Episode 1: The Contract
The rain was unforgiving that night.
Aria Bennett stood outside the towering Blackwood mansion, her thin dress clinging to her skin as the cold wind sliced through her body. Her fingers trembled around a worn envelopeâthe one that changed her life forever.
Behind her, her motherâs hospital bill.
Ahead of her⌠hell.
The massive iron gates opened slowly.
A black car rolled out, stopping right in front of her.
The door opened.
And he stepped out.
Damian Blackwood.
Even in the pouring rain, he looked untouchedâlike the storm feared him instead of the other way around. Dark tailored suit, sharp jaw, eyes colder than death itself.
His gaze landed on her.
Slow. Calculating. Unforgiving.
âSo,â he said calmly, âyouâre the Bennett girl.â
Aria lifted her chin, forcing courage into her voice.
âYes. And youâre the monster they warned me about.â
A faint smirk touched his lips.
âGood. Then you wonât be disappointed.â
He walked closer.
Every step he took made her heartbeat louder.
âYou came to beg,â he said, stopping just inches from her. âSo beg.â
Aria swallowed hard. Her pride screamed at her to runâbut her motherâs life held her still.
âI didnât come to beg,â she said shakily. âI came to make a deal.â
That made him pause.
For the first time, something flickered in his eyesâinterest.
âA deal?â he repeated.
She held out the envelope.
âMy father is gone. But his debt isnât. Iâll take his place.â
Silence.
Then Damian laughedâlow, dangerous, almost amused.
âYou?â he said. âAnd what exactly do you have to offer me, little girl?â
Her voice broke slightly, but she didnât look away.
âMy life.â
The rain seemed to stop for a second.
Damian studied her like she was a puzzle he already knew the ending to.
Then he took the envelope from her hand.
Opened it.
Read.
And everything in his expression changed.
The air turned heavier.
Colder.
Deadlier.
âYou donât know what youâre stepping into,â he said quietly.
Aria lifted her chin.
âI donât care.â
A long silence.
Then he spoke again.
âSign a contract,â he said. âYou become my wife.â
Her breath caught.
âWhat?â
âNo love,â he continued. âNo freedom. No running. You belong to me until I decide otherwise.â
Her heart pounded violently.
âThis is insane,â she whispered.
Damian leaned closer, his voice dropping low enough to burn.
âThis is mercy.â
Thunder cracked above them.
And then he added the words that shattered her world completelyâ
âBecause if I donât take you⌠someone else will. And they wonât keep you alive.â
A chill ran down her spine.
âWhy me?â she whispered.
His eyes darkened.
âBecause your father didnât just owe me money,â he said.
âHe destroyed my family.â
Aria froze.
âWhatâŚ?â
Damian straightened, slipping his hands into his pockets.
âWelcome to your new life, Mrs. Blackwood.â
The gates behind her slowly opened wider.
Like a mouth ready to swallow her whole.
Then he turned to leave.
But before he got into the car, he looked back once.
âAnd Aria?â
She looked up.
His voice was quietâbut deadly.
âTry to run⌠and Iâll make sure you regret being born.â
The car door closed.
And Aria Bennett was pulled into darkness she could never escape.
đĽ END OF EPISODE 1 (CLIFFHANGER)
That night, when she entered the mansionâŚ
She found a photo on the wall.
Of her father.
With a gun pointed at him.
And behind himâ
Damian Blackwood.
Smiling.