Blackmailed to marry the ruthless billionaire (The monster living inside of me)

To Claim.

To Discipline

To Own.

Pain and pleasure. The thought brought a smile to his face.

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Zari Throne is a twenty-six-year-old woman who woke to a world different from her once rich fairytale life. The luxurious life which she once lived had crumbled into one which she could barely recognize. One she suffered and struggled to survive in.

It was all too much for Zari. Seeking refuge from her harsh reality, she did something completely out of character. She sought solace in a moment of escapism... A night of passion just to forget about the past, and her bleak, uncertain future.

And, it was that night, in that bar, that she encountered him.

He stood tall, exuding an undeniable ałlure with his muscular physique. He was the kind of man you might envision from a wet dream. His very presence exuded an air of danger, promised passion and mystery. Yet, a question lingered in the air- Who was he?

To most, he answered to the name O'Hara Zoro. But, in his realm of business, he was known simply as "Mr. Ice."

Some speculated that he suffered from a split personality disorder, given his charming demeanour and ever-shifting moods. And they weren't entirely wrong.

He could be tender and caring one moment, only to transform into someone ruthless, dominantly cold, cruel, obsessive, and domineering the next second. A man who rarely smiled, and did business like the very devil himself.

Those two are polar opposites who should never have crossed paths if fate was kind.

After Zari had a one-night-stand with O'Hara Zoro, her life which already changed forever, took a whole new turn.

Chapter 1

(The monster living inside of me)

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Zari Throne had just been discharged from the hospital where she had been hospitalized for over a year. Today was supposed to be the best day of her life. The day she got better from the fatal bruises her parents' accident left her. Although it has already been twelve fucking months, the incident was still fresh in her memories. She still remembered vividly how her father's car couldn't hit the brakes on time. How he crashed head-on towards the large tree in a lonely valley. How it abruptly somersaulted, her mother dying instantly as soon her head hit the ground. The force of the fall, crutched her father's thighs, underneath. By the time the passer-by got to them, the car had already caught fire, her Father begging them to get his daughter out first. Being totally aware his legs were stuck, he knew they wouldn't be able to save him after all.

She watched her parents' death unfold before her very eyes while she did nothing. The doctors who attended to her called her a survivor. Saying it was even a miracle she survived the head injury she sustained without having side effects like Memory loss and others along that medical line.

The knock on the door got her out of her thoughts and she told the intruder to come in. She wasn't surprised to see It was her twin brother, Ethan Throne.

"Surprise," Ethan said, handing over the bouquet of flowers he hid under his shirt with his smile on a hundred degrees. "Congrats on your discharge, Princess."

"Aww, Ethan. You didn't have to get me anything. I love flowers," she said dragging a long smell from its roots and smiling. "I appreciate it although it won't make me forgive you for getting easily scammed of the remaining investments we have left. I mean, how could you fall for it? We're currently low on funds but now we're completely broke. All thanks to you." She said handing the bouquet over to him.

"Fine. I know it's my fault for not being the smart one but I've been trying to make up for it in your absence."

"By hiring those worthless lawyers who couldn't even get back the company they were paid to. Or by putting the only remaining castle, a place that holds so much of our good times together not to talk of our parents' memories up for sale or... By becoming a fucking drug addict, now of all times. Yeah, Bravo to you my smart-ass brother. I can see just how good of a progress you've made so far," she said, sarcastically, hissing.

Ethan lost it there and then, flinging the bouquet of flowers several feet away and gritting his teeth.

"At least I made an effort to set things right. At least I was not the one lying around in a coma doing absolutely nothing while I cracked my brains open to rectify things. Why...!? You're disappointed 'cause you didn't come back to your fairytale world of swimming in riches, Is that it? Well, you should wake up from that wild dream of yours cause this is how things are now."

"Screw you, Ethan! You know that's not what I meant," Zari said, trying to make him understand. For him to know what he did wrong in order not to repeat the same mistake again. But it just wasn't working. He was just being unreasonable.

