C2 You will replace her.

Fourth year behind bars...

"Inmate 3553, you've got a visitor!"

The prison doors creaked open, and a corrections officer beckoned Natalia forward.

Her mind raced with possibilities as she stood up from her bunk. She had gotten no visitors for over two years now.

Who would it be? Was it Kevin? It must be him, definitely. Has he finally found a way? Perhaps gotten an appeal?

She hastily followed the officer to the visitation room, where a stern-looking man in a suit waited.

She was a bit puzzled; the man looked expensive.

Was Kevin now able to afford such? She took a seat opposite the man and let out a small smile, which wasn't returned.

"Miss. Holmes, I'm here to inform you that the case against you has been dropped," he said gruffly, his expression unreadable.

Natalia's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "What? Why? How?"

Have they finally forgiven her and decided to let her go? Oh God, what a miracle! Her prayers have been answered at last.

The man's expression didn't change. "The accuser has decided not to pursue the case further. You're free to go."

Natalia battled with questions, but the man's cold demeanor discouraged her from asking any.

She nodded, still in disbelief, as the officer handed her a