Chapter 3
Chapter Three
NADIA
I was burning with anger, rage bubbling up from deep inside me as I stormed into my father’s study. I couldn’t believe what he had just done. Arranged marriage? The very thought felt like a slap across my face. How could he make such a decision without even consulting me? Didn’t I have any say in this?
I whirled on him, my voice sharp with betrayal. “How dare you, painho ? How dare you make such a decision about my life without even asking me? I’m not some commodity to be handed off like a piece of property!” I could feel the sting of the words, but it didn’t matter. I had to make him see.
His eyes were calm, too calm, as if this was all just a part of some grand plan. His usual warmth toward me was gone, replaced with something colder, more distant.
“Sit down, Nádia,” he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.
I shook my head, fire rising in my veins. “No! I won’t. You can’t just hand me over to some man I’ve never even met. This is my life, not some pawn move on a chessboard!”
He took a deep breath, his gaze narrowing on me. “You will sit. And you will listen, because you don’t understand the weight of what I’m doing here.”
I wasn’t going to back down. “No, you’re not doing this for me. You’re doing it for your empire, for power. But you’re not thinking about me. You never do.”
He stepped forward, his presence looming over me as if trying to contain a beast within. “This is for the family . You will do what’s required of you. The Medeiros family is the only thing standing between us and complete ruin. Do you understand?” His voice was a harsh whisper, each word like a crack in the silence. “You are not just my daughter anymore. You are a Nogueira. And you have a duty to this family, to carry on the legacy I’ve built.”
“ Legacy? ” I spat, disgust clawing at my throat. “You think I owe my life to this?”
His eyes hardened, and for a split second, I saw something I had never seen before—pure, unrelenting rage. The edge of his voice was a growl as he spoke again. “I am still the head of this family, Nádia. You will abide by my orders. Make no mistake, I could have married you off to my cousin back in Brazil—a man thrice your age and more than willing to do what’s necessary to tame you. But for the sake of my love, I decided against it. This was the only way, do you hear me? There was no other way! And if I find out you’ve done anything to sabotage this marriage, I will make sure you understand what happens when you disrespect my decisions.”
His fingers dug into my arm with a force that made me wince, his face mere inches from mine. I flinched, and for the first time in my life, I saw the man who had sewn fear into the world around him.
“You will do this, Nádia. For the family. For the legacy. And if you ever think about crossing me again, I’ll deal with you myself.”
The words hit me like a slap, cold and unforgiving. I could feel the heat rising in my chest with every pounding heartbeat, but deep down, I knew there was no fighting it. Not now. Not when the weight of his authority pressed down on me like an iron fist. I yanked my arm out of his grasp, taking a step back, but the anger was still there—sharp, burning, relentless.
I wanted to scream, to throw something, to do anything to break free of this suffocating cage he had built for me. But instead, I stood frozen, my heart racing as I silently fumed.
He took everything from me—my choice, my freedom, my dignity. His voice echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t stop the flood of thoughts that came rushing in. Would he have done this to his own wife, too, if she was still alive?
I hated the thought of it, but the more I turned it over in my mind, the more I realized it wasn’t beyond him. He would do whatever it took for power, no matter who it crushed. If it meant using his wife as a pawn in some sick maneuver, then so be it. In this world, sacrifice spoke more volumes than simple bloodshed.
“You’re wrong, o senhor ,” I whispered, detaching any endearments between us, my voice shaking. “You’re wrong about all of this.”
But he didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The silence between us was deafening.
I turned on my heel, the tears stinging at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. This wasn’t about me anymore. This was about his empire, and I was nothing more than a pawn in it.
As I stormed out of the room, my heart felt heavy with betrayal. I needed to escape. I needed to run from all of this before I lost myself entirely.
I didn’t make it far before I saw Romy leaning casually against the wall, that infuriating smirk already in place. He had witnessed it all, I was sure of it. His eyes followed me as I stormed past him, his expression a mix of amusement and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“Well, well,” Romy said, his voice smooth and mocking, “Seems like you got exactly what you deserved.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to face him. “What did you just say?” My voice was trembling with anger.
He straightened up, his eyes gleaming with something cold and challenging. “You wanted to play the game, Nádia. But now the rules have changed. No more childish games, no more pretending you can get away with anything. You’re going to be a woman now, whether you like it or not.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “I don’t need you to tell me what I’m going to be,” I shot back, stepping closer to him. “And don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten who you are. You’re just as much a part of this family’s dirty game as I am.”
He chuckled, but it was all sharp edges. “I’m not playing, Nádia. You are.” His eyes narrowed, locking onto mine with a sense of dominance that made my pulse quicken.
