Chapter 3 Trapped in a Vow

Aurelia sat rigidly in the backseat of Rafael's sleek black car, her hands gripping the folds of her dress as if holding onto the last remnants of control over her life. The city lights flickered past the tinted windows, but she barely saw them. Her mind was too consumed by the weight of what had just happened.

She was engaged.

To Rafael Mahendra.

The same man who had made her university life hell. The same man who had humiliated her in front of hundreds of students. And now, he was going to be her husband.

The thought made her stomach twist.

"You're tense," Rafael's deep voice broke through the silence.

Aurelia snapped her head toward him, glaring. "Oh, really? What gave it away?"

Rafael didn't even spare her a glance, his hands gripping the steering wheel with effortless control. "You're gripping your dress like you're about to jump out of the car."

"Maybe I should," she muttered under her breath.

He exhaled sharply through his nose, something close to amusement but not quite. "That would be dramatic. Even for you."

Aurelia clenched her jaw. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

At that, he finally turned to look at her, his dark eyes scanning her expression as if trying to decipher whether she was bluffing. He didn't say anything for a long moment, but the silence between them was thick, charged with unspoken tension.

"Let's get something straight, Aurelia," Rafael said, his voice quiet but firm. "This arrangement is happening whether we like it or not. The sooner you accept that, the easier it will be for both of us."

Aurelia let out a dry laugh. "Oh, forgive me if I'm not thrilled about throwing my entire future away for a loveless, forced marriage."

Rafael's grip on the wheel tightened slightly. "It's not just you making a sacrifice."

Aurelia scoffed. "Oh, please. Like this affects you at all. You already have everything-money, power, a perfect life. What do you even lose in this arrangement?"

Rafael's jaw tensed, but he said nothing.

For a moment, just a fraction of a second, she thought she saw something flicker in his expression-something restrained, something almost bitter. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the same cold indifference he always wore like armor.

"You'd be surprised," he finally muttered.

Aurelia frowned, but before she could question him, the car slowed to a stop in front of an upscale apartment building.

"We're here," Rafael announced, stepping out of the car without waiting for her.

Aurelia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before following him inside.

The lobby was grand, polished marble floors stretching across the vast space, a chandelier casting a golden glow over everything. This wasn't just any apartment. This was the kind of place that only the elite could afford-a world she had never been a part of.

She followed Rafael into the private elevator, the tension between them thick enough to suffocate.

When the doors slid shut, trapping them inside, Aurelia finally spoke.

"Are you always this charming, or is it just with me?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Rafael glanced at her, unimpressed. "Would you prefer if I lied to you? Told you this was some fairytale romance?"

Aurelia rolled her eyes. "No, I'd just prefer if you acted like a human being instead of a corporate robot."

That earned her the slightest twitch of his lips. Not quite a smirk, but close enough that it irritated her.

"Careful," Rafael said, his voice low. "You almost sound like you enjoy arguing with me."

Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "I enjoy winning arguments. There's a difference."

Before he could respond, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a breathtaking penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city skyline, sleek modern furniture arranged with meticulous precision. Everything about the place screamed wealth, power, control.

Much like the man who owned it.

Aurelia swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of the reality she was stepping into.

"This will be your home from now on," Rafael said, stepping aside to let her in.

Home.

The word felt foreign, like it didn't belong here.

She took a tentative step inside, her heels clicking against the pristine floor. The space was beautiful, yet sterile. No warmth, no personal touches. It was exactly what she expected from Rafael-cold, calculated, perfect.

Just like their marriage.

Aurelia turned to face him, her heart pounding.

"Let's make something clear," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I'll play my part in public. I'll smile, I'll pretend, I'll be the perfect wife your family expects."

Rafael's expression didn't change, but she could tell he was listening intently.

"But behind closed doors?" She took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours."

For a long moment, he didn't say anything. Then, slowly, Rafael tilted his head, his dark eyes studying her with something almost unreadable.

"Agreed," he finally said.

Aurelia exhaled, relieved.

But as she turned away, heading toward the bedroom that was now hers, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just made a deal with the devil.

And that somehow, someway, she was going to regret it.