The silence in the penthouse was heavier than the darkness outside. Maya stood near the glass window, watching the city lights blur through the heavy downpour. Every ticking second reminded her of the contract she had signed—a binding agreement that made her Alejandro Vance’s wife in name, but a prisoner in reality. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her fluttering heart. The door to the private study opened, and Alejandro stepped back into the room. His tie was loosened, and the top buttons of his black shirt were undone, giving him an dangerously relaxed yet commanding look. He didn't say a word at first. He just stood there, his sharp obsidian eyes locked onto her. The intensity of his gaze was enough to make Maya's breath catch in her throat. "You're still awake," Alejandro said, his voice low, smooth, and laced with a quiet authority that filled the entire space. "I couldn't sleep," Maya replied, keeping her voice as steady as possible as she turned to face him. "This room... this whole situation feels like a gilded cage." A faint, unreadable expression passed over Alejandro's sharp features. He crossed the room with slow, deliberate steps until he was standing right in front of her. The warmth of his body contrasted sharply with the chilly air of the room, and the scent of cedarwood and faint rain surrounded her completely. "A cage only hurts if you fight against the bars, Maya," Alejandro whispered, leaning down slightly so his dark eyes were level with hers. "You chose this path to save your family. Now you live with the consequences." "I saved my family, but what about me?" Maya asked, her defiance flaring up despite the fear racing through her veins. "Am I just a trophy to you? A deal on a piece of paper?" Alejandro’s gaze dropped to her lips for a brief, dangerous moment before returning to her eyes. He reached out, his long fingers gently grasping her chin, forcing her to look straight at him. His touch was cold yet sent a sudden, electric shiver down her spine. "You are my wife now," Alejandro said softly, his voice cutting through the stillness like a double-edged sword. "And in my world, what belongs to me is protected... and controlled. Remember that." Before Maya could respond, he let go of her chin and walked toward the grand bed, leaving her standing there with her heart pounding frantically against her ribs. The storm outside was loud, but the unspoken fire building between them was far more dangerous.

Shadow of the Vow