I Married the Devil Who Ruined My Father’s Life

Nina’s POV

In Bayport, there was one man everyone feared, Fabian Wolfe, the cold-blooded kingpin with a trail of blood behind him. But no matter how ruthless he was, everyone knew he had a soft spot that no one could touch.

Me.

Yeah, I was the first girl he ever loved, and the only one who ever really mattered.

All it took was one word from me, and Fabian, who had his hands in everything from backroom deals to underground syndicates, dismantled all his underground operations, turning everything into charities.

He used to call me pure, even saying I was like an angel and that loving me was the one thing in his life that felt clean. Sweet, even.

And God help me, I believed him.

Right after I graduated, I went completely against my dad’s wishes and married him without any hesitation.

For the next five years, Fabian made me feel like I was his entire damn universe. Outside, he was the devil in a suit. At home, he cooked dinner and rubbed my feet like it was his joy.

The same man who never bowed to anyone? Fabian treated my parents like royalty.

Even when Dad was arrested, Fabian remained steadfast. He stayed with me, contacted lawyers, used his own money, and did everything possible to free Dad.

But all that changed on the day of the trial.

Our one key witness, Elena Smith, never showed. The entire case was a clear win for self-defense, but without her, Dad was convicted of manslaughter.

And when the sentence was announced, Fabian was the first person in that courtroom to stand up and clap.

I lost it.

I went looking for the witness, desperate to know what the hell happened.

When I found her, Elena wouldn’t even let me finish a sentence.

She slapped me hard across the face.

“You think I wanted this? Your husband kidnapped my parents. He said if I testified, they’d disappear. What the hell did you expect me to do?!”

I stood there, stunned, my face stinging, my whole body going numb.

That’s when Fabian walked up behind me.

“Nina,” he said, his tone calm like this wasn’t the end of my world. “Sadie’s brother is dead. Someone’s gotta take the fall.”

He looked me straight in the eye like he wasn’t ripping me apart from the inside out.

“Your dad’s just doing a few years. Let it go.”

——

‘Let it go?’ I blinked as I thought about it.

Just last night, Fabian held me and whispered that justice would never let us down. He swore he’d make things right. And now he’s here, ensuring my dad takes the blame.

I staggered back, choking on my own disbelief.

I grabbed his collar with both hands and screamed through clenched teeth.

“Why?! Fabian, why would you do this? You know my dad is innocent! How could you?!”

But Fabian just peeled my hands off gently and held them in his palm.

His eyes were cold and indifferent as he replied, “I told you. Your dad killed someone. He has to answer for that.”

I reasoned, “It was self-defense. If Dad hadn’t fought back, he would’ve—”

Fabian cut me off, flat and cold. “That doesn’t matter. I made a promise to Sadie. I told her I’d protect her. Her life’s already shattered. I won’t let it be stained, too.”

I stared at him, barely able to speak. “So what you’re saying is that my dad’s life means nothing?”

“You’re worried about Sadie’s name,” I continued, still furious. “But what about me? What about my dad? How the hell do we clean the blood off our hands?”

He sighed like I was the unreasonable one.

Frowning, Fabian said, “You don’t have to. You’re my wife. Who’s gonna say anything bad about you? When your dad gets out, I’ll send him and your mom abroad. Quiet life. No more drama.”

I let out a bitter laugh. Tears streamed down quickly, hot and uncontrollable.

“So that’s it, huh? We just live life on your terms now?”

Fabian’s jaw tightened. “Nina, be reasonable. It’s over.”

‘Reasonable?’

That word echoed in my head like a sick joke.

I yanked my hands out of his grasp. “What if I’m not?”

Fabian’s whole expression shifted. His signature glare, the one that shut people down without lifting a finger, swept over him.

“You know the deal. Without that witness, you can scream and file appeals till you’re blue in the face. Nothing’s gonna change. And besides...”

Then he leaned in close, voice low, breath brushing my cheek. But his gaze slid right past me.

“You don’t want someone else to die for your stubbornness, do you, Nina?”

My heart dropped.

I turned around instinctively.

Elena Smith—the witness...

She stood directly behind me, stiff as a board, biting her lip so hard it turned white. Her face looked drained of color, as if all her blood had suddenly vanished.

I knew immediately that after what had just happened, Elena would never testify for my dad.