A Deal with the Devil

The late night found me sitting on a chair as my mom's funeral was being conducted, with some people I had no idea who they were, walking in and offering their fake condolences. People who didn't show up when my mom and I needed them the most were now showing off some care at her burial. I felt like ripping each and every limb of theirs, piece by piece.

"So sad she had to go quite soon," a voice came through, as my eyes landed on Clarence, my so-called uncle who had snatched all my family's property from our grasp and rendered me and my mom homeless and on the street to suffer.

If he hadn't done that, maybe my mom would be here with me today.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned, standing up, my eyes darkening with fury.

"Chill, my precious niece. She is family, and of course, I am here to pay my absolute respect," he said with a smirk.

"We don't need it. Please leave now," I said, my hands halting at the door path.

I watched him chuckle slightly, his presence only leaving an erupting raging anger in me.

I wanted to make him pay. If it was the last thing I did, I would make sure I took my family's wealth back from his grasp. I would never forgive him.

I watched as footsteps grew closer as he leaned in to whisper something in my ear.

"I am sure you have nobody and nothing to feed you, not even a house to live in. Why don't you stop all this drama and come over? I would be sure to treat you like a princess. It would be my dearest pleasure, but you just have to help me out also. I can make every single night of yours memorable. Don't let all this beauty go to waste now," he said, his hands laying on my shoulder in a soft touch.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. How dare he? Who does he think he is? After all, he had done, he had the guts to even say this at my mom's burial. I am not surprised it meant nothing to him; he had wanted us dead from the very beginning.

"How dare you!" I raised my hand for an attack, but it was left silenced in mid-air by his grip.

"Don't try acting all smart," he said, flinging my hand off. "I shall give you a few days to come to your senses. When you do, my mansion is just some steps away." I watched him light up a cigarette, inhaling it as he chuckled slightly before turning to leave.

I hated it. My mom deserved the utmost respect, and I would make sure he gave her that after I ripped it all from him. I wanted revenge on him, but the fact also remained that my mom didn't die in his hands.

Demonic De Santos. I cared less who he was; he had murdered my mother in cold blood. I would make sure he suffered every bit of pain that I would cause him. I had no one now; I was utterly left alone in my world.

But how did I intend on doing so? I spoke of it as though it was that easy. I was nobody, I had no money, no power, and I was thinking of taking somebody down. Was this just my foolish self-wanting justice for all the wrongs which had been done to me?

"I can make all your dreams come to reality. You want him to pay, don't you?" A whisper caught my attention as I turned, only for my eyes to land on him—the same stranger who had taken me to the hospital standing right before me.

How he knew I was here, I did not know, but why he was here, I was curious about. And what was he blubbering all about?

"Your uncle... don't you want to make him pay? And I am sure you also want something for yourself, maybe a dream job? Just name them all. I shall see to it that it is all done."

"What are you doing here?" I questioned.

He was the same stranger, but something was different about him. Those caring eyes from before had suddenly darkened, as his words led to a side which I did not understand.

"This doesn't seem like the right place for a discussion. Why don't we talk at the coffee shop nearby?" he uttered.

But why should I follow him? Him talking like we knew each other... I agreed I was grateful that he saved me, but him being here now? Was he stalking me?

"Just get to the point. I don't intend on following a complete stranger anywhere. Just tell me what you're doing here." I said.

I watched his eyes leave a scan, as though he was checking if anyone was staring. His step grew further, closing the distance between us.

"I am here to offer you a marriage contract—a mutual agreement between you and me. To the world, you shall appear as my perfect wife, and in return, I shall make sure to see through all your needs being fulfilled."

My mind took some minutes reeling at what he had just muttered. A complete stranger at that, now here uttering nonsense. "A marriage contract?" I scoffed at the word.

"What are you saying? A marriage contract? If you are looking for a perfect wife, I suggest you explore further and leave." I said.

"Oh, if I wanted a wife, I wouldn't be here." He said.

So was he trying to say I wasn't worthy of being a wife? But I wasn't planning on becoming one anyway. The last thing I would want was to be bound under another man's control again.

"Please leave now. You are a complete stranger, and here you are uttering those words like they are nothing but mere words. Do you expect me to accept a marriage contract with a total stranger at that?" I said.

"Absurd as it may sound, just know this—instead of being based on love, it is just a beneficial arrangement."

"And what do you stand to gain from all this?" I questioned. I could only come to the fact that he had his reasons. A stranger here asking for an arranged contract was something I couldn't wrap my head around.

He didn’t flinch, just looked at me with that steady gaze. "I have my reasons," he said simply, not offering anything more.

I raised an eyebrow, frustration prickling in my chest. "You’re really not saying much, are you?"

Without another word, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek business card. He handed it to me, his fingers brushing mine as he pressed the card into my hand. "This is where you’ll find me. If you decide you want to change things, to finally take control of your life… my door is open."

Before I could respond, he turned and began walking away, leaving me standing there, confused and alone.

A tiny voice inside me was tempted. I wanted revenge—on Dominic, on my uncle, on everyone who had taken everything from me. And for that, I needed protection. I needed power. Could this stranger really give me that?

I thought about the men at the club, how they’d be coming for me soon enough. I was already a target, a walking dead woman without a single ally in this fight. Maybe… maybe I didn’t have any other choice.

With a shaky breath, I glanced down at the card he'd given me. My eyes scanned the name printed in bold letters—*Adrian De Santos.* My heart skipped, and my blood ran cold.

So he was the mysterious brother, the second De Santos… Dominic’s brother. The same family I wanted revenge on.

My fingers tightened around the card as a chill swept through me. What kind of deal had I just stepped into?