THE MAN THEY TRIED TO ERASE

3

The room was dark except for the faint golden glow of the chandelier above. Finn lay sprawled across the enormous silk sheets, his chest rising and falling slowly. His body was exhausted, yet his mind was anything but still. Sleep came heavy, dragging him into its depths like an undertow.

And then the nightmare began.

It was four years ago—sharp, vivid, cruel. Rain poured in relentless sheets, soaking his thin shirt until it clung to his skin. Two men in white uniforms held his arms, their grips like iron shackles. Finn fought with every ounce of strength, kicking, screaming, but their hold only tightened.

“Let me go!” he roared, his voice breaking against the storm. “I’m not crazy! I’m not—!”

The men ignored him. Their faces were blank, professional, as if his desperation meant nothing. They dragged him toward a black van waiting by the curb, its doors yawning open like the mouth of a beast.

And then he saw them.

Daniella. His wife. Her hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place despite the rain. She stood beneath an umbrella held by Hans, the man Finn once called a friend. Hans’s arm wrapped protectively around her waist, pulling her close. Daniella did not push him away.

Behind them, Daniella’s parents and brothers watched with cold disdain, whispering to one another like spectators at an execution.

“Daniella!” Finn’s voice cracked as they shoved him closer to the van. His shoes scraped the wet pavement, leaving streaks of mud. “Daniella, look at me! You know I’m not insane! Tell them! Tell them the truth!”

But Daniella’s eyes refused to meet his. Her lips trembled, yet no sound came.

Hans leaned down, whispering something into her ear that made her grip the umbrella tighter. She only shook her head slowly, tears threatening but never falling.

Finn thrashed harder, the veins in his neck straining. “Daniella! It’s me! I’m your husband! How can you let them do this? I loved you! I gave you everything!”

His voice was raw, torn open with betrayal.

The men forced him inside the van. Leather straps pinned his wrists, buckles clicked shut around his ankles. He fought like an animal, but the more he moved, the tighter they bound him.

From the corner of his eye, Finn caught Daniella finally glancing at him. Her face was pale, her eyes glassy. And then, just before the door slammed, he saw Hans tilt her chin up and kiss her temple, like a victor claiming his prize.

“No! Daniella!” Finn’s scream echoed as the metal doors closed, cutting off his view, cutting off his life. The sound of rain and laughter from outside faded, replaced by the hollow silence of confinement.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Finn’s eyes shot open. His chest heaved, sweat dripping down his temples despite the cool air of Ruth’s mansion bedroom. For a moment, he didn’t know where he was. The nightmare clung to him, every detail burned fresh. His pulse still thundered in his ears.

And then he turned his head.

Beside him lay Ruth. Her silver hair spilled across the pillow, her lips curved into a faint smile even in sleep. She looked peaceful, almost angelic, though her beauty was aged, refined by decades.

Finn stared at her for a long moment, his breath slowing. The scent of expensive perfume and silk sheets grounded him in the present. Not the asylum. Not Daniella. Not Hans. Here, in this strange palace of wealth and loneliness, he had found a new path.

Ruth stirred, her lashes fluttering open. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, landed on Finn. Slowly, a wide smile spread across her face.

“Mmm… you’re still here,” she murmured, her voice husky. She stretched like a cat before curling closer to him, her hand resting on his chest. “Last night… was divine. You… you were divine, Finn.”

Finn chuckled softly, masking the storm still raging inside. “Glad I could meet your expectations, Madam.”

“Madam?” Ruth laughed lightly, smacking his chest playfully. “You make mQe want to bite your tongue!” Her eyes grew serious, searching his face with unnerving intensity. “Finn, I must tell you something.”

He tilted his head, pretending to be curious though his instincts sharpened. “What is it?”

Her fingers tightened against his chest. “I want you. Not just for tonight. Not just for fun. I want you forever.” She inhaled sharply, her voice trembling with a mix of nerves and desire. “Marry me, Finn.”

The room seemed to still.

Finn blinked slowly, then let out a low laugh. “You don’t waste time, do you?”

“I’m too old to waste time,” Ruth said firmly, her eyes glistening. “I have no children, no husband, no one who truly belongs to me. But last night… you gave me something I thought I’d lost long ago. Warmth. Life. Please, Finn. Marry me.”

Finn exhaled, leaning back against the pillows. His smile was charming, but his mind worked like a blade. This was opportunity. This was power. Yet he played the part of the hesitant lover.

“You’re serious,” he muttered, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Deadly serious.”

He traced a finger down her arm, thoughtful. “Then before I say yes… I need to know what ‘forever’ with you really means. What does it come with, Ruth? What life are you offering me?”

Ruth’s lips curved knowingly. Without another word, she slid off the bed, draping a silk robe over her shoulders. She beckoned him with a crooked finger. “Follow me.”

Finn rose, pulling on his trousers, his eyes sharp as he trailed her across the room. Ruth moved with surprising grace, pushing aside a heavy velvet curtain near her bed. Behind it, hidden in plain sight, was a small door made of steel. She pressed her palm against a sensor, and with a soft hiss, the lock clicked open.

The staircase spiraled downward, cool air rising from below.

“After you,” Ruth whispered, her tone playful but her eyes burning with secrets.

They descended into the basement, the sound of their footsteps echoing against stone walls. At the bottom, Ruth flicked on the lights.

Finn froze.

Rows upon rows of shelves stretched before him, each stacked with gleaming gold bars, jewelry encrusted with diamonds, antique coins, and bundles of cash sealed in plastic. At the far end of the room stood a massive vault door, its wheel lock the size of a car tire.

It was wealth beyond imagination.

Finn let out a low whistle, his hand brushing across a crate stacked with bricks of money. “So this… this is what you keep hidden beneath your house.”

Ruth stepped beside him, her eyes gleaming with pride. “Everything you see here is mine. Years of careful investments, of inheritance, of secrets. And soon… it can be yours as well. If you marry me.”

Finn turned slowly, meeting her gaze. He gave her a slow, lazy smile, the kind that both charmed and unsettled. “I see. You’re not just asking for love, Ruth. You’re offering me an empire.”

She lifted her chin defiantly. “Call it whatever you want. I just want to ensure my legacy doesn’t rot away when I’m gone. I want someone by my side who can carry it, who can carry me. And you… you’re perfect.”

Silence stretched between them, thick with promise and danger. Finally, Finn laughed quietly, shaking his head.

“You’re unbelievable.” He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Fine. I’ll be what you want, Ruth. I’ll marry you.”

Her face lit up with radiant joy, tears threatening to fall. She cupped his cheeks, kissing him deeply. When she pulled back, her voice shook with excitement.

“Tomorrow. We’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll call my lawyer tonight and have him draft the documents. A prenuptial agreement, a will, whatever you wish. Everything will be official. You’ll be my husband, Finn. My partner. My heir.”

Finn’s smile never faltered, though his eyes flickered with something darker.