CHAPTER ONE - THE MAN EVERYONE FEAR
The rain had been falling since afternoon.
Sarah sat quietly in the back seat of the car, staring through the window at the enormous iron gates ahead.
Beyond them stood the Vale mansion.
It wasn't just a house.
It looked like a fortress.
Tall walls surrounded the property, security guards stood at every entrance, and expensive cars lined the driveway.
Sarah tightened her fingers around the small handbag on her lap.
She still couldn't believe she was doing this.
Getting married.
To a man she had never met.
The car stopped.
A security guard approached, checked the vehicle, and opened the gates.
As they drove inside, Sarah remembered everything her mother had told her.
“Don't judge him by what people say.”
But everyone seemed to say the same thing about Damien Vale.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
Dangerous.
The ruthless heir of the Vale empire.
At only twenty-seven, Damien had already taken control of several parts of his family's business. People said he had ruined competitors without even raising his voice.
They also said he never forgave betrayal.
Ever.
Sarah had heard enough stories to make her nervous.
But her family needed this marriage.
Her father's business was drowning in debt, and the Vale family had offered a solution.
Marriage.
A simple arrangement.
At least, that's what Sarah had been told.
The car stopped in front of the mansion.
A man in a black suit opened her door.
“Miss Sarah.”
She stepped out.
“Mr. Vale is waiting for you.”
Sarah took a deep breath.
“Okay.”
She followed him inside.
The mansion was even more beautiful from the inside.
Marble floors.
Huge chandeliers.
Paintings covering the walls.
Everything was perfect.
Yet somehow, the entire place felt cold.
They stopped outside a large study.
The man knocked once.
“Come in.”
The voice from inside was deep and calm.
The door opened.
Sarah stepped inside.
A man stood beside the enormous windows overlooking the garden.
Black suit.
Straight posture.
Cold expression.
He slowly turned toward her.
Sarah immediately understood why people were afraid of him.
Damien Vale didn't need to shout.
His silence was enough.
His eyes met hers.
“Sarah?”
“Yes.”
He studied her for a moment.
Then he walked toward the desk.
“Sit.”
Sarah sat.
Damien remained standing.
“You know why you're here.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know this marriage isn't about love.”
Sarah swallowed.
“I know.”
“Good.”
He picked up a folder from the desk and placed it in front of her.
“A six-month marriage contract.”
Sarah opened it.
She read the first few pages carefully.
Financial arrangements.
Public appearances.
Separate rooms.
No interference in each other's personal affairs.
Then she reached the final page.
Her eyes stopped.
“Neither party shall be obligated to develop romantic feelings for the other.”
Sarah looked up.
“You actually put that in a marriage contract?”
Damien's expression didn't change.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't make promises I don't intend to keep.”
Sarah stared at him.
There was something unsettling about the way he spoke.
He wasn't angry.
He wasn't rude.
He was simply... certain.
She lowered her eyes to the contract again.
“You have a reputation.”
A faint smile appeared on Damien's lips.
“I'm aware.”
“They call you ruthless.”
His smile disappeared.
“People who know me call me careful.”
“And people who don't?”
“They're usually the ones who have a reason to be afraid.”
Sarah fell silent.
For some reason, that answer frightened her more than the rumors.
She picked up the pen.
Before signing, she looked at him.
“One question.”
“Go ahead.”
“If this marriage is only a contract, why did you agree to it?”
Damien's eyes darkened.
For a moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
Then it vanished.
“Because I need something from this marriage.”
Sarah frowned.
“What?”
“You'll find out.”
She didn't like that answer.
But she had already made her decision.
She signed.
Damien signed immediately afterward.
The sound of thunder shook the windows.
Sarah looked down at the two signatures.
Sarah.
Damien Vale.
Just like that, she was married.
Damien closed the folder.
“Welcome to the Vale family.”
Sarah stood.
But before she could leave, Damien spoke again.
“One more thing.”
She turned.
His expression was completely serious.
“Never lie to me.”
Sarah stared at him.
“Why?”
Damien's voice dropped.
“Because betrayal is the one thing I never forgive.”
Sarah didn't know it yet, but those words would become important.
Very important.
Because somewhere inside the Vale mansion, someone was already watching her.
And that person knew exactly why Sarah had been brought into the family.
To be continued...
