3. Contract Marriage Rules

AMBER My steps felt heavy, even though the two large men behind me forced me to keep going. The low-heeled shoes I wore made a small noise on the cold marble floor, but it wasn't loud enough to drown out the whispers and glares of the Vincent family sitting in a row in the large room. I felt like a goat being led to the slaughterhouse. Vincent walked in front of me, his steps firm and confident, as if he was carrying something valuable. I knew that, in his family's eyes, I was just something unwanted. "Are you really serious about this, Vincent?" A middle-aged woman's voice broke the silence. I turned my head and saw an elegant-looking woman, who was obviously his mother, looking at me with an appraising gaze. "A woman like this? To be your wife?" That sentence stabbed me instantly. I wanted to answer, wanted to defend myself, but I knew this wasn't the place to talk. "She's more than enough," Vincent replied in a calm tone, though there was firmness in it. "Amber is my choice." "But, look at her," an older man, probably his uncle, interjected in a dismissive tone. "No background. No big name. And she comes from a family that—" "Don't finish that sentence," Vincent cut in, this time in a sharp tone that made the room quiet. I clenched my jaw, trying to contain the heat in my chest. I knew they were talking about my family—about Dad, the debt, and all the mess that brought me here. "I don't care where she comes from," Vincent continued. "She's going to marry me. That's all you need to know." The woman let out a long sigh, looking at Vincent with a mixed expression of disappointment and disgust. "Vincent, you've always been stubborn, but this time, you made a stupid decision. You can't bring a woman like this into our family. What will people say?" "I don't care what they say," Vincent replied sharply. "Amber is mine. And I'm not asking for anyone's approval." Hearing that, I felt my blood boil. Yours? Does he think I'm property? I finally could no longer remain silent. "I never agreed to this, Vincent," I said, my voice shaking slightly, but I forced up the courage. "You can force me to stand here, but you cannot force me to be your wife. You have no right." All eyes were on me. Some were shocked, some were angry, and some were full of contempt. But I didn't care. "Amber," Vincent said, his tone low but full of menace. "Don't make this harder than it has to be." "Difficult?" I laughed bitterly. "You're the one making all this difficult, Vincent. You brought me here against my will, and now you want me to accept this humiliation?" I turned to his mother, my gaze sharp. "I may be a nobody in your eyes, but I will never allow myself to be treated like this, " I said again with my firm tone. The room fell silent again. For a moment, I could see the tension on Vincent's face, but he said nothing. "How dare he," muttered someone in the corner, and a few people chuckled. I clenched my fists, restraining myself from losing control. "This is the final decision," Vincent said finally, his voice cold. "And I will not discuss this again." He turned, gesturing to the men who had brought me here. "We're leaving." I followed them out, but as the massive doors closed behind me, I knew one thing for sure—I may not have much choice now, but I wasn't going to give up. Vincent may think he can control me, but I will find a way to get out of this. No matter what happens. *** I never meant to eavesdrop. Really, no. But my steps came to an abrupt halt when Vincent's voice came from behind the thick wooden door at the end of the corridor. His normally calm voice now sounded urgent, almost angry. "Grandpa, I've done everything you asked," she said, her tone low but stressful. "I've found the woman I'm going to marry. What else is missing?" I took a slow breath, trying to digest what I had just heard. The woman to marry? He was talking about me, wasn't he? His grandfather answered in a heavy, authoritative voice. "Vincent, marriage is not enough. You know that. This family is not built on marriage alone. You must show that you deserve a larger share of the inheritance." "What else do I have to show?" Vincent sounded increasingly frustrated. "I've done everything. I took care of the family business. I took care of the family reputation. And now I even brought Amber here. The woman you thought was impossible for me to conquer." I gasped softly, my hands gripping the wall to hold my suddenly limp body. Conquer? So what am I in his eyes, a game? "That woman is a nobody, Vincent," his grandfather said in a scornful tone. "You think bringing a woman like her will make me trust you? She has no name. No wealth. No influence." "It doesn't matter!" snapped Vincent. "She is my choice. And she will be my wife, no matter what you think." His grandfather paused for a moment before replying, his voice turning cold again. "Then prove it. Prove that you can control her. Prove that she is part of a bigger plan. Otherwise, don't expect me to change the division of the inheritance." I felt my blood freeze. So all of this—the marriage, Vincent's demands, even the destruction of my family-were all just tools to fulfill his ambitions. I was nothing to them, just a pawn in the family's big game. "Just wait," Vincent said finally, his voice calmer but determined. "I will make her do what I told her. She will have no other choice." I backed away slowly, my steps silent on the marble floor. My breath caught, my eyes hot. I didn't want to be here any longer, didn't want to hear anything more. Once I was far enough away from the door, I ran to my room, closed the door, and locked myself inside. My heart felt broken. Vincent, with all his promises and stern looks, only saw me as a way to get more inheritance. I felt angry, disappointed, and hurt all at once. But above all, I felt my resolve growing stronger. If he thought I would comply, he was wrong. I would find a way out of this trap, and this time, I wouldn't let her win. *** I waited for him in the spacious living room, with my hands shaking even though I held them tightly to look strong. When Vincent walked in, dressed in his always neat dark