C4 You're intoxicating me too.

Two weeks later...

Natalia stood on the lavish terrace of the grand estate, nestled in the exclusive hills of Mykonos, Greece.

She had just exchanged vows with the ominous man, Mavros Konstantis.

The weight of her new marriage felt like a suffocating blanket, crushing her.

She gazed out at the stunning view, but the beauty of Mykonos couldn't penetrate the emptiness she felt inside.

The sound of clinking glasses and muted chatter from the guests, the who's who of Mykonos' elite, only added to her sense of mortification.

Self-made billionaire Mavros Konstantis had spared no expense in flaunting his wealth, but to her, the opulent decor, designer dresses, and flawless diamonds just felt like a gaudy facade.

The sparkle and shine couldn't lift the heaviness in her heart—the sense of being once again trapped in a cage.

A golden cage adorned with lavish finery and void. A very attractive and beautiful cage, but a cage nonetheless.

She turned away from the view to catch him staring at her. Natalia saw the smug satisfaction in his eyes, and her skin crawled.

She knew she had to play the role of the happy bride or face the cruel consequences later.

But before he could derive the satisfaction of taunting her, his grandparents swooped in, unaware of the charge between them.

Natalia's face washed in relief at the intrusion. She couldn't stand the man. She was on the edge right now and might do something stupid.

"Ahhh! There they are! We have been looking all over for you two! What are you up to, sneaking off together like this?" Grandpa Dimitris asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Oh, Dimitris, stop teasing them! Let the young lovers have their moment," Eleni said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly.

"We were once like them, remember? We couldn't keep our hands off each other either," her happy face broke into a sly grin.

"Though, I must say, we were a bit more discreet about it," she added with a wink, turning to face Natalia with a warm smile.

"Congratulations, honey! You look so immaculate! I'm so happy, Mavros got to settle down with such a lovely girl like you." Eleni exclaimed merrily as she embraced the bride, her eyes shining with tears of joy.

Dimitris dabbed Mavros, "You keep making me proud. I was starting to think you would never get over that girl. But of course, you are a Konstantis, and we survive even the darkest of all."

Mavros flashed a lazy smile, handing Dimitris a glass and toasting, "All thanks for being a Konstantis!"

His eyes held some mischief, which he hid as he downed the champagne. " Dimitris passed his empty glass to a passing waitress, glancing at Natalia in the process before turning to his grandson with a familiar warmth.

"Mavros, my boy," he said, his voice full of curiosity, "where did you find that beautiful creature? Natalia is such a rare beauty! I guess you must have had to search far and wide to find someone as lovely as her."

Mavros chuckled, concealing his cynicism with finesse and showing a face lit up with pride, instead. "Ah, Pappou, I didn't have to look far at all. Natalia was right under my nose the whole time. We met through an unforeseen encounter... well, the rest is history, as they say!"

Just as Dimitris was about to continue, his eyes lit up and he blurted out, "Makis! Makis Theodorou! Is that you?"

He spotted his old friend across the room and immediately excused himself, already walking away. "Sorry, Mavros, I'll catch up with you later. I haven't seen Makis in ages!"

Mavros turned to watch his grandfather reunite with his friend, a cool smile etched on his face.

"Looks like Pappou's got some catching up to do!" he said with amusement.

He then turned his attention to his wife Natalia, who was laughing and chatting with his cheerful grandmother Eleni.

It was all worth it. The happiness and joy bubbling up inside his grandparents and the worries melting away from their faces upon the arrival of his new bride-to-be, Natalia, was priceless.

Mavros took a moment to appreciate his wife's beauty, his eyes lingering on her captivating features.

Natalia's light golden hair cascaded down her ethereal face, framing it with a radiant glow.

Her mesmerizing green eyes sparkled as she listened to Eleni's stories, drawing him in.

Her skin and figure were equally alluring, making her a true beauty to behold. As he gazed at her, Mavros felt a sense of pride and possession, knowing that this stunning woman was now his wife.

