Bethroated to the devil's son

Chapter Three: A new life in the mansion

I was put into the car, but I couldn't see who sat beside me… everything was a blur. My head felt heavy, my body weak, and my heart shattered. I finally gave in to the dizziness and passed out.

When I regained consciousness the next day, my head felt like it was being slammed repeatedly with a hammer. Pain shot through my skull, and I could barely open my eyes. I heard voices—two men speaking quietly beside me. Their voices were unfamiliar.

I forced my eyes open slowly and found myself lying in a massive bed inside a beautiful, expensive-looking room. The curtains were silky, the walls were decorated with golden designs, and the air smelled of perfume and something spicy I couldn’t place. But no matter how beautiful the room was, I felt scared and alone.

One of the men, dressed in a white coat, looked like a doctor. He noticed I was awake and approached me gently.

“Hey… you’re awake,” he said with a soft smile.

I moved away from his touch immediately, fear gripping me. He noticed and kept his distance.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now,” he said. “I’m Dr. Kane. What’s your name?”

“A–Amara,” I stammered. My throat was dry. My lips cracked.

He nodded. “Amara… that’s a pretty name. How does your head feel?”

“It hurts…” I whispered, holding the spot where I had hit my head on the table before fainting.

“You’ll feel better in a few hours,” he assured me, then began to pack up his medical bag.

Something in me pushed me to ask, “What is going on? Why am I here?” But before I could reach him, the other man in the room, older with a hard face and quiet steps, stopped me.

“Go back to bed,” he said sternly. “You need to rest.”

He led me back gently but firmly and locked the door behind him when he left

I was alone again.

I stared around the big, luxurious room… but all I saw was a gilded cage. I wanted to scream. I banged the door and cried out for help, but no one came.

After a while, I gave up. I curled on the bed, clutching the necklace Mom gave me before she died. Tears spilled from my eyes like a river that wouldn’t stop flowing.

“Oh Mom… why did you leave me? Why didn’t I just die with you all?”

I sobbed quietly.

“Why am I here… what do they want from me? Who are these people?”

I cried myself into silence, deciding to accept whatever fate brought. Maybe I’d never escape this place… maybe I didn’t even deserve to.

Then suddenly—I heard the sound of the door unlocking.

I quickly wiped my tears and sat up. The door creaked open and in walked a young man… maybe 18 or 19. Younger than the others. And he was—undeniably handsome. His sharp jawline, his clear skin, the dark hair falling slightly into his eyes… but there was something in his expression. Cold. Controlled. Dangerous.

He carried a tray of food and placed it on a chair beside the bed.

“Eat,” he said simply. “You’ll need your strength.”

I didn’t respond. My stomach growled loudly but I didn’t trust him.

“Eat when I leave,” he said again and walked out.

The second the door clicked shut, I pounced on the food like a starving animal. I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday’s horror. It tasted better than anything I had ever eaten, but guilt filled my stomach too. How could I enjoy this when my family was gone?

Once I had eaten, I wiped my mouth and started thinking—maybe I could escape.

I tried the door—it wasn’t locked.

My heart raced.

I stepped out and tiptoed quietly down the hallway and downstairs. The house was quiet, but I could hear a voice—someone was on the phone in one of the rooms.

I sneaked closer to the door and hid by the side, eavesdropping carefully.

It was the same guy who had brought the food. His voice was lower now, and I could only make out part of what he was saying… until he said my father’s name.

My breath caught.

Curiosity turned into fire.

I tiptoed inside the room while his back was turned and hid behind a cupboard. My heart thudded like a drum.

Then I heard him clearly say it:

"Yes. I'm handling the daughter. The bastard who killed my father will never have peace."

His name… his voice… his anger…

He was Mr. Li’s son.

Li Junior.

My body shook with rage. My family was dead because of this boy’s family… and now I was his prisoner?!

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I jumped out of hiding and attacked him like a wild lion, screaming and scratching.

“You monster! You KILLED MY FAMILY!”

But he was too strong. He grabbed my arms and pinned me to a chair. My struggles meant nothing against his strength.

“Let go of me!!” I screamed. “What did we ever do to you?!”

“You want to know what your family did?” he said coldly. “Your father killed my father. Shot him. Ran away. Changed names and lived like nothing happened.”

“No… you’re lying… Dad would NEVER hurt anyone!”

“You sure?” he asked, pulling out his phone. He showed me a video—and my world fell apart.

I saw my father. Pulling the trigger. Killing Mr. Li.

I collapsed into tears, my body shaking. My mind refused to believe it, but the video was too real.

I didn’t know if I should hate my dad… or cry for the man who now hated me because of him.

All I knew was this:

My life would never be the same again.