**Introduction**
The Kings family—a dynasty built on power, wealth, and fear. At its apex stands Hades King.
**Hades King**
He wasn’t born into the mafia; he *became* the mafia. A self-made billionaire, he inherited a substantial fortune but forged an empire far beyond his father's reach. Now, the Kings family controls the underworld with a chilling efficiency. His cousins, each a mafia boss in their own right, operate as extensions of his global network.
Hades towers at two meters and seven centimeters—a physical presence as imposing as his reputation. His physique is sculpted, honed by years of ruthless ambition. Eyes the color of glacial ice—those are the windows to a mind that doesn't hesitate. The name 'Hades' isn't spoken; it's whispered, a tremor in the voice of those who know what he’s capable of.
The company, passed to him on his eighteenth birthday, wasn’t merely inherited; it was *transformed*. He expanded its operations, multiplying the Kings family’s already immense wealth. He's a predator in a tailored suit.
His mother, Kate, is the architect of his ruthless streak. She showered him with adoration, fostering a narcissistic worldview where his desires are law. She cares only for him and the social status his power provides.
His father, Liam King, is the anomaly. A flicker of kindness in a family consumed by darkness. Liam would do *anything* for his son. Anything at all.
And then there’s Hope. The target. The obsession. The woman Hades has wanted since childhood. For twenty years, he's held her image in his mind, waiting for the moment he can claim her.
**Hope Green**
She appears ordinary—brown eyes, short brown hair. She lives a quiet life with her parents and sister, Haily. But beneath the surface, she’s a battlefield. Anger flares within her, fueled by depression. She masks it all with a bright smile, a façade of happiness concealing a shattered soul.
**Haily Green**
The younger sister, desperate for attention. Blonde hair and a pretty face—assets she leverages for male attention and expensive gifts. She doesn’t want a partner, she wants a status symbol—a boy with a car that matches her ambition. She despises being overshadowed.
**Rose Green**
Their mother, a beautiful woman who gifted Haily her looks. Rose prioritizes wealth above all else. Family is a means to an end, a stepping stone to a more luxurious life.
**Henry Green**
Hope's father, a lawyer working *for* Hades’ company. Tall, thin, with the same brown hair and eyes as his daughters. He walks a tightrope—loyal to his employer but bound by blood to his family.
Hades decided waiting was over. Enough. The game had to be played, and Hope would be his prize. He was eager to pull her into his orbit, and he began to orchestrate his move in May 2022.