In the cold region that stretches wide between Germany’s mountains and dense forests, lies a territory untouched by regular law. In this place, guns are more respected than justice, and fear is more valuable than promises. The area is known as Zweigrund, and there is not a single soul within its borders who does not know one name: Antonio Brandon.

At the age of 31, Antonio had built a criminal empire so vast that his power gripped illegal logging, gold smuggling routes, and northern underground politics with brutal efficiency. No one dared to challenge him. He was a king without a crown—his iron hand eliminating anyone who stood in his way, without warning. Ruthless. Silent. Scarred by wounds he never allowed to heal.

But power that immense always comes with a price. One of those prices was maintaining alliances with the Von Drexler family—CEOs of the largest gold mining company in Bavaria. And since their youngest daughter was too wild to be controlled, the alliance was sealed in the only way strong enough to tame destruction:

Marriage.

She was the complete opposite of Antonio: Young. Furious. Loud, and unafraid to push back. She had fallen for a boy her own age, David—a reckless slacker who only dragged her name deeper into disgrace. When their final scandal erupted—running away from school for three days to attend an underground festival—her father saw no other option but to strip all her freedom... and hand her over to the most dangerous man in the region: Antonio Brandon.

The wedding happened fast. No party. No smiles. No love. Antonio wasn’t interested in teenage drama. He simply wanted to lock in political power and tame the bratty daughter like he tamed the wilderness.

But from the very first night, everything started to shift.

She refused to share the same bed. She even placed a pillow wall between them, glaring at Antonio as if he were a monster lurking in a dark hallway. Antonio said nothing. But in his silence, a storm brewed.

He was not a patient man. He was used to taking what he wanted by force. But for the first time... he found himself more intrigued by watching this stubborn girl than destroying her.