Chapter 1: The Wedding Contract

The rain poured heavily against the glass windows of the Villanueva Mansion.

Zara stared at the contract lying on the table, her hands trembling with anger.

"You're selling me," she said coldly.

Her father sighed. "It's for the family's future."

"The family's future?" she laughed bitterly. "Or your business empire?"

Across the room sat the man responsible for her nightmare.

Hudson Devereux.

Tall. Handsome. Dangerous.

He sat quietly, watching her with dark eyes that seemed to see straight through her soul.

"I won't marry him."

Hudson finally spoke. "You don't have a choice."

The room fell silent.

Zara turned toward him. "And what makes you think I'd ever agree to become your wife?"

A small smile appeared my lips.

"Because sooner or later, you'll realize you're already mine."

A chill ran down her spine. For the first time in her life, Zara felt afraid.

Not because of the marriage

But because of the way Hudson looked at her.

Like she was the only thing that existed in his world.

"You seem very sure of yourself."

"I am." Her jaw tightened.

"You don't even know me."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"I know enough."

"No, you don't."

Hudson leaned back in his chair.

"I know you love reading mystery novels."

Zara froze.

"I know you wake up before sunrise whenever you're stressed."

Her heartbeat quickened.

"I know you secretly want to travel the world someday."

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Much smaller.

"How do you know that?"

For the first time, Hudson's expression became unreadable.

"Because I pay attention."

The answer only made her more uncomfortable.

Nobody knew those things.

Not even some of her closest friends.

Yet somehow...

He did...

"What exactly do you want from me?" I asked him.

The question hung in the air.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Hudson leaned forward slightly. "You."

My stomach tightened. "What?"

"You asked what I wanted."

His voice remained calm.

"I want you."

The simplicity of his answer shocked me more than if he had given a long explanation.

No discussion of business.

No mention of family alliances.

Just me.

As though that alone was enough.

I looked away first.

Because somehow, maintaining eye contact felt impossible. The atmosphere in the room became suffocating.

I stood abruptly.

"I'm done."

My father called my name.

I ignored him.

I ignored everyone.

And walked straight out of the room.

My heels clicked loudly against the marble floor as I headed upstairs. Anger burned inside me.

No.

Not anger.

Fear.

The kind of fear I hated admitting. Because fear meant vulnerability. And I refused to be vulnerable.

the moment I reached my bedroom, I slammed the door shut.

Finally.

Silence.

I walked toward the large window overlooking the city. Rain poured from the sky.

The lights below blurred together, everything looked distant.

Unreal.

I crossed my arms tightly.

How had my life become this? One month ago, everything was normal. I was focused on my career.

My future.

My dreams.

Now all anyone cared about was a wedding.

A wedding I never wanted.

A husband I didn't choose.

A future that didn't belong to me.

My phone vibrated.

A message appeared. "Unknown Number"

My heart skipped.

...Unknown Number: You shouldn't stand too close to the window during a storm....

I froze.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

I looked toward the glass.The curtains were open, anyone outside could see me.

My pulse quickened.

Another message arrived.

^^^Unknown Number: "You'll catch a cold."^^^

Fear crawled down my spine.

...Zara: "Who was this?" My fingers shook as I typed....

Who is this?

The reply came immediately.

...Unknown Number: "Hudson."...

My breath stopped.

I stared at the screen.Then at the dark city outside, then back at the screen.

How did he have my number?

And more importantly...

How did he know I was standing by the window?

I stepped away from the glass

My heart pounding

The phone vibrated again

...Unknown Number: "Goodnight, Zara."...

I didn't reply

I couldn't

Because for the first time since meeting

Hudson Devereux...I realized something terrifying.

This marriage wasn't just an arrangement

And Hudson wasn't interested in a contract.

He was interested in me.

And somehow...

That scared me far more than the wedding itself...

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