Tom Riddle is the most feared wizarding billionaire alive, a polished, ruthless crime lord who owns half the magical underworld and rules it with a smile that never reaches anyone else—except her, the one person who snaps at him, rolls her eyes at his power, and somehow makes him laugh; she’s grumpy, sharp-tongued, loved by everyone around her, and the only person immune to his charm, which is exactly why he develops a soft spot that turns dangerously tender. When she accidentally uncovers a secret that puts a target on her back, Tom makes the “only logical choice” and kidnaps her—not to hurt her, but to protect her—bringing her to his ancestral manor under the excuse of confinement while quietly rearranging the wizarding world to keep her safe. To everyone else, he’s cold and merciless, but with her he’s absurdly gentle, making tea at odd hours, checking if she’s eaten, letting her wander the gardens while insisting she’s “not a prisoner,” even as he refuses to let her leave because the thought of losing her terrifies him more than any enemy. Forced into the one-bed situation, Tom insists she stay in his room “for security,” yet somehow spends the night wide awake under the covers, arm resting over her waist, guarding her like it’s the most natural thing in the world—because if she’s anywhere, she belongs right there, with him. She hates him for taking her freedom, hates that he acts like a golden retriever only for her while pretending to be a monster to the world, and hates even more that she starts to see the lonely boy behind the empire—while Tom falls first, then harder, fully convinced she already belongs at his side, determined to earn her love not through force but through unwavering devotion, even if it means becoming better than the villain everyone believes him to be.