The cheering, yelling and shouting had all stopped, as most of the men returned to the reception, perhaps to drink even more. I distinctly heard Minho and Hyunjin commanding those who were left over to leave the two of us in peace.

My eyes darted around the room, trying to look at anything but him, whilst he circled me, his own dark eyes watching my every move.

They trailed from the top of my head, where an elegant crown had held up my veil, to my lips, to my neck and my waist, all the way to where the dress spilled on the floor. He took his time admiring my form, whilst I felt sick.

"I was promised that I'd get the most beautiful woman in Seoul," He murmered, his voice deep and low, almost unsettling. "Your father did not disappoint,"

Promised? I was no more than a deal to him, and that essentially was indeed what our marriage was. A business deal, a transaction made in order for peace to be contained within our families.

"Tonight, you are mine,"

His lips pressed to my cheek and his hands settled upon my waist as I terror rushed through my veins. He couldn't... he wouldn't....

"No!" I burst out, my hands flying to his chest and shoving him away, although it did nothing to move his strong frame.

He raised an eyebrow. "No?"

"You won't have me," I breathed. "Or is my refusal something you've never encountered?"

"Many people have refused me," Chan said quietly. "So I made sure that they never refused me again,"

I was being stupid. The man before me was a murderer, a Made Man who could kill me if he wanted to. I needed to shut up, but the situation I was in didn't allow for that luxury.

"Will you kill me for refusing you then?" Something gnawed at me.

"That would defeat the point of our marriage," He smirked.

"You won't take me," My voice was filled with nerve as I continued. "You have no right, it's my body,"

"The men outside of this room will never accept that," The coldness in his voice was beginning to disappear. "We are married, to them, I have every right,"

I hated how he was correct. To the men in our world, women belonged to them, like we were their possessions. We were always seen as the weaker sex, and we were expected to remain dutiful and obedient to our husbands, meant to please them. Not one person in that room would agree with my reasoning, and even if they did, they would never voice it aloud.

He gestured towards the white, silk sheets on the bed. "I assume your mother told you of the tradition of the bloody sheets?"

My heart froze, head spinning as I stared at the crisp, clean sheets. Daegu really was awful. Mother had informed me that it was tradition to display the wedding sheets after the couple's first night, in order to be sure of the bride's innocence, that she was exactly what had been promised. It was a disgusting, barbaric tradition, and I was sure that only Daegu did it, yet there was nothing I could do.

Chan eyed me once more before his hands slipped into his pocket, revealing a small knife. I let out a small gasp, moving back, hitting the wall. But he made no move to point the knife at me, instead, he threw his jacket onto the floor, rolled up the sleeve of his black shirt and made a small incision into his creamy skin.

A small well of blood appeared and he grabbed a glass before moving into the bathroom. The sound of water suggested that he had opened the pipes before he came back in, smearing the liquid onto the sheets.

"Blood is not always the same," He explained. He would know. After all, Chan was far more accustomed to seeing blood on a daily basis.

"Won't they know it's fake?"

"No,"

"But what if- "

"No one will dare to question us," He let out a small laugh, although there was no humour in his tone. "The moment they left us alone together, they believed that I would go straight for it. It's in my nature to,"

It then occured to me that my husband had been with so many other women before me. Like he said, it was in his nature to take what he wanted.

He set the glass and knife down, his eyes returning on me, moving closer so that we were only inches apart.

His hands reached for the crown, carefully removing it, setting it down before they reached for my shoulders, turning me around.

The back of the dress had a corset-style lace, and he took his time undoing each and every knot and tie, before the dress had spilled to my feet, leaving me in a white corset and pants.

My skin was on fire as he gazed at my figure, his eyes looking everywhere, admiring what he had been given.

"Tonight, you ask me to spare you," His lips were on my skin once more, flames alighting my arms. "But there will be a day where you beg me to touch you,"

He moved away and instead, sunk down in the armchair, pouring himself a generous amount of wine, as I raced to the bathroom, shutting the door quietly. 

I undid the corset and stared incredulously at the nightgown that had been laid out for me by the servants. It was sheer in some areas, but lace was covered in all the essential places, but it did nothing to hide my body completely. I might as well have walked out naked.

I turned to the mirror. My cheeks were splotchy, and there was a small stain of where a few tears had escaped. But instead of dwelling on it, I washed off my make-up, brushed my teeth and took one final glance around.

I couldn't delay it any longer, and there was no way Chan would let go of me sleeping in a bathroom, even if I locked the door. I was sure that he'd find a way around that.

I pulled the door open. Chan was still in the armchair, glancing up when I made my entrance. He scoffed. "You wear that, but you don't want to me to fuck you?"

"I didn't choose it,"

"Who did?"

I shrugged. I doubted it was from any of his side of the family. Probably my mother, or one of my aunts. They'd most likely thought it would impress my husband.

I slipped beneath the covers, pulling them up to my chin, turning aside from my husband who had disappeared into the bathroom. The water was running, but he wouldn't be long.

The second I heard the door handle twitch, I tried to even my breathing, pretending that I was already asleep.

Chan came through, wearing only gray sweatpants that hung low on his waist, so that the band of his boxers peeked through. His chest was pure muscle, and numerous scars and cuts lined his form. His arms were veiny, one paper cut and the bleeding wouldn't stop.

The mattress dipped slightly when he laid down, and a flick of the switch engulfed us into darkness. Nobody moved.

Soon enough, tears were streaming down my cheeks, mourning the loss of everything that I'd ever known. 

Bitna, Chaewon and Junseo would all leave tomorrow itself, and I would be alone, left in a city where the only company I would have was my husband.

"Are you going to cry all night?"

"Easy for you to say," I whispered bitterly. "You have everything here, I'm leaving my whole world,"

"You will learn to love Daegu," He said simply, voice just as cold as it was all those years ago. "And you'll also learn to not be afraid of me,"

"How do I know that you won't touch me tonight?"

The lights came back on as Chan sat up on the bed, pulling me up with him. There were only a few centimetres between us as he placed a hand over his heart, over his tattoo which signified his loyalty to the Daegu Crime Family.

"I swear, I won't try to take you or touch you in any form tonight," He said coolly. "Bound by blood,"

My hand covered his, my tears sticky on my cheek as I repeated the words softly. "Bound by blood,"

Chan seemed satisfied as he flicked the switch off once more and we lay on our sides of the bed. He hadn't gone to sleep, and neither had I, but he had made an oath.

And one thing I knew was that he wouldn't break it.