chapter 1 The funeral

Main Characters

Elias Moretti (MC)

21 years old

Quiet, intelligent, emotionally guarded

Forced to return to his hometown after his father's death

Inherits a mysterious estate and family secrets

Lucien Voss (ML)

24 years old

Charming, wealthy, dangerous

Secretly obsessed with Elias for years

Believes Elias belongs to him

From your Author

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LET'S START

Chapter 1: The Funeral

Rain fell from the gray sky like tears that refused to stop.

Elias Moretti stood alone beneath a black umbrella, staring at the freshly dug grave before him. The earth was still wet from the morning storm, and the scent of damp soil filled the air.

His father was gone.

And somehow, he felt nothing.

Around him, distant relatives whispered condolences they didn't mean. Their eyes wandered toward him every few seconds, studying him, judging him.

The heir.

The last Moretti.

The owner of everything his father left behind.

Elias clenched his jaw.

He hated this city.

Hated the mansion waiting for him on the hill.

Hated every secret buried beneath its foundations.

He should never have returned.

Yet here he was.

A cold gust of wind brushed against the back of his neck.

Someone was watching him.

The feeling was immediate.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Elias slowly turned his head.

Among the crowd stood a stranger.

Tall.

Dressed entirely in black.

Dark hair.

Sharp features.

His face was handsome enough to belong on a magazine cover.

But it was his eyes that froze Elias in place.

Those eyes weren't looking at the grave.

They weren't looking at the priest.

They were looking only at him.

As though everyone else had disappeared.

As though Elias was the only thing that existed.

A strange chill crawled through his chest.

Who was he?

The stranger smiled.

Not politely.

Not kindly.

It was the smile of someone who had finally found something they had been searching for.

Then he turned and walked away.

"Elias?"

The voice startled him.

His aunt touched his shoulder.

"The lawyer wishes to speak with you."

Elias nodded.

One last glance.

The stranger was gone.

---

The lawyer's office smelled like old books and expensive whiskey.

Mr. Romano adjusted his glasses.

"Your father left everything to you."

Elias wasn't surprised.

"There are conditions."

That caught his attention.

"What conditions?"

The lawyer slid a thick folder across the desk.

"The estate cannot be sold for one year."

Elias frowned.

"What?"

"There is more."

Mr. Romano hesitated.

Almost nervously.

"Your father specifically requested that you remain in the city during that year."

Elias laughed.

It wasn't a happy laugh.

"He wants to control me even after death?"

The lawyer avoided his gaze.

"There is another matter."

"What now?"

"You are not the only beneficiary."

Silence filled the room.

Elias slowly looked up.

"What do you mean?"

Mr. Romano swallowed.

"Your father named a second individual."

The lawyer opened a file.

A photograph slid onto the desk.

Elias's stomach dropped.

The stranger from the funeral.

Those same dark eyes.

The same unsettling smile.

At the bottom of the photograph was a name.

Lucien Voss.

"Who is he?" Elias asked.

The lawyer looked uncomfortable.

"I don't know."

"Then why is he in my father's will?"

"That information was not provided."

Elias stared at the photograph.

Something felt wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Because he had never met Lucien before today.

Yet the stranger's expression in the photo felt familiar.

Too familiar.

Like someone looking at a possession.

Not a person.

A knock interrupted them.

The office door opened.

And the blood drained from Elias's face.

Lucien Voss stood in the doorway.

As if summoned by the mention of his name.

His dark gaze immediately found Elias.

Then he smiled.

"There you are."

The words sounded intimate.

Dangerously intimate.

Elias rose from his chair.

"What do you want?"

Lucien's smile widened.

For a moment, something dark flashed behind his eyes.

Something possessive.

Something hungry.

Then it vanished.

"I've been waiting a very long time to meet you."

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Colder.

And for reasons he couldn't explain...

Elias wanted to run.

But Lucien kept staring.

As though he already knew Elias wouldn't get very far.

As though he already knew exactly how this story would end.

And somehow...

That terrified him.

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