Chapter 4: A Pact with the Devil

Vincent about the terms of their unusual arrangement.

"Sophia, my dear," Vincent said with a sly smile, "in exchange for your cooperation as my marriage partner, I'll consider your debt paid. And when we eventually divorce, rest assured, you'll receive a substantial sum of money."

"Sophia, my dear," Vincent said with a sly smile, "in exchange for your cooperation as my marriage partner, I'll consider your debt paid. And when we eventually divorce, rest assured, you'll receive a substantial sum of money."

Sophia, grappling with the harsh realities of her situation, took a moment to absorb Vincent's proposition. After a heavy sigh, she reluctantly accepted the wedding offer, determined to salvage some semblance of a normal life.

However, her practical side emerged. "Before we proceed, Vincent, I want a contract. Three conditions from each of us, clearly outlined. Agreed?"

Vincent, intrigued by her request, nodded in agreement. Vincent, his pen poised over the paper, began to write his terms.

Vincent's Conditions:

1.Stay with me for at least one year; no running away.

2.Do not engage in any other relationships while married to me.

3.Have a child with me.

Upon reading Vincent's demands, Sophia's expression shifted from contemplation to fury. "You expect me to agree to these? Are you out of your mind?"

Vincent, revealing a darker side, grew intimidating. He pushed Sophia against the wall, asserting, "A beggar can't be a chooser. Consider yourself lucky that I'm giving you the chance to escape this debt. Many who owe me end up working for me for life, trapped in this hell."

Fear gripped Sophia as she realized the gravity of her predicament. From the very beginning, her fate seemed entwined with Vincent's, and she reluctantly accepted the inevitable.

Attempting to regain control, Sophia held her ground. "Fine, I'll agree to your terms, but remember this, Vincent—I'm not doing this willingly. You've backed me into a corner."

Sophia wrote her terms reluctantly.

Sophia's Conditions:

After our divorce, you will never enter my life again.

Send me pictures of our child every three months.

During our marriage, you must protect me from any threats.

Vincent, unfazed by her defiance, smirked after reading Sophia's terms ."Impressive, Miss Lane. You may be scared, but you didn't hesitate to lay down your own conditions. You're ensuring you get out of this tiger's den alive. But I'm curious about your second term—why the insistence on pictures of the child?"

Sophia, a hint of sadness in her eyes, responded, "Because, no matter what, that child is mine. I may not be part of his daily life, but I have the right to see him grow. Think of it as having me as a backup guardian—a silent presence in his life."

Vincent, pondering her words, seemed intrigued but said nothing more. As tensions eased, he instructed Sophia to prepare for the impending wedding on Sunday.

The day arrived, and they had a simple ceremony in a quiet church. The only witnesses were Vincent's trusted men and the solemn priest who officiated the union.

After the ceremony, Vincent's father made an unexpected appearance. Congratulating his son, he delivered a cryptic message, "You only have a year, Vincent. Remember that."

As Vincent and Sophia embarked on this uncertain journey, the weight of their choices and the ominous reminder of a limited timeframe hung over them. The simple wedding was just the beginning of a complex and challenging chapter in their intertwined lives.

Sophia's arrival at Vincent's mansion felt more like a silent procession than a joyous celebration. The grand entrance, adorned with opulence, seemed to absorb her presence without a trace of welcome. As she stepped through the threshold, the imposing atmosphere of the mansion enveloped her, and the echo of her footsteps reverberated through the cavernous halls.

Only a solitary maid, wearing a uniform as cold as the surroundings, materialized to guide Sophia through the labyrinthine corridors. The maid's curt nod and expressionless face conveyed a stark indifference, a stark contrast to the warmth one might expect on such an occasion.

Meanwhile, Vincent was attended by a retinue of servants, each going about their duties with precision. Sophia caught glimpses of them in the distance, moving like shadows against the backdrop of grandeur. They were efficient but detached, adding to the palpable sense of isolation she felt.

In the bridal chamber, the maid gestured towards the extravagant setting with an apathetic tone. "This is where you'll be staying. Mr. Vincent's room is down the hall." Without waiting for a response, the maid withdrew, leaving Sophia alone in the ornate room that felt more like a gilded cage.

As Sophia prepared for the wedding ceremony, the absence of familial laughter and the hum of excitement underscored the emptiness surrounding her. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant hum of the mansion's machinery and the muffled sounds of Vincent's preparations.

The ceremony itself was devoid of the usual wedding cheer. In the cold embrace of the church walls, Sophia and Vincent exchanged vows with only the priest as a witness. The absence of a congregation magnified the solemnity of the occasion, amplifying the weight of their unconventional union.

After the ceremony, Vincent's father, the only familial figure present, offered a nod of approval to his son. His presence, too, felt more like an acknowledgment of duty than a heartfelt congratulation.

As the newlyweds returned to the mansion, the grand reception Sophia might have imagined was replaced by an eerie quiet. The servants, efficient in their tasks, avoided eye contact, as if acknowledging the peculiarity of the situation.

In the following days, the mansion's vastness became both a refuge and a prison. Sophia wandered through the echoing halls, her solitude punctuated only by the distant sounds of Vincent's interactions with his cadre of servants. Despite the elaborate surroundings, she felt like an intruder in a place that refused to embrace her.

Vincent, immersed in his own world of obligations and responsibilities, seemed a distant figure. The servants, while dutiful, maintained a professional distance, making Sophia feel like a guest rather than a resident in her supposed home.

The realization dawned on Sophia that this mansion, with its grandeur and austere beauty, was not built to welcome her. It was a fortress of obligation, a place where duty overshadowed the warmth of companionship.

As Sophia navigated this cold and imposing environment, she clung to the hope that somewhere beneath the layers of formality, there might be a glimpse of humanity that could thaw the icy reception she had received. The journey through the mansion was not just a physical one; it was a quest to uncover the hidden truths beneath the facade of obligation and duty.