CRIMSON VOWS

Chapter 3 : The devil's contract

The door opened.

His man returned with a fresh folder. A newly prepared contract rested inside, with Aira Mehra printed neatly at the top.

Dominic didn't even glance at it.

Instead, he walked toward Aira, gently but possessively took her hand, and placed a pen in her trembling palm.

"Sign it," he whispered. "Or I start deciding who dies first."

Tears gathered in her eyes, yet her back remained straight.

Dominic tilted his head, almost admiring her courage.

"God, you're going to look perfect in white."

Aira stood motionless. The pen felt like a blade in her hand.

"I'm not signing."

The room fell silent.

Dominic's smile disappeared.

"Excuse me?" he asked quietly.

Aira let the pen slip from her fingers. It struck the floor with a sharp clatter.

"I won't be your pawn. I don't care who you are or how much money you have. I'm not signing that damn contract."

Silence.

Then...

Click.

Dominic calmly drew a gun from his belt.

Without hesitation, he pointed it at her father's head.

Her mother screamed.

Reyan froze, horror spreading across his face.

"You want to make this difficult?" Dominic asked, his voice calm enough to send chills through the room. "Fine."

Aira's breath caught.

"No... please."

"You think I haven't killed before?" he asked, never lowering the gun. "Do you think I won't destroy everyone in this room if that's what it takes to have you?"

Her father's hands trembled.

"Please," Aira begged as she stepped forward. "Don't hurt them."

Dominic's eyes never left hers.

"Then sign."

Her knees gave way beneath her.

She looked up at him through blurred vision, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You're a monster."

Dominic crouched until they were face to face.

"Maybe."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"But you're still going to be mine."

Behind them, Reyan shouted,

"You're sick! She's engaged to me!"

Dominic rose and slowly turned toward him.

"She was never yours," he said coldly. "You were simply standing where I intended to be."

Reyan instinctively stepped back.

"I should kill you," Dominic continued. "But watching you attend her wedding as a guest sounds far more satisfying."

He turned back to Aira.

She stared at the contract, her hand shaking as she picked up the pen once more.

"I'll spare your family," Dominic said quietly. "In return, you give me your future."

Her lips quivered.

"I hate you."

A faint smile returned to his face.

"I know."

With one broken cry, she signed her name.

Aira Mehra.

The moment the ink dried, Dominic let out a slow breath, as though he'd finally claimed the one thing he wanted most.

He stepped closer, gently lifted her chin, and forced her to meet his eyes.

"You belong to me now," he said quietly. "Soon, the entire world will believe you chose me."

He leaned close enough for only her to hear.

"So smile at tomorrow's engagement, princess. The world loves a beautiful love story. No one needs to know it began with a signature forced at gunpoint."