**Lucian's pov**
I was sitting in my study, going through some mundane business paperwork, when suddenly, my phone buzzed with a message from Alex.
**The Message**
*"Boss, 'your' little mouse is tied up. Come fast"* with an emoji
I stared at the screen. *What the hell is this 'your'?*
**"She's not mine,"** I growled. And what was with that d*mn tongue emoji? **"Is he mocking me? I swear, this boy…"**
Annoyed, I stormed out and headed to the room where Alex had supposedly secured **my** bride. The moment I entered and my gaze landed on the tied up girl, my blood boiled.
**"Who the hell did you bring?"** I roared.
Alex blinked in confusion.
**"Boss… your bride? Isn't this her? Look sir all covered and unconscious"** and he was giving a proud expression
**"No, she is NOT,"** I snapped. **"Is this some kind of joke or a game, Alex?"**
Alex muttered under his breath, **"Yeah… a real funny game."**
**"Take that d*mn cloth off her head."**
The moment he did, we both froze obviously Alex was shocked more because he can't do anything. Alex paled because the girl tied to the chair was **not** Lumina as he was thinking
I was seething. **"How the hell could you mess this up?"** My blood was boiling now
Alex swallowed hard. **"Boss… how were you so sure?"** He was nervously muttering those words
I glared at him. **"Because Lumina has sunkissed, golden-brown skin, jet-black raven hair, and delicate fingers. This girl has brown hair, fair skin, and none of Lumina's features. Did you even LOOK at the d*mn photo?"**
I stepped closer, slamming my hands on either side of his head, trapping him against the wall. **"Explain. Now."**
Alex stammered nervously, **"Boss, it wasn't my fault! I barely saw her passport photo it was tiny! The bodyguards grabbed the wrong girl!"**
**"And can't you identify her hmm? seriously this girl is wearing half sleeves top then also you did a mistake?"**
**"And whose responsibility was it to verify?"** My voice dropped dangerously.
**"Yours.....I mean, MINE! But Boss, she looked different in the photo like it was so small only her face I saw but the bodyguards already put a black cloth before I could see her!"**
**"that day you came with me and saw her dance where were your eyes?"** I asked grabbing his throat not harshly but not softly too
**"Boss...to..to no one....I just saw a girl then...I went to eat when the girl was lost"**
**"ohh..ohh now you are interested in human life? So who is that girl who caught your attention? leave it now but at least you have seen Lumina for a little also? Right? Or your eyes were somewhere else from the beginning?"**
**"Boss, your Lumina...I have seen her for few seconds and she was under the light so I clearly didn't remember her face that much"**
I took a deep breath and calmed myself down **"You love to annoy me right?
Thousands of time I told not to call her 'Mine' then why the hell are your calling 'Your Lumina'? She is not mine remember, she is just a formality"**
I shoved away from him, gritting my teeth. **"You and those idiots can't do a single thing right."**
Alex hesitated. **"Boss… what do we do with this girl now? She is literally annoying"**
I growled sarcastically. **"Marry her. She's 'your' problem now. I didn't told to brought someone else"**
Alex recoiled. **"Boss, no way! She's a firecracker completely insane! I'm not marrying her!"**
"ohh so if she would have been a silent soft girl you would have marry her? A guy like you deserve a girl like her"
"Noo.....boss I didn't mean that...it just she will trouble me" he whispered
**"Then what? Let her go and have her make a fuse about this whole drama and situation?And Is she connected to Lumina?"**
**"I don't know,"** Alex admitted weakly
**"Of course you don't. You only know how to piss me off."** I growled
**"Yes"** he whispered to himself
**"Did you said something?"**
I massaged my temple trying to cool myself down but today it might not happen because of this guy named Alex.
I stormed out of the room to the downstairs, passing the two useless bodyguards chatting outside. **"You two wait here. I'll deal with you later. Go see Alex. He'll explain your 'brilliant' mistake.Just wait and watch you both and him"**
I got into my car, gripping the wheel until my knuckles turned white. *"Where is Lumina now? Why do I even care? Maybe it's better if I don't marry her.But I am so desperate for double powers....it doesn't matter now she exists....it's her mistake....the fragile thing is my fated bride she will always be an 'unwanted' person in my whole existence"*
**At the college**
As I neared the campus, I spotted a familiar figure Lumina, sitting on a bench, tears streaming down her face. *Tense, huh? Probably worried about her friend.maybe that girl is actually her friend*
I called Alex. *"Don't let that girl go"*.
Question her. This is **your** mess now."**
Stepping out of the car, I approached Lumina. My shadow fell over her, and she looked up, freezing the moment our eyes met. Her entire body trembled.
**"What's wrong, little bride? Scared?"** I taunted.
**"S-Sir…"** she stuttered, standing shakily.
**"They took my friend by mistake. Please… let her go. Don't involve her in this!"**
I chuckled. **"Well, well. Too late. She's already involved. But 'you' I didn't mistake you."** I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear as I whispered, **"Two choices, girl. Marry me, and I'll release her. Resist… and I'll vanish her forever."**
Her eyes widened in panic. Good. She should be afraid.
**"Sir, please… I don't want to marry you. Just let me go and my friend"**
She tried backing away, but I grabbed her wrist, yanking her against my hard chest.*d*mn, she's so soft and tiny.I never thought about it*
**"Listen carefully,"** I hissed.
**"This isn't about love or I am interested in marrying you. It's a transaction one you'll never understand."**
Her expression twisted in disbelief, fear, and pain. I rolled my eyes and dragged her toward the car. She struggled, her tiny wrist slipping free but before she could run, I caught her waist and pulled her back.
**"So you don't care about your friend?"** I smirked at her horrified face. **"Begging won't help."**
Out of patience, I shoved her into the passenger seat. The second I turned away, she flung the door open. *Stubborn little thing.*
**"Do you really think you can run?"** I stalked toward her. **"One more stunt, and I'll make sure you regret it."**
My grip tightened on her wrist, making her wince. Finally, after a battle, I locked her inside. She banged on the window, screaming.
I started the engine, the roar drowning her protests. **"Are you trying to unleash my dark side?"** I glared though she doesn't knew about my actual identity she will instantly faint, not only her no one knows except Alex, and she flinched, pressing herself against the door like a cornered mouse.
**"Foolish,"** I muttered under my breath.