Sold on Earth, Chosen by Beasts

Chapter - 9

Almost a week had passed before Victor Romano began visiting regularly to "check" on Nyx's bridal training. Every visit came with the same subtle possessiveness — a hand lingering too long on her shoulder, a smug smile when introducing her as his future wife, the constant implication that she already belonged to him.

It disgusted her.

And somehow, it amused her too.

So Nyx decided to play along.

If they wanted a perfect bride, she would become one.

Not because she had accepted her fate, but because it entertained her to watch them lower their guard so easily.

To Victor's delight, she stopped glaring at him whenever he visited. Instead, she greeted him politely, offered him tea with her own hands, even sat beside him willingly during conversations. Sometimes she would ask him small questions about his business or compliment the expensive watch on his wrist.

Every little gesture inflated his ego further.

Soon, Victor Romano began visiting more frequently than before. Some days he arrived carrying bouquets of flowers. Other times, velvet boxes containing jewelry or expensive perfumes appeared in her hands.

And every single time, Nyx smiled sweetly while internally fighting the urge to throw them into the trash.

Her sudden change in behavior shocked the entire family.

Karen, especially, could not stop probing her.

One evening, while helping Nyx arrange the flowers Victor had brought, Karen narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"You fought this marriage like a madwoman before," she said carefully. "So what changed suddenly?"

Nyx paused for a moment before lowering her gaze, pretending embarrassment.

"Well…" she murmured softly, twisting a flower stem between her fingers, "when I think about it properly… marrying him may not be that bad."

Karen blinked.

Nyx forced herself to continue despite the revulsion crawling beneath her skin.

"He's rich, powerful, and old enough to spoil me without expecting too much." She let out a small laugh. "And for the bridal night…" she added casually, "I can always mix sleeping pills into his drink."

Karen stared at her in disbelief.

Nyx shrugged lightly.

"He'll think we spent the night together anyway. Meanwhile, I'll remain untouched and later remarry whoever I want."

The words themselves disgusted her.

But Karen's expression immediately relaxed.

Then excitement replaced suspicion.

"You sneaky little—" Karen laughed before quickly covering her mouth. "So this was your plan all along?"

Nyx only smiled faintly.

That was enough.

Karen rushed off almost instantly to tell the others.

When the family heard Nyx's supposed thoughts, their reactions were no different. Any lingering suspicion vanished beneath greed and relief.

If Nyx cooperated willingly, then Victor Romano's money and influence could benefit them for years.

And since the area where Nyx lived with her family was small, news traveled fast. Victor Romano's frequent visits to their house quickly became the neighborhood's favorite topic. Curtains twitched whenever his expensive car stopped outside their gate. Women suddenly found reasons to pass by their home three or four times a day, and neighbors who had barely spoken to them before now appeared at their doorstep with suspiciously convenient excuses.

"Oh dear, I think I accidentally left my house key here yesterday," Mrs. Patel said one afternoon, peeking shamelessly past the doorway while craning her neck toward the living room.

"You were never here yesterday," Karen replied flatly.

The woman laughed awkwardly. "Oh? Maybe I mixed it up."

Another neighbor arrived later with a bowl of sweets.

"I made too much dessert," she claimed while openly staring toward Victor sitting inside. "It would be rude not to share."

Nyx almost snorted at the lie. The woman barely shared salt with anyone.

And it did not take long for the rumors to spread through the entire neighborhood.

Nyx was getting married to Victor Romano.

After learning that people started visiting openly, they no longer bothered to hide their curiosity. Some came carrying gifts. Others came carrying fake smiles and greed hidden beneath politeness. Everyone suddenly wanted a connection to Victor Romano.

That evening, their tiny living room was unusually crowded.

Victor sat proudly on the sofa beside Nyx while neighbors gathered around them like flies drawn to honey.

"My goodness, Mr. Romano," one of the men said with an eager smile, "you look far younger than your age."

Another woman immediately chimed in, "Very handsome too. Nyx is such a lucky girl."

"And your family is blessed," another added toward Brandon and Karen. "Not everyone gets a son-in-law like him."

Victor chuckled, clearly enjoying every second of it. "You flatter me too much."