It had taken him some restraint to resist her charm when they first met. But he knew better than to let his attraction cloud his judgment. She was a mess of recklessness, irresponsibility, and deceitfulness.

Had they met under different circumstances, he might have been foolish in wanting to get to know her and winning her affections.

Thank goodness he saw for who she was on the go! He was no fool to trust her blindly. Behind her façade, he sensed something was amiss. That's why he had his people keep an eye on her that day, in case she tried to flee.

But they reported back that she had been cast out, left standing there, lost and battered. Of course, she wouldn't go back to her family; she had been disowned.

He took his time to investigate her before deciding to go ahead and make such a proposal. She was the first daughter out of three children of the Holmes family.

Their only son was in the military, and their last daughter was a housewife who got married years back. Her parents were quite religious and staunch, working at a local store opposite their house.

Boring details, but yeah, he had to know. He also got to find out she wanted to become a school teacher.

He scoffed. Who would leave their kids with such a reckless woman? Since no one wanted her around, he saw no reason why they should delay coming back to his home country to get married.

It wasn't as if someone was waiting eagerly for her. What a price she was paying. Mavros felt no pity. She deserved none.

*****

The party finally ended a few minutes after midnight. Natalia was the first to enter the bedroom, her heart pounding.

She hoped to freshen up and fall asleep before Mavros arrived.

The atmosphere in the bedroom was quite romantic—definitely Eleni's handiwork. Soft music played in the background, and the room was decorated with candles and flowers.

Natalia hastily freshened up and went to bed, noticing the rose petals scattered on the sheets.

She poured the rose petals on the floor with a rueful smile, no longer feeling the need to pretend.

As she lay in bed, a sense of unease grew inside her. The sound of the door opening abruptly stopped her breathing.

Mavros walked into the room, and she could feel his burning stare on her back like a physical touch.

Her heart was pounding loud in her ears with fear, anticipation, and something else she didn't want to place her finger on—a thrill, a spark, a flutter that made her stomach twist.

She kept her eyes shut, hoping he would leave her alone and just settle into his side of the bed she had painstakingly demarcated with pillows, a flimsy barrier between them.

Mavros's sudden proximity made her heart leap into her throat. His warm breath danced across her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

Her eyes flew open, locking onto his scorching gaze, his face so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

His eyes burned with an intensity that made her pulse race like a wild animal, her heart threatening to burst from her chest.

The room seemed to shrink, and she felt trapped and vulnerable beneath his penetrating gaze.

"Guess you weren't sleeping after all." He smirked, looking down at her.

She blinked several times, her eyes struggling to shake off the fog, and weakly tried to shove him away, her arms feeling like leaden weights. "You're suffocating me. Scram."

"You mean intoxicating?" He snickered quietly as he watched her flushed face.

"You're intoxicating me too." He leaned in closer, his breath whispering against her ear, making her shiver.

His proximity was overwhelming, sending a tingling sensation coursing through her veins. His black eyes burned with desire, making her heart beat accelerate.

She made a silent plea, "Please, Mavros." She didn't even know what she was pleading for.

"First time saying my name, wife. I love it. Can't wait for you to moan it." He leaned in to kiss her, and Natalia deliberately invaded his kiss.

"Don't fight it." He whispered, his breath caressing her skin. "The mistake you made at the altar should never be repeated."

"Can't you just accept that I don't want you?" she hissed, her words forced out between gritted teeth.

"Why don't we put that to the test? Just to be sure." Natalia's eyes fluttered closed, her lips inches from his, as if drawn by an unseen force.

She felt her body responding to his proximity, her heart racing with anticipation. She found herself waiting for his kiss, craving the taste of him despite her initial resistance.

She was torn, conflicted, and unsure of what she actually wanted. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the moment was over. He was gone, leaving her feeling empty and disappointed.

The shutting of the door snapped her eyes open, and she found herself staring at the door with a deep sense of bereft.

She tossed restlessly in bed, waiting for the night to end and another day of uncertainty to begin.