Bound By His Revenge

DEAL

Lina could not move.

The pen was still in her hand.

She looked at her signature on the contract. It felt unreal.

She had just agreed to marry a man she had met only a few minutes ago.

Not because she loved him.

Not because she wanted to.

But because she had no other choice.

Damien Blackwood picked up the contract and placed it neatly inside a folder.

"The deal starts today," he said in his usual calm voice.

Lina looked at him with tired eyes.

"I signed the contract," she said quietly. "Now please keep your promise."

"I always keep my promises."

He picked up his phone and made a call.

"Transfer five hundred thousand dollars to St. Mary's Hospital. The payment must be completed within the next ten minutes."

He ended the call without waiting for a reply.

Lina stared at him in shock.

"You... you already paid?"

"I told you I would."

Her eyes filled with tears.

For weeks, she had begged relatives and friends for help.

She had borrowed money from neighbors.

She had even sold her father's old car.

Still, it wasn't enough.

Yet this man had solved her biggest problem with one phone call.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Damien stood up.

"Don't thank me."

His cold eyes met hers.

"You paid with your freedom."

Those words made the room feel colder.

A few moments later, the office door opened.

A young woman wearing a black suit walked in.

She looked confident and professional.

"Sir."

"Sarah," Damien said. "This is Lina Brooks."

Sarah smiled politely.

"Nice to meet you."

"Lina will be living at Blackwood Mansion from today."

Sarah nodded.

"I've already prepared everything."

Lina blinked.

"Everything?"

Damien walked toward the window.

"Our wedding is in three days."

She almost dropped her handbag.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Three days?"

"The media will know tomorrow."

Lina felt her head spin.

"I can't marry you in three days!"

"You can."

"No, I can't."

"My family..."

"You have no family except your mother."

His words hurt because they were true.

Lina lowered her head.

She had no one else.

No father.

No brothers.

No sisters.

Only her mother.

Sarah stepped forward.

"Miss Brooks, we'll go shopping first."

"Shopping?"

"You'll need clothes suitable for Mrs. Blackwood."

Lina looked down at her faded jeans and worn sneakers.

She suddenly felt embarrassed.

"I don't need expensive things."

Damien turned around.

"From today, people will judge you because of me."

"I don't care what people think."

"I do."

There was no room for argument.

Sarah gently led Lina outside.

A long black limousine waited in front of the building.

Lina had never been inside such a beautiful car.

Everything smelled new.

Soft music played quietly.

As the car drove away, Lina looked out the window.

The city looked the same.

But her life had completely changed.

An hour later, they arrived at the biggest shopping mall she had ever seen.

Sarah handed a black card to the manager.

"Everything she chooses goes on this card."

The manager smiled.

"Of course."

Within minutes, several workers surrounded Lina.

They brought elegant dresses.

High heels.

Designer handbags.

Jewelry.

Lina shook her head.

"This is too much."

Sarah smiled.

"You'll get used to it."

"No, I won't."

After trying on several dresses, Lina finally found a simple white one.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

For the first time in a long while...

She smiled.

Sarah noticed.

"You look beautiful."

Lina laughed softly.

"I almost don't recognize myself."

Just then...

A sharp voice interrupted them.

"Well... look who we have here."

Both women turned around.

A tall, beautiful lady walked toward them.

She wore a red designer dress and expensive jewelry.

Her eyes stopped on Lina.

Then she laughed.

"So this is the poor girl Damien chose?"

Sarah's smile disappeared.

"Miss Vanessa."

Vanessa Carter.

Damien's ex-fiancée.

She slowly walked around Lina, looking her up and down.

"So ordinary."

She folded her arms.

"Tell me... how much is Damien paying you to pretend to be his wife?"

Lina took a deep breath.

"I'm not pretending."

Vanessa laughed even harder.

"Oh, sweetheart."

She leaned closer.

"You have no idea who you're dealing with."

She looked directly into Lina's eyes.

"I've known Damien for years."

"He doesn't love anyone."

"He only knows how to use people."

Lina stayed silent.

Vanessa smiled proudly.

"And when he's done with you..."

"...he'll throw you away."

Without another word, Vanessa walked out of the store.

The smile on Lina's face disappeared.

She slowly turned toward Sarah.

"Is she telling the truth?"

Sarah didn't answer immediately.

Instead...

She looked away.

And that silence frightened Lina more than Vanessa's words.