jos wrapped his arms around her waist, unmistakably leading her upstairs without room for refusal.


    The chatter from downstairs was crystal clear. Vivian tried to pull away from jos’s grasp, but he wouldn’t allow it, taking her deeper into the building until the voices below faded away, ensuring no one woulde to disturb them.


    Today, jos was dressed in a ck suit with a red bow tie, and his brown hair appeared meticulously styled into a handsome look.


    He seemed in high spirits, and even the scar on his temple no longer looked menacing. His gaze, lowered from Vivian’s angle, carried a tender desire.


    “This is a gift I prepared for you, I hope you will like it,” jos said, pulling a square ck velvet box from his suit pocket. Vivian didn’t need to guess its contents.


    A wave of fear surged within her, and she thought of escape.


    jos wouldn’t let her flee. He grabbed her hand firmly, opened the small box, and revealed the diamond ring inside.


    The ring was custom-made, exuding elegance with a diamond the size of a pigeon’s egg that glittered expensively,pelling Vivian to look away.


    It was the mostvish and seductive prison in the world. If Vivian reached out her hand, she’d be ensnared, belonging to another man and no longer to herself.


    “No, no,” Vivian recoiled, attempting to withdraw her hand, “It’s too expensive, it doesn’t suit me.”


    “No, it suits you perfectly,” jos insisted, presenting the ring to her, “Its value matches your beauty.”


    “It’s too costly,” Vivian tried pulling her hand back as jos’s strength overwhelmed her, and she felt an urge to cry.


    “You deserve the best,” jos said as he slid the ring onto her finger, “You are my fiancee, a good girl.”


    “No, I am not, you shouldn’t be so kind to me,” Vivian, looking at the ring on her hand, tears fell onto the back of jos’s hand.


    jos gently wiped away her tears.


    He was so gentle that Vivian almost believed they were in love.


    But looking into jos’s eyes, she saw tenderness, joy, and desire, but no love.


    jos did not love her.


    Indeed, they were not well-acquainted, let alone in love.


    “Don’t be so kind and merciful to me if you don’t love me, let me see that you are not a good man.”


    “Yes, I am not a good man,” jos admitted without any burden, acknowledging his impure intentions, “You are my fiancee, Vivian, your father has agreed to give you to me, he has affirmed my status to everyone.”


    “And this ring, with its expense and rarity, proves my power to people. I am wealthy and I have rights. I am the new Capo of Houston, and I must show my value to my followers, no one can shake my position.”


    jos should have given Vivian a kiss, but he did not. He sensed her fear. However, he was willing to be patient with Vivian, because, unwittingly, she had secured many advantages for him, allowing Houston to gain a brief upper hand in cooperation with Los Angeles, providing them with a chance to breathe.


    “My beautiful fiancee, are you ready to go downstairs with me and announce our new status?” jos extended his hand, palm up, and asked solemnly, “Are you prepared, Vivian?”


    Vivian looked down at his broad, rough hand, a scar from a knife crossing his palm, the tough calluses like engravings in his flesh, beyond eradication. It was the hand of a killer.


    This was not the hand she dreamed of.


    This was not her beloved man.


    Nor was she the woman jos loved.


    This was a loveless union, an alliance without affection, and she would not be happy.


    But what could she do? Vivian couldn’t escape; all she could do was ce her hand in jos’s, allowing him to shackle her with heavy chains.


    “I…” Vivian tried to calm her emotions, “I hope I am ready.”


    jos said nothing more, satisfied with Vivian’spliance, which indicated a smooth engagement.


    jos took Vivian’s hand and escorted her to meet the eyes of the crowd below, filled with awe, shock, and blessings. Standing side by side, they announced their engagement to everyone.


    “Thank you all foring, I am deeply honored by your presence. My father, Kamden Hargrave, was a great man, a powerful Capo of Houston, but unfortunately, we have lost him forever. As a result, I must take his ce and lead Houston to a stronger future, unshakeable by anyone.”


    “Here, Iparticrly want to thank Los Angeles for their assistance. Houston and Los Angeles will be the firmest of allies, unshakable by anyone. At the same time, I want to announce some good news.” jos raised my hand in the crowd’s gaze, revealing our engagement ring, “I will marry Vivian Jones, and our wedding will be held next month.”


    “I know it’s short notice, and the announcement is sudden, but I still look forward to everyone attending our wedding. Invitations will be distributed to you all by tomorrow.”


    After jos finished speaking, a thunderous apuse erupted from the crowd; they all seemed happier than Vivian.


    “Is your wedding dress ready?” jos asked amidst the apuse.


    Vivian shook her head, devoid of enthusiasm.


    “I’ll have my cousin Luziae over; she’s well-acquainted with Houston and will know some excellent ces.” jos said, “She will surely help you find the most satisfying wedding dress.”


    Vivian wanted to refuse, “I don’t want to…”


    “From now on, he will be your bodyguard.” jos didn’t want to hear Vivian’s refusal and took her aside to introduce her new bodyguard, “Mare is one of the most formidable and capable soldiers in Houston, I trust him, and he will protect you well, don’t be afraid, Vivian.”


    Vivian looked at Mare, uncertain of what to say, as jos had no idea what she was truly afraid of. Mare couldn’t protect her from that.


    “We are engaged now, Vivian, I hope you are prepared.”


    “For what?”


    “For our wedding night,” jos said, “I believe your mother must have told you about these matters, Vivian, it’s time for you to grow up.”


    “I…” Vivian blushed, feeling embarrassed, “I’m not ready yet.”


    “You will be,” jos dismissed her embarrassment; it was a necessary process, Vivian needed to bear him an heir, a guarantee to solidify their alliance.


    jos’s indifference and dominance left Vivian in despair, echoing her mother’s fate, her freedom slipping away.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    “I will end up like my mother, a husband’s essory, a ve to power, unable to attend university, to continue my musical theater, my life filled with pain and fear,” Vivian wept on Vilem’s shoulder.


    Capos are without love; they do not fall in love with anyone. Wives, sons, daughters, they are merely tools in their hands, for bearing children, fighting, forming alliances; such is their worth.