Chapter 5 Contract of No Return
Serena's POV
Mom stared at me in complete disbelief after I said I was getting married and we went silent for a while as she held my hand tightly her eyes wide with shock.
"Why marriage Serena?" she asked as she searched my face.
"With everything going on why is that your next step?" Sha asked again
I quickly softened my voice trying to calm her down. "Don't worry Mom" I said as I squeezed her hand back.
"I found someone who will help us and will take care of all the medical bills and the foundation. Everything will be settled within the next two days I promise." I told her
But she wasn't reassured and she held my hand even tighter and shook her head.
"I can't lose you too Serena" she said her voice breaking a little.
"After everything we went through with Luca I can't survive another heartbreak or danger." Sh.e added.
I gently held her face forcing a calm smile even though my own heart was racing. "I'm fine Mom" I told her softly.
"Nothing will happen to me. I won't let it."
She pushed back right away. "Don't get involved in anything dangerous or reckless just for survival" she warned as tears filled her eyes. "Please Serena."
We stayed like that for a long moment not saying much but both of us terrified and after I put her to sleep, i left the house with the business card still in my pocket.
Outside I pulled out my phone and called Caspian. He answered almost immediately like he had been waiting for it and nefore I could say much he spoke calmly. "I know your decision already."
I paused feeling unsettled by how sure he sounded.
"How do you even know what I'm thinking?" I started to ask but he cut it short.
"Meet me at my office" he said with no explanation and when I hesitated a black car pulled up right in front of the house within minutes. Caspian appeared briefly through the tinted window. "The contract is at my office, not here" he told me. "You have thirty minutes." Then the car drove off.
I had no choice but to take a cab to Vale Holdings. The building was massive and intimidating far beyond anything I had ever seen. Everything screamed luxury and even Inside people noticed me right away. I was dressed in a black hoodie, grey pants and the bathroom flops I still had on while everyone else wore luxury suits. I could hear people talking as I walked through the lobby but I ignored them and asked for Caspian's office.
When I finally entered he wasn't even looking at me. He was working at his desk calm and focused and without a greeting he slid a document across the desk.
"Sign it" he said simply.
I stood still for a moment then sat down and read it carefully. The contract said he would cover all of Mom's medical treatment fully and restore the Moretti Medical Foundation immediately. Mom would get private medical care, I would move into a Vale-controlled residence for security and my movements would be limited for safety and I would also work at Vale Holdings. The marriage would be announced when needed for business and we would appear married only in public and keep separate rooms otherwise.
I signed it with shaky hands knowing this was the only way out.
Two months passed since started working around Caspian at Vale Holdings learning how structured and dangerous his world really was. Every move I made felt monitored, although hemade sure Mom's condition stayed stable but never used it against me and that was nice enough.
All this time I reminded myself this was for revenge. I was here to find out the truth about Luca and destroy Caspian from inside. But the longer I stayed the more complicated it was all becoming.
Then without warning Caspian arranged a private wedding and it was only days before I found out. N
Mom attended but she looked emotionally unstable and confused. She was happy about the financial safety but uneasy about how fast everything moved. Valentina Vale, his mother and the patriarch of Vale Holdings was there too and she didn't hide her dislike for me.
During the short reception Valentina "accidentally" spilled her drink on my dress.
"Oh... I didn't see you standing there" she said coldly as she looked at me.
The room went silent but no one said anything. I realized quickly this family only tolerated me because of Caspian. He watched everything but didn't react right away and that actually scared me the most.
Later that night I was shown to one of the penthouse rooms at his estate. I changed into a simple nightgown removed my accessories and sat on the edge of the bed staring at the ring on my finger. Two months ago this was all about revenge but the truth is, I hadn't really planned it well. I kept thinking about what came next and how I would find the truth about Luca while staying safe.
There was a knock on the door and I realized hadn't locked it yet.
"Who is there?" I asked, my voice a little sharp.
"It's me" Caspian said from outside.
I hesitated then told him to come in and he entered without hesitation, closing the door behind him. He stood there for a moment then started moving closer to me slowly. At first,I thought maybe he had something to say but the room suddenly felt smaller.
I stood up quickly my heart racing.
"What do you think you are doing?" I asked harshly as I stepped back because this wasn't part of the agreement.
He kept coming until he was too close and my heart was beating crazily fast out of fear.
"What married people do" he replied calmly.