suit, his steps were so relaxed like it was nothing. But I couldn't help myself. "We need to talk," I demanded matter-of-factly. He raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "You look serious. What's wrong, Amber?" I stepped forward, looking him squarely in the eye. "I heard everything, Vincent. About your grandfather. About the inheritance. And about this marriage." His face changed in an instant, his jaw hardening. "You were eavesdropping?" "Not intentionally," I retorted, my tone sharp. "But now I know. You wanted to marry me not because I was meant for you, but because I was your tool to get a bigger share of the inheritance." He let out a long breath, then stepped towards the sofa, sitting calmly like nothing was wrong. "Amber, it's not what you think." I gave a short laugh, full of sarcasm. "It's not what I think it is? You manipulated me, Vincent! You forced my family to surrender, dragged me here, then you pretend that it was about love or whatever nonsense you said. But in fact, this is all just your game to get more money from your family!" She looked at me with her sharp dark eyes, but I didn't back down. "I do need that inheritance, Rena. But I never thought of you as a tool. You-" "Stop!" I cut him off. "Don't say that. Don't you dare try to justify all this with the nonsense that I'm important to you." She stood up, approaching me with slow steps. "Listen, Amber. I have a big responsibility in this family. I want to make sure my position is strong. Otherwise, everything I've built will be in vain." "And that's why you think you can use me?" I stared at him, my eyes heating up. "You don't care about my feelings, about my honor, or even about what happens to my family. You only care about yourself." "It's not just about me!" he snapped, his voice echoing in the room. "It's about power. About protecting what is mine." "And I'm part of it?" I asked, my tone low but full of anger. "You think I'm part of your collection? Something you can display to show how great you are?" He paused, his face tense. For the first time, he had no answer. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "I will not marry you, Vincent. Not for your inheritance, not for your family, and not for any reason you think you can use to persuade me." She reached out her hand, as if to touch me, but I took a step back. "Rena, you misunderstand. I-" "I didn't misunderstand," I cut in. "I'm just finally seeing you for who you are. And I hate myself for having believed that you were different." I turned around, leaving her standing there, silent and still. My steps were heavy, but I knew one thing-I wasn't going to let myself become a pawn in Vincent's dirty game. No matter what happens next. "You won't be able to back out of our agreement anyway," Vincent said in a haughty tone. Vincent then placed a document on the table. A thick black folder that he had just placed on the table in front of me. On it, it was written in bold letters: Marriage Contract. "Read it first," he said in a flat tone, as he sat in his majestic chair, like a king giving a decree. "I want to make sure you understand everything before you sign." I swallowed, hands shaking as I opened the first page. Vincent's eyes never left my face, like a predator watching its prey. I began to read chapter after chapter, and every sentence written there made my chest tighten. I thought this would be a difficult deal, but I never thought he would include rules like this. "Article 3, Paragraph 2: The second party-that's me-is not allowed to make any decisions concerning personal or family assets without the first party's consent." I raised my face, looking at him sharply. "So I can't even manage my own finances?" He just shrugged. "I'm in charge of all that. You don't have to worry." I snorted, continuing reading. "Article 5, Paragraph 1: The second party is required to attend all family events of the first party without exception." I looked at him skeptically. "So I don't have the freedom to refuse, even if I don't want to go?" "It's necessary to maintain the family's image," he replied without a trace of guilt. Then my eyes fell on one of the sections that took my breath away. "Article 7, Paragraph 4: This marriage is valid for five years with a renewal clause based on the agreement of both parties. If the second party breaches the contract, all rights to assets, allowances, or facilities will be revoked." I slammed the folder onto the table. "So, this all has a time limit? You've even planned when this marriage could end?" Vincent looked at me with a cold face, as if my question made no sense. "This is no ordinary marriage, Amber. This is a covenant. I offer you security and status, and you give me your position by my side. It's fair." I laughed bitterly, even though my tears had already begun to well up. "Fair? You're not even talking about love or feelings, Vincent. It's all about control. About making sure I have no choice but to submit to you." He leaned back in his chair, his strong arms linked in front of his chest. "Love, Amber, is a fragile thing. But an agreement like this provides stability. You'll be safe, and your family won't lack for anything." "And me?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper. "Am I just going to be a puppet in your life, following all the rules you make, without ever being my own person?" His eyes stared at me for a long moment, but he didn't answer. I shook my head, taking a deep breath. "I don't need this kind of security, Vincent. I don't need a marriage full of rules, no heart, no feelings." He stood up, approaching me with slow steps. "Amber, you know this is the best way out for you. Your family cannot survive without my help. You won't find a better option." I rose to my feet, looking at him with tears on the verge of falling. "You're wrong. I'd rather fight on my own than give up my life for this game." I picked up the folder, slammed it into his chest, then turned to leave. But before I walked out of the room, I paused for a moment. "You may have all the power, Vincent, but you will never be able to force me to love you. It will never be in any contract you make."