't have rights.

My blood was tainted because of my birth mother, but I had no redemption from my father's blood. The double standard was glaring, but who am I to talk? I was done with explaining myself and trying to fit in. Trying to be loved. They say blood is thicker than water and family is number one, but not my family.

That house is more of a dungeon, and the people there are vicious vipers that would not waste any opportunity to bring you down. I fell victim to such one too many times, but not anymore. I'll get away and get my revenge in the process. But it would not be easy because step one of my revenge plan was an ice block in human form with a lot of issues.

I stood tall beside Lucien, who sat in his obsidian wheelchair like a king on a blackened throne, sharp suit, sharper glare, expression carved from ice. He hadn't said much since I walked down the aisle. Good for now because I had nothing to say, but our relationship couldn't continue like that. But that was a thought for another time—let's focus on one battle at a time.

From the corner of the hall, Diana raised her champagne flute in mock salutation. I ignored her, but she began to walk towards us anyway. I looked down at my husband-to-be and saw him blankly staring at the guests. To the naked eye, he would seem blank and somewhat indifferent, but he was anything but that.

My instincts as a divine doctor were stronger than most people's, and he had an immense amount of predatory aura in him. It would not take him anything to try to eliminate everyone here. I didn't want my wedding day to turn into a bloodbath, even though the marriage was completely contractual.

And so I left Lucien's side, not that he noticed, and met my lovely sister halfway. Her eyes were gleaming with pride and satisfaction, her smirk dripping venom. "You know, marrying a cripple doesn't suddenly make you noble, Ravenna," she said, voice sweet enough to rot teeth. "You'll never be happy with a man like that. Honestly, that's what you deserve. One with tainted blood deserves tainted things. It's the perfect match."

I smiled. "Happiness is overrated anyway, and love? Huh, even more useless, but you see stability, on the other hand…" I glanced at Lucien, who remained silent but alert, like a sleeping storm. "That's far more useful to me."

Diana's smug look faltered, but it wasn't enough. I wanted her completely crushed to the bone and unable to muster a smug look in my presence.

"You have always been one to believe that you were so smart, so smart that you had everything figured out, but once again, you have proven that one truly can be born stupid and live stupid."

"How dare you insult me like this!" she hissed. "Know your place. Just because you are getting married doesn't mean you aren't my family's property."

"I am a human being with legal rights. I'm not anyone's slave."

"But you are Ravenna. That's the price you have to pay for being a bastard child. You live just for us; your existence is only because we allow it. This marriage is only because I didn't want it, and you had no choice but to take over."

"You are right, Diana. I was a slave, nipping at your heels, but not anymore." I leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "And I thought you might want to know, Father's little medical company? Already mine. The paperwork was signed yesterday."

The color drained from her face as she pushed me away. "That's not possible."

I turned to walk away, my heels clicking like a countdown. "Should've checked your email, darling. And I guess you aren't Daddy's little princess."

The ceremony began soon after our showdown. I stood beside Lucien, my silver veil trailing behind me like a ghost of the girl Diana thought she knew. The priest droned on about vows and love, two things the people in this room couldn't spell, let alone understand.

I looked down at Lucien beside me as the priest spoke about the responsibilities in marriage. I believe in marriage, I always did. Dreamt of the day my prince would emerge and save me from the demons that I called family. Wished for the perfect love and happily ever after. But my love was cut short by betrayal.

I wasn't going to make the same mistake again. Falling in love was not part of the plan, but I understood the responsibilities. I would help Lucien as much as I could so he would help me in turn. This was a world of give and take, and I intended to take a lot for myself.

Then came the words: "If anyone here has reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony..."

Of course, something just had to happen. My stupid luck.

The doors slammed open like a bad plot twist, and in swaggered Dante, flanked by Lily, the two looking like soap opera extras who missed rehearsal. It was actually funny, but not in this situation. The entire room turned to them, and I internally groaned at the set of problems I didn't want to deal with.

"Ravenna!" he called, grinning like a fool. "This isn't you. You don't love him, you love me instead. This… this is revenge, isn't it? For breaking your heart?"

This idiot really said that. Out loud. On my wedding day. Truly, I had both bad eyes and taste.

Lily nodded like a deranged sidekick with her red eyes and pouty lips, looking like a victim of multiple crimes. "Tell them, Ravenna. Tell them the truth, you don't belong here."

Yeah, I belonged in the toxic circle between my boyfriend, oops, ex-boyfriend, and his so-called childhood best friend, AKA his white moonlight (an unrequited love).

Lucien, beside me, didn't move, but I saw the flick of his fingers. His men would be ready in seconds, and it would not be pretty. Again, I didn't want blood on my wedding day.

I didn't flinch, nor did I blink. I turned, looked Dante dead in the eye, and said with crystal clarity, "Security! Please come and escort these clowns out. It seems they missed their way to the circus. Wouldn't want them to miss their act."

Lucien's bodyguards appeared like shadows made flesh. Efficient but deadly silent—another testament to my suspicions. They call him a simple cripple abandoned by his family and devoid of any power, but that was not the attitude given to an abandoned child.

I stepped slightly in front of Lucien, not to protect him, but to shield him from the sheer embarrassment that was Dante's existence.

The guards grabbed Dante and Lily, who squawked in protest. I tilted my head, smiling like a queen over peasants. "From now on, neither of them is welcome on any property owned by the Lucien family. Not even the sidewalk outside."

"Ravenna, wait…" Dante tried again, desperation cracking his voice. But I didn't want to hear it. It was too late, and I hated taking back things I threw away—they never look as enticing as they did before.

I turned back to the altar, unbothered. "You should've tried harder when I cared. Too late now."

Lucien, still seated, finally spoke, his voice like frostbite. "If I see him within ten feet of you again… I'll take it personally."

I turned to him, surprised. "Already jealous, hubby? Let's take the vows, and then you can hold me down."

He didn't answer me, just looked forward.

Dante paled. The guards dragged them out, struggling against dignity that had long since deserted them.

The room fell silent. The priest got the cue and continued his prayers leading up to the final stage.

I faced Lucien, took the ring with steady fingers, and slid it onto his hand. He met my gaze for the first time, his eyes unreadable.

"I, Ravenna Moretti, swear to love, to protect, and to be with you until death do us part," I said with full sincerity. He looked like a madman, and I wasn't going to cross him.

He didn't smile. But I did.