Chapter 2 Everything Has Changed

Liam's POV: I am the youngest son of the leader of Nythoria's most powerful mafia family, the Townsends. I was once groomed to be the heir. During a bloody vendetta, I lost the use of my legs. For my safety, my father sent me to Eastmoore, away from the power struggles within our family. My father is getting old. His grand empire cannot go leaderless, and the battle among my brothers to claim the position of successor has grown increasingly vicious. Recently, hope emerged that my legs might be cured, and my father summoned me back to the family. He wanted me to choose a woman to marry, someone to strengthen my bid for the position of heir. But my brothers fear my return to power. They orchestrated an assassination attempt, drugging me with a potent aphrodisiac laced with a chemical meant to destroy my reproductive ability. Fortunately, the girl standing before me saved me. I need a wife, but not just any woman. She has to be someone free from their control, with a clean background and no ties to my enemies. This girl fits every requirement. By this morning, I had already had my subordinates dig up every detail of her past. She needs money, and I need a wife untouched by the schemes of the underworld. "Yes," I told her, "but I have one condition." "What condition?" "I need a bride." "You've got to be kidding. You want me to marry you?" She stared at me, wide-eyed in disbelief. "Are you rejecting me?" My voice grew cold. I glanced down at my legs. Of course, she wouldn't want to marry a cripple. "Fine, leave. As compensation, I'll still give you the money," I said flatly. I had no intention of forcing her. "Wait," she hesitated. "Are you serious? You'll give me 15 million dollars if I marry you?" Her eyes lit up with a mix of hope and determination. "Yes," I confirmed with a nod. "Alright, let's get married!" I was momentarily stunned. I hadn't expected her to agree so easily. I slid a marriage agreement across the table. "This is the contract. I have some matters to handle first, but in six months, I'll formally make you my wife." She picked up the pen and carefully signed her name. Claudia. Her name is Claudia, and she's as pure and beautiful as she appears. "Sir," she said softly, "I'm still in school. Could we keep our marriage a secret for now?" "Of course," I agreed. Keeping her identity hidden for now would also shield her from the dangers around me. "Thank you, Sir. You're so kind!" she said, relief evident in her voice. I handed her a card. "This has 15 million dollars on it. The password is your birthday." Her eyes widened. "How do you know my birthday?" A smile tugged at my lips. For someone who seemed so eager for money, she betrayed an innocence she couldn't hide. She probably doesn't understand what it means to marry into the Townsends of Nythoria. I looked at her and smiled. "From now on, you're my wife. I'll give you everything you've ever wanted." Claudia's POV: Liam had someone escort me back to the Nielson Residence. As I stepped out of the car, dazed and lost in thought, a single question plagued my mind. Did I just marry someone like that? Wasn't this all too impulsive? The moment Jenny saw me step out of the sleek, understated luxury car, she rushed up to me, her eyes blazing with suspicion. "Where did you get those clothes? Have you been taken care of by someone?" I glanced down at the designer outfit I was still wearing—one of the newest, limited-edition collections. I remembered seeing it in a magazine Jenny had left lying around. Only 100 sets existed worldwide, and even money couldn't easily buy one. Snapping out of my thoughts, I calmly looked at Jenny. In my parents' eyes, Jenny was their perfect daughter. Beautiful, charming, a cheerleader at school—she was their pride and joy. But only I knew her ugly, twisted side. With a haughty, sneering expression, Jenny jabbed at me verbally, "So, how much did you get for selling yourself? Let me guess—just enough to buy that silly outfit? Did you sleep with some old, ugly rich guy for this?" She took a step closer, lowering her voice, her face contorted with malice. "You might be the real Nielson daughter, but so what? I'll steal your parents, your title, and everything that should belong to you! You're nothing more than a stepping stone for me!" Finished, she folded her arms, a cold smirk on her lips, clearly expecting me to explode in rage. But this time, she was sorely disappointed. I replied with chilling calm, "You can have those biased parents if you want. I couldn't care less." Then I walked past her and headed toward the house. Jenny stood frozen in shock. She was used to provoking me into fits of fury—screaming, yelling, sometimes even fighting her. Our parents would always side with her afterward, showering her with even more affection while their disdain for me grew. She had mastered this cruel game, making me feel smaller and more irrelevant with each passing day. But as of today, everything has changed. I wouldn't play into her hands anymore. Inside the living room, Steven and my mother, Hannah Lloyd, were waiting. Steven's face darkened the moment he saw me. "Claudia, what are you wearing? What kind of shady things have you been up to out there? If you dare humiliate this family, I'll send you straight back to the countryside!" I met his glare without flinching. "Didn't you say that if I gave you 300,000 dollars, you'd let me stay in school and wouldn't force me to marry anyone?" Everyone in mafia families knew the rules: betrayal was met with death. If I defied their arranged marriage, Steven would make sure the family's allies and enemies alike hunted me down, daughter or not. Now, I finally had the leverage to buy my freedom. Steven scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery. "You think working part-time jobs and scrimping pennies will ever get you 300,000 dollars?" I didn't say a word. Instead, I slid the straps of my backpack off my shoulders and emptied it onto the floor. Bundles of cash spilled out, stacking high on the ground. Steven and Hannah were speechless, their mouths agape as they stared at the money. "There's 300,000 dollars here. From now on, you'll stay out of my life and stop trying to sell me off for profit," I said coldly before turning on my heel to leave. Steven's voice roared behind me, "Stop right there! Where did you get that money? Did you steal it?!"