I couldn’t escape the feeling of being trapped. No matter how fast I tried to run, no matter how loud I screamed, the walls were closing in. And there he was, standing just a few feet away, looking at me with that smug, infuriating smirk plastered on his face.
“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” I snapped, unable to stop the words from spilling out, my voice sharp and venomous. “You think you’re somehow better than me, don’t you, Romy?”
He chuckled, the sound low and mocking, and I could feel my blood boil. “Better than you? Please, Nádia. I’m not the one who’s been playing games my entire life. You think you can manipulate your way out of this, out of your responsibilities, but guess what? That ship has sailed.”
I took a step closer, glaring at him, my jaw clenched tight with anger. “You think you know everything about me, don’t you? You think you can control everything— everyone —but let me make something very clear, Romy. I hate you. And you’re not going to get away with any of this.”
He straightened up, his eyes cold and hard as he met my gaze. “Me? I haven’t done a damn thing to put you in this position. You think I care about your hate? You’ve never been more predictable, Nádia. You’ve always played the spoiled little princess, always thinking you could do whatever you wanted. But that’s over now. You can’t hide behind your pretty face and charm anymore.”
“I never needed to hide behind anything, you arrogant prick,” I hissed, my fists balled up at my sides. “I didn’t ask for this life, and I sure as hell didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“You’ve had every privilege handed to you on a silver platter,” Romy sneered, stepping closer to me, forcing me to look up at him. “And now, finally, you’re going to learn what it means to actually work for something. To earn your place, instead of being handed everything.”
I could feel the anger rising inside me, a boiling rage that threatened to explode. “I don’t need anyone to teach me that,” I shot back, my voice trembling with fury. “And I don’t need anything from you , Romy. I don’t need your lectures, your orders, or your damned advice. You’re nothing but a glorified thug to me.”
Before he could respond, the door to the study opened with a slow, deliberate creak, and my father stepped out into the hallway. His face was set in that unreadable mask of authority, his eyes scanning the two of us with cold calculation.
I froze, heart hammering in my chest, wondering if he overheard my last sentence and if his swift punishment would somehow prevent me from going through with this marriage.
“ Painho ,” I said, my voice shaking despite myself. I didn’t want him to see me like this—unhinged and partially feral, probably the reason why he thought I needed to be tamed—not after what had just happened inside. But it didn’t matter anymore. The damage was done.
“Romy,” my father said, his tone steady, his gaze flicking between the two of us with a knowing look. “I’ve made some adjustments. Effective immediately.”
Romy didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look surprised. But my heart dropped as my father continued.
“You will be relinquished from your position once the marriage is complete,” my father said. His voice was cold, and I couldn’t tell if it was disappointment or something else. “You’ll no longer be in charge of the men. Your new responsibility is to be Nádia’s personal bodyguard. ”
For a moment, all I could do was stare at my father, slack-jawed. Within the next second, a feeling of sick satisfaction curled in my stomach. I didn’t need to say anything—my eyes did the talking for me. I had won this, even if only a small victory. Romy, once the powerful capo of my father’s empire, would be stuck with me. My bodyguard. My slave.
This overshadowed my father’s betrayal for the moment.
I could see the realization in Romy’s eyes—he was downgraded . No more power, no more authority. His entire life had been about climbing higher, and now, he’d been dragged down into the dirt. And the worst part? He knew it was all because of me.
“Bodyguard?” Romy’s voice was tight with anger, his jaw clenched. For a second it seemed as if there was a strange iridescent sheen over his eyes. “That’s what you think I’m worth now? After everything I’ve done for this family?”
My father didn’t respond, his gaze flicking toward me before settling back on Romy. “This is what’s best for the family. This is your duty. Do not question it.”
The words were final, and I knew it was useless to argue. I felt a strange sense of victory, watching Romy’s face twist with frustration and humiliation. He could do nothing now.
He looked at me, his expression darkening, the words dripping with venom as he stepped closer. “You think you’ve won, don’t you?” he sneered. “You’ll regret this, Nádia. I’m going to make your life hell. You’ll wish you’d never been born into this family. You’ll wish you hadn’t pushed me into this position.”
I smirked, the satisfaction of seeing him brought low lingering on my tongue. “Oh, I don’t think I’ll regret it at all,” I said, my voice dripping with malice. “You think you’re in control? You think you can intimidate me? Not anymore, Romy. You’re mine now. Every step you take, every breath you make—it’s all because I let you.”
I turned my back on him, walking away without another word, feeling his eyes burn into my back.