CRIMSON VOWS

Chapter 7 : The Price

Barely an hour had passed since the last guest left.

The music had faded.

The flowers still clung to the pillars like forgotten promises, while the scent of perfume lingered in the air.

Aira had changed out of her engagement saree, but the black velvet choker remained around her neck. She reached behind her neck, trying to unclasp it.

Her fingers trembled.

She stopped.

The room fell silent.

Then...

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

The sound of violent knocks echoed through the house.

A second later, the front door burst open.

Voices.

Heavy footsteps.

The unmistakable sound of polished shoes crossing marble.

Aira froze.

She knew.

He was back.

Her family hurried into the living room just as men dressed in black filled the house. Some stood by the entrance with their hands folded behind their backs. Others carried heavy cases.

Then Dominic Moretti walked in.

Gone was the traditional kurta.

Now he wore a fitted black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, dark trousers, and polished shoes.

He looked every bit the man people whispered about.

His gaze swept across the room before settling on the staircase.

"Where's my fiancée?"

Aira stepped halfway down the stairs.

"What is this?"

Dominic looked at her for a moment before answering.

"A visit."

"I didn't invite you."

"No."

A faint smile crossed his face.

"You didn't."

Her father stepped forward.

"Mr. Moretti, this really isn't necessary."

"It is."

Dominic nodded once.

One of his men placed a large suitcase on the glass coffee table and opened it.

Bundles of cash filled the case.

Neatly stacked.

Perfectly arranged.

The room fell silent.

"One hundred million," Dominic said calmly.

"A wedding gift."

Her mother stared in disbelief.

"We don't want your money."

"You don't have to."

His eyes remained fixed on Aira.

"I keep my promises."

Aira descended the remaining steps.

"You think money makes any of this acceptable?"

"No."

"It makes it inevitable."

"You can't buy people."

"I wasn't trying to."

His voice remained perfectly calm.

"I was paying respect to the family of my future wife."

She laughed bitterly.

"You call this respect?"

"I call it honesty."

He slowly looked around the room.

"Unlike everyone else here."

No one answered.

Dominic turned toward Aira's father.

"You'll tell anyone who asks that this marriage was arranged with both families' blessings."

Her father lowered his eyes.

"I understand."

Dominic nodded once.

"Good."

His attention returned to Aira.

She refused to look away.

"I hate you."

"I know."

"I'll never forgive you."

"I know."

"I'll never belong to you."

For the first time that night, Dominic smiled.

"You already signed your answer."

The room became painfully quiet.

Aira's breathing grew heavier.

Her mother stepped forward.

"Please..."

Her voice shook.

"Please stop doing this to her."

Dominic looked at the older woman.

"I could have destroyed this family."

His voice was calm.

"I didn't."

"I asked for one thing."

Then he looked at Aira again.

"And she chose them."

Aira's eyes filled with anger.

"I didn't choose you."

"No."

"You chose to save them."

Those words struck harder than any insult.

For a brief moment, she couldn't answer.

Dominic turned toward the door.

His men immediately followed.

Before stepping outside, he paused.

Without looking back, he spoke quietly.

"Four days."

The entire room listened.

"After that..."

He finally glanced over his shoulder.

"You'll wake up in my home."

The front door closed behind him.

Silence swallowed the house.

Aira stood motionless for several seconds.

Then her knees gave way.

She collapsed onto the floor, shaking as tears finally escaped the strength she had fought so hard to hold together.

For the first time since signing the contract...

The reality of what awaited her finally settled in.