"I won't make you regret paying off my debt, Mr. Volkov. But I will make you regret having to live with me for one whole year."
Aurelia James delivered the line coldly, her tone firm, right after scribbling her signature on the Marriage Agreement document. The ink beneath the gold pen felt wet, a tangible, heavy symbol of the unavoidable decision. The pen, made of icy cold metal, felt contradictory to her palm, warm with nervous sweat.
Alexander merely stared at her with a flat gaze. He picked up the thick leather folder. The smell of expensive leather and bond paper was strong. Alexander flipped the folder over, reviewing Aurelia's signature, ensuring there were no legal flaws in the product he had just purchased.
"That is an unnecessary challenge, Miss James," Alexander said, his voice like grinding stone. "Your obligation is simply to be silent and look beautiful beside me. Do not cause drama in public. I despise it."
Aura lifted her chin, forcing a cynical smile that felt like a mask about to crack. She shifted in her seat, feeling her tight silk dress pull against her skin.
"Drama is free, Mr. Volkov. And I am now Mrs. Volkov. I'll throw it in as a bonus for the $2 million. After all, you paid the price of your watch for me; I should get a benefit equivalent to a luxury accessory that has a voice and annoying opinions."
Alexander ignored her sarcasm. He closed the folder with a 'thud' that sounded like a prison door slamming shut. "Your financial matters are resolved now. My assistant, Jake, will ensure the $2 million is transferred to an escrow account. Karl James's debt will be settled directly, without intermediaries. This is the cleanest part of the deal." He looked straight at Aura. "So, you no longer have to deal with cheap debt collectors in your apartment hallway."
Aura felt a cold hint of relief. Mother is safe. That relief was the only real reward.
Alexander pointed to the document again, this time verbally reinforcing the most crucial, and most painful, clause for Aurelia.
"Now, about the boundary," Alexander emphasized, his voice growing lower and sharper. "You already know about Chloe Harris. She is the woman I love. And you, Mrs. Volkov, are a necessary formality. You must not try to compete with her. You must not ask about her. You must not show any interest in my relationship with her. And if you dare create drama, or attempt to interfere with her…" His eyes sharpened. "...this contract will terminate. You will lose the $2 million, and you will meet your old friends, Marco and his debt collectors, again."
The threat was so explicit, so cruel. Aura swallowed, but she had to push back.
I bet he'll send Chloe roses every day and make sure I see them. This man isn't just rich; he's an emotional tyrant. I must remember: he paid me to be a display, not a rival. So I will be the most troublesome display in the world.
"I understand, Mr. Volkov," Aura replied, her tone flat, controlling the tremor in her throat. "I am not drama. I will be a perfectly obedient wife. I will even practice the best way to nod when you talk about how beautiful Miss Harris's hair is, or how perfectly she makes coffee. That is a promise. But don't expect me to smile."
Alexander did not react. He took out his phone. "Jake will meet you in the lobby in ten minutes. He will take you to the Volkov mansion. And Miss James," Alexander paused, his gaze piercing Aura to the bone. "Don't make me regret paying your debt."
Ten minutes later, Aura stood in the enormous, marble-floored lobby, the temperature set to feel cold and exclusive. Aura felt her silk dress was not enough to warm her body.
A tall man approached her. This man, Jake, wore a dark gray suit that was so structured its creases looked sharper than a knife. He wore a watch that surely cost more than Aura's old apartment, and his expression was a mask of absolute indifference.
"Mrs. Volkov," Jake greeted, his voice formal, like a recorded message. His eyes, dark brown, scanned Aura from head to toe, assessing Aura's silk dress with deep suspicion. It was a look that clearly stated, "You are a mistake, and my job is to ensure this mistake does not touch the furniture."
Oh, Mr. Jake. You look like a secret service agent sent to guard a cashier. Smile a little, Sir. You must be paid a fortune to wear that gloom all the time. I'm sure Alexander pays him just to stare at me with hidden contempt.
