Avah’s POV
The pen felt heavier than it should have as I held it in my hand, hovering over the dotted line that would change my life. My heart thudded in my chest, my mind a swirling mess of thoughts and emotions I couldn’t quite untangle.
How did I end up here?
I glanced at the contract again, reading over the terms for the tenth time. It was all so... reasonable. Almost too reasonable. A life of stability, luxury, and security, things I didn’t even know I wanted until now, when they were being handed to me on a silver platter.
But at what cost?
I stole a glance at Roman. He was watching me, his expression unreadable, but his eyes were sharp and focused. He didn’t look impatient or demanding, but I could feel the weight of his presence, the expectation hanging in the air.
This wasn’t just about signing a piece of paper. It was about binding myself to him, to his world, to a life I didn’t fully understand.
I swallowed hard and looked back at the contract.
Monthly allowance. A house of my choosing. Breakfast and dinner together. A five-billion-dollar settlement if things fell apart. The terms were almost laughably in my favor. It felt more like a gift than a trap, but that only made me more suspicious.
Why me? Why was Roman or his grandfather, so eager to make this happen?
And yet… could I really pass this up?
I had no memories, no family, no idea who I was or where I came from. This might be my chance to build something, to create a life for myself, even if it wasn’t the one I had imagined.
But was it worth tying myself to a man I barely knew?
My chest tightened as doubt and temptation warred within me. I thought about the moments I had spent with Roman so far—his calm confidence, the way he looked at me like he saw something more than just a woman with no past. There was something steady about him, something that felt... safe.
And yet, the little voice in the back of my mind whispered warnings. This wasn’t a fairytale. This was a business transaction, no matter how kind or considerate he seemed.
"Avah," Roman’s voice broke through my thoughts, soft but steady. "If there’s something you’re unsure about, tell me."
I looked up at him, startled. There was no pressure in his tone, just a quiet reassurance that I hadn’t expected.
"This doesn’t have to feel like a trap," he added, his gaze holding mine. "If you want out, say the word, and we will stop right here."
His words were comforting, but they didn’t ease the conflict in my chest.
I took a deep breath, my eyes flicking back to the contract one last time. This deal was too good to pass up, too good to be true. But maybe... maybe it was also too good to ignore.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I lowered the pen to the paper. My hand trembled slightly as I signed my name, each stroke of the pen feeling heavier than the last.
When I finished, I set the pen down and leaned back in my chair, my heart pounding in my chest.
"There," I said softly, my voice steadier than I felt. "It’s done."
Roman’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes, relief, maybe? Gratitude? I wasn’t sure.
"Thank you," he said simply, his voice calm but sincere.
As I sat there, staring at my name on the paper, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just set something into motion that I couldn’t take back.
Whatever this was, whatever came next, I would have to face it head-on.
He took the contract and signed his name quickly. Then the marriage papers were brought in, and we both signed them without much hesitation.
"Your marriage certificate will be ready for pickup in three days," the lawyer said. "Mr. Roman, you can send someone to retrieve it. We will keep in contact in case of any developments or delays."
"Fine," Roman replied curtly.
He stood, gently grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet. We walked out of the building with my hand in his, and, strangely, it felt... normal. Comfortable, even.
Maybe this wasn’t going to be as bad as I had originally thought.
Outside, he dismissed his driver and assistant, instructing them to wait by the car. Then we slipped inside the vehicle.
"I want you to go through these pictures and select the house that will be our home," he said, handing me a sleek tablet.
The first house was a sprawling mansion, stunning but overwhelmingly large. By the time I got to the fifth listing, I was exhausted by the sheer extravagance of them all. Why does he need so many houses?
I was about to give up when I came across a beautiful townhouse. It had four bedrooms, a swimming pool, a sauna, and just enough space without feeling excessive. It wasn’t far from the city, and something about it just felt right. Not overly flashy, but elegant and inviting.
"This one," I said, handing the tablet back to him.
He glanced at my selection, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Why didn’t you choose one of the bigger houses?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"It’s just the two of us, maybe two maids," I explained. "That’s plenty of space. A house that’s too big won’t feel like a home at all."
He nodded thoughtfully. "We’ll do as you say, little Moon. I’ll give you two days to pack up, and I’ll send someone to help you move into our marital home."
Two days?
"Why so soon?" I asked, startled by the rush.
"We can’t be living separately while we’re married, now can we?" he said matter-of-factly, his tone leaving no room for argument.