Chapter 4 Contractually bound

The soft glow of twinkling lights and candles illuminated the beautiful auditorium. Aria, looking sophisticated in her white gown, stood beside Maverick, who looked elegant in his tailored tuxedo.

Before them, the priest smiled warmly.

"Dearly beloved, we have come here tonight to witness the union of Maverick Green and Aria Wilson in holy matrimony"

The priest continued. "Marriage is a blessed bond between two souls, built on love, trust, and commitment"

"Do you, Maverick, take Aria to be your lovely wife,to be faithful at all times, to love and cherish her, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do"

The priest turned to Aria.

"Do you, Aria, take Maverick to be your lovely husband, to be faithful at all times, to love and cherish him, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do,"she said almost in a murmur.

"By the power bestowed on me, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride" he said but none of them responded to that.

The gathered family and relatives clapped as Maverick and Aria turned to face them.

"Welcome to the family, I assume" Monica, Maverick's step sister, said with a forced gesture, her eyes glancing through Aria's gown.

Kaden, Maverick's younger brother, gasped. "You're certainly...different from Maverick's usual type"

Aria's smile faltered, but Sebastian intervened.

"Aria, dear, welcome to the Green family. I'm delighted to have you as my daughter-in-law"

"Excuse me" Maverick said , already turning to leave.

"Aria, dear, follow Maverick immediately" he instructed.

Aria nodded, relieved to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.

As she turned to leave, Monica whispered, loud enough for Aria to hear, "You won't last long"

With a deep breath, Aria followed Maverick's path with an heavy heart.

Finally, they reached his room, and he pushed open the door.

"Enter" he said.

Aria stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit space. Maverick shut the door behind her.

The room is stunned by luxury, from the carpet to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

"What's today?"he asked.

"Saturday"

"We are starting our marital duties today,so get ready"

Aria's heart skipped a beat.

"Already?" she asked, Maverick nodded.

"According to our agreement, Saturday is one of our designated nights"

Aria took a deep breath. "Okay"

"Remove your wedding gown. I'll be back shortly" he said and entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

The sound of the shower starting filled the room and she became anxious.

Immediately, Aria's phone buzzed on the nightstand.

She glanced at the screen, it was an alert from Sebastian.

Monthly transfer successful. $500,000 deposited into your account

Aria's heart skipped a beat.

Their agreement.

Aria inhaled deeply and slipped out of the elegant gown, leaving her in her underwear.

As she placed the dress in the closet, the thought of being bought lingered.

As Maverick came out from the bathroom, Aria's eyes accidentally moved to his drizzling wet body. Water droplets clutch to his chiseled chest, and his hair was slicked back, showing his sharp jawline.

But, suddenly he noticed her ogling, she hastily looked away and Maverick's low chuckle sent cold down her spine.

"Aria" he said, coming towards her and as he drew closer, Aria's Anxiousness intensified.

"Maverick, I...I need to tell you something" she stuttered.

"What is the problem?" he asked, his breath whispering against her ear.

"I've never done this before" she blurted out and Maverick's movements still.

Silence.

"You said what," he whispered.

"I'm a virgin, Maverick"

"A virgin for real?" he repeated and she nodded.

His grip on her tightened, his lips grazing her ear.

"Aria, don't be scared. I won't hurt you" he whispered.

He started by trailing kisses down her neck.

Aria stood frozen, not knowing how to reciprocate his actions.

He pulls off her underwear gently leaving her naked and Aria's cheeks were covered with shame.

She could not look at him.

She felt his hands moving around her body.

"Get on the bed, Aria"he said but Aria hesitated before she moved to the bed

Their business arrangement had just become painfully real and this is just the beginning.

Loud moans of Aria filled the room as Maverick thrusted in and out of her.

"Maverick, oh..." Aria's voice fades out .

Aria's eyes suddenly opened wide as Maverick's thrusts increased.

"Maverick, please.....slow down" she muttered, her voice trembling but he didn't mind,

Aria's body tensed, her nails digging into the bedsheets. She had expected the pain, but not to this extent.

"Maverick, it's painful" she whispered, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.

"Please, Maverick...it hurts" she said and he slowed down his thrusts.

"Did I hurt you?"

Aria shrugged, tears dropping down her cheeks. "I didn't expect...it to hurt to this extent"

"It's done," he said.

"It's painful," she whispered, still crying.

Maverick looked at her for a moment before he turned his face away. "You'll get used to it"

Aria's body calmed down, relief mingled with hurt. She felt like a mere obligation.

"Get some rest, Aria. We have a family event to attend tomorrow"

"Family event?" Aria repeated.

"The Green Family Tradition Ceremony" Maverick replied. "It's an important family gathering"

"What's my role in this ceremony?"

"You'll be by my side, and we'll respect our family's heritage together" he said and Aria nodded.

As she was about laying her head on the pillow to sleep, Maverick spoke up.

"You're not sleeping here, Aria"

Aria's head snapped out from the pillow.

"M-Maverick, I thought..."

"Have you forgotten our agreement? Separate quarters, remember?"

Aria's face filled with embarrassment as she used the sheets to wrap around her chest. "I didn't remember..."

"Get dressed. You'll sleep in your own quarters tonight" he said but Aria didn't make a move.

"Get dressed" he repeated and she nodded.

"Send Clara up" Maverick said to the intercom and minutes later,the door opened and a maid entered.

"Yes, sir?"

"Clara, kindly escort Mrs. Green to her quarters" Maverick ordered.

Aria's face burned with embarrassment. She couldn't walk properly, not after...what happened. And certainly not in front of the maid.

"Wait" Aria said, clutching the sheets.

Clara's eyes moved to Aria's exposed shoulders. "Shall I assist you, ma'am?"

Maverick nodded. "Help her, Clara"

Clara gently helped Aria sit up. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as Clara wrapped a robe around her shoulders.

"Let's get you to your quarters, ma'am" Clara said softly and Aria nodded, feeling pain as she stood.

Maverick just looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"Thank you, Clara. Now See her to her quarters" With Clara's support, Aria made her way to her quarters, each step aching. She felt like a fragile, soft thing.

As soon as they got inside, Clara helped Aria into bed, handing her a glass of water and some pain relievers.

"Do you want me to do anything else for you, ma'am?" Clara asked.

Aria shook her head, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. "No, you can go, Clara"

As Clara left, Aria let the tears roll off, her body and heart aching .

"Why did I concur with this?" She pondered.

She thought of what Maverick said earlier.

"You'll get used to it".

Used to the pain? Used to being treated like a mere obligation?

She felt captive, bound to a man who saw her as an obligation, not a person.

"What can I do to escape this?"

She suddenly remembered her belongings still at her old house. Picking up her things would be a good excuse to get out and that will give her an opportunity to visit Beatrice.

And then Maverick...how would she explain her job to him? She was a teacher, not some socialite. Abandoning her students wasn't an option.

Would he understand? Or would he demand she quit?

Aria's mind moved to the alert she received an hour ago. $500,000. A monthly reminder of her deal with the Green family.

"Once I produce an heir, I'm gone" she vowed silently.

By then, would she have saved enough to start anew? The monthly payments may stop once she fulfilled her duty but Sebastian already assured her. She's not banking on that though.

"Two years" she calculated. "Will $12 million be enough to start over?"

She will endure this for her future, for her child's future.

With all these thoughts in her head,she finally drifted to sleep.