VOWS OF VENGEANCE

Ethan's hands trembled as he walked toward Cassandra Paige's office.

The salary deduction notice had arrived that morning—another blow he couldn't afford.

Missing the monthly quota meant his already meager paycheck would shrink further, and with his mounting debts, he had no idea how he'd make it through the month.

He knocked on the heavy oak door, his heart pounding.

A cold "Enter" was all he got in response.

Cassandra Paige sat behind her massive desk, not bothering to look up from her tablet as he entered.

The morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast her in sharp relief—expensive suit, perfect posture, an air of dismissive authority that made the spacious office feel suffocating.

"Ms. Paige, about the salary deduction—" Ethan began, fighting to keep his voice steady.

"You failed to meet your quota," she cut him off, still not looking up.

"The deduction stands."

"Please, I can explain—"

"Your explanation won't change the numbers, Mr. Moore."

She finally raised her eyes, her gaze as cold as winter frost.

"Though speaking of numbers..." She casually tossed a document across her desk.

It slid to a stop right at the edge.

Ethan stared at the paper, confusion momentarily replacing his desperation.

"What is this?"

Cassandra leaned back in her chair, regarding him with the detached interest of someone watching an insect struggle.

"A proposal. I need a husband. Not for love, but to keep my inheritance. Marry me for a year, play the role of my devoted spouse in public, and I'll pay you handsomely when it's over."

The words hit Ethan like a physical blow.

He stood there, mouth slightly open, trying to process what she'd just said.

Cassandra merely examined her manicured nails, as if she hadn't just proposed something outrageous.

"I..." Ethan's mind raced. This had to be some kind of cruel joke.

"You're in debt, Mr. Moore," she stated flatly, pulling up something on her tablet.

"Credit card debt, personal loans, and now a reduced salary. Your sister's medical bills aren't helping either, are they?" Her lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I did my research."

Ethan felt the blood drain from his face.

She'd investigated his personal life, laid bare his struggles like they were nothing more than items on a spreadsheet.

"It's a simple business arrangement," she continued, her tone making it clear this was a take-it-or-leave-it offer.

"One year of marriage, public appearances when required, and enough money to clear your debts and start fresh. The alternative..."

She gestured vaguely at the salary deduction notice in his hand.

The humiliation burned in Ethan's chest, but what choice did he have?

His sister needed her treatments.

His parents were counting on him.

And now, with the reduced salary...

"When do you need an answer?" he asked, his voice hollow.

Cassandra's eyebrow arched slightly.

"Now, Mr. Moore. I don't have time to wait while you weigh your obviously limited options."

Ethan closed his eyes briefly, swallowing what remained of his pride.

"I'll do it."

"Good." She pushed a pen across the desk

. "Sign the agreement. My lawyer will be in touch with the details."

As Ethan scrawled his signature on the document, he felt something inside him crack.

He'd just agreed to marry his boss, a woman who viewed him as nothing more than a convenient solution to her problem.

"You may go," she dismissed him with a wave of her hand, already turning her attention back to her tablet.

Ethan walked out of her office, the signed agreement feeling like a lead weight in his pocket.

He had just sold himself to the devil in a designer suit, and she hadn't even bothered to pretend it was anything else.

[ AFTER SOME DAYS ]

Ethan got a message asking him to come to an address that was attached to the letter. The thought of what he was going to expect gnawed at him. He felt a bit nervous, wondering how she had gotten his number. It felt too good to be true, but she’s his boss and getting his number should not hard.

Everyone knows who Cassandra Paige was. She was a lady with little to no respect for any of the employers.

He drove to Cassandra’s house, unsure of what to expect. He had heard of her family—wealthy, powerful, and influential. The house he pulled up to looked like something out of a movie, big and fancy, with a tall gate and perfectly manicured lawns. Ethan felt small, like an outsider.

He parked his rickety car and took a deep breath before walking toward the front door. The moment he stepped inside, he could feel the difference. The house was full of expensive furniture, huge windows, and high ceilings. It all felt out of place for someone like him. He had never been in a house this fancy before.

Cassandra greeted him with a cool smile. She was even more beautiful in person, her presence calm and confident. “Mr. Moore, welcome,” she said, her voice smooth and polite.

Ethan was taken back, He had seen Cassandra once but he was stunned with what was right in front of him.

“Thanks,” Ethan said, trying to sound normal despite feeling like he didn’t belong.

They sat down in a large room, and Cassandra explained everything again. There would be no romance between them, no emotional connection—this was just business. He would stay married to her for a year, attend public events, and act like a happy couple. In return, he would get a large sum of money at the end of the year. “I chose you because of your confident and history. You’re indebt, I can clear it off.”

As they spoke, Cassandra’s parents walked in. The moment they entered, Ethan felt his stomach tighten. Her mother, tall and cold-looking, gave him a sharp glance. Her father, a man who seemed to have everything, barely looked at him.

“Dad, meet Ethan Moore, my fiancee” Cassandra said with a brief smile holding onto Etan. “Its nice meeting you finally, Mr and Mrs Paige.” Ethan tried to act along but Cassandra’s father’s sharp gaze met him. Ethan nodded without saying another word. It was clear that he was not wanted, they looked at him like a piece of garbage. At that moment, Ethan knew it wasn’t going to end well.

Ethan’s heart sank, but Cassandra quickly interrupted. “Father, Ethan understands everything. Stop consuming him with fear.”

Her parents didn’t say anything more, but the way they looked at him made it clear that they saw him as nothing more than a tool, someone who could help their daughter keep her wealth. To them, he was just a means to an end.

Ethan felt a wave of humiliation. This wasn’t a partnership. It wasn’t a real marriage. It was a business deal, and he was nothing more than a pawn in their game. But he had no choice. He needed the money, and this was the only way out.

He walked out of the meeting that day, feeling more like an outsider than ever. He had agreed to something that felt wrong, but he didn’t have the luxury of thinking about what was right or wrong anymore. His family’s future depended on this deal, and he would do whatever it took to make it work, no matter how much it hurt his pride.

A year of bowing and scraping Cassandra Paige’s feet. Ethan sigh as he took another glance at the enormous house in front of him