CRIMSON VOWS

Chapter 4 : Ashes and goodbyes

The contract lay on the living room table like a corpse.

Signed.

Final.

Binding.

Dominic stood tall, dressed entirely in black. His gun was back in its holster, his expression unreadable. Outside, his men waited beside a convoy of matte black SUVs, silent as shadows.

He turned toward Aira's parents.

"I'll send someone tomorrow with the engagement arrangements. Keep this quiet. We'll make it look perfect. No one needs to know who I really am."

Her father nodded stiffly.

Her mother couldn't even meet his eyes.

Then Dominic looked at Aira.

His fiancée now.

Sometime during the silence, she had moved near the staircase. Her arms were crossed, her chin held high, and despite the tears staining her face, defiance still burned in her eyes.

Dominic smiled faintly.

"You'll wear gold tomorrow. It suits you. Royal. Untouchable."

Aira didn't flinch.

"I'll wear black," she replied. "Since I'm burying myself."

His smile deepened.

"Black has always been my favorite color."

She wanted to slap him.

More than that, she wanted him gone.

He walked to the table, picked up the contract, folded it carefully, and slipped it into his coat.

Before leaving, he looked back one last time.

"She's mine now."

His gaze shifted to Reyan.

"Start forgetting her."

Without another word, he walked out.

The front door closed behind him with a quiet click.

Only then did Aira release the breath she'd been holding.

The silence he left behind was almost unbearable.

Reyan's mother spoke first.

"This is madness. He can't do this. It's illegal. It's immoral. We won't allow this wedding."

Aira turned so quickly that everyone fell silent.

"You won't allow it?"

Her voice was quiet, but every word struck like lightning.

"You sat there while they pointed guns at my family. You watched me sign that contract."

Her eyes found Reyan.

"You promised you'd protect me."

Her voice broke.

"You didn't even stand beside me."

Reyan lowered his head, unable to answer.

His mother swallowed hard.

"He's a mafia boss, Aira. We were terrified. What could we have done?"

"You could have stood with me," Aira replied.

"You could have chosen me over your fear."

She stepped back.

When she spoke again, her voice was cold enough to freeze the room.

"We're done."

"This engagement is over."

His mother gasped.

"You ungrateful girl."

"Take your son," Aira said. "Take your pride, your excuses, and leave my house."

Reyan looked at her desperately.

"Aira... please."

She never looked at him again.

A minute later, the front door opened once more.

This time, it was Reyan's family who walked away.

No one argued.

No one looked back.

Upstairs, behind the safety of her locked bedroom door, Aira sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her reflection.

The fiancée.

The possession.

The next victim of the storm.

Five days.

Five days until the wedding.

Tonight, for the first time in her life, she felt completely alone.

Yet somewhere beneath the fear, a quiet voice whispered something that made her blood run cold.

He'll come back.

And next time...

He won't leave so easily.