"No, no, we're only speaking the truth," Mrs. Patel insisted dramatically. "You two look wonderful together sitting there."

Victor actually blushed.

Blushed.

And honestly… it might have looked almost cute.

If not for his age.

If not for his unsettling appearance.

And if not for the disturbing reality behind the entire situation.

Meanwhile, others turned their attention toward Karen and Brandon.

"Rosa, what skincare do you use? You look far too young to have a daughter old enough to marry."

"And both your daughters are beautiful," another woman added. "So talented too."

One particularly ambitious family even brought up a marriage proposal.

"My nephew works in finance," a woman said brightly while eyeing Rosa's 2nd daughter, Karen, "Very successful boy. Perhaps we could discuss a match for Karen?"

Karen nearly choked.

"We appreciate the thought," Brandon answered politely, "but we are not looking for anything right now."

The rejection did little to discourage them. Since marriage proposals failed, they immediately switched strategies and began trying to form friendships instead.

"Oh, we must all have dinner together sometime."

"You should visit our house too."

"We are neighbors after all."

Both Victor and Nyx's parents soaked in the attention happily.

But Nyx and her grandmother knew exactly what all this was.

Greed.

Nothing more.

Still, both of them maintained polite smiles out of courtesy. At one point, Nyx briefly met her grandmother's eyes across the room.

Disgust.

Mutual disgust.

Then both immediately looked away.

Finally, after nearly an hour of shameless flattery, someone gathered enough courage to ask the real question.

"So…" one neighbor began carefully, "when is the wedding?"

"In two weeks," Brandon answered proudly.

The room instantly buzzed with excitement.

"Two weeks?"

"Oh my!"

"That soon?"

Then another woman laughed lightly and asked, "You will invite us, won't you? We would absolutely love to witness such a grand wedding with our own eyes."

Victor's smile stiffened slightly. He clearly had no intention of inviting half the neighborhood.

"We are planning to keep the ceremony—"

"Of course you're invited," Nyx interrupted sweetly.

The room fell silent.

Victor slowly turned toward her, his sharp gaze carrying a clear warning. He was not pleased she had spoken over him.

But Nyx only smiled brighter.

Suppressing every ounce of revulsion clawing beneath her skin, she wrapped both hands around his arm and leaned slightly against him.

The entire room froze in shock.

Nyx looked up at him through wide, almost shy eyes and tightened her grip on his arm slightly.

"Actually," she said softly, "since we're already having a wedding… why not make it a proper celebration?"

Victor stared at her silently.

She continued with a dreamy smile.

"I've always imagined a big wedding. Lots of flowers. Lots of people. The kind everyone talks about for years."

*So I find a chance to escape*

She tilted her head gently against his shoulder.

"Surely a man like you can give me that much?"

The room erupted immediately.

"Oh, how romantic!"

"She's already acting like a proper bride."

"They're so affectionate."

Karen herself looked stunned.

At this point, Nyx's acting was becoming terrifyingly believable. Another few days and Karen might actually start applauding her performances.

Even Mike stared at her in disbelief.

But her grandmother's face darkened instantly.

The old woman felt her blood pressure rise watching Nyx cling to Victor Romano like some love-struck girl.

How shameless.

Yes, she had never truly considered Nyx's family. Yes, she wanted profit from this marriage.

But that did not mean Nyx could destroy their family's reputation like this.

Clinging to an old man in front of everyone?

Acting coquettishly?

Did the girl not care what people would say?

Maybe Nyx didn't care.

But she did.

As long as Nyx carried their family name, her behavior reflected on all of them.

For one brief moment, the grandmother genuinely wanted to march over there, drag her away from Victor, and beat some sense into her.

But she forced herself to remain still.

Not here.

Not in front of everyone.

She inhaled sharply and calmed herself with difficulty.

Meanwhile, none of the neighbors cared about Nyx's behavior at all. Their attention remained entirely fixed on Victor Romano as they waited nervously for his answer.

Nyx kept her expression perfectly soft.

Even though she was freaking out from inside.

She could feel her heart pounding hard enough to make her think it would break out of her chest.

*Please. Please agree,* she thought, crossing her fingers like a child making a wish.

One word from him could end everything.

She had calculated that risk and decided it was worth taking.

She hoped she was right.