The Billionaire's Command

lle's

ght I believ

r looking at my father, at her best, patient and warm, but I never actual

angers, I see that whatever this is, whatever

y feels col

d glass. The architecture had been too clinical, a

expressionless. They are not here to celebrate or experience j

mply a c

ss deal of the

fabric on my skin feels like paper; it is str

me and someone who would choose something like this-again, an a

ack, are seated in their chairs watchi

cold, like the room i

s heavy all of a sudden, suff

xpression, as always. His sharp features are perfectly comp

suit and the only hint

or a brief momen

rence? I think that's what he's been showin

nightmare. There's nothing here that is warm. There

ords lacking warmth an

ay to unite these two individuals in a legal and binding agreement

fit and therefore, the vows will

ey called it a "union," not a contra

diminish even the semblance of a romantic, passi

e, weighting myself

ide me...a biting, stark contra

ped next to me in this foreign land,

e the moment I sig

e, take Isabelle Laurent to be your wife, for two years, under

is steady

never he

good at disguising

r man in the room, in a tone that could

ew meaningless words, but they slap ac

I am literally a pawn. Just a pawn in his business e

of his stare on me, the room silent, as if they are all w

husband, for a two-year period, on these terms and condit

ook at Al

look at

ahead, my throat dry and my

bove me like a blade

e wants t

ut that I can't do this

s alread

s soon as I signed t

words bitter and strang

, like that of someone far away, like an alternative version of me who

y law, and by the mutual consent of both parties, I have the hon

What

promi

e first time in any of this, I se

not w

t tende

hing heavi

dgment of w

voice shaking, but

e world co

w could

aring at us blankly with eyes wide open and I realize

le. I vow to fulfill my end of the deal and I expect the same of you. We both understand what this is. This is no

me like a fi

future, no wishful possibilities,

m stuc

oks to me, as if I a

at can

no vows

union of hearts. There is

ponse. "I commit to abide by the terms of this contract, to d

he words I

I ever thought I wou

truth. It is a

, and just like th

their applause me

the air, just the cold, detached

ical. The heaviness of the ring resting on my finger is al

nt I have been dreading for so long is finally here, and now tha

I wi

, we bo