Unclaimed

Under the dim lights of Ace Cassano's office, the mahogany desk glinted as cold and calculating as the look that held his fixated mind on a flat piece of plastic pressed into his palm. But outside, the city sprawled wide open: a glittering testament to his strength, yet within these walls, Ace was a man consumed. He was a fortress of ice, once sculpted by loss and betrayal, and Roy, his closest friend, never grew tired of toasting him.

He was the embodiment of ruthlessness and emotional austerity. Yet, a clandestine part of him found a strange solace in the speed of his car, the wind a fleeting reminder of the emotions he kept locked away. But today, even that wasn't enough to shake the consuming fire ignited within him. It was this that drove him – the need to reclaim what had been stolen from him: his father's land, now unjustly held by the late John Anderson. He went through the dead man's particulars, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips, the land was now under Sarah Anderson's name but only if she married the man who had been mentioned in the will. A pathetic plan of old man, Ace thought.

He scrolled further, his eyes catching on the photographs attached in the file under the name Sarah Anderson. Images of a woman who was not just another pretty face. Sarah Anderson, a model of global recognition, seemed to possess a warmth that radiated even through pixels. Her smiles were genuine, her eyes vibrant as she posed, a stark contradiction to the vapid expressions he had come to expect in her profession. Something about her drew him in, a strange flicker of something he hadn't felt in years. His heartbeat accelerated, a disconcerting surge that he had to physically subdue by patting his chest.

"That's Sarah Anderson, a rising model," Lisa's voice broke his concentration. His secretary was the epitome of efficiency, dedication clear in her work. But Ace did not see the yearning in her eyes, the quiet admiration she felt for him. For Lisa, Ace was the dream man and she was soon going to propose him without realizing the storm brewing on the horizon.

"I know," Ace said, his voice low and devoid of any warmth, his eyes still fixed on the image. "She's the key to getting my land back."

"But Sir, I think this might be risky," Lisa said, her voice tinged with a fear she couldn't quite hide.

Ace's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning sharp. He hated when his plans were questioned.

Lisa swallowed hard and sat up straight, knowing that she had made a mistake. She rushed on "I'm mean to say, what are you planning exactly Sir? She's getting married, she will get the land and it's done".

Ace laughed low and chilling, his laughter echoing inside the jet and causing the back of Lisa's neck to break out in shivers. "I've already taken care of her stepmother. Sarah Anderson won't be getting married until I arrive and play her savior."

"Um… what do you mean, sir?" Lisa asked tentatively, trying to keep up with the fast-moving ideas that were spinning in her head.

Ace's look had darkened, there was a predatory sheen in his eye as he turned his gaze upon her. "You'll find out soon enough, Lisa."

He never intended to cross paths with Sarah Anderson. It was only the land, the need to get back what rightfully belonged to him, that had been drawing this hard-hearted CEO toward her. She was a pawn, a mere means to get him what he wanted, in his game. Yet something deep within him, buried for so long, was drawing him toward something more.

The lace of Sarah's veil was a constant scratch against her skin, a mirror to the turmoil in her gut. She stared straight ahead at the back of the man she was to marry – a man she didn't want, a man chosen for her by a will, by a land. Marrying him felt like surrendering a piece of herself she hadn't even realized she possessed. This was not what she had in mind for her life, for the future her father had seemingly planned for her. She would have given anything to get that land but the notion of marrying someone for it was a bitter pill to swallow. And now, her stepmother's cruel power play, blackmailing her by using her sister's inheritance, had forced her hand. Sarah would marry, acquire the land, and then, she'd divorce. It was a cold, calculated plan, a necessary evil. It was a secret she was keeping close to her chest.

The voice of the priest continued to drone on, with each word a hammer blow on the fragile walls she had built around her emotions. She would get this land; she would honor her father's last wish, even if she had to sell a piece of her soul in the process. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She was going to be strong, she was going to fight, just like she always had. She had always been alone, all the while missing her parents, but this felt more real, more dreadful.

