Chapter 5

Chapter 5

A Deal with the Devil

Mary’s POV

Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine I’d be forced into marriage with a man I didn’t love.

No, not just a man. A De La Cruz.

A ruthless, arrogant, insufferable devil.

I had always dreamed of a love story, one where a man adored me, cherished me, got down on one knee with love in his eyes. A fairy tale.

This was not a fairy tale.

This was a transaction.

A cold, calculated sentence wrapped in designer suits and bloodstained power.

It’s just for a year.

The words echoed in my head like a mantra, but they did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. I could still hear Andrew’s voice, dripping with arrogance. I could still see the way he smirked at me, as if he had already won.

The car ride home was silent, but inside, my mind was a war zone, anger and regret clashing like two raging storms. My nails dug into my palms as Andrew’s voice played in my head again.

"That night meant nothing to me."

The words sliced through me like a blade, sharp and merciless.

I had been foolish to think otherwise.

Men like Andrew De La Cruz didn’t look back. They didn’t feel. They took what they wanted and left.

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat.

I was nothing more than a game to him.

A conquest.

A pawn in his twisted world.

A sigh pulled me from my thoughts.

My father.

He sat across from me, his shoulders heavy with relief. His once-strong hands trembled slightly as he rubbed his temples.

“I know this wasn’t easy,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I’m sorry it had to come to this. But you did the right thing. You saved the company. You saved our name.”

He hesitated. “You also did it for yourself, Mary. This company… when I die, it will be yours.”

I stiffened, my fingers curling into fists.

Did I? Did I do this for myself?

Or had I just signed away my soul to the devil himself?

I forced out the words, my voice barely steady. “It’s only a year.”

Just 365 days.

And then?

Then nothing would ever be the same again.

Because once you step into the De La Cruz world, there is no escape.

---

****The Next Morning****

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.

His piercing blue eyes. That insufferable smirk. The sound of his deep, taunting laughter curling around me like smoke.

By the time morning came, exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. But I refused to let this deal consume me.

I walked into my office, shoulders squared, head high.

Claire, my assistant, looked like she’d seen a ghost.

“Ma’am, the news”

Before she could finish, my phone vibrated aggressively on my desk.

I grabbed it, and the moment I saw the headline, my stomach dropped.

“Billionaire Mafia Lord Andrew De La Cruz Announces Engagement to Business Heiress Mary Ezekiel!”

My throat went dry.

I clicked on the article.

There it was. A photo from last night. Andrew, towering in his tailored black suit, looking every bit the ruthless king he was. And me, standing beside him in my red dress, looking…

Like I belonged there.

I scrolled down, and bile rose in my throat at the words beneath it.

"Andrew De La Cruz, the notorious heir to the De La Cruz empire, has finally chosen a bride. But is this love… or just another business deal?"

A business move.

That’s what I was to them. A bargaining chip.

My hands clenched around my phone as I slammed it onto my desk.

“How dare they?” I hissed, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Claire hesitated. “Are you really… engaged to him?”

I met her gaze, my chest tightening.

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated again.

A text.

From an unknown number.

> Be ready by 7 PM. You’re meeting my family. A

My breath hitched.

Meeting his family? Already?

I stared at the screen, my palms suddenly damp.

Who was he to dictate my time, my decisions, my life?

"Your husband."

The thought sent an ice-cold shiver down my spine.

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to regain control.

This was happening too fast.

And I knew, without a doubt, that my nightmare was only just beginning.

---

*****Evening: The De La Cruz Estate****

The car ride to the De La Cruz estate felt like walking into a lion’s den.

The driver, a stoic man with an unreadable expression, said nothing as we passed through the towering iron gates. The estate loomed in the distance, an architectural marvel of power and wealth. Dimly lit lanterns cast eerie shadows on the massive stone walls, adding to the foreboding energy of the place.

I tightened my grip on my clutch, willing my nerves to settle.

This is just for dinner.

Just one evening.

But my instincts told me otherwise.

As the car came to a stop, the door swung open before I could react. A tall, imposing figure stood outside, his sharp features eerily similar to Andrew’s.

“Mary.”

His voice was smooth, yet cold.

I stepped out, forcing a polite smile. “And you are?”

“Victor,” he said simply. “Andrew’s brother.”

A chill ran down my spine.

I had heard whispers about Victor De La Cruz. If Andrew was dangerous, Victor was lethal.

The kind of man who made enemies disappear.

Before I could respond, another voice interrupted.

“She’s finally here.”

I turned, and there he was.

Andrew.

Dressed in another impossibly expensive suit, his presence was suffocating. He looked at me like he already owned me. Like he had already won.

I lifted my chin. I wouldn’t let him see my fear.

He smirked. “Try not to embarrass me, sweetheart.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’ll try if you do the same.”

His lips twitched in amusement. “Fiery. I like it.”

Victor chuckled, but his eyes held something darker. “Let’s see if that fire lasts.”

A cold weight settled in my stomach.

This wasn’t just dinner.

This was an initiation.

And from the way the De La Cruz men were looking at me, like I was something to be tested, pushed, broken, one thing was certain.

This was only the beginning.