Chapter 3 The Cold Crown

Aria woke early the next morning. The house was quiet, there were no street sounds, alarms or voices.

She sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes, trying to clear her thoughts. The events of the past day hadn't changed. She was still in the mansion. Her father didn't message or call. Her freedom had been taken, and now she was expected to marry a man who saw her as a solution to a problem.

She took a quick shower in the attached bathroom, then dried off and dressed in one of the plain blouses and trousers that had been arranged in the closet. There was no note, no instruction, but she assumed someone would eventually come for her.

At 8:00 a.m. sharp, a soft knock came on the door.

She opened it but a different woman stood there this time, she was also younger than Anna, she was holding a folder.

"Good morning. You'll meet with the family's legal representative now. So please follow me."

Aria nodded and stepped into the hall. She walked beside the woman in silence, they passed the same guarded corners and identical rooms. And downstairs, she was led into a private study, but it was smaller than the dining room but still looked formal. A man in a gray suit sat at the desk. He looked up as she entered, then gestured for her to sit across from him.

"I'm Mr. Calvino," he said. "Legal counsel for De Luca."

He opened the folder in front of him.

"You'll be legally married to Mr. Leon De Luca in seventy-two hours. The wedding will be held on private grounds. There will be no guests aside from required witnesses and a court official. This agreement is already approved by both parties, so your signature finalizes your participation."

Aria said nothing.

He slid the contract toward her. "This document outlines the legal boundaries, rights, and expectations tied to the union. You will retain your surname unless requested otherwise. A financial settlement has been assigned in your name to cover personal expenses. You are not permitted to terminate the marriage for a period of three years unless formally approved by the De Luca family or in case of life-threatening misconduct."

She scanned the first page. It was official. The Legal terms were all in clear language with stamped signatures. Her father's name was listed. His consent was already marked and dated. Her chest tightened as she flipped through the pages. Everything had been prepared long before she even saw the letter.

"I didn't sign this," she said.

"Yes ma'am we know, and you're going to sign it today."

"And if I refuse?" Aria asked.

The man didn't blink. "Then your father's debt will be reclaimed through other means. He currently remains under protection, but that is conditional."

"So I'm currency."

"You're a contract," he replied without hesitation. "You represent alignment between two branches of interest. The nature of that arrangement is practical, not personal."

She read through the contract again. There was nothing romantic in it. No vague promises or emotional clauses.

"I want to speak to him," Aria said.

"To whom?"

"Leon."

The man closed his folder. "Mr. De Luca does not negotiate. You may see him later today but the contract must be signed regardless."

She didn't answer as he left the room.

The door remained open. No one escorted her back, so she just walked out slowly, unsure of where to go. No staff stopped her, neither did any alarms ring.

She returned upstairs and closed the door behind her.

The contract sat on her desk now. She stared at it for a long time. Her name had already been typed at the bottom, a space left blank for her signature.

Two hours passed, still no one knocked.

Around noon, the same woman from earlier returned and informed her that Leon was available to speak.

She followed her down another hallway she hadn't seen before. It led to a separate wing of the mansion. At the end was a wide room with glass windows and dark furniture. Leon stood near the window, his hands were in his pockets as he was speaking into his phone.

He finished the call, turned, and nodded to the woman. Then the woman left them alone.

"You wanted to see me," he said.

"I'm not signing that without a conversation." Aria replied.

Leon walked toward the table in the center of the room but he didn't sit. "You're not in a position to negotiate."

"I'm not asking for negotiations," Aria replied. "I want to know why me?"

"I told you already. Your father made a deal. You're the settlement."

"There are other ways to pay debt, aren't there?"

He paused, then faced her fully. "This isn't about the money. That's a small part of it. Your father's name is connected to people we watch closely. His debts weren't just private, he owed the wrong men, and they owed worse. You are the only opportunity to close the loop."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're talking in circles."

Leon approached slowly, stopping a few feet in front of her. "You want a full answer? Fine. We've had problems with Romano's circle. Your father dealt with some of his lower-tier people. That connection was a liability. The Vale name was a hole in our wall and by bringing you into the family, that liability disappears permanently."

Aria's chest rose and fell steady and tense.

"You don't know anything about me," she said.

"I don't need to. This isn't a marriage for love, this is just structure and order."

"And what happens to me?" she asked.

"You stay here and attend events. You appear at my side when needed and follow all the rules. That's it."

"And if I don't?"

Leon didn't raise his voice. "You know the answer to that already."

But she didn't reply.

He stepped back, picked up a document from the table, and held it out to her. "You want time? Fine. Sign it tomorrow instead but don't confuse patience for choice."

Aria took the paper, folded it, and left the room without another word.

Back in her room, she placed the contract on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed. Her thoughts were moving fast, but her options weren't changing. Escape would be dangerous and refusal would cost more than just her future.

She remained there for hours, unmoving, until night came.

And immediately it was morning the next day, she signed the contract.