VOWS OF DECEPTION: THE CEO I HATE

SERENA'S POV

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

It wasn't the burner Dante had given me. My personal one. Somehow it was still active but it barely had any signal in this place. I reached for it.

had any signal in this place. I reached for it.

It was a call from prison. Inmate name, Richard Blake

I accepted the call, voice trembling as I spoke.

"Dad?"

"Selena..." His voice was hoarse. Just hearing it broke something inside me.

"I miss you." I whispered.

"I miss you too, baby girl. Didn't think I'd be able to get a call out this morning," he said. "Are you... okay?"

"I'm hanging in there."

There was a pause. I could hear the distant buzz of the prison behind him. My dad sounded smaller somehow. Like those prison walls were pressing in on his soul.

"Selena, listen. I don't know how much time I have left-"

"No." My voice cracked. "Don't say that."

"I just... I need you to be okay. You've been so strong, trying hard to hold it all together," His breath hitched. "And I hate that I'm not there to protect you."

"I have a plan," I said quickly. "A way to help you. I made a deal with someone."

"A deal?" I could hear his hesitation.

"I can't give you details now. But just know I'm not giving up. You're getting out of there. Soon."

"Selena-"

"Please," I begged. "I need you to trust me."

He was quiet for a long time. Then finally, he replied softly. "I do."

The line was cut after that. I stared at my phone screen till it went off. I lowered the phone with a shaky breath.

"I'll fix this," I whispered. "Even if it breaks me."

That evening, Dante emerged from the shadows again. Same hoodie. Same dark aura.

"We're attending a charity gala tonight."

I turned toward him from the living room couch. "You mean, me and you?"

He handed me a black velvet box. "Yes."

Inside was a dress-dark red, almost black, with a plunging neckline and back that could cause traffic accidents.

"You want me to wear... this?"

"You're my wife," he said, voice flat. "People will stare. Let them. You'll be standing next to me."

Cocky much.

"So you're attending a charity gala in your hoodie."

He looked at me. "I have ways of remaining unseen."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you do."

"I'll have a car ready in an hour," he said, already turning to leave. "Be presentable."

~

The event was in a ballroom filled with people who probably wiped their tears with dollar bills. My heels clicked against the marble floors as I walked beside him-He was wearing a fancy suit with a hood, his face always turned just enough to remain obscured.

No one questioned it.

"They won't think it's odd you're dressed like the Grim Reaper's rich cousin?" I asked under my breath.

"People don't question what they fear."

Charming.

We split off soon after entering, which was fine by me. I needed a break from the Grim Reaper.

I made my way towards the bar and grabbed a glass of champagne for myself.

"Fancy seeing you here." a voice said behind me.

I turned.

The man was tall, dressed in a tailored navy suit. But it wasn't the expensive clothes that caught my attention, it was his smile. Warm, teasing. The first real smile I'd seen in a long time.

"Sorry, am I supposed to know you?" I asked.

"No, at least not yet. But I was hoping you'd still talk to me," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "Name's Aiden."

I raised a brow. "Selena."

"Beautiful name." He smiled. "I'd ask if you come here often, but you look like someone who belongs in a field of flowers and fairies more than these crystal chandeliers."

I snorted. "Is that your idea of flirting?"

He leaned in a little. "Is it working?"

Maybe it was the wine, or the exhaustion. But I laughed, really laughed.

And it felt good.

"You're funny."

"Thank you. It took me a lot of hard work. Ladies love a funny guy." He raised his glass towards me.

"So what do you do, Aiden?" I asked, curiosity taking over.

"Oh, you know. Break hearts, inherit empires and ruin Charity gala buffets. That sort of thing."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're not going to give any straight answers, are you?"

He shrugged. "Where's the fun in that?"

I smiled despite myself, a real one this time. It felt foreign on my face. I'd almost forgotten how to do it.

"Married?" he asked all of a sudden.

The word jolted through me.

I hesitated. "Yes. It's... complicated."

He tilted his head. "Ain't it always?"

Before I could respond, I felt a chill run down my back.

I turned.

Dante stood behind me.

Still faceless. Still unreadable. But his energy had shifted. He felt like a storm about to break.

"Selena," he said smoothly, ignoring Aiden entirely.

I stepped back slightly. "I was just-"

"Having fun?" he asked, voice neutral.

Aiden turned fully, facing him with a slow, deliberate smile.

"Well, well." His voice dropped an octave. "Hello, brother."

My heart stopped.

Brother?

Dante's hands balled into fists at his sides. While Aiden sipped his drink like this was amusing to him.

"I see your social skills haven't improved," Aiden added.

"Leave." Dante said flatly.

Aiden raised a brow. "I just got here."

"I said-"

"She's not your possession," Aiden interrupted. "Maybe try acting like a husband instead of a warden."

I stood frozen between them.

What the hell was happening?

Aiden's eyes flicked to me. "You didn't know?"

I shook my head. Slowly. "Know... what?"

"That your dark prince here is a-"

"That's enough. Aiden, leave now." Dante cut him off but my curiosity was already piqued. Aiden seemed to know something Dante didn't want me to.

I turned to Dante, his posture rigid. "What's he saying?"

Aiden sighed. "He's hiding more than just his face, sweetheart."

My heart was pounding now.

"We're leaving." Dante said simply, turning around. I looked at Aiden one last time, a feeling of questions running through my mind.

Could he be the key to understanding Dante's motives?