IVORY KNIVES

Aveline

I was recovering—still fragile, still hurting—but better. And Ruby... she was different. Still cold, still sharp with that cruel edge, but softer now. Less heartless. I could feel it. She cared, even if she didn't say it in a thousand words. The way she came to my home to take me back—to our home—it said more than her silence ever could.

I was curled up on the couch in the living area, reading a book when she came and sat beside me. Serious face. That unreadable aura. I closed the book, sensing something.

"Aveline… well… I wanted to say something," she began, her neck stretching like she was bracing herself for impact.

Then she dropped it. "Let's go on a honeymoon."

What.

Did she just say honeymoon?

This woman—my mafia husband, cold as steel, allergic to romance—said honeymoon like she wasn't Ruby Daniel.

"What?" I blinked.

She shrugged, acting too casual. "I mean… you need healing. I wanted to give you rest, peace. You might be tired of wandering around the same villa."

Okay. Fair. This villa does feel like it was built for a dark romance series—huge, echoey, haunted by tension. So maybe she had a point. And if this were really a mafia story—which, oh surprise, it is—then they'd totally own multiple mansions, right?

I asked, "Where and when are we going?"

She chuckled, stretching her arm across the couch. "I own jets, Aveline Sun. Whenever you want to go, we'll go."

Okay. She's rich rich. That's confirmed.

I nodded slowly. "Fine. I'll start packing."

She stood and said casually, "We're going to Italy. The place is called Eterna Notte."

Short circuit initiated.

Eterna Notte?

That wasn't just a house—it was a legend. I'd heard rumors. Whispers. Eterna Notte was this massive, fantasy-level mansion owned by the most powerful family in Italy. It didn't feel real. Like it was something from a dream or a mafia fantasy webnovel. I just… never knew the Daniel Sun family was her family.

Ruby noticed my wide eyes and smirked. "You've heard of it, haven't you?"

Busted.

I nodded like an excited puppy. She just smirked and walked upstairs like she hadn't just flipped my world.

I blinked. Okay. Focus. Packing.

Moisturizer—done. Makeup—minimal, but packed. Sunglasses—check. Dresses, nightdress—packed. Wait—Leon?

He barked from the corner. Okay, the baby's ready too.

Ruby walked into the room. "You done, Aveline?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Good. Tomorrow morning, we leave."

---

The Next Morning

We had breakfast together. Calm. Comfortable. Surreal. Then we left for the airport.

And that's when things went from "luxury" to "is this a Netflix mafia series?" real fast.

At the airport, people knew her. They respected her. The way they bowed? The way they whispered "Signora Daniel"? I felt like I was walking beside royalty. Not just anyone—her.

Her jet? Black. Sleek. Giant. Inside? Leather seats, a bed, a sitting area, and a mini fridge. This wasn't a plane. It was a flying penthouse.

Ruby just smirked. "It's nothing, Rabbit. There's a lot more you haven't seen yet."

Girl. CHILL.

We were mid-air, cruising in the sky for almost nine hours. But the moment I stepped off the jet and that golden Italian sunlight hit me—it felt like time stopped. Like the world paused and looked up.

Eterna Notte was waiting.

And what I saw? Unreal.

Luxury cars, matte black, lined up like a goddamn royal convoy. Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Ferraris—purring like mechanical beasts under the Italian sun.

And the people? Bowing.

Not just looking at Ruby. Bowing to her.

"Welcome to Italy, Signora Daniel."

Like she was a war queen returning from battle.

I turned to Ruby. She looked terrifyingly calm—long coat fluttering, dark glasses, eyes unreadable, hair wild like some storm goddess.

I whispered, "Is this all… for you?"

She didn't blink. "No. For us."

Boom. Heart: gone.

The Rolls-Royce door opened like a velvet invitation. I stepped inside, feeling the pull of her world, her power. This wasn't a car ride. This was a declaration.

Locals paused. Guards followed. And I? I couldn't stop staring at her.

This wasn't just my husband. This was Ruby Daniel, mafia heiress of the Daniel Sun bloodline. Ruler of Eterna Notte. And I was beside her. Chosen. Protected. Wanted.

For a girl who used to dance alone with bleeding feet, dreaming of love—I think I just stepped into that dream.

One wrapped in bullets, silk sheets, and a lion-hearted woman.

The drive was quiet. Not awkward—just heavy. Full of unsaid things and long, slow breaths.

I watched the Italian countryside shift. Hills and old trees gave way to something older. Hidden. Like we were driving into a secret no one else could touch.

"Where are we?" I asked.

Ruby just smiled that calm, dangerous smile. "You'll see."

And then… we did.

Eterna Notte.

It wasn't a mansion. Not even a palace. It was a castle. Built from stone and power and history. Ivy clung to ancient walls. Windows stretched like glass waterfalls. Arched towers pierced the sky.

A wrought-iron gate opened without a word.

In the courtyard? A fountain sparkled under the sun.

And the people?

Lined up. Staff in black uniforms—chefs, gardeners, guards, housekeepers—all standing in perfect order.

And at the front? A stablehand, holding the reins of two black horses.

Royal vibes unlocked.

Ruby stepped out first, turned to me, offered her hand like a knight. "Welcome home."

I stepped out, legs jelly. Heart chaos.

She turned to the staff. "She's not a guest. She's my wife. Treat her like me."

Then she slid her arm around my waist and led me inside.

Inside Eterna Notte?

Marble floors. Gold trimming. Chandeliers the size of my whole childhood apartment. Velvet curtains. Glass doors that opened to gardens.

"Seventy-eight rooms," she whispered in my ear.

Gardens. Pools. Secret wine cellar. A painting room.

And horses.

So. Many. Horses.

Every step felt like walking into someone else's fantasy.

Except it was mine now.

As we passed a hallway draped in art and silence, Ruby whispered—

"This place... it's always been mine. But now—it breathes because of you."

I turned to her. "Ruby…"

She didn't let me finish. Just pressed her lips to my forehead.

"You're safe here. No one touches you here. Not even fate."

And for the first time in weeks… I believed her.

I was in the place people only whisper about. Living in a dream castle that shouldn't exist. And the owner?

She was the girl who once broke me. Now she was the one rebuilding me.

We don't love each other yet. But we also don't hate each other anymore.

Maybe here, in Eterna Notte—we'll figure out what we are. Together.