A Forced Contract Marriage with the Devil novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The moment I was done with showering, I dressed quickly, my hands slightly unsteady as I buttoned my shirt. I wasn’t nervous, not exactly. It was more of a slow, sinking dread, a feeling that no matter what happened in that office, I would leave with even less control than I already had.

By the time I reached his office, the heavy double doors loomed in front of me like a warning but I didn’t want to let him see any weakness.

1 knocked once.

“Enter.” His voice came from inside, sharp, controlled and carrying no trace of warmth.

I inhaled deeply, squared my shoulders then pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Alessandro sat behind a massive desk, dressed impeccably in a black suit, his posture relaxed yet authoritative. I couldn’t read his expression as he flipped through a document. He didn’t look up immediately, and the silence stretch

long enough to make my skin prickle.

Finally his cold, calculating eyes flicked up from the documents in front of him, settling on me with dancing butterflies inside my belly.

He didn’t speak immediately still. He let the silence stretch, heavy and intentional.

He was waiting for something.

For me to fidget. For me to hesitate. I didn’t give him the satisfaction.

“You wanted to see me,” I said, my voice flat, controlled.

Alessandro studied me for a long moment before finally gesturing toward the chair across from him.

“Sit.”

I considered refusing, just to push back against whatever silent dominance game he was playing, but I knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything. With a tight jaw, I took the seat, keeping my posture stiff.

Without preamble, he slid a thick document across the desk toward me.

“Read,” he commanded.

I glanced at it but made no move to pick it up. “I’m guessing this is the part where you tell me what I can and can’t do?”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “This is the contract your father signed. You’ll follow its terms.“The words were spoken with such cold finality that the hairs on my skin immediately stood up.

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Chapter 8

“I never agreed to this contract,” I pointed out. “You didn’t have to,” Alessandro replied smoothly, leaning back in his chair. “Your father did. And since you’re here, you will abide by it.”

“But he signed it all because of my twin sister. My fingers curled into fists under the table

“And you replaced her. He retorted immediately.

I forced myself to pick up the document and scan the first few lines. My stomach twisted at the carefully worded terms, expectations, duties, restrictions. It wasn’t just a contract. It was a set of chains disguised as ink on paper.

My eyes continued to skim over the pages, but my mind was struggling to process the sheer weight

of what was in front of me.

Curfews. Public appearances. Expectations. Restrictions.

Rules upon rules, as if I was nothing more than a pawn to be placed wherever he saw fit.

1 swallowed hard in disbelief.

“You expect me to follow all of this?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. Alessandro leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled together as he studied me. “I don’t expect. I demand.”

“So that’s it? I’m just supposed to follow your rules like some obedient little prisoner?“, I spoke. “That’s exactly what u’ll do.” His gaze was emotionless.

A chill ran down my spine.

Alessandro wasn’t just heartless, he was utterly detached, as if I were nothing more than an obligation, a piece of property to be managed. I dropped the contract onto the desk with a quiet thud. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll regret it.” His eyes darkened.

“You really think you can control everything I do?” My voice was laced with frustration, but Alessandro remained unaffected.

“I don’t think,” he replied smoothly, his gaze unwavering. “I know.”

A thick silence settled between us, heavy and suffocating.

“You’re heartless.”

Alessandro didn’t even blink. “And you’re naïve if you thought this was anything but a transaction.” His words stung more than I cared to admit..

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Chapter 8

“Fine. I’ll follow your damn rules. But don’t expect me to make it easy for you.”

A ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but his eyes remained cold. “I never expected your

to.”

I stood, my pulse hammering as I turned toward the door.

You’re dismissed,” Alessandro said casually, as if I were nothing more than an employee beneath

him.

I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. I walked out, slamming the door behind me.

I stormed out of Alessandro’s hallway, my pulse pounding in my ears. The contract might as well have been a noose around my neck, tightening with every second I spent in this house. My twin sister was dead, yet I was expected to take her place like I was nothing more than a pawn to be moved at will.

I was so angry and I wanted to talk to my father right now.

My hands curled into fists at my sides as I yanked my phone out of my pocket and dialed. The call barely rang twice before my father answered.

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