Chapter 10 A Deal With the Devil

Aurora sat on the penthouse balcony, staring at the glittering skyline of New York City. The cool night air wrapped around her, but it did little to soothe the storm inside her.

Damien's proposal.

It haunted her every waking thought.

She knew what he wanted-control. A structured life where everything was on his terms.

But what about her?

Would she be trading her independence for security?

Her heart told her no. Her mind told her yes.

And in the middle of it all was her unborn child-the only thing that truly mattered.

Damien stepped onto the balcony, his presence commanding even in the quiet. He leaned against the railing beside her, his hands in his pockets.

"You've been thinking about it," he said, his voice smooth as ever.

Aurora let out a slow breath. "Of course, I have."

"And?"

She turned to him, searching his face for any sign of hesitation. But Damien Lexington was unreadable as always-a fortress of logic and control.

"You're asking me to marry you for the sake of the baby," she said carefully. "But what happens after?"

Damien's gaze remained steady. "We raise our child. Together."

Aurora narrowed her eyes. "And then what? Do we live in separate wings of your mansion? Do we pretend to be a happy family while leading separate lives?"

His jaw tightened. "We do what's necessary to give this child the best life."

She scoffed. "And what about me, Damien? What do I get out of this?"

He studied her for a moment. Then, slowly, he said, "You get security. Stability. And you never have to worry about anything again."

Aurora clenched her fists. "But I do have to worry. Because I'd be trapped in a life I never asked for."

Damien exhaled sharply, stepping closer. "No one is forcing you, Aurora. This is a choice. But be very sure of your decision. Because once you walk away, there's no coming back."

Her stomach twisted.

He meant it.

If she said no, she'd be shutting him out-for good.

And her child would grow up with a distant father who saw them as nothing more than an obligation.

Aurora swallowed hard.

Could she really do this?

Terms and Conditions

The next morning, Aurora sat across from Damien in his office. A stack of legal documents sat between them.

Her fingers curled around the edges of the paper, her pulse hammering.

"This is a contract marriage?" she asked, scanning the first few lines.

"Yes," Damien said coolly. "It's a legally binding agreement, ensuring that we both uphold our responsibilities."

Aurora frowned. "Responsibilities?"

"You will have the full benefits of being my wife," Damien explained. "Financially, socially, and legally. And in return, I will have full parental rights to my child."

Aurora's stomach twisted.

"And what if I break the contract?" she asked.

Damien's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then you leave without a dime. No spousal support. No access to my wealth. But the child stays with me."

Aurora's breath hitched.

He had thought of everything.

"You're ruthless," she whispered.

His eyes darkened. "I'm a businessman."

Aurora shook her head, scanning the contract again. Every word was carefully constructed-airtight.

But one section caught her attention.

"Three years?" she murmured.

Damien nodded. "The marriage lasts three years. Long enough for the child to have stability, but not permanent."

Aurora swallowed hard.

Three years with Damien Lexington.

Could she do it?

Could she survive being his wife, even if it was all just a contract?

Her pulse pounded as she reached for the pen.

Damien watched her, his expression unreadable.

She hovered over the line where her name belonged, heart racing.

This was it.

A deal with the devil.

With a deep breath, she signed.

Welcome to the Lexington Family

The following week was a blur.

A private ceremony was arranged within days-no press, no guests, no romance. Just a swift exchange of vows and signatures on yet another set of legal documents.

Aurora stood in front of a cold, emotionless justice of the peace, wearing a designer dress Damien's assistant had picked out for her.

Damien, as always, was the picture of calm.

He slid a simple diamond ring onto her finger-expensive, stunning, but utterly impersonal.

And just like that, she became Mrs. Aurora Lexington.

There was no kiss. No soft whispers of forever.

Just a contract fulfilled.

That night, Aurora stood in the massive Lexington estate-her new home.

The house was a fortress of glass and steel, elegant and soulless.

Much like the man who owned it.

She wandered into her new bedroom-separate from Damien's, of course-and let out a shaky breath.

Was this really her life now?

She placed a hand over her stomach.

It didn't matter how she felt. She had made a choice.

Now, she had to live with it.

The First Night as Husband and Wife

Later that evening, Damien knocked on her door.

Aurora hesitated before opening it.

He stood there, still in his suit, his expression unreadable.

"I assume everything is to your liking?" he asked.

Aurora exhaled. "As much as a business transaction can be."

Damien's jaw ticked. "You made the choice."

"Yes," she said quietly. "I did."

A tense silence settled between them.

Damien finally spoke. "There are events we'll need to attend as a couple. You'll be expected to uphold the image of my wife."

Aurora folded her arms. "You mean smile and play the role of the perfect billionaire's wife?"

"Yes."

Her throat tightened. "And what about when the three years are over?"

Damien's expression didn't change.

"You'll get a settlement," he said simply. "And you'll be free to go."

Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat.

So that was it.

Three years in a loveless marriage, and then she'd walk away.

Part of her hated how empty it felt.

Part of her wished Damien had given her even the smallest reason to believe this was more than a contract.

But he hadn't.

And he never would.

A Cold Goodbye

Damien turned to leave, pausing at the door.

"I'll have an assistant go over the schedule with you in the morning," he said.

Aurora watched him, waiting for something-anything-that felt remotely human.

But he just nodded once and walked away.

The door closed behind him with a soft click.

Aurora let out a shaky breath, her chest tight.

She had expected this.

But it still hurt.

She climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her, trying to shake the suffocating loneliness pressing down on her.

This was her life now.

A marriage in name only.

A deal with a billionaire who didn't believe in love.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure if she would make it out unscathed.