SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

Now let the games begin.

Mr. Lee’s cold fingers lingered at her jaw for a moment longer before he pulled back, that dark satisfaction in his gaze seeming to deepen.

He inclined his head slightly, as if acknowledging her decision, and gestured to follow him farther into the chamber.

Just as they were about to step deeper into the room, another presence emerged from the shadows—a tall figure with sharp features and an air of quiet authority. Sophia recognized him immediately: Kai, Mr. Lee’s enigmatic personal assistant. His eyes, usually distant and neutral, held a strange intensity now as he looked at her.

“Kai,” Mr. Lee said in a low tone, “I assume everything is prepared?”

Kai’s gaze flicked to Mr. Lee and then back to Sophia, something unreadable in his eyes. “Yes, sir. We’ve kept it sealed for as long as you requested.” He hesitated, then added, “But bringing her here… it changes things.”

Sophia couldn’t shake the sense that she was standing on the edge of something vast and ancient, and that these two men—more than men, she realized now—held the keys to mysteries she could hardly begin to comprehend.

Mr. Lee turned to her, his gaze sharp. “This world, Sophia, isn’t one of mere secrets and shadows. It has… layers. Realms that few can even comprehend. Now, if you’re prepared, we’ll move deeper.”

He led her down another narrow corridor off the main chamber, the walls lined with strange inscriptions that pulsed faintly with light as they passed. Kai followed silently, his steps eerily soundless.

“Where are we going?” Sophia asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the air pressing down on her.

Mr. Lee didn’t look back, his tone as chilling as ever. “To the heart of it all. To the place where I draw my power.”

Sophia could feel the energy intensify around them as they reached another door, more ornate than the first, with intricate patterns carved into the wood. Mr. Lee placed his hand against it, murmuring words she couldn’t understand.

The symbols glowed, and the door swung open, revealing a space that seemed to defy reality itself.

Inside, a vast, circular room stretched out before her, its walls a mosaic of shimmering colors that shifted and changed like a kaleidoscope.

The floor was covered in a swirling mist, cold and thick, clinging to her feet as she stepped inside. Around the edges of the room were towering pillars, each with a strange object atop it—artifacts that seemed to hum with power.

But at the center of the room was what caught her attention most: a massive, glowing pool, filled with an otherworldly, dark liquid that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

“What… is this place?” Sophia breathed, feeling both fear and awe course through her.

“This,” Mr. Lee said, his voice echoing, “is my source. The heart of my power.” His gaze settled on her, cold and piercing. “The pool you see holds a bond far older than you or I. It requires loyalty, sacrifice… and courage.”

Kai stepped forward, his voice calm but intense. “Only those bound to Mr. Lee can withstand its pull. It’s the origin of his strength, and the reason he commands fear and loyalty.”

Sophia felt a shiver run through her, but she took a step closer, mesmerized by the dark, shifting liquid in the pool.

It felt alive, like it was watching her, waiting.

° Lucian is utterly far from different°

Mr. Lee’s hand closed around her wrist, gentle but unyielding. “You’ve agreed to my terms, Sophia,” he muttered, his voice dark and smooth.

“Now you must prove it. The pool will accept you only if you’re truly bound to me, if you’re willing to surrender everything.”

° Sophia what've you put yourself into°

She swallowed, the weight of his words settling over her like a mantle. She could feel Kai’s gaze on her, assessing, but she kept her focus on Mr. Lee.

“I already told you, Lucian. I’m yours,” she whispered, though the finality of the words made her heart race.

° How the hell did this slip from my tongue? °

He gave a small nod, his eyes unreadable. “Then step forward, Sophia. And let the pool seal your fate.”

Her feet felt like lead as she approached the edge of the pool. The dark liquid seemed to reach out to her, its surface rippling as if eager for her touch.

She hesitated, glancing back at Mr. Lee. His face was expressionless, cold and unwavering.

She took a deep breath, then stepped forward, reaching out to touch the surface of the pool. The moment her fingers made contact, a shock of cold shot up her arm, and a rush of images flooded her mind—glimpses of otherworldly places, dark forests, burning cities, shadowy figures with eyes that glowed in the dark.

Her vision swam, and she could barely hear Mr. Lee’s voice as he spoke from somewhere far away. “You’re seeing it now, Sophia. The realm that lies just beyond ours. It’s a place few have ever glimpsed, and once you’re bound to it… to me… you’ll never be free of it.”

°.............°

The pool seemed to pull at her, urging her to step in completely, to give herself over. But then she felt another hand on her shoulder—Kai’s, steadying her, grounding her.

“Be strong, Sophia,” he murmured, his voice unexpectedly gentle. “This isn’t a place for fear. If you want to survive this, you need to embrace it, to become part of it.”

Sophia nodded, her vision clearing as she focused on the feel of Mr. Lee’s and Kai’s hands anchoring her.

She took a step forward, fully immersing herself in the pool, the dark liquid swirling up around her like a living thing, wrapping her in a cocoon of shadows and power.

For a brief moment, she felt as though she were drowning, sinking into darkness. But then, the shadows eased, and she felt something shift within her—a new strength, a bond that pulsed in time with Mr. Lee’s gaze.

She emerged from the pool, gasping, feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. Mr. Lee was watching her with a look she couldn’t quite place—cold, yes, but something else, too.

“You survived,” he said, almost to himself, his voice low. “You’re truly mine now, Sophia.”

° You're the first to survive. Samantha.... Samantha. I've no choice but get married with you. Just for mom°

Kai’s gaze held a mixture of respect and caution as he looked at her, his usual distant mask replaced with something almost warm.

Mr. Lee’s hand brushed her cheek, his touch as cold as ever. “Welcome to my world, Sophia. You’ve taken the first step. But know this: what you saw tonight was only a taste.”

Her heart raced as his words echoed in the silence, a promise of darkness yet to come. She felt both afraid and alive, drawn deeper into the shadows of his world.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Sophia took a steadying breath, feeling the pull of the darkness and her new bond to him. “Yes,” she answered, her voice firm.

Mr. Lee’s smile was dark, but there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Then let the games begin.”