Vicious 20 (Patreon)

Authors note: hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I know this is long overdue and I'm sorry for that. I've just been stressing a lot about my school tuition and getting little sleep which has inverted my sleeping schedule. On top of it, I have to prepare for the final exams. I guess my mental health is struggling :/

Does anyone have suggestions on how to get more exposure on Tumblr?

Y/N stood by Harry’s side at the grand dinner reception, surrounded by the people who now, technically, shared her last name. Yet, despite the pride and congratulations offered by guests, she felt distant, like a stranger adrift in an unfamiliar sea. The chandeliers cast a soft glow over the polished marble floors and elegantly set tables, with waitstaff gliding between guests carrying trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. She smoothed her gown, feeling its weight almost as heavily as the stares from men who assessed her as though sizing up a piece of the family’s empire.

Harry noticed her stiff posture and leaned close, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. “You all right?” he murmured, his voice low, but his gaze steady, searching hers for any sign of comfort.

Y/N forced a small smile and nodded. “Just… adjusting, I suppose.”

But the truth was more complicated. She felt like a guest in her own celebration, an outsider in his world. These men looked at her not with warmth, but with scrutiny, curiosity mixed with a hint of distrust. They spoke to her as though she were a symbol rather than a person—a woman marked by her family’s history, her father’s shadow casting over her.

As another round of introductions finished, Federico approached, offering a brief, polite nod. “A lovely evening, isn’t it?” he remarked with an air of formality that bordered on mocking. “You’ve done well for yourself, Y/N. Your mother would be…proud.”

The comment stung, and she bit back a retort, aware that Harry’s fingers pressed gently against her back, a silent reminder to keep her calm.

“Thank you,” she replied, her voice steady though her heart raced. “I hope to live up to her strength.”

Federico’s gaze lingered on her a moment too long, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as if he could see through her composed demeanor. “Strength, yes. That’s something you’ll need here,” he said, his tone just sharp enough to unsettle her. “After all, loyalty to this family—your new family—requires a kind of resolve not everyone is built for.”

Harry’s posture shifted subtly, his arm tightening around her. “She’s shown more strength than you’ll ever give her credit for,” he said, his words edged with a protective firmness that sent a flicker of warning in Federico’s eyes.

“Indeed,” Federico replied, dismissing the tension with a smooth smile. “Enjoy the evening, you two.”

He walked off, and Y/N released the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Her hands felt clammy, her heart still racing.

As the soft notes of Frank Sinatra faded, Harry gave Y/N’s hand a gentle squeeze before they returned to their place at the edge of the dance floor. They had moved in perfect unison, but with the music gone, the reality of the crowded room returned, bringing with it the weight of polite company.

Almost on cue, a tall figure stepped forward, making a beeline towards them. Harry tensed slightly, his polite smile growing fixed as he recognized the man—an older cousin from his mother’s side, Leonard, who rarely made appearances unless it suited him. Leonard was known for his penchant for flaunting his wealth, a habit that grated on even the most patient members of the family.

“Harry!” Leonard greeted him with an overly hearty clap on the back. “So, you’re a married man now, eh? Well, it was about time. Some of us started early and now have a bit more to show for it, wouldn’t you say?”

Harry’s smile remained firmly in place, though Y/N sensed the slight shift in his posture, his hand tightening around hers.

“Leonard,” he nodded, his tone polite but cool. “Good to see you could make it.”

Leonard turned to Y/N, giving her an appraising look. “So, this is the woman who managed to tie you down? Looks like you’re a lucky man after all. Hope you’ve made sure to protect the family name, eh? It’s a big role you’ve taken on.”

Y/N forced a gracious smile, nodding while inwardly cringing at his smug tone and condescending words. She could tell Harry was just as irritated, but he maintained his composure, his hand gently pressing against her back.

“And how is business?” Leonard continued without waiting for a response, his voice dripping with the usual arrogance. “It’s a good year for some of us. Investments are on the rise, not that you’d understand, Y/N.” He let out a chuckle as if he’d made a joke, while Y/N held her expression steady, refusing to react.

“We’re glad it’s going well for you, Leonard,” Harry replied, his voice smooth but with an unmistakable edge. “It’s always refreshing to hear about your success.”

Leonard took a sip of his champagne, eyeing Harry with a smirk. “Well, I’m sure we’ll be hearing about you two settling down somewhere quaint. Can’t have you getting too ambitious now, can we?” He laughed at his own remark before giving them a parting nod and slipping off into the crowd, undoubtedly on the lookout for his next audience.

When he was out of earshot, Y/N exhaled, shaking her head slightly. “He really is something, isn’t he?”

