RUTHLESS CONTRACT: Bound by power. Pulled by desire.

Richard's Pov

"This is bullshit."

I shoved my chair back and stood. "I don't need a wife to get what I want. I need land."

My father didn't raise his voice. He never did when he was angry. That was always the warning sign.

"I didn't raise you to be a fool, Richard."

I scoffed. "Then stop treating me like one."

He stood slowly, eyes steady on mine. "Your headquarters is gone."

The words landed hard, even though I already knew.

"Burned," he continued. "Exposed. Compromised. And the police didn't arrest you because someone higher up decided to wait. Not because you were careful."

I clenched my jaw. "I'll rebuild."

"You won't," he said flatly. "Not anywhere they can reach."

I turned away, pacing once. "Then I move operations. Somewhere quieter."

"You move," he said, "and they follow."

"I bury it deeper."

"They dig harder."

I stopped and faced him. "Then what do you suggest?"

He didn't hesitate. "You need land no one can touch."

"There's no such thing."

"There is," he said. "And you already know it."

My chest tightened. "The Ramen land."

"Yes."

I laughed without humor. "That place is a myth. Protected by stories and fear."

"Protected by rules," he corrected. "Rules you can't break."

"Everything breaks," I said.

"Not this."

I stepped closer. "Then we buy it."

"They don't sell."

"Then we threaten."

"They don't fear."

I stared at him. "So what do they want?"

He held my gaze.

"Blood," he said.

"Or marriage."

The room went quiet.

I shook my head slowly. "No."

"That land can only be claimed by family," he continued. "You're either born into it-or you marry into it."

I let out a sharp breath. "You're asking me to chain myself to a stranger."

"I'm asking you to secure your empire."

"I don't need a woman," I snapped. "I need territory."

"And the only way to get it," he replied evenly, "is through her."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Who is she?"

"The youngest Ramen daughter."

I frowned. "I've never heard of her."

"That's because she was never meant to matter," he said. "Until now."

Something in his tone made my stomach tighten.

"She's the one they're willing to give up," he added.

I laughed. "So this is a contract."

"Yes."

"No love."

"None."

"No questions."

"Yes."

"No interference in my business."

"That will be written clearly."

I exhaled slowly. "And her consent?"

He looked away for half a second. Long enough to answer without words.

"That wasn't required."

I felt a flicker of irritation-not guilt. I didn't have time for guilt.

"She'll be nothing to me," I said. "A name on paper."

"She doesn't need to be anything," my father replied. "She's access."

I turned toward the door. "I won't do it."

"You don't have a choice," he said quietly.

I stopped.

"The contract is already being drafted," he continued. "The Ramen family has agreed."

My hand tightened on the door handle.

"So if I walk away-"

"Someone else marries her," he said. "And you lose the land. Permanently."

Silence pressed in.

A woman I didn't know.

A marriage I didn't want.

A deal designed to cage me.

I opened the door.

But as I stepped into the hallway, one truth settled deep in my chest-

The fire hadn't been the real threat.

This was.