“What the hell took you so long?” Mr Curtis queried, slightly irritated. His annoyance seemed to intensify seeing how Ava brushed his words aside. Her eyes were locked on the man sitting opposite him. “Ava!”

She finally tore her gaze away from him and stared at her father. Her brain was still trying to wrap itself around the situation. What was that man from the hotel doing there?

“I was occupied with something,” she responded, her tone casual. Mr Curtis let out an exasperated sigh as he slowly rubbed his temple.

“We have been waiting for quite some time,” he spoke, frustration etched on his face. Turning to Vincent, he commented, “My daughter, Avaia Curtis.”

Then to Avaia,

“Avaia. Vincent Wolfe. The man you would be getting married to.”

Ava’s expression turned sour, her lips curling in distaste. She had been hoping he wouldn’t say that. The same man whom she had an unpleasant encounter with earlier? If not for Calia’s save, her butts would have still been hurting from the push. This cocky, arrogant man who had caused her friend to cry. Took her to bed, sullied her, only to ditch her harshly after? No way she was getting married to someone like that, contractually or not.

“I’m sorry. There’s been a mistake,” she voiced out, glaring at Vincent. “I..I can’t do this”

“What nonsense are you saying?” Mr Curtis fumed, his face twisting in rage. Of all his children, she was the mulish one. The one who bent rules and did whatever pleased her. When she had given her consent to the union, he was pleased. Why was she suddenly disinterested? He wouldn’t allow her soil his plans of getting their family wealth back. “You already signed the papers. There’s no going back, Avaia.”

Ava bit her lower lip. Now, she regretted signing those papers few days back. Her fate was sealed. And to someone she badly wanted to kiss with an uppercut. She bit the insides of her cheek hard until a metallic taste entered her mouth. Blood.

“Excuse me,” she huffed and walked out of the room leaving the two men in their own company. Again.

Mr Curtis scratched the back of his head nervously.

“I’m sorry about that,” he apologized, trying to ease the awkward tension that had settled in the air. “I told you she’s quite.. stubborn and opinionated.”

“That she is,” Vincent murmured, eyes sparkling in amusement. “I’m not a fan of boring women anyway.”

Ava walked away, but instead of her room, she went outdoor. The cool breeze slapped her skin, messing with her hair, pushing some strands in her face. Vincent Wolfe. Her jaw tightened.. it was indeed a small world. The same man she had confronted for her friend, was who she had unknowingly sealed her fate to. She rolled her eyes at the joke fate had played.

It wasn’t long after she saw him step out of the house and she followed, trailing behind.

“Vincent!” She called his name prompting him to halt and turn. She walked to him, crossing her arms on her chest and staring blankly at him. “Forget whatever happened between us this evening. If you had just-”

“Start packing your things,” Vincent interrupted, his voice flat and clipped as he stared down at her. “I’ll send a car to pick you up tomorrow evening.”

Ava’s eyes narrowed. This man was getting on her nerves every moment they came in contact. Was it necessary to interrupt her speech? And what rubbish was he saying about packing her things?

“Why?” She countered, annoyance pinching her features.

“Did you.. perhaps read the contract you signed?” He asked, eyes probing her. “Or did you just sign without knowing what you’re getting into?”

Ava swallowed. It was a few days ago when her father requested her presence in his study. He informed her the papers were ready and eager to escape his presence, she had signed quickly. Was there something important she missed?

“I don’t understand,” her voice was low, quiet even.

Vincent cocked his head to the side, raising a brow. She signed the papers without reading them? Now, that was interesting.

“I have a copy in my car,” he informed and walked away to get it, leaving Ava with her thoughts. Her hands trembled slightly. She had signed the legal papers and even though she whined now, nothing was going to change. All she had to do was hope the conditions were something she could cope with. He returned and stretched the papers to her, which Ava snatched with force, her eyes raking through every condition.

‘… live together under his roof.’

‘Miss Avaia Curtis must bear a child for Mr Vincent Wolfe before the period of their contract expires.’

The papers fell from her hands to the ground with a light thud. She stood frozen, mouth agape.

What in the world did she just get into unknowingly? A child? With this man?

“N-no,” she stammered, shaking her head in disbelief. “T-this can’t happen.”

She bent to pick the papers tearing them apart, her hands shaking. Vincent watched her, his eyes crinkling at the corner in amusement.

“You can tear every page if it pleases you,” he chimed, lips curved up in a small smile. “I have more copies.”

“I do not agree to this,” she charged, her face twisting in annoyance. “I won’t give you a child.”

Vincent took slow steps towards Ava whose brows were drawn together, still shocked from what she had read. When he was close enough, his fingers moved to her chin, propping them up for her eyes to meet his.

“You’ve already sealed your fate to mine for a year,” he whispered, his hot breath falling on her skin, weakening her legs. “Now, prepare to live under my rules, Miss Curtis. I don’t take kindly to rebellion.”

She swallowed.

“I’ll be taking my leave now and expect to see you at my house tomorrow.”

“I won’t be seeing you tomorrow,” she blurted, her round lips pouting in defiance. “You just wait, I’ll speak to my father.”

“Good luck with that,” he shrugged his shoulders and walked away leaving Ava standing there. He had this sick audacity that made her skin crawl for unpleasant reasons. How was she supposed to cope with such a man? But above all, a bigger threat loomed above her. She had to bear a child for him before the contract expires. How did she not read that?

“Dumb me,” she cursed, underneath her breath as she walked inside and straight to her father’s study. She pushed the door open, already accustomed to not knocking.

Mr Curtis lifted his gaze from the parchment in his hands to the person who had barged inside. Seeing it was Ava, he sighed. It could only be her.

“Dad,” she called out to him. “I’m sorry but what? How come I never knew the details of this contract?”

“What do you mean?” Mr Curtis’s eyes narrowed. Ava slumped on the couch in front of him, frowning.

“Bear a child for Vincent Wolfe? That’s a very ridiculous clause,” she hissed. “I’m sorry but I won’t be-”

She was interrupted by a chuckle from him. The sound fell on her ears, mocking and deep.

“Leave.” He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture as if sending a disturbance away.

Ava blinked… what?

“I… I’m not some baby machine, father,” she stated, gritting her teeth in annoyance. Mr Curtis’s eyes didn’t waver back to her even for the briefest moment as if letting her know he was done with the conversation.

“Don’t be dramatic now,” he spoke calmly, flipping the page with a flick of his perfectly manicured fingers. “You’re twenty-three. This is an opportunity most girls would kill for.”

“I’m not most girls,” she slammed her fist into the table to get his attention, but he seemed the least bothered. “And I’m certainly not giving him a child.”

“Then she dies.”

Ava’s blood ran cold, her eyes losing their sparkle immediately. She knew who he was referring to. Mrs Virginia Curtis—her mother. If she didn’t get married to the suitor, her mother’s treatment would stop since there was barely any money left to continue with it.

“Ask Lola to get your things ready this night,” he spoke again, a yawn escaping his lips. “Vincent wants you in his mansion tomorrow.”

Ava didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her throat had gone dry.

How did it come to this? A man she despised. A child she never agreed to. And the cruelest part?

She had no choice.