Bound to the Heartless Heir: From Pawn to Queen

“…So, what do you think? Do you… do you want me to keep my clothes on, or should I… take them off?” Annabelle asked softly, her voice a little shaky. She stood in the doorway of the dimly lit room, wearing only her underwear, uncertain and feeling awkward. She couldn’t tell what he wanted, and she wasn’t sure how to approach him. "Or… maybe I should… maybe I should help you take off your clothes first?" she added nervously, the words spilling out as she tried to figure out what he expected from her. This was supposed to be her wedding night, and yet, all she could think about was the man sitting before her. Her husband. The man who hadn’t even taken off his dark glasses since they met. She glanced at him. This was her first time meeting him in person, and he was exactly her type—strong jawline, sharp nose, and a lean, muscular build. But… there was something else. He was blind. There were rumors. People said he was cursed, that everyone around him ended up dead—his family, his four previous fiancées, even his last bodyguard. When Annabelle first heard those stories, she had been terrified. But her foster father, Leonardo Wright, had left her with no choice. He’d threatened her, saying, “The Morano family will pay for your foster mother’s treatment, Annabelle. All of it. But only if you marry Derek Morano.” Annabelle owed her foster mother her life; the woman had been the one who took her in when she was abandoned as a child. So she couldn’t refuse. “Can you just say something?” she pleaded, looking at Derek. She wanted anything from him—any reaction. "Do you even know who you’re talking to?—Do you know who I am?”He finally spoke, his voice cold and distant. Slowly, he removed his dark glasses and looked at her with an icy stare. Annabelle shivered. His gaze felt so intense, and for a moment, fear crept into her heart. But she quickly reminded herself, "He’s blind." She didn’t know why, but she was surprised to feel such a powerful presence from a blind man. She hadn’t been around many blind people, so she didn’t know how to act or what to expect. She managed to whisper, “I know who you are—” “Then what the f**k is wrong with you? Aren’t you afraid to die?” he cut her off sharply, his tone a mix of anger and amusement. He seemed more intense, more striking, now that his glasses were off, and his temper only added to it. Annabelle took a deep breath, trying to keep steady. “No, I’m not afraid of you,” she said firmly. “I’m indebted to you for saving my mother’s life. So, I’ll keep my promise. I’ll bear your children, take care of you, and be the wife you want, Mr. Morano. For the rest of my life.” Derek looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, but only for a second. He let out a sarcastic laugh, his eyes stylishly scanning her from head to toe. “Well, if that’s the case, I bathe before I sleep. Help me take my bath.” Annabelle hesitated, feeling a slight blush creep up her cheeks, but she stepped closer. “Alright,” she said softly. “After all, it’s normal for a wife to help her husband with things like this,” she thought to herself, reaching out to help him. “Won’t you get the bath ready first?” he asked, this time his voice was surprisingly gentle. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Morano,” she replied, quickly guiding him back to the bed before hurrying to the bathroom. Derek raised an eyebrow as he watched her disappear. He had done some digging on her, and what he found was puzzling. She was from a poor family, unlike his other fiancées who were daughters of dignitaries and wealthy families. “But how did she survive?” he thought to himself, recalling his previous fiancées who never made it to the wedding day. They either died in accidents or were found dead under weird circumstances. “Maybe she’s just too unimportant to kill... or maybe she’s just too naive, I wonder what grandfather is thinking right now.” he finally concluded. His thoughts were interrupted when the bathroom door creaked open. He looked up, momentarily stunned. The dim light outlined her perfectly shaped figure as she stepped out. Water clung to her long, silky blond hair, which fell in waves down to her waist. “Damn…” he thought, quickly averting his gaze, not wanting her to catch him staring. “Excuse me for a moment, Mr. Morano,” she said as she knelt by her suitcase, rummaging through it. “You should call me Derek. I am your husband, after all—” he began to say, but his words got caught in his throat as she suddenly pulled down her panties. He swallowed hard, pretending to clear his throat as he tried to keep his composure. He couldn’t help but watch as she removed her remaining underwear and started changing. “Is she really that clueless… or is she testing if I’m really blind?” he thought, feeling his cheeks warm as she walked over to him. She immediately helped him into the bathroom, guiding him carefully as he leaned on her. Once inside, she began unbuttoning his shirt, her face focused and serious. The thick steam filled the room, and Derek found himself unable to look away from her striking emerald eyes. She looked down, her gaze fixed on what she was doing as if this were her most important task. Her eyes were unreadable, showing no hint of emotion. After she removed his shirt, she paused, leaving his pants on. "Can you bathe with these on?" she asked softly, her tone gentle. Derek gave her a playful look, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I don't think so. You can’t really bathe properly without taking them off, can you?" Annabelle’s cheeks flushed a little, and she swallowed nervously. "That’s… that’s true," she stammered, reaching toward his pants, her fingers hesitating. Derek held back a laugh, watching her with interest. "Isn’t she embarrassed at all? I can’t read her." He stayed silent, allowing her to help him into the bathtub. Annabelle steadied him, carefully placing him down. She’d cared for her sick foster mother before and was no stranger to helping someone bathe, but she couldn't shake a strange warmth filling her as she looked at him. "his feels… different." She dipped the sponge into the water and began scrubbing his back and his shoulders, focusing on her task. But when she glanced at him, her gaze shifted downward, landing on the one area she’d avoided so far. She blushed, hesitating before asking shyly, "Um… should I wash there too?" Her eyes darted quickly to his lower body. Derek smirked, teasing her subtly. "What do you think?" Annabelle took a deep breath, determined to do a thorough job. "Okay. I’ll do it," she replied, almost to herself, as she mentally prepared herself. She didn’t want to leave anything out and risk offending him. Just as she was about to reach down and continue, Derek grabbed her wrists firmly, stopping her. "Get the hell out of here!" he snapped, his voice suddenly intense.