SignedInSilence

Wren's Pov

I wasn't sure if this decision was right. But either I ruin him or this ruins me.

I calmed down after Leander gave me minutes to think about it again. I was pissed but at the same time, I wanted a way out.

It wasn't like this was the end of things.

Who knows.

After the time was over, I took the contract and went through to read the terms.

I lowered my head and scanned every page.

TERMS:

1. Duration. This contract shall remain in effect for a period of two (2) years from the date of execution.

2. Consideration. Upon execution of this contract, The Husband shall provide the following to The Wife:

a) A residence of her choosing, fully furnished and maintained.

b) A monthly allowance of [$30,000] for personal expenses.

c) Full legal leverage over Raphael Caine's financial accounts, including but not limited to all assets, properties, and shell companies currently under Harrow & Steele's investigation.

3. Obligations of The Wife. The Wife agrees to:

a) Assume the role of spouse in all public and private capacities as deemed necessary by The Husband.

b) Produce a legal heir within the term of this contract, said heir to be considered legitimate and entitled to all inheritance rights.

c) Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding the terms of this contract.

♧♧♧

I stopped reading.

"Produce a legal heir," I said slowly. "You want me to have your child."

Leander's expression didn't shift.

"I need an heir. My uncle's will made it clear. If I don't have a child by the time I'm forty-five, control over everything reverts to the board." He paused. "I turn forty-two next month."

I stared at him. "So this is about your inheritance."

"You think?" His voice was flat. "It's more like a way out."

I looked back at the contract. The words blurred in front of me.

"You want me to be your wife," I said, shaking my head. "For two years."

"Yes." His answer was firm.

"To have your child."

"Are you blind too?" He sounded bored. "It's written in plain English."

I flinched at his tone. "And in exchange, you destroy Raphael."

"It's a platter to destroy him yourself." His voice was cold. "What you do with it is your choice."

I looked up at him. "And what about love?"

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You said I'd be your wife. In public and private." I swallowed hard. "What about... what about intimacy?"

He was quiet for a long moment.

"The heir must be legitimate," he said finally. "The contract assumes the traditional method of conception."

My face burned. "Traditional method."

"Yes."

"You mean—"

"I mean what you think I mean." His voice didn't change. "If you sign this contract, we will need to conceive a child. Naturally."

I stared at him. The room was suddenly too small.

"Two years," I said. "Two years of pretending to be your wife. Two years of—" I couldn't finish the sentence.

"Two years," he agreed. "And then you walk away with everything."

"And what about love?" I asked again. "What about... what about feelings?"

He leaned forward, and for the first time, something sharp entered his voice.

"Let me make something clear." His eyes pinned me in place. "I'm not offering you a fairy tale. I'm offering you a contract. I don't care about your feelings. I don't care about love. I only care about the outcome ."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he wasn't done.

"You came to me with nothing. No home. No money. No leverage. The man who betrayed you is walking free, and the woman who helped him is living in your apartment." He paused. "And now I'm offering you everything you need to destroy them. But you're standing here asking me about feelings?"

His voice was cold. Every word hit a nerve.

"You want love?" He laughed, but there was no warmth in it. "Go find someone else. Go find someone who'll hold your hand and tell you everything will be okay. But if you want to win—if you want to take back everything, they stole—then sign the contract."

I stared at him.

"Love doesn't pay the bills, Miss Wren," he continued. "Love doesn't give you back your home. Love doesn't put Raphael Caine in prison. But this contract does."

He leaned back in his chair.

"So stop asking me about love. And start asking yourself what you actually want."

I was quiet for a long time.

Vivienne's voice echoed in my head. "You're so boring. So safe. You never took risks."

Raphael's voice repeatedly echoed too. "You made yourself so easy. So available. You just take whatever I give you and smile."

Maybe I had been too trusting.

Maybe I'd mistaken loyalty for strength.

But Raphael and Vivienne didn't get to define me.

I'd let them take everything from me. And what had I done about it? Nothing. I'd walked away with my tail between my legs.

But here was a chance.

A chance to fight back. To take everything they'd stolen. To watch them burn.

All I had to do was sign.

All I had to do was give Leander Voss a child.

****

"If I sign," I said slowly, "you'll help me destroy them."

"I'll give you the tools to destroy them yourself." He held my gaze. "But yes."

"And after two years?"

"After two years, you walk away with everything. Your money. Your home. Your dignity." He paused. "And the satisfaction of knowing you won."

I looked at the contract again. Going through all the benefits I'd have.

Full legal leverage. Just to produce a legal heir in a span of two years.

It was just one choice.

One signature.

Everything I'd lost. Everything I'd wanted.

I picked up the pen.

My hand hovered over the signature line.

This is insane.

This is the only option you have.

He's using you.

He's offering you a way out.

I set the pen down.

"I need time," I said finally. "To think about it."

He nodded once. "Take all the time you need."

"How much time do I have?"

"The contract needs to be signed within the week." He paused. "After that, the offer expires."

Within the week.

I picked up the folder. Held it against my chest.

"Is there anything else?" His voice was flat. Dismissive.

I wanted to leave so bad. Walk out with the contract and figured things out on my own.

But something stopped me.

"Why Raphael?" I asked quietly. "Why are you so invested in destroying him?"

Leander's fingers paused on his keyboard.

I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes. Something cold. Something almost satisfied.

"Before you came to me," he said slowly, "I was already investigating him."

I blinked. "What?"

"I suspected him of financial irregularities. I just didn't have proof." He held my gaze. "The documents you brought me confirmed what I already suspected."

I stared at him. "So this whole time—"

"I was going to offer you the contract anyway." His voice was flat. "The documents just gave me more leverage."

"And the investigation? The money laundering?"

He leaned back in his chair. "That's not information you need right now."

I felt cold.

"You're using me," I said quietly.

"I'm offering you a deal." His voice was flat. "There's a difference."

I looked down at the contract again. At the clause on what I had to offer.

I picked the contract up.

My ticket to revenge.

My ticket to ruin.

Maybe both.

Then I walked out of Leander's office without a word.