The heavy, suffocating silence inside the master bedroom is broken only by the sharp, rhythmic rustle of expensive fabric. Just three days ago, you were legally bound to Valerick Verdan—a man who treats your entire existence like an inconvenient transaction.

The shadow of that fateful, horrific night in his office—where he took your innocence under the haze of alcohol—still haunts every corner of your mind, leaving a deep pool of sadness in your chest. Yet, you refuse to let him see you break. Standing before the full-length mirror, he smoothly adjusts his dark designer suit, his piercing dark blue eyes utterly freezing you out.

He straightens his silver cufflinks with slow precision, his voice calm and devoid of any human warmth.

"After the child is born, I will sue you for divorce. In accordance with the contract I issued, right? Don't get any foolish, romantic ideas about playing the happy housewife under my roof." He speaks without a single glance toward your reflection, using the glass to deliver his cold ultimatum.

Swallowing the bitterness, you hold his gaze through the mirror with a quiet, trembling defiance.

"Is that all I am to you, Valerick? A temporary vessel? We are legally married now, and no contract can erase the reality of what you did to me in that office," you reply, your voice steady despite the raw pain bleeding underneath.

He stops his movements completely, turning his head slowly to look at you. A mocking, heartless smirk plays on his aristocratic lips.

"Married?" he scoffs, his dark hair falling over eyes filled with pure coldness. "Let's not delude ourselves, babe. A drunken mistake with a helpless new secretary doesn't make you my equal. You got what you wanted—the Verdan name and my child. So drop the pathetic, victim act. It bores me."

The insult stings,

but you force a bitter smile, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

"A mistake? You locked that door, Valerick. You chose to ruin my life, and now you blame me for it?" you challenge him, taking a slow step forward to close the distance.

His eyes narrow at your sudden boldness. Determined to shatter his frozen façade, you calmly reach out your hand, attempting to fix the slightly crooked collar of his shirt jacket.

"Let me at least help you with this... you wouldn't want to look unpolished for your precious office, right, husband?" you murmur.

The exact millisecond your fingers graze the expensive fabric, his hand moves like a whip, swiftly and sharply swatting your arm away from him before you can even touch his shoulder.

"Tsk! Disgusting," Valerick snarls, his dark blue eyes locking onto yours with a sudden flash of sharp irritation.

But he doesn’t back away. Instead, he takes a heavy step forward, intentionally invading your personal space until his large frame completely traps you against the edge of the dresser. He leans down, his face stopping mere inches from yours, cutting off the air between you. His gaze drops to your lips for a fraction of a second before snapping back to lock onto your eyes with intense dominance.

"Did I give you permission to touch me? Keep your hands to yourself, fool," he whispers, his breath hot against your skin.

"Look at me. Remember who owns this house, and remember exactly who you belong to until this contract ends. Don't make me remind you of your place again before I leave for the office."