THE CONTRACT

In the penitentiary where Elena was detained, the voice of a radio broadcaster came through the glitching radio in the warden’s office.

“For Today’s Gist, we have a spicy one for you. It’s been ten years since Elena Carter killed Lucas Vance, leaving both Charlotte and Adrian single. In the process of consoling each other, Charlotte and Adrian fell in love. A year ago, they got married and have announced their upcoming wedding anniversary as they plan to make it a memorable one.”

As the warden listened intently to the news, one of the officers approached him.

“Sir, you have a visitor—he’s here,” he announced. The warden got up, put on his cap, and followed the officer. As he stepped outside, he saw a very tall, muscular, and handsome man with a perfect jawline and a well-carved beard. His smooth hair, straight and thick eyebrows, and a pair of dark brown eyes made him look domineering and dangerous, but his dark aura couldn’t hide his good looks.

His name was Damien Vance, the older brother of Lucas Vance, the victim of the murder case from ten years ago.

As the warden approached, he greeted Damien and asked, “Is it today, sir?”

“Yes, but first I’d like to see her. I need her permission to use her,” he said in a dark voice.

“Sure, this way, sir.” He led Damien to Elena’s prison room. “Just as you asked, we put her in protective custody last year,” the warden explained but received no reply.

They reached the prison room, where, at the end of the wall, sat an almost hairless and malnourished-looking girl hugging her knees. There was food beside her that had been left untouched. Damien looked at the warden for an explanation.

“She barely touches her food, sir,” the warden explained, and Damien looked away.

“Let me in and give us privacy,” he demanded. The warden wanted to protest, but he knew that Damien wasn’t someone who would do anything reckless, and he was paid well, so he complied.

As soon as the gate opened, Damien stepped into the prison room, his shoes making a slow and gentle tapping sound. He noticed that Elena raised her head just enough to look at his shoes but not his face, and she didn’t say a word.

He walked around the prison room a bit and spoke softly.

“Are you angry? Do you want revenge? Are you innocent? Can you prove it, Miss Elena Carter?” he asked, stopping right in front of her.

“I was the one who got you out of that hellhole last year and requested that you be put in the protective custody room. I saved you because I had a use for you. I believe you didn’t kill my brother and that you were framed. But if you can prove that you’re truly innocent, you can help me find the real culprit behind my brother’s death…” He paused and bent toward her.

“I will give you the power to exact your revenge. What do you say, Miss Carter?” His words made her lift her face and look him in the eyes. Tears rolled down her empty eyes, which had lost their sparkle.

She remembered how she had been betrayed, how she lost ten years of her life, and how she thought she would rot in jail. She recalled how many times she tried to kill herself but just wouldn’t die.

Now she had the opportunity to make them pay—all of them. She could become the predator and hunt her prey mercilessly.

“C… can I really leave this place and prove my innocence?” Her voice cracked because she was crying and her throat was dry. Damien nodded, and she cried more. He let her ease herself and handed her a towel to clean up when she was done. He knew that it must have been difficult for her; any weaker person would have gone insane.

“Now let’s talk terms and conditions,” Elena said, raising a brow.

“It takes many resources, sacrifices, and risks to get you out of here; that’s the least you can do. So I’ll be sure you don’t mess things up for me. Since your reputation is worse than horrible, you’ll have to undergo facial surgery. To become less suspicious working with me, you’ll have to become my wife.” Elena didn’t need to think much about it. She couldn’t stay there any longer; a facial surgery and a marriage contract weren’t such unpleasant offers. Hell, she was willing to undergo surgery on all her body parts to make sure Charlotte, Adrian, and whoever the real killer of Lucas would suffer.

She still believed that her sister and Adrian were either paid or deceived to frame her. Although she suspected they could be the killers, it was less likely to her since the victim was someone her sister liked.

After that, Damien had a brief discussion and signed some documents with the warden, who allowed him to let her go.

As they both stepped out, Elena saw a luxurious limousine waiting for them. She hesitated a bit, looked around as if taking in the moment. It was difficult for her to understand that she was finally free—for real.

She would no longer have to suffer privacy invasion, poor conditions, emptiness, and worst of all, grit her teeth at her naivety and weakness. As she stepped out into the world, she would get a new face, a new personality, and become a new Elena with no weaknesses.

“Shall we?” Damien called for her, and she turned to look at him, nodded, and headed into the car as it drove off.