Just as the priest was about to ask for the vows, a voice, sharp and commanding, sliced through the silence like a knife. "This marriage can't be!" Sarah's head jerked up. A tall figure, almost palpably full of force, strode purposefully toward her, each footfall echoing in the stunned silence. He was a force of nature, a storm brewing. He was looking at her, and his stare had an intensity that made her skin prickle.

"I'll marry her. Get him out of here," he said, his voice a low growl, instructing his guards to drag her bemused groom off. What was going on? Who was this man?

"W-what, who are you mister, what are you doing?" She stuttered.

"Just co-operate, soon to be Mrs Sarah Ace Cassano," he whispered near her ear.

Her mind became blank, and she nodded along, allowing his dominance to engulf her; all her senses tingled. The priest, dazed, just kept on going. The wedding proceeded, and with the priest's last words, she was officially Mrs Cassano. She looked up at the man, her savior, she thought. But he did not even look her way. Instead, he snatched the will from the lawyer, his eyes glinting with victory. Sarah saw her stepmother still smirking, a horrifying realization forming in her mind.

"Mr. Cassano?" She called out, lifting her veil, watching him now hold the papers that could change her life.

"According to the will, now this property belongs to me. Thanks for your co-operation. I didn't want a war, so I did this. It was nice meeting you Sarah Anderson, let's never meet again!" He turned, walking away with his men following behind him, his every step oozing confidence and power.

A sharp, cold feeling washed over Sarah, the realization of her mistake. She had been played, a pawn in someone else's game. The man, no, Ace Cassano wasn't her saviour, he was her enemy. All the time she was admiring him for being her saviour but now she regretted it. The wind was knocked out of her, she was betrayed. But Sarah Anderson didn't stay down for long. A fire ignited within her. She would not be a victim. She had been a fighter all her life.

She hitched up her gown and ran after him, her mind a whirlwind of anger and determination. She wasn't going to let him get away with stealing her father's last wish. Ace was already in his car, the engine roaring to life, papers clutched in his hand when she slammed the car door shut and slid into the passenger seat.

"What the heck? Didn't I warn you—?"

"Look, whatever this is, I don't know, but you married me legally in front of the lord! According to the will, that property is half mine too!" She declared, her voice shaking a little-not with fear, but with raw determination. This was war, and Sarah Anderson was going to fight. He'd taken away her father's land, but he had no idea the storm he had brought down upon himself.

Sarah spoke in a stern tone, shrugging confidently, crossing her arms over chest.

"Don't make me commit something wrong Miss Anderson----

"It's Sarah Cassano. I'm your wife now".

She retorted back making daksh seethe in rage as he punched the seat in front of him.

Sarahgulped but acted as if it didn't affect her. She felt her heart skipped a beat finally looking at the man with up close. He is over all what called them perfect. The Adonis, she can give him that name because he is one. 

Never in her life she had encountered such extremely handsome looking man.

About Ace he was already mesmerized inside the church and had hard time controlling himself. He even forgot why he went there. Even from that veil he could evidently see the outlines of her face that indeed is ethereal.

Sarah's beauty can't be compared with anyone he had met nor he could ever give a word to her beauty but looks can deceive right.

"I'll be dropping you in a distance, get down from the car and never show me your face again'.

Ace growled again.

"And file a report against you, my dear husband, for molesting me right after marrying me".

"Look woman, I had a conflict with your father, you shouldn't meddle with me".

Sarah rolled her eyes at Ace, making him shake in rage more.

"I don't know what disputes you had with him Mr Ace Cassano but I'm your wife now and you have to accept this reality. You brought it upon yourself".

This wasn't the plan. Ace thought throwing Sarah away would be easy but maybe he's stuck now, for lifetime, with the woman whom he considered his rival's daughter.

Sarah felt hurt getting treated like trash, that also by a stranger and she will surely fight for herself. Ace wouldn't slip away discarding her like this after using her to steal the property.

"Then welcome to your official hell, Mrs Cassano".