Bound By His Curse

CHAPTER 1

SERAPHINA POV:

Crystal chandeliers cast warm golden light over the long mahogany dining table of the De Lune mansion, every surface polished to perfection, every decoration chosen to impress high society. Soft classical music hummed in the background, mixed with polite laughter and elegant chatter—everything arranged exactly as my father demanded. To any outsider, this was the picture of a wealthy, respected family that had held its status for generations. But I knew better. This was nothing more than a stage. And I was just a ghost standing quietly in the wings, never meant to take the spotlight.

I sat at the very end of the table, as far from the head of the house as possible, my back straight, hands folded neatly in my lap, eyes lowered respectfully to my plate so no one would notice the sadness weighing heavy in my gaze. I wore a simple pale blue dress—good quality fabric, cut modestly, but plain and unadorned, unlike the stunning designer gowns my older sister Arabella wore every single day. My dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight, unassuming bun, and I wore no jewelry except a tiny silver locket I’d owned since I was ten years old. It was the only thing in this whole house that truly belonged to me, the only thing no one had ever tried to take away or criticize.

At the head of the table sat my father, Arthur De Lune. A tall, sharp-featured man in his fifties, his hair streaked with grey he tried to hide with expensive dyes, his eyes always calculating numbers, profits, and social status—never anything soft, never anything that looked like love, especially not when he looked at me. Beside him was my mother, Caroline. Pale, thin, and exhausted from a long-term, mysterious illness that confined her to bed most days, her skin almost translucent, her movements slow and weak. Even so, her entire attention was fixed on the person sitting right next to her: Arabella.

Arabella was the star of every room she walked into. Tonight she wore a shimmering emerald gown that hugged her perfect figure, the fabric catching the light and making her look like royalty. Her hair was styled in soft, bouncy curls that fell over her bare shoulders, and a diamond necklace glittered around her neck—an heirloom Mother had given her the moment she turned eighteen, without ever even mentioning it to me. She laughed softly at something my mother said, her voice sweet, charming, and deliberately pitched to draw every eye in the room, exactly how she had been trained since childhood.

“Arabella, you are absolutely radiant tonight,” Mother gushed, reaching out to touch my sister’s hand with overwhelming pride, her voice thick with affection I had never once heard directed at me. “You are truly the most beautiful girl in this entire city. Tomorrow, when Mr. Valemont comes to finalize the agreement… he will surely choose you. Who could ever look away from such perfection? You are educated, graceful, clever, and everything a powerful man could ever want as a wife. You were born for this, my dear.”

I knew exactly what agreement they were talking about. For months, Father had been negotiating a marriage alliance with Cassian Valemont—the youngest, richest, and most feared man in the country. At just twenty-six, Cassian had built the Valemont Empire from scratch, turning a small failing company into a global powerhouse worth billions. He was a genius businessman, ruthless, cold, and dangerous; people called him the Cold Monster, the Heartless King, someone who never showed mercy or weakness. And Arabella… she had secretly admired him for years. Ever since she first saw his photo in a business magazine when she was eighteen, she had been obsessed. She read every article about him, practiced how to smile, speak, and move exactly how she thought he would like, convinced she was made to be his wife.

“Of course he will, Mother,” Arabella purred, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, her tone turning sweet but dripping with cold, cruel mockery, loud enough for everyone to hear clearly. “Look at me—I have been trained for this my whole life. I speak three languages fluently, play the piano perfectly, know every rule of etiquette by heart. I am charming, graceful, and smart. Unlike some people…”

She tilted her chin toward me, looking me up and down like I was something dirty she had accidentally stepped on.

“Seraphina barely speaks a word to anyone. She sits in corners like a scared little mouse, reading old books or staring at walls. She’s quiet, boring, and plain. She never laughs, never does anything interesting, never even tries to stand out or make herself useful. Why would a man like Cassian Valemont ever even look at her? She is practically invisible. I honestly don’t know why Father even keeps her around.”

Father cleared his throat loudly, and instantly the whole table fell silent. His dark, cold eyes locked onto me, weighing me like I was nothing more than an object, a piece of property to be traded for profit.

“You are right, Arabella. You are the perfect choice. But Seraphina…” His voice dropped, sharp and commanding. “Listen carefully. If Cassian Valemont chooses you instead—however unlikely—you will do exactly as told. Sign whatever papers are put before you. Be obedient, never embarrass this family. And if you dare refuse, or ruin this chance… I will stop paying for your mother’s medicine immediately. You know I can. You know I will. Do you understand me?”

My breath caught painfully in my throat. That was his favorite weapon. My mother’s illness required expensive doctors and rare medicine only Father could afford. Even though she had never loved me, she was still my mother. I nodded slowly, voice barely a whisper. “I understand, Father.”

Just then, a soft knock interrupted us. “Excuse me, sir. Mr. Vince Walton is here to see Miss Seraphina.”

My heart lifted just a little. Vince was my only friend, the son of our family’s business partner. We had grown up together, and he was the only person who ever treated me like I mattered. He walked in, warm and kind, soft brown eyes softening the moment he saw me. After a brief greeting, we slipped out to the garden later that night.

“I heard everything, Seraphina,” Vince said quietly, taking my hands in his. “About the marriage deal. Everyone says Cassian Valemont is cruel, cold, and dangerous. He locks himself away for days, and no one ever gets close enough to know why. Your father is selling one of you to save his debts.”

He paused, his voice thick with emotion. “Seraphina… I love you. I have loved you silently for years. If they choose you, run away with me. We can go anywhere—another city, another country. I have enough money to keep us safe and happy forever. Please… let me protect you.”

Tears burned my eyes, but I shook my head. “Vince… no. If I run, Father will let my mother die. And if you help me, he will destroy your family’s business, ruin everything you have. Cassian Valemont is powerful—he will hunt me down. I can’t let anyone suffer because of me.”

Before he could argue, the heavy glass door slammed open. Father stood there, face dark with fury. “Seraphina! To my office. Now.”

I followed him inside, my legs shaking. The room smelled of cigars and old papers. He sat behind his massive desk, his expression grim.

“I have signed the agreement,” he said without preamble. “And you, Seraphina… are the one marrying Cassian Valemont.”

I froze. “Me? But Arabella—she loves him! You said she was the perfect choice!”

Father scoffed. “Valemont does not want loud, demanding girls like your sister. He asked for you specifically. Quiet. Obedient. No ambition, no trouble. Exactly what he needs. And it is done. You will marry him next week.”

He leaned forward, voice sharp and cold. “Refuse, and I throw you out with nothing. No money, no home, no help. I will let your mother die, and tell everyone it was your fault. You exist to serve this family. This is your duty.”

He called two guards, who grabbed my arms firmly. “Take her to the west tower. Lock her in until she learns her place. No food, no water, no visitors.”

The heavy door slammed shut, leaving me in darkness. For three days, I sat on the cold stone floor, hungry, thirsty, and alone. I thought of Vince’s offer, of Arabella’s hatred, of the man I was being forced to marry—the Cold Monster everyone feared.

When the door finally opened, I walked out weak and broken. I was going to marry Cassian Valemont. And our fake marriage, born of duty and survival, was about to become the only thing that could save us both.