"Oh, I know what you damn right meant! You should have remained comatose and lethargic for more years to come until I can figure out a specific way to put things back to the way they were before. You shouldn't have opened your fucking eyes If you were going to nag and make a mockery of my good intentions as soon as you got here. Who the fuck do you think you are to judge me?! Your monthly hospital bills... how'd you think they were paid? It's all courtesy of my struggles. You're alive today because I administered you in one of the best medical hospitals there is... Calling on the best medical doctors to look after your health. But this is how you show your gratitude. By being a bratty ingrate. You think you can take over from Ma's constant nagging now she's no more?! Well, think again!" He shouted when her hand collided with his face, shutting him up.

A tear slowly slipped past her lashes, staining her cheeks. She wiped it off frustratingly, watching her brother's tight features, loosening up.

Ethan smirked, scoffing like a maniac as he touched where the hard slap had landed. "You know for someone who just got out of a sick bed, you still have some strength left in you. Your hit stings. Damnit, Princess!"

"You've made your point, Ethan. And I'm sorry for waking up. Like you said, I shouldn't have. It would have been better for everyone, most especially you... If I died at that crash that night. Pa and Ma should have taken me with them," she said, yanking the covers off her body and jerking off of the bed.

Finally recollecting his thoughts, he pulled himself back together, his fingers going all over his short hair. "I'm sorry, Princess. It's not what I meant. I...,"

She cut him off by throwing the pillow right at his face. "I don't know how I can call you my twin brother when you definitely don't have the slightest inkling of my emotions. You have always pretended to be the obtuse one, shying away from huge responsibilities while as a matter of fact... You're completely aware of what you are doing. Yeah, thanks for telling me what I don't know. I should leave you alone like you so desired. Just don't you dare look for me," she said, twisting open the lock and running off before he could even apologize more effectively or make a move at stopping her.

Ethan fell on his hunches, holding his throbbing head. He knew he fucked up. Deep down he didn't mean any of the things he just blurted off.

This is why he takes Drugs. It helps him to clear his thoughts by putting his mind elsewhere. A place of no worries. A place of unreal serenity. Now even the white substance was no more. He currently had no money to ask for a refill.

He shook his head, knocking his thick skull. "You said you'd give it up, remember? You said you would stop living life the way you did before to make your twin sister happy. You promised to even go for rehab once you can come up with the huge amount needed. Now what?" He said to himself, a tear slipping past his eyelids. He was doing everything in his power to make her proud of him but was failing woefully at it.

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Zari who was just in her evening pyjamas and tank top went as far away from home as possible. Her long legs took her to the first bar joint she set her eyes on.

Fuck she was breathing heavily as she made her way to the counter, ordering a drink. One heavy enough to get her mind off of things. This being the first time she walked to such a far distance with her legs instead of her private car, it made things inconsequentially hard for her. Or so she thought since her legs were killing her.

Things would have been easier if only her luxurious sports cars hadn't been sold to come up with the payment of her hospital bills. Sighing, she sat down. There was little left of her precious things. Except for her limited edition designer bags and outfits, her expensive jewellies had all been sold.

Perhaps, her brother couldn't find the key where she'd hid it. Not that it'd change anything since she had already started making plans on how to still sell them out by the end of tomorrow. She knew the money she'd make from it wouldn't be enough to solve all their problems but at least her workers would be paid.

The bartender filled up the tumbler, slamming it on top of the bench for her and smiling.

"I didn't order for this. Are you messing with me, barman? Or is this in the house?" She asked, frustratingly wanting nothing but to wipe that smug look off his smiling face.

The barman shook his head in disapproval, pointing at a man sitting in a different direction.

"The kind gentleman over there ordered this for you, lassie. You won't refuse his good intentions... Will you?" The barman asked, moving away to attend to his other customers.

While she wanted nothing but to refuse the stranger's benevolent gesture towards her, she found herself raising the drink in the air as a thank-you toast before chugging it down in one gulp. Not minding she might choke on it.

