Chapter 4

Agreements of the Heart

Sapphire’s POV

“What are you doing here? You have no business meddling with my life!” I tried to walk away but he grabbed my arm that yanked me against his chest.

His voice was low, almost shaking “You have a daughter?”

My chest tightened, the accusation in his voice was like a blade, sharp, and unforgiving.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. “What about the night we spent together? Was that a lie?”

His fingers twitched against my skin. His breathing uneven. “You-” his voice broke, and he exhale sharply.

I forced myself to meet his gaze. That was a mistake. I saw everything in those bloodshot eyes.

The disbelief, the anger… and the hurt buried beneath it.

His eyes met mine. “Answer me!” I jump.

My fist clench, and my throat tightens before I speak. “You have no right to demand answers… we are nothing.”

I can see the pain in his eyes for a split second.

As much as it hurts to say those words, I have to. My plan was falling apart. The debt I was left to pay… he wasn’t supposed to know about it, let alone try to save me from this mess.

How could he offer marriage that easily when he doesn't even know me well enough?

I should be happy-my revenge was progressing-but the though of him seeing my vulnerability enraged me.

I refuse to be saved by a man who I despise the most. If I fall, I’ll do it on my own terms.

He let out a sharp breath, his hands tightening into fist. “No.”

My brows creased. “No?”

“We are to be married.”

“What are you talking about?”

The words slammed into me. A joke. It had to be a joke. But the way he held my gaze, steady and unflinching, told me otherwise.

“Why? Do you want to be married to that man? I’m sure as hell that you don’t.”

His breathing was heavy as he pointed toward where Liefer had left earlier.

“Don’t worry, you’ll repay me. This will be an agreement between the two of us.”

“I don’t think you understand. I don’t want any of this, and I can save myself from this fucking mess.”

“Is that how you hate to be with me?” He glared.

“Yes.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “No wonder you left.” I gulp. “I’ll send you the documents this week. We are to be married.”

He turned his back and left despite me screaming my lungs calling him back. I let out a big sigh, failing to call him back.

He stopped coming to the bar that made me feel empty.

I couldn’t help myself but feel angry how he tangled his life into my personal life.

He had already paid Liefer, and discussing our agreement. We were to be married by the end of the month.

He was true to his words, days after our conversation I received a mail from my door about our agreement.

The letter sat on my table, unopened. My fingers hovered over it, but I couldn’t bring myself to tear it apart.

This was happening.

When I finally stepped into the lawyer’s office, Lysander was already there, his eyes unreadable.

“You’re late.” He said coldly. This was purely business for him.

“Why are you so eager to get married to me?” Does he know something? Did he find out who I really am? I shake at the thought of it.

“You’re not the only one benefiting for this agreement.” I raised my brows. “I need to be married to get my inheritance. Don’t think highly of yourself. An opportunity open and I would be dumb not to take it.”

“Why me? I’m sure a lot of women would willing to be in my shoes right now.”

“You confuse me.” He’s so cold that he used to be. I could hardly recognize him but stayed in my ground.

I look away. “Let’s over this.”

My hands tremble as I signed. Lysander didn’t even look at me.

The pen felt heavier than it should. My heart pounded, screaming at me to stop, to fight, to walk away before it was too late.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t.

I signed.

He took the paper from me, his fingers brushing against mine for half a second.

I expected him to look smug. Victorious.

But he didn’t. For a brief moment, he just stared at my signature. Then, without a word, he turned away.

“What now? You’re hesitating, aren’t you? I know you wanted this, don’t like to me.”

He glared at me as he paced but stopped to look at me.

I turned my head, but he closes the distance between us, stopping just inches away, his presence suffocating.

Lysander’s lips parted as if to say something, but he swallowed hard, his fists clenching at his sides.

“I don’t know why, but damn it, I feel like I need to save you.” he muttered to himself, though the words were for neither of us.

My voice waved slightly, betraying the calmness I tried to hold. “Don’t stay. I didn’t ask for this. If you regret it, just leave. Now.”

But my eyes betrayed me, revealing the fear, the desire, and the desperation I was fighting to hide.

He didn’t leave. Instead, he took a step forward, the space between us closing, like he had made up his mind without needing to speak it out aloud.

His eyes met mine with a new kind of certainty, as though he had finally accepted the thing he tried to deny.

The air between us thickened with the heat of our breath, and the faint smell of his cologne seemed to linger in my mind longer than it should have.

My pulse quickened as his closeness overwhelmed my senses… his presence was suffocating.

I was angry at myself for feeling this way. Why was I hoping he would stay?

Why did I want to believe that there was some part of him that didn’t want to hurt me?

He signed the papers.

But who would have to thought that in that moment was a beginning of a chaos…