Chapter 03: Officially His Wife

Chapter 03: Officially His Wife

Aria’s POV

I woke up and quickly realized I wasn't in my bedroom. My eyes scanned the unfamiliar space—it was luxurious, from the grand paintings on the wall to the lavish furnishings.

Then it all came back to me. I had lost consciousness last night, overwhelmed by fear and exhaustion.

While I was busy looking around, I finally noticed I wasn't wearing the same dress from the night before. Instead, I was now in a silk nightgown.

I quickly checked myself for any signs of harm, but thankfully, nothing seemed wrong. I let out a deep sigh of relief.

Standing up, I tried to collect myself. I had been sold for one million dollars… and I didn’t even know who Mr. Monte was.

“This house is luxurious. Every item must be worth millions,” I murmured to myself, still in awe. Why did he bring me here? I sighed and walked toward the door. I tried opening it—it was locked. Of course it was. He made sure I couldn’t escape.

I turned to the window, hoping it would offer a way out, but it was no use. I couldn’t escape from here either. Frustration bubbled inside me. Where am I? This place felt completely foreign.

Before I could spiral further, the door suddenly opened, and the man from last night walked in.

He looked intimidating—calm, poised, and collected. Now that I could see him clearly, he was far more striking than I had initially thought.

I quickly looked away, avoiding his cold gaze. There was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel… weak.

“Why did you buy someone like me?” The question escaped my lips before I could stop it. I had no idea where the courage came from.

“Who are you? What do you want from me? Please, just let me go,” I pleaded. He said nothing.

He let out a sigh—enough to make me think he had no intention of answering my questions. I needed to know what he planned to do with me. Why did he bring me here?

“Answer me! Why am I here? Are you going to treat me like a slave like the others? Use me until you lose interest?” I demanded. Still, he remained silent.

He began walking toward me, and my nerves kicked in. I instinctively stepped back, uncomfortable with how close he was getting.

What is he doing? I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself.

I found myself cornered against the wall. I could smell his cologne, clean and sharp.

“Get away from me. What are you doing?” I said, my voice shaky with fear.

“If you think I’m—” I stopped mid-sentence when he bent down and picked something up from the table beside me.

What was I thinking? I wanted to slap myself. He wasn’t trying to kiss me—he was just grabbing something.

“Are you done talking?” he finally spoke, catching me off guard. I thought he would stay silent forever.

“Answer my questions. Where am I? What are you going to do with me?” I asked, bracing myself for the worst.

What if he bought me to resell me? Or to do whatever he wanted, now that he owned me?

Sure, he was handsome, but that didn’t mean I’d fall for this setup. What if he kills me and dumps my body somewhere?

“Who are you?” I asked again, my voice more demanding this time.

“It’s none of your business, woman. From now on, I control your life.” His voice was firm, cold, and laced with danger. And he was right—he had bought me. That gave him power over me.

I stood silent, the reality of my situation sinking in.

“Good,” he said, clearly satisfied with my silence. His attitude rubbed me the wrong way.

“See this?” He lifted a stack of papers in his hand. My eyes followed the movement, my heart racing with dread. What is that? Another sale? Is he selling me to someone else?

“What is that about?” I asked. Without a word, he handed me the documents. His demeanor hadn’t changed since he entered.

“I’m offering you a contract,” he said.

I lowered my eyes to the papers and began reading. My breath caught as I realized what it was.

“A… marriage contract?!” I exclaimed, shocked. Why would he offer this? Did he really think I’d agree to marry a complete stranger?

“Listen, mister. I don’t know who you are, but you must be joking.” I placed the contract back on the table and stepped away from him.

“This is ridiculous. I would never accept that offer,” I said firmly. Is he out of his mind?

Marriage wasn’t a game. His expression shifted, his brow furrowing in disappointment.

“Like I said, you have plenty of reasons to accept my offer. Your father’s company is bankrupt. You’re drowning in debt—millions of dollars,” he said confidently, like he knew everything about my life.

Clearly, he had done his research.

He opened the folder and set a pen on top of it.

“I’m offering you a one-year marriage contract. No intimacy, unless you agree.” His last sentence made my brows knit in disbelief. Why would I ever agree to that?

“In exchange, I’ll clear your family’s debt, return your father’s estate, and restore your reputation,” he added.

But why? Why would he do all this for me? That one million dollar payment last night wasn’t nearly enough to cover our debt.

“Why are you doing this? Why help me?” I asked, my tone laced with suspicion.

“Let’s just say… you’re useful to me.” His vague answer sent a chill down my spine.

This was an opportunity. A chance to fix everything. Desperate and determined to survive, I agreed.

I knew this man was wealthy and influential. Maybe I could use this marriage to get revenge on those who wronged me.

I picked up the pen. Hesitant but desperate, I signed the contract. Then I looked at him. He smiled—a slow, unsettling smile that made my blood run cold.

Did I just make a deal with the devil?

After signing, we traveled to his home.

This time… officially as his wife.