CRIMSON VOWS

Chapter 18

The dining table was set with careful precision, as if nothing in their world had cracked wide open. But everything had.

Dominic sat at the head of the table like he had owned it for years—sleeves rolled up to his elbows, collar unbuttoned, the heavy gold of his watch glinting under the warm dining lights. He looked too relaxed. Too comfortable. Too much like a sovereign occupying foreign territory.

Aira sat directly opposite him, her spine stiff, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her parents flanked her sides—silent, tense, and visibly walking on eggshells.

Dominic casually dished a generous portion of steamed rice onto his plate. "This smells better than anything my five-star private chef makes," he said smoothly, turning his head toward her mother. "Thank you, Amma."

Her mother gave a hesitant, fragile nod, her hands trembling as she adjusted her shawl. "E-eat well, son."

Beside her, Aira’s father shifted in his wooden chair, glaring at Dominic with a quiet, powerless fury.

"Strange, isn’t it?" Dominic remarked, taking a slow, deliberate bite. "Just a few days ago, your daughter was preparing to be someone else’s bride. Now she’s mine. Life has a funny way of working out."

Aira clenched her jaw so hard her teeth pained. Underneath the table, her fingernails dug deep into her palms.

Her father cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady. "We agreed to a peaceful resolution, Dominic. We’re putting our trust in you."

"And you’re wise to do so," Dominic replied, a calm, terrifying smile touching his lips. "Never mistake obsession for chaos, Appa. I can give her the entire world... if she simply allows me to."

Aira snapped, her voice slicing through the thick air. "I don’t want your world!"

Dominic didn't even flinch. He casually scooped another spoon of curry onto his plate without breaking eye contact with her father.

"Yet you live in it now," he murmured.

A suffocating silence descended over the room.

Her mother reached out with shaking hands to pour him a glass of water. The sound of water filling the glass was the only noise breaking the quiet.

Clang.

Aira slammed her spoon against her ceramic plate, standing up slightly. "Stop acting like this is love! Stop playing house! You bought me."

Dominic stopped chewing. He slowly set his fork down and leaned across the table, his dark eyes smoldering with a dangerous intensity that made the room temperature drop.

"No," he said, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling register. "I claimed you. There’s a massive difference."

Her father placed a hand over his heart, pleading softly. "Dominic, please. We made a deal. Don’t shame her in her own home."

"Shame?" Dominic let out a soft, dark laugh, leaning back into his chair. "No. She should be worshipped. I walked into this house expecting a transaction for money, and I walked out with a goddess."

Aira’s eyes burned with tears of rage. "I’m not your goddess! I’m your prisoner!"

Dominic rose from his chair in one fluid, graceful motion. He stood towering over the table, completely unbothered by her fury.

"You think I wanted someone easy?" he asked softly, taking a step toward her side of the table. "No, darling. I want the storm."

A dark, crooked grin spread across his face.

"And I will wait through every single thunderclap."

Her parents sat completely frozen, terrified to break the aura between them.

Dominic casually wiped his mouth with a napkin, placed it neatly beside his plate, and turned toward her mother with impeccably polite manners.

"Dinner was wonderful, Amma. I’ll help you clear the dishes later."

He then looked down at her father. "Appa, we should talk tomorrow morning about putting additional security detail around the house. Wouldn’t want any unwanted guests slipping through the perimeter."

Aira stepped into his path, her voice a fierce, trembling whisper through gritted teeth. "Get out of my house."

Dominic closed the remaining distance, leaning down until his lips hovered a fraction of an inch from her earlobe.

"No, wife," he purred, his hot breath sending a shiver down her spine. "This is our house now. You’ll get used to having me around. Or... I’ll make sure you do."

He straightened his suit jacket, turned on his heel, and walked out of the dining room with maddening, effortless calm.