"Good evening, Jake," Aura replied, trying to sound friendly and relaxed. "I hope you are not judging my dress too harshly. This is the official uniform of a newly purchased wife; you know, business ethics. We 'assets' must look stunning, commensurate with the price paid."
Jake ignored Aura's humor with disturbing professionalism. His eyes remained cold. "The car is waiting. Please follow me. We don't have much time."
They walked out onto the street. Jake opened the back door of a luxurious black car. The car was so quiet, so opulent, so clean. Aura was sure the car had an air purification system far superior to anything she had breathed in her lifetime.
The drive from the bustling city center toward the secluded Volkov residence felt like a migration to another dimension. They moved through business areas, and then, as time passed, dense buildings were replaced by tall walls, lush trees, and wrought-iron gates.
Aura sat upright, letting the silence inside the car become the arena for her most private internal battle. Jake drove perfectly, occasionally glancing at Aura through the rearview mirror. Each time Jake did, Aura felt the need to return the look with the same cynical glare.
I'm sure Jake read my file at least thirty times. He knows I'm poor; he knows my Father is a coward. He probably already predicted when I would fail, when I would try to run away, or even when I would try to seduce Alexander. My God, his supervising gaze makes me want to open the window and scream to the world, 'I'm innocent! I'm just trying to save my Mother!'
I have to endure. $2 million dollars. A very cheap price for my mother's safety. I must endure. I won't let Alexander make me feel smaller than I already am. I will be the most perfect, most obedient, and most annoying Mrs. Volkov Alexander has ever had. I have to find a way to enjoy this golden hell game.
Aura couldn't help herself. She had to break the frigid silence with some sharp humor.
"So, Jake," Aura began, her voice a little too loud. "I'm sure you know everything about my contract. Do you have a special clause too? Like, I'm not allowed to interrupt your lunch break? Or, I shouldn't laugh too loudly in the hallway? Let me know, before I commit an accidental breach."
Jake only responded, his eyes fixed on the road. Aura saw his hands grip the steering wheel slightly tighter. "My duty is to ensure Mr. Volkov is comfortable, Madam. And to ensure all assets are in their place. Including confidentiality, domestic tranquility, and staff obedience."
"Assets," Aura sneered, enjoying the small reaction she provoked. "I like that you use such a straightforward term. Don't worry, Jake. I won't run away with the living room curtains. I've been 'bought' enough tonight. I will be the most valuable... and troublesome... asset."
The journey ended. The car finally took a sharp turn, passing through towering iron gates that looked like an ancient fortress challenging the night sky. The Volkov Mansion. The building was an architectural marvel: vast, magnificent, and shrouded in shadows, a house that screamed wealth with intimidating silence. Aura felt like a small mouse that had just been placed in a golden cage too large for her.
The car stopped in front of the two-story high main door. Jake immediately got out and opened the door for Aura.
"Welcome to the Volkov residence, Madam," Jake said. "I must remind you once again, there are many staff and family members you may encounter here. They do not know about the contract. Confidentiality is paramount."
Aura stepped out, her neck stiff as she looked up at the grandeur of the house. She breathed in the cold night air, scented with pine.
"I know the rules, Jake," Aura said, trying to sound casual, even though she felt incredibly small. "Chloe Harris is the boundary I must not touch. That is perfectly clear. But you must deliver this message to Alexander. I also have a boundary."
Jake stared at her, confusion surfacing on his usually rigid face. "What boundary, Madam?"
Aura smiled faintly, a smile that promised trouble and guaranteed she would be a bothersome asset. The smile didn't reach her eyes, but it was a declaration of war.
"I am Mrs. Volkov on paper. I was paid $2 million to be your wife. I demand professionalism. Tell Alexander, I am not an emotional garbage dump. I refuse treatment that disrespects his asset, and I demand minimum respect as his investment."
Aura turned and walked into the mansion. She left Jake only able to stare at her back with an expression far more suspicious and shocked than before. Aurelia James had entered her Golden Hell, and she was ready to demand full payment for every cent Alexander spent.