Sweet For You, Ruthless For Others

Warning!MatureContentHerniaishistocareforandhedoesn’tcarewhattheworldthinksofthat.>>>>>>>“Wecoulddateinstead,”Hermiasuggested,hervoicelacedwithuncertainty.“Idon’tdate,”Niklausrepliedcoldly,hispiercinggazeunwavering.Hermiablinked,caughtoffguard.“Soithastobemarriage?”sheasked,hertonelacedwithdisbelief.“Yes,”hedeadpanned,notahintofhesitationinhisvoice.Herfrustrationbubbledover.“Butwedon’tevenknoweachother!”shewhined,throwingherhandsupinexasperation.Niklausleanedforward,hisdarkeyesgleaming.“Idon’tneedtoknowyou,Mia,”hesaid,hisvoicedippingintoadeep,dangeroustone.“WhenIcanfeelyou…that’senoughforme.”Sheinhaledsharply,herhearthammeringinherchest.“That’snotenoughforme,”shecountered,hervoicefirmbuttremblingslightly.Hisexpressionsoftened,andhisnextwordswrappedaroundherlikeapromise.“Iwouldforevercherishyou,adoreyou,andtreatyouliketherarestgem.Iwouldneverletyoushedasingletearofpain.”Herresolvewavered,butsheshookherheadandpushedback.“We’renotgettingmarried,Shark.Justgo.”Butinsteadofleaving,hesmirked,leaningbackwithaconfidencethatrattledher.“I’llbewaiting.”Hermiagroaned,exasperated.“Nik,you’rehardlydoinganywaiting.You’realloverme!Welivetogether,worktogether,eattogether—you’realwayshere!”Niklaus’svoicedroppedtoawhisper,rawandpleading.“Thenjustkeepmeforever,Mia.”Shefroze,hishonest,vulnerableeyespiercingthrougheverydefenseshehadbuilt.Herheartquiveredasshefelttheweightofhiswordssinkin.Shedidn’tknowwhattodo.>>>>>>>>Totheworld,NiklausHathawayisruthless—amanwhotakeswhathewants,nomatterthecost.ButforHermia,thegirlwho’slosteverything,he’ssomethingelseentirely:herunlikelysaviorwhomshecouldn’tblindlytrust.He’sruthlesstoeveryone—excepther.NiklausHathawaydoesn’tdate.Hedoesn’twastetime.Heonlywantswhat’shis.WhenHermiastepsintohislife,hemakesonethingclear:ifshewon’tmarryhim,she’llworkforhim.Keepinghercloseishisonlygoal,andnoamountofgossip,jealousy,orfamilybetrayalwillchangethat.ButHermia’slifeisn’tassimpleasworkingforthepowerfulCEOwho’sclaimedherashis.Withanevilstepsisterandmanipulativeparentsdeterminedtoruinherhappiness,Hermiamustfightforherplaceinaworldthatseemsdeterminedtopushherout.Niklausdeclaredherhisfromthebeginning—andhe’llstopatnothingtoprotecther,nomatterthecostLovehasneverbeenthisdangerous.