Chapter 5

Anastasia's POV 

My heart weighed heavy in my chest as I sat beside Alpha Alex in the car, who was emitting a cold aura that sent a chill down my spine. 

His gaze was piercing, devoid of any warmth or compassion. This was the man I had agreed to marry, not out of love, but out of sheer desperation. My father’s life and our family’s company, Kings Group, were at stake.

The car got to Alpha Alex's company and one of the guards quickly got down to open the car door for him. 

He was about to get down when he turned his cold gaze on me and I felt my heart thumping in my chest.

 "Anastasia," he began, his voice chillingly calm, "Let's get one thing straight. This marriage is nothing but a business transaction. I do not love you, and I never will. Don't even think about developing any emotional attachments to me because you are not my type of woman."

His words cut through me like a knife. I felt humiliated, but I managed to keep my composure. 

"I understand, your Highness," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alpha Alex's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Good. Now, Ryan will explain the terms of our contract. I suggest you listen carefully." he said coldly and stepped out. 

Ryan, Alpha Alex's assistant who was sitting in the front seat, looked at me. 

"I will Prepare the documents this afternoon and bring them for you to sign. Also, You are now officially the Luna of the pack and you should stay in the castle with the Alpha. The guards will take you to your house so you can get some of your necessary things like your documents. You don't need to take any of your clothes, The alpha has already taken care of it." Ryan explained and I nodded like an obedient dog. 

I still can't believe that I am married to Alpha Alex. A merciless Alpha. How am I going to cope with him? 

The car drove me to my house and I got some of my things and went to Alpha Alex's castle. 

Later in the afternoon after dropping my things at the castle, I decided to see my father at the hospital. I was in the living room, about to go out when Ryan stepped in with a folder in hand. 

He told me that he has prepared the contract letter. We sat on the chair and he began to read the content of the contract to me. 

"This is the contract, it stipulates that for the next three years, you will be Alpha Alex's wife in name only, you are not allowed to disobey him or get a divorce no matter what," he explained.

 "There are specific conditions regarding your interaction with him and your conduct, especially around other men. You are not allowed to go close to other men. You will try your best to please him. In return, Alpha Alex will provide financial support, including covering your father’s medical expenses and getting your father's company back." he explained, handing me a pen to sign. 

My mouth gaped open on hearing him. What sort of agreement is this? 

I wanted to reject it but when I remembered what was at stake, I knew I had no choice. I exhaled shakily to calm myself as my heart clenched with pain. 

My hands trembled as I took the pen Ryan handed me. The gravity of the situation was overwhelming, but I had no other choice. I signed the contract, sealing my fate.

He took the pen and the contract paper from me with a smile, "If you need anything, feel free to let me know. I will take my leave now." he bowed his head and left. 

I huffed out air to calm myself before leaving for the hospital. 

I was driving into the hospital building when Shirley's call came in. 

I picked up the call and Shirley explained that Antonio was trying to oust me from the King's Group. 

Panic and anger surged through me. I couldn't let him take away everything my father worked for. I will never allow that to happen, not when I'm still alive!

I stepped back into my car and drove to the company. Upon arrival, I was met with a devastating sight. Stephanie was in my office, throwing out my belongings. 

"Stephanie, what are you doing?" I demanded, my voice shaking, my blood boiling with rage. 

Stephanie looked up, her eyes cold and unfeeling. "You've been fired, Anastasia. The board members have decided to remove you from your position."

I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. "That can never happen, this is my father's company and no one has the right to do that to me!"

Stephanie's expression turned cruel. "Oh, we can and we have. And you know who’s behind all this? Antonio. He orchestrated everything."

My blood ran cold. I can't believe I have been loving a monster for the past seven years. I must be so blind not to have seen his true color. 

"Why?" I asked, tears streaming down my face.

Stephanie sneered. "Because you are nothing but a slut to him and I think you should know about what happened to you five years ago." She smirked, inching closer to me. 

My heart began pounding in my chest as negative thoughts began creeping into my head. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Everything that happened to you five years ago was all plotted by Antonio." 

"What? That's not possible." 

"You see, you are so naive and pathetic that you can't even read the handwriting on the wall." she mocked, cruelly. 

A cold shiver ran down my spine as I looked at her momentarily disoriented. The memory of that night, five years ago, flooded back. It was a night I had tried so hard to forget. 

Five years ago, Antonio took me out on a date. We were coming back late at night when we were suddenly attacked. I was beaten and sexually assaulted by six men. The incident got to the media the next day, creating a scandal. I was broken and humiliated. The pain of that incident had never fully healed, I was traumatized, it has been a scar that haunted me every night. 

Antonio was behind it? 

The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as tears fell down my cheeks. 

How can someone be so wicked and heartless? What have I ever done to him? Is it a crime that I love him? 

It all started making sense to me. Now I knew why he was referring to me as a second-hand goods. 

Antonio is a monster and I will make him pay for all the pain and shame he has put me through. 

Anger and resolve surged through me. I lunged at Stephanie who was looking at me with disdain, unable to contain my rage. 

"You have no idea what you’ve done! You are a monster! You and Antonio deserve to burn in hell!!" I screamed, tears of fury and pain blurring my vision.

Shirley ran in, shocked by my outburst. "Ms. Anastasia, stop!" she shouted, but I was beyond reason.

I grabbed Stephanie by the shoulders, shaking her. "You and Antonio will pay for everything you did to me! I will fight you every step of the way!"

Shirley pulled me back, her voice soothing yet firm. "Ma'am, please, this isn't the best way to go about this."

I stepped back, my chest heaving with anger and sorrow. "You’re right," I said, my voice trembling. "But I won’t let them win."

Stephanie smirked. "Good luck with that. You’re alone in this fight, Anastasia!"

I glared at her. "I may be down, but I’m not out. You and Antonio will regret this, I promise!!” 

I turned and left the office, my mind racing. The pain and betrayal were almost too much to bear, but I knew I couldn’t give up. My father’s health and our family’s legacy depend on me.

Thinking of the trauma that those monsters made me go through five years ago broke my heart. 

My blood boiled with rage as the only thing that kept on ringing in my head was revenge. 

I will make them pay! I will make them wish for death instead of living!