“Something,” Harry muttered, giving her a wry smile. “Let’s avoid him for the rest of the night.”

Harry watched Leonard disappear into the crowd, his jaw tightening before he muttered, “I’m absolutely sick and tired of my extended family.”

Y/N let out a laugh, her shoulders relaxing for the first time that evening. “I can see why,” she replied, amused by the idea that Leonard’s personality was already a thorn even for Harry. Then, a glint of humor sparked in her eyes. “What’s funny is that I’ve met Leonard before, ages ago. I guess I didn’t make enough of an impression for him to remember.”

Harry raised an eyebrow, his irritation briefly replaced with curiosity. “You have? I can’t believe he didn’t recognize you. Where did you meet?”

She grinned. “It was one of those dreadful, stuffy dinners my father hosted back in Milan. Leonard was there trying to sell his grand business schemes to everyone within earshot.” She chuckled. “He was so engrossed in bragging about his latest venture that he barely looked at anyone else in the room.”

Harry snorted. “That sounds exactly like him. If he’s talking, he’s not listening.”

Y/N gave him a conspiratorial smile. “Well, at least tonight I had the chance to enjoy his antics from the other side.”

Harry grinned back, their quiet laughter becoming a rare moment of understanding between them amidst the crowd.

As the laughter between them faded, Harry noticed Silas approaching, his stride as confident as ever, his expression unreadable yet with a glint of something dark behind his eyes. He stopped just beside them, glancing between them both with a smirk.

“Mind if I steal the bride for a dance, brother?” Silas asked, his tone smooth but laced with the hint of a challenge.

Harry’s jaw clenched, every fiber of him wanting to refuse. Silas’s presence alone seemed to darken the air around them, and the thought of him dancing with Y/N—especially on their wedding day—felt like a deliberate taunt. But Harry forced himself to stay composed. He wasn’t going to create a scene, not here. He gave a curt nod instead, though he felt every word he wanted to say searing on his tongue.

As they swayed in the rhythm of the music, Y/N kept her gaze angled away, catching Harry’s figure in the distance. He stood by the bar, a glass of scotch in hand, his posture tense. Lex leaned in, whispering something close to his ear while subtly covering his mouth, their conversation evidently private and pressing. She turned her attention back to Silas as he leaned in closer, voice dropping to a taunting murmur.

“I can’t believe you actually went through with it,” Silas drawled, his mouth curling into a condescending smile. “Very silly decision.”

Y/N arched a brow, keeping her tone cool. “Duty is something you wouldn’t understand, Silas. It was my duty to marry Harry. And in any case, I was never truly part of the Italians. I’ve always been on my own.”

Silas chuckled darkly, the sound rumbling in a way that made her stomach twist. “Oh, you’ll regret marrying him. Mark my words.”

She narrowed her eyes, leaning in just enough to match his tone. “If you’re about to mention Harry’s past with other women, save it. I already know, so spare me the details.”

Silas’s eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. “Oh, I’m not talking about that,” he said, voice silkier, more sinister. “I’m talking about the fall of this entire family. You’re all going to die, one by one, like flies. And maybe—just maybe—I’d consider protecting you from that fate.”

Her steps faltered, her hand stiffening in his. For a moment, the room around her faded, her breath catching at the weight of his words.

Y/N felt a chill as Silas tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her slightly closer until his face was mere inches from hers, his expression devoid of warmth or even the thin veneer of politeness he’d maintained earlier.

“You don’t understand what’s coming,” he whispered, his tone laced with venom. “I have very special plans for Harry. Can’t wait to get my hands on him—and believe me, neither can the Italians.” His eyes glinted with dark satisfaction, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. “You think your loyalty to him means anything? When they come for him, he’ll be nothing more than a pawn, just like you are now.”

Y/N swallowed, every instinct telling her to pull away, but she held her ground. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. “Harry’s stronger than you think,” she said, meeting his gaze defiantly, though her voice was steady. “And so am I. If you’re trying to scare me, it won’t work.”

Silas chuckled, the sound low and menacing. “Oh, you silly girl,” he murmured mockingly. “It’s not fear I want—it’s to make sure you’re watching, knowing you can’t do a thing when it all collapses. Harry’s blind to the threats around him, too distracted by his new bride,” he sneered, eyes glancing toward Harry at the bar. “You’ll see soon enough how foolish you were, chaining yourself to a sinking ship.”

With a sharp turn, he released her hand, his eyes flashing with cold amusement as he stepped back. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Mrs. Styles,” he mocked, giving a small bow as though they’d merely had a casual dance.

Y/N watched as he retreated, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and unease.