Chapter 5: The Contract

Betty opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by Karina.

“They’re friends of mine. They just came to visit and were about to leave,” Karina said, gathering every bit of courage she had left.

Torturing her was already enough. He would make their lives hell if they worked for her.

Patricia had just returned from the kitchen. She set a tray down in front of Devon and Leon, pouring their tea as she spoke.

“They barged in here looking to work for Karina.”

Devon noticed the tone Patricia used when speaking about Karina, but he didn’t comment. After all, in his mind, she didn’t deserve respect.

“Oh really?” Devon sneered, settling into the couch. “You haven’t even properly settled in, and you’re already bringing in your people. Seems like you thought this through.”

“She didn’t plan anything,” Betty snapped. “And we wouldn’t have to be here if she was being treated well.”

Both Karina and James shot her a warning look. James even nudged her urgently at the side.

Leon watched the exchange with quiet amusement, clearly entertained by the shift in atmosphere.

“How dare you—” Patricia began, but Devon raised a hand, silencing her immediately.

She paused, then nodded and left the room, throwing one last sharp glare at Betty, who returned it without hesitation.

“Sharp tongue, I see,” Devon said with a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “And why should someone who climbs into men’s beds be respected?”

Karina flinched, but she was used to it now… it didn’t hurt the way it used to.

“She didn’t—”

“Please don’t mind her,” Karina interrupted quickly. “She hasn’t taken her meds today… she’s acting out.”

She subtly signaled James, who had been sweating nervously, to take Betty away.

“Meds?!” Betty exclaimed, eyes widening in disbelief. Since when had she been on medication?

She tried to speak again, but James quickly covered her mouth and began guiding her out.

“Sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Russell,” James said with a bow. “We’ll come back another day, properly.”

He dragged Betty out before she could resist further.

Karina remained standing, watching them leave as relief quietly settled in her chest.

She knew Betty meant well… but no amount of words would change Devon’s mind about her. Not until she proved herself.

“Your plan failed,” Devon said, placing his cup down as his gaze settled on her. “You’ve become even thinner than when you arrived.”

He scoffed inwardly.

Did she really think starving herself would make him look at her differently?

“What are you going to do now?” he taunted.

He expected her to beg. To plead. To try to fix it.

But Karina turned around slowly, facing him and without hesitation, she bowed deeply.

“I’m very sorry about today’s disturbance. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

She remained bowed, waiting for his response.

Devon stared at her, visibly caught off guard.

What was she doing?

Leon, however, wasn’t surprised. Not anymore.

With everything he had seen over the past weeks, one thing was becoming clear.

Karina wasn’t the spoiled, pampered princess they thought she was.

And Devon should have realized it by now.

Besides… why would servants risk their lives for a scheming gold digger?

Unless they were forced. Or unless something else was going on.

The real question remained, why did she take her sister’s place?

“Leave us,” Devon ordered suddenly, standing.

Karina looked up in fear, then slowly stepped back.

Leon sighed, grabbing a cookie from the tray as he rose.

“See you two later tonight.”

Tonight?

Karina frowned slightly in confusion.

Leon walked out without explaining further.

Now only the two of them remained.

Devon began walking toward her.

Karina backed up instinctively until her back hit the wall.

“I don’t know what games you think you’re playing, but don’t involve yourself in the fantasy of becoming my wife,” he snarled, his hand tightening around her neck.

Karina nodded frantically.

Devon released her and reached into his coat, pulling out a document along with a pen.

“Sign it.”

“What—”

Karina wanted to ask what it was, but the look on his face silenced her immediately.

She took the document from his hand and opened it.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

Devon noticed the expression on her face and sneered.

“It’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”

His gaze remained cold.

“Once the year is over, you receive your payment and leave immediately.”

His voice hardened on the last words.

Leave immediately.

The light in Karina’s eyes dimmed.

She stared at the document quietly. She had tasted what it felt like to be his wife when she first arrived.

Greedy or not… she wanted more. Not the money. Not the status. Just… the feeling of belonging somewhere.

She had held onto the tiniest bit of hope that maybe there could still be something between them.

All she had to do was prove herself and expose her family.

Make him believe her.

Maybe…

a year would be enough.

Karina slowly took the pen from his hand.

Then she signed.

She handed the document back without saying anything.

Devon smirked.

If she was truly innocent, shouldn’t she reject an agreement like this?

Shouldn’t she be angry?

Shouldn’t she refuse?

But she didn’t look happy signing it either.

His brows knitted slightly before he dismissed the thought and slipped the document back into his coat.

Karina turned to leave.

