Ruined in One Day ⚡ Chosen by a Dangerous Man

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Chapter 1

Celine~

“You’re selling your shares to the Marino empire?”

The words hung in the thick air of my father’s office, his tone sharp enough to slice skin. His usually calm features were distorted in pure disbelief, mouth agape as if I’d spat blasphemy right in front of the Virgin Mary portrait that hung behind his desk.

“Celine, please…no,” she whispered, as though saying it too loudly would make it real.

I stood across from them, jaw clenched so tight my Jaw ached. “Yes,” I said. “I’ve already signed the documents. I’ve sent them to our lawyers.”

My father slammed his palm against his desk. The sound was thunderous. “You’ve gone mad.”

“No, Father,” I said, voice steady though my heart pounded in my ears. “I’ve finally chosen what I want for myself.”

“What do you want?” He barked a mirthless laugh. “You are a Marino! You were born for the Marino Empire.”

I blinked hard, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. “I told you I was getting married to my fiancé in a week, and you still insist I cancel the wedding,” I croaked.

“You don’t like him, but I love him.” My eyes stung from tears threatening to fall.

“You’re throwing away a legacy for a man!” he roared.

“For love,” I corrected, voice rising despite myself. “For Christian.”

My mother let out a broken sob and covered her face. “This isn’t love, Celine. This isn’t a choice a man who loves you should force you to make.”

“I wasn’t forced,” I snapped. “He just said he couldn’t marry me if I was still tied to the company that has destroyed his family. That’s not coercion. That’s honesty.”

My father shot to his feet. “You think this Christian bastard is being honest with you? You think love means choosing him over your blood?”

“No,” I said, quieter now. “But it means I choose peace. And I haven’t known peace under this roof in years.”

“So you’ll just walk away?” he sneered. “Abandon your mother and me like we’re strangers?”

I glanced at my mother, her tear-streaked face shattered me more than I could admit. “I’m not abandoning you,” I said, tears welling. “I’m trying to find myself outside of you.”

My father walked around the desk, inches from me now. “Then go. If you’re so devoted to your so-called fiancé, then you can go live with him. In fact,” he spat, turning to the intercom. “Maria, tell the staff to bring Celine’s things to the car.”

I gasped. “You already-?”

“Everything’s packed,” he said coldly. “Your clothes, your books, even your dog’s damn leash. You want to leave? Then go.”

“Father…”

“Don’t call me that,” he said, eyes colder than a tomb. “From now on, you are no longer part of this family.”

The finality in his voice wound me.

My mother ran after me as I turned, sobbing and grabbing my arm. “Please, Celine. Don’t do this. He’s not worth losing everything.”

I looked at her through blurry vision. “Then why does it feel like I already lost it all staying here?”

I kissed her cheek gently, the scent of her lavender perfume breaking something old and small inside of me. “I love you.”

And then I left.

The drive to Christian’s company felt long-awaited. I couldn’t contain the amount of excitement in me to tell him the great news.

I could see the building already before I drove in past the gates. I told the guard I didn’t have an appointment, but they let me through. It made me smile that my face was familiar enough now.

His receptionist smiled awkwardly. “Miss Marino, he’s not in. He left about an hour ago.”

My stomach twisted. “Left?” I repeated, blinking. “Did he say where he was going?”

“No. I assumed he left to see you…”

Of course. Where else would he be? I nodded tightly. “Thank you.”

I slipped back into my car and started the engine, nerves making my hands slick on the wheel. I was tired, emotionally and physically, and pushing all my luggage into the car wasn’t easy.

I should’ve called Christian. But I needed to see him. Needed to feel him tell me I made the right choice.

The sun was glaring off the dashboard as I pulled onto the road. I didn’t see the car stop in front of me until it was too late.

My brakes squealed, and metal crunched. The jolt slammed me into my seatbelt, and my heart punched my ribs. I scrambled out of my car, panic rising. “I’m so sorry, are you okay?”

And then I saw them.

Christian’s head shot up from between a pair of bare thighs.

My sister’s bare thighs.

“Elena?” I choked. “Christian?”

Time slowed.

My sister scrambled out of the passenger seat, dress rumpled, hair messy, lipstick smeared. “You idiot,” she hissed. “You hit us?”

“Us?” My voice cracked.

Elena stepped forward and slapped me. Hard. Then again. And again.

My cheek blazed, the pain barely registering under the shock.

“You pathetic fool,” she spat. “You thought he loved you?”

“Elena, you’re… married.”

“To a boring man in the Maldives,” she sneered. “Christians always belonged to me.”

Christian emerged now, cool as ice, adjusting his belt like he’d just gotten off a conference call. “Are you hurt, Elena?” he asked, eyes full of concern.

She shook her head.

Then he pulled out his phone. “Yes, hello? I need to report an attempted hit-and-run. Someone tried to kill me.”

“What?” I gasped. “Christian…”

He didn’t even look at me.

I lunged forward, grabbing the phone from his hand. “You can’t be serious-”

“I never loved you,” he said quietly, too calmly. “You were just a tool. I needed Elena to take over the Marino Empire, and with you in the way, well. You did most of the work yourself.”

I stared at him like I didn’t know the man in front of me. Because I didn’t.

“You used me?” My voice was hollow.

“Every moment.” He glanced down at his phone, now in my hand. “Give it back. You’ll be needing your hands free for the handcuffs.”

The sirens wailed in the distance.

“No,” I whispered. “No, no, no.”

“Wedding’s off,” he said as the police pulled up beside us. “I’ll be marrying Elena next Saturday.”

I didn’t fight as they cuffed me. My mind was still trying to process the wreckage left behind.

As I was shoved into the back of the police car, I looked out the window one last time at my sister. At Christian. At everything, I gave up.

And for the first time since I left my family’s house, I felt the full weight of what I’d done.

I’d sold the Marino Empire to the devil.

But what I’d sold… was myself.