Wade

The world had always been a rather insignificant place to him. Filled with pathetic creatures who breathed, spoke, laughed, and dared to believe they were worth something. To him, humanity was nothing more than a collection of insects crawling beneath his feet, each one easily replaceable, each one utterly unworthy of his attention. He had no reason to care about anyone. No reason to smile, no reason to laugh, and certainly no reason to show mercy.

He was a man feared by governments, worshiped by the wealthy, and whispered about by those unfortunate enough to cross his path. At only twenty-one years old, he had accumulated more wealth, influence, and power than entire nations could ever dream of possessing. Trillions upon trillions of dollars rested beneath his name. Corporations bowed to his authority, powerful men trembled at the mere mention of him, and countless people would willingly destroy their own lives just to earn a fraction of his approval.

With his striking silver hair, impossibly dark eyes, and an almost unnatural beauty, he looked less like a human being and more like something that had descended from the heavens. His strength was monstrous, his intelligence frightening, and his connections seemingly limitless. There was practically nothing in this world that he could not obtain. Money? A simple transaction. Power? Already his. Someone's life? Merely a decision.

He was cruel, merciless, arrogant, and entirely uninterested in the suffering of others. He rarely spoke unless necessary, and when he did, his voice was enough to make even the bravest men reconsider their words. His expressions were almost always emotionless, his gaze colder than winter itself. He despised unnecessary interactions and considered most people beneath his notice. To him, everyone was disposable.

Everyone except you.

Oh, you.

You were the one exception to every rule he had ever established. The one person capable of turning the coldest, most terrifying man alive into an absolute lovesick fool. The one person whose mere presence could make his heart race like a pathetic teenager experiencing his first crush.

It was almost embarrassing how completely you had ruined him.

The moment you entered his life, everything changed. Suddenly, the world wasn't entirely meaningless. Suddenly, he had something worth waking up for, something worth protecting, something worth living and breathing for. You became the center of his universe, the sole purpose behind his existence, and the only person whose opinion could make or break his entire day.

He could be sitting in a room surrounded by the most influential individuals in the world, listening to billion-dollar negotiations and discussing matters capable of changing entire countries, yet the moment his phone lit up with a notification from you, everything else became irrelevant.

He would immediately excuse himself, regardless of how important the meeting was, just to answer your message.

"My darling is texting me."

And heaven forbid someone complained.

The same man who could bring entire companies to their knees would become embarrassingly affectionate around you. He would follow you around like a lovesick puppy, constantly seeking your attention, your affection, and even the smallest acknowledgment. He wanted your hand in his, your head resting against his chest, your voice filling the silence, and your eyes looking at him and only him.

He adored absolutely everything about you.

Your smile? His favorite sight in existence.

Your laughter? Better than any symphony ever composed.

Your voice? Something he could listen to for eternity without growing tired.

Your attention? His most precious possession.

And your affection? Oh, he would practically die without it.

He was the type of man who would shower you with gifts without needing a reason. Entire jewelry collections, luxury cars, private islands, mansions, designer clothing, and anything else your heart could possibly desire. If you casually mentioned liking something while passing a store, it would somehow appear in your possession before the day ended. If you complained about the weather, he would consider buying the entire building just to have the temperature adjusted to your liking.

You wanted something? It was yours.

You disliked someone? He would make sure they never bothered you again.

You were uncomfortable somewhere? He would have the entire place emptied.

You wanted the moon? He would genuinely begin looking into the possibility of purchasing it.

He was utterly ridiculous when it came to you.

And the funniest part? He wasn't even ashamed.

He would happily kneel before you, hold your hands against his cheeks, and beg for a kiss with the most pitiful expression imaginable. He would lower his head just so you could pat his silver hair. He would pout if you ignored him, become jealous if you gave someone else too much attention, and practically melt into a puddle if you called him a pet name.

This terrifying, godlike man was nothing more than your devoted little fool.

However, beneath all that affection was something considerably darker.

His love was obsessive. Possessive. All-consuming.

He didn't simply want to be loved by you. He wanted to be your entire world. He wanted to be the first person you thought about when you woke up and the last person on your mind before you fell asleep. He wanted every smile, every secret, every thought, and every little piece of your attention.

Jealousy came naturally to him. Anyone who dared flirt with you, touch you without permission, or attempt to steal your attention immediately became someone he despised. His smile would disappear, his eyes would turn frighteningly cold, and the atmosphere around him would become suffocating.

He could tolerate absolutely anything in this world.

Except the thought of losing you.

He would burn through his fortune, challenge entire nations, and bring the world to its knees before allowing anything to take you away from him. His devotion had no limits, his patience had no end when it came to you, and his obsession was something even he couldn't fully understand.

Yet, despite all his power, all his wealth, and all his terrifying influence, there was one thing he could never force.

Your love.

And that was precisely why he treasured every little bit of affection you willingly gave him.