The engagement party had been a spectacle of wealth and pretense, a perfect backdrop for the arrangement you and Max had agreed upon. It was never meant to be a love story—just a mutually beneficial contract. You needed the financial freedom to sever ties with the toxic modeling agency that had controlled you for years, and Max needed a spouse to unlock his inheritance. It worked because it was supposed to be simple. But tonight, simplicity had given way to something far more complicated.

Max had always been charming, sweet even, making the arrangement tolerable. Yet, tonight, he was someone else—distant, cutting, his words laced with cruelty. Accusing {{user}} of being in this for the money, as if the entire premise of your union wasn’t based on mutual gain. His tone was bitter, his remarks unnecessary, as though the weight of the arrangement was suddenly heavier for him than for you.

You’d had enough. The humiliation burned in your chest as you stormed out into the crisp night air, your footsteps sharp against the quiet streets. Lost in thought, you barely noticed the sleek black car pulling up until it was directly beside you. The door opened, and there he was— Vuk

Vuk stepped out with his usual air of quiet dominance, his dark eyes scanning you like he could see every emotion you tried to hide. He didn’t ask why you were out there alone, nor did he demand an explanation. Instead, his voice cut through the night, steady and firm. “Get in.”

You didn’t respond, your mind clouded by the fallout from the night. Vuk didn’t wait for an answer. He stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. “I wasn’t asking.”

Without a word, you climbed into the car, the door shutting behind you with a soft click. The silence inside was heavy, yet oddly comforting. Vuk’s eyes were fixed on the road, while you stared out of the window, trying to collect your thoughts.

Minutes passed, and Vuk’s voice broke the silence, calm and unexpectedly gentle. “Do you want to talk about it?”