Before she knew it, the stranger was already close to her. Zari had to admit, he was without a doubt the most attractive man she'd ever set eyes on. The kind of handsomeness she only envisioned after watching a manga cartoon in her fairytale world. She always believed men this hot only existed in her world of animé:

Luxurious dark hair cresting just below his shirt collar, skin the colour of rich almond milk and a body handpicked by some glorious creature from the heavens. Shaking off the sinful thoughts she envisioned doing with him, she looked everywhere but not his face.

"If the most simple but beautiful woman I've ever set my eyes on wouldn't mind... I'd love to keep her company, that's if the seat beside you isn't already taken. My date stood me up. Now I think it was for the best," he said taking her in with his eyes. "I don't know who leaves a pretty damsel all by herself in this cruel world?" He huffed, waiting for her go-ahead response.

Just as she thought, the deep baritone of his voice forced her nipple's into hard peaks. Smiling in order not to be disrespectful, especially since he bought her a drink, she nodded.

"You look like the kind that wouldn't take no for an answer even if I told you not to so, I don't see a reason to even bother asking," she said, softly calling the bartender and ordering him to do a refill.

The stranger smiled, showing off his white teeth and dimples.

God! How could a man be so dripping handsome and dangerous at the same time? Although he was casually dressed in his well-ironed pants and plain tee shirt, there was something about him that gave out a calm commanding and dominating aura, the kind she didn't wanna associate with.

"Wow," he said, slowly making himself comfortable in the seat. He ordered another drink, immediately taking a sip. "Is it that obvious? In this world, certain people don't like taking a no for an answer. I think I might have happened to fall under such a category. By the way, you have nice eyes. It's sparkling," he said, staring into her hazel big eyes.

"Am I supposed to say thank you?" She asked.

"Not out of necessity. Just stating the fact. Why don't you tell me about you? I would like to get to know you. You seem to have a lot going on in your mind. And I'm open to listening," he said stealing a look in her direction.

The mood she was in, she wasn't cut out to answering or holding a conversation with anyone, talkmore a total stranger. But she'd cut him some slack in order not to be rude. Although she'd been most likely rude as well as arrogant, all her life.

"I think I have a phobia of people prying into my personal life. What about you?" She responded, cocking her head.

He scoffed, his lips twitching to a smile. "Me? Compulsively drawn to cute but narcissistic girls."

Zari chuckled, looking away. He had a way with words.

As he inched closer, flirtatiously removing a strand of hair from her face, she immediately turned to him, their eyes locking into each other. Her hazel eyes stared into the most gorgeous ocean eyes she'd ever seen. His thumb brushing over her forehead was as captivating as it was intensifying.

Just being in close proximity with him got her shuddering. Her heart accelerated more than usual, the electricity between them soaring at a different level, her lace panties soaking wet.

Afraid he'd be able to grab a scent of her arousal, she impulsively jerked his arm away, inching away.

"I'm sorry," he said, immediately gulping down another bottle of his beer.

Zari shook her head, breathing out. It's not like he did something to be sorry for. Her body was to blame for allowing a mysterious stranger, to have such an effect on her. She reminded herself not to let another man into her heart since she was currently in love with another. Although it was one-sided.

The man, sighed, shaking his head. "Everybody has their own problems. There's nothing like the world being perfect. I also came here to clear my head. I thought setting up a blind date with some mysterious woman would at least get my mind off of things even for a brief moment but...,"

She took the words off his slightly, seductive pink lips. "But you don't see that happening. Tell me what I don't know, Monsieur." She'd called him mister in their language. "We seem to be in the same predicament. I have a lot going on as well," she sighed, clinking glasses with him, immediately chugging it down.

"O'Hara Zoro."

"What do you say?" She asked since she didn't quite get what he was referring to.

"That's my name. I am O'Hara Zoro. I'm no mister. I'd love nothing but to hear you address me with my name."

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To be continued...