Contract Marriage With The Illegitimate Heir

Chapter 6

SARAPHINA'S POV

Cassian's house was quiet, too quiet. The kind of silence that made you feel like something was about to happen. I sat stiffly on the edge of the couch, my hands folded in my lap, eyes fixed on the man sitting across from me.

He looked calm. Too calm.

I didn't want to be here longer than necessary. I didn't trust him. Not one bit.

"Let's not waste time." I said, my voice firm. "Just tell me what this is all about."

Cassian leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze was steady, unreadable.

"I know you don't trust me." He said. "And I don't blame you. But I'm not here to hurt you, Saraphina. I'm here because I want to help."

I raised an eyebrow. "Help? That's rich coming from a Vale." I scoffed.

He didn't flinch. "I'm not Lucien. I don't play games.'' He leaned back into the couch. "Tell me, Saraphina. I know something's up, and I want you to tell me about everything. You didn't really steal from your father, did you?" He questioned.

I clenched my teeth. "Whatever happened is none of your concern. And besides, it's not like you would believe me. No one would." I looked away.

"Try me." Cassian replied, and I looked at him, my eyes searching his.

"Why should I even trust you? How can I even be sure that this isn't some sort of plan? What if you're with them and you're trying to lure me into another trap?" I voiced out, feeling skeptical about all this once more.

"With who?" Cassian asked, genuinely curious.

"Ciara of course!" I unknowingly blurted out.

"Ciara, your stepsister?" Cassian muttered. "I already told you, Saraphina. You can trust me, I'm just here to help, but I need you to tell me what's going on."

Cassian seemed sincere. And honestly, I had nothing left to lose. If he thought I was crazy or didn't believe me, that was his problem, not mine.

I took a breath and looked at him.

"I'm sure you've seen the news." I began, my voice low. "You probably know what's been happening in my life lately. The truth is..." I paused, the words catching in my throat.

Cassian leaned forward slightly, his tone steady and calm. "Go on, Saraphina. I'm listening."

I took a shaky breath, my fingers curling into the fabric of my dress. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to speak.

"The truth is... I didn't do any of it." I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't cheat on Lucien. I didn't steal from the company. I didn't betray anyone. But no one believes me."

Cassian didn't interrupt. He just sat there, watching me with those unreadable eyes.

"It was Ciara." I continued. "She planned everything. She hired someone to pose as me, took fake photos, edited them to make it look like I was with another man. Then she framed me for embezzlement. And it worked. My father disowned me. Lucien left me. Everyone turned their backs on me."

I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat. "And now she's marrying Lucien. She invited me to the wedding.... said she'd talk to my father if I showed up, but..." I trailed once more.

Cassian's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

"I know how it sounds." I added quickly. "It sounds insane. Like something out of a bad movie. But it's the truth. And I have no way to prove it. No one believes me. Not even the people who were supposed to love me the most."

I looked down, ashamed of how broken I sounded. "If you don't believe me too, I'll understand. I don't even know why I'm telling you this." I sniffled.

There was a long silence. Then Cassian leaned forward, his voice low but steady.

"I believe you."

My head snapped up. "What?!"

"I said I believe you, Saraphina. And I'm going to help you prove it."

I almost couldn't believe my ears. "W...what? How? I mean... you really believe me?"

A bitter smile tugged at Cassian's lips.

"At least we can agree on one thing." He said quietly. "Sometimes, step siblings are just devils dressed as saints—always plotting someone's downfall while the world sees them as perfect."

His voice was calm, but I could hear the edge in it. He wasn't just talking about Ciara.

I was about to speak, but he beat me to it.

"Tell me, Saraphina." Cassian said, his voice low and deliberate. "Just how badly do you want revenge?"

I didn't even hesitate.

"I'm willing to do anything to prove my innocence." I said, my voice tight with emotion. "Anything to bring Ciara down and make her pay for what she's done. And as for Lucien..." I paused, the bitterness rising in my chest. "It wouldn't hurt to teach him a lesson or two."

I noticed the small smirk tugging at Cassian's lips after I finished speaking.

"Anything." He repeated, his tone low.

He leaned forward slowly, his expression sharpening into something more serious.

"I'm going to get straight to the point now, Saraphina." He said.

I shifted in my seat, suddenly alert. Whatever he was about to say, I had a feeling it would change everything.

"I told you I'd help you prove your innocence, and I meant it. But in return..." He paused, eyes locked on mine. "Be my contract bride. For three years."

My jaw dropped.

For a moment, I just sat there, frozen. His words echoed in my head like a bad joke; Be my contract bride for three years.

It sounded ridiculous. I let out a laugh, but it died the second I saw the unwavering seriousness in his eyes.

He wasn't joking.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked, my voice flat. "You Vales really are something else. Why would I ever agree to marry you? I don't care if it's just a contract, this is insane. Just because I'm desperate doesn't mean you get to play games with me."

I stood up, anger bubbling in my chest.

"I knew coming here was a mistake. I actually thought I could trust you." I scoffed. "Foolish me. You're a Vale. That says it all."

I turned to leave, but his next words stopped me.

"I'm not joking, Saraphina." He said, still calm, still seated. "Didn't you say you'd do anything to prove your innocence? Do you really think you can do it alone? Because I don't."

He stood and stepped in front of me, his presence steady, unshaken.

"I'm offering you a way out. But it comes with terms."

I wanted to scream at him, to tell him where to shove his offer. But the longer I looked into his eyes, the more I saw the sincerity in them.

Could I really do this? Marry a man I barely knew, just to get back at Ciara? Just to clear my name?

I took a deep breath. "And what if I regret it?"

"You won't." He said, so confidently it almost made me believe him. "I know what you're thinking, but I won't betray your trust. This is strictly business, Saraphina."

"Then why me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Why not help me without dragging marriage into it?"

"Because it's better this way." He said simply, but I could tell he was holding something back.

What more did I have to lose?

I sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. I'll be your contract bride for three years. After that, we're done. And you'll help me prove my innocence within those three years. Deal?"

Cassian smirked. "Deal."

"So." I said, folding my arms. "What are the rules?"

"Simple." He replied. "Don't fall in love with me. This is strictly business. And I won't cross the line with you."

I scoffed. "Trust me, falling in love with you would be the last thing I'd ever do. You say you're not like your brother, but you're still a Vale." I stepped closer. "I don't trust you, Cassian. Not fully. But for justice... I'll do this."

He nodded. "Once we're married, you'll move in with me."

"Fine." I sat back down, exhaling slowly. "Where's the contract? I'm ready."

Cassian left the room and returned moments later with a folder. He handed it to me. I read through every word, then signed.

When I passed it back, he signed without hesitation.

He looked up at me, his voice low and final. "Since you've signed the documents... you're mine now, Saraphina."

Something about the way he said it made my skin prickle. It didn't feel like a deal, it felt like a trap. Like I'd just signed my name on the dotted line of something far more dangerous than I realized.

But there was no turning back now.

This was it.

My contract marriage with the illegitimate heir.