Delilah Solvain had never been outside the gates of the mansion alone.

She knew nothing about the outside world except for the things her elder sister, Clarice, told her. Clarice would often tell her what the outside world was like through stories and photographs, and Delilah enjoyed listening to her and looking at the pictures. She wanted to go out and see the world just like her sister, but her parents had never allowed her to.

For twenty years, the mansion had been her entire world, with its enormous rooms, endless corridors, gardens, and the library where she had spent most of her childhood.

She had been homeschooled for as long as she could remember. Her tutors came to the mansion, taught her everything her parents considered necessary, and left before evening. She had never experienced anything like a normal student life. She had no friends outside the mansion, no classmates to talk to, and no memories of growing up anywhere except within those walls.

Clarice had lived a life that Delilah knew only through stories.

She had studied abroad, travelled to different countries, lived in an apartment with friends, attended university parties and gone shopping whenever she wanted. Delilah wasn't jealous of her sister. She was happy whenever Clarice came home with another story to tell her. She simply wanted to know what it felt like to live outside the mansion, to walk through crowded streets, to enter a café and to experience the ordinary things her sister never had to think twice about.

But she couldn't complain.

She had never asked her parents why they never allowed her to leave the mansion alone. Perhaps it was for her protection. She had always assumed that was the reason, even though a question would sometimes rise quietly in her mind.

If she needed protection, didn't Clarice need it too?

She would always bury the thought before it could make her feel less important in her parents' lives.

That morning, she was sitting on the floor of the library with a book open in her lap when she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up and saw one of the maids walking toward her.

"Ma'am, your mother is calling for you."

Delilah nodded, closed the book, and placed it carefully on the table before rising to her feet.

She walked out of the library and found her parents sitting in the hall with Clarice. Her mother looked at her and motioned for her to come closer.

"Come here, Delilah"

Delilah walked over and sat beside them. Her gaze immediately went to her sister, who looked just as confused as she felt.

"We have decided something for Clarice," her father said.

Delilah's curiosity grew.

"She has completed her education and has spent enough time learning about the business. From now on, she will begin taking a more active role in the company."

A smile immediately appeared on Clarice's face. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise before she turned toward their father and hugged him.

"Thank you, Dad."

She pulled away from his embrace with a happiness that was impossible to miss before turning to their mother and hugging her as well.

Delilah sat quietly, watching them with a small smile on her face.

She was happy for her sister.

She truly was.

Yet as she watched Clarice being surrounded by their parents' attention, her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the couch. For a moment, she felt invisible, sitting there in front of her own family as though she were merely someone who happened to be in the room.

"Congratulate your sister," her mother said, looking at her.

Delilah nodded.

She stood and looked at Clarice with a genuine smile.

"Congratulations, Clarice. I'm happy for you.” Clarice smiled warmly.

"Thank you, Delilah."

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. Delilah immediately hugged her back, holding her sister for a moment longer.

"Okay, now let's go, dear. I have many things to discuss with you."

Their father spoke to Clarice, and she reluctantly pulled away from Delilah's arms before following him.

Her mother gave Delilah one last glance before leaving as well.

And then she was alone.

Delilah remained standing in the middle of the hall, listening to their footsteps disappear down the corridor. She slowly looked around the enormous mansion that had been her entire world for as long as she could remember.

She wasn't jealous of her sister.

She didn't want her sister's life, her place in the family, or the responsibilities that came with being the heir.

She only wanted what Clarice had always received without having to ask for it.

Her parents' love.

At least the kind of love they gave Clarice. They fulfilled her wishes, listened to her, trusted her, and wanted her to be part of their future.

Delilah had never understood why she had been treated differently. She had everything a person could need, yet somehow, she had always felt like an invisible daughter.

All she wanted was to live freely.

She wanted to walk outside the mansion without asking permission. She wanted to see the world she had only experienced through photographs and stories. She wanted to have friends, make mistakes, and live a life that belonged to her.

But sometimes, when she stood by the windows and looked beyond the gates, she wondered if she would ever get the chance.

She wondered if she would ever leave this mansion at all.

* * * * * *

Ravian Alcazar had built his empire on things most people were too scared to touch.

His businesses were spread across different countries. He owned shipping companies, luxury hotels, casinos, private ports, and several other businesses that looked completely legal from the outside. He had more money than he could ever spend, but money wasn't what made people afraid of him.

It was his reputation.

Men who could sit across from billion-dollar deals without showing a single emotion often struggled to look Ravian in the eyes. Everyone knew he wasn't a man to be crossed.

He had earned that reputation years ago, long before his name started appearing in newspapers and business magazines. There were things about him that never reached the public. Things people only talked about behind closed doors.

If someone betrayed him, there were consequences. If someone broke his trust, they paid for it. And if someone mistook his silence for weakness, they usually regretted it.

Ravian didn't think of himself as cruel. He simply didn't feel sorry for people who created their own problems.

Sitting inside his cabin, he was working on some files when he heard a knock on the door. His secretary, Knox, came inside.

“Mr. Solvain is here to meet you.” His brows furrowed as he heard Knox.

“Tell him I'm busy.” He replied and continued working, but Knox didn't leave.

“He wants to talk about something urgent, boss.” Knox insisted, and Ravian sighed. He dropped his pen and fixed his glasses before looking up.

“Send him in.”

Knox nodded and left. Ravian leaned his back against the seat and waited for the person he least wanted to meet to arrive.

Alaric Solvain wasn't his friend or business partner. They were simply competitors and never got along with each other. They probably didn't even want to cross each other's paths, but now he had come to meet him without any appointment. Ravian was curious, but he didn't want to show it to him. Because somewhere, he knew no one came to him if it didn't benefit them.

The door opened, and he watched Alaric step inside. Alaric sat on the chair in front of him.

“Sorry to disturb you at this time, Mr. Alcazar, but I have been thinking about something.” Ravian sighed hearing him.

“Don't waste my time and tell me what you want. Is it that Singapore deal you are after? Because I got it.” Ravian asked, but saw no reaction on Alaric's face.

“It's about my daughter.” Alaric finally opened his mouth, and Ravian went silent.

“She has grown up and has enough knowledge to run my business, but I'm worried about her…” Alaric stopped when he saw Ravian standing up.

“How does it concern me, Mr. Solvain?” Ravian inquired without raising his voice, but it was enough to make him go silent.

Alaric cleared his throat.

“For many years, we have been competing against each other. But now I want to end this. I want us to be together.” Ravian looked away and faced the window.

“And what do you suggest?” Ravian asked, making Alaric nervous. He didn't know how to say it without making Ravian angry.

“Marry my daughter.”