But Devon’s voice stopped her.

“You’re attending a party with me tonight.”

She paused.

“Better not disgrace me.”

Without another glance, Devon turned and headed upstairs.

Karina remained standing there alone.

Her eyes drifted toward the staircase.

Then she lowered her head.

“At least…”

Her fingers tightened slightly.

“…he isn’t going to kill me.”

A weak smile appeared on her lips.

After standing there for a while, she quietly made her way back upstairs.

Devon saw Patricia leaving his room after finishing her last round of cleaning for the day. Apart from her, no other servants were allowed into his room.

He gave her a small nod and was about to enter when he suddenly stopped.

“Please make sure Karina is properly attended to from now on. Meals included.”

He paused before adding coldly,

“I don’t need her embarrassing me outside.”

Patricia nodded.

Just as he was about to close the door, she spoke up.

“Should I also deliver a dress, Mr. Russell?” she asked carefully.

When she saw he wasn’t responding, she continued.

“It seemed she didn’t bring a lot of clothes when she arrived. The ones she has aren’t suitable either.”

Devon stayed silent for a moment before finally replying,

“Do as you wish.”

Then he shut the door.

Patricia stood there quietly for a few seconds.

She had overheard part of their conversation earlier and knowing Devon’s temperament, she could roughly guess what had happened for him to suddenly change his mind.

Still… she decided she would keep an eye on Karina.

Someone like her wasn’t someone Patricia could trust so easily.

Karina dug through her wardrobe looking for what to wear. She had nothing presentable and she needed to make a good impression if she was going to stand next to him.

She was trying out clothes in front of the mirror when she heard a knock at the door.

“Who could it be at this time?” she muttered.

Surely it couldn’t be—

Her face fell the moment she opened the door.

Patricia noticed it immediately, but Karina quickly replaced it with a smile.

“Do you need something—”

Patricia pushed past her before she could finish speaking.

The moment she stepped into the room, she froze in surprise.

“Is this how you’ve been living?” Patricia questioned, her eyes scanning the room.

It was true she had neglected Karina and paid little attention to her situation, but she hadn’t expected the maids to leave the room in such a filthy state.

“Ahh…” Karina waved her hands dismissively. “It’s fine. I didn’t allow the maids to enter the room.”

Patricia knew immediately that she was lying, but she didn’t expose her.

Instead, she made a mental note to speak to the maids tomorrow.

For now, she decided she would clean the room herself before Karina returned.

No one should be living like this.

Patricia sighed before placing a dress on the bed along with shoes, makeup, and several accessories.

Karina’s eyes widened slightly as she stared at everything laid out before her.

“Mr. Russell asked you to get ready quickly. He’ll be leaving soon,” Patricia instructed before turning to leave.

But she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Turning back around, she pointed toward the items on the bed.

“You can do it yourself, right?”

“W–What?” Karina blinked, snapping out of her dazed state.

Did Devon really prepare all this for her?

No.

It was only so he wouldn’t be embarrassed by her appearance.

Patricia sighed and gestured toward the dressing table.

“Sit.”

“O–Oh… t–thank you,” Karina spluttered as she quickly sat down.

Patricia didn’t respond.

She simply gathered Karina’s hair into a neat bun before securing it carefully. Then she added a blue hairpin that perfectly complimented her eyes.

A small smile tugged at Patricia’s lips.

Karina caught it through the mirror.

But the moment their eyes met, Patricia’s expression disappeared completely.

Karina’s face fell slightly.

Patricia finished the makeup in silence, added the remaining accessories, then stepped away.

“You can get dressed now.”

As she walked downstairs, she muttered quietly to herself,

“If she hadn’t hurt Devon…”

Patricia paused briefly.

“She would have made such a fine wife.”

“What’s keeping her? I’m running late,” Devon grumbled as he saw Patricia coming downstairs.

“She’s on her way, sir,” Patricia answered, heading toward the storage room.

“I see.” He paused, then added, “You should have retired for the night. What are you still doing here?”

“I want to clean Karina’s room. I’ll take my leave after,” Patricia responded.

“It hasn’t been cleaned?” Devon asked, confused.

“No, sir. Forgive me for neglecting my duties.”

Patricia bowed, but Devon raised her up immediately, dismissing it.

He had a soft spot for Patricia; she had practically raised him when he was younger. If it were anyone else, they would’ve already been fired.

“It’s no problem. You can go now.”

Patricia gave a slight bow before heading toward the storage room to collect cleaning equipment.

Devon glanced at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently as he paced the living room.

The sound of heels echoed on the staircase.

He looked up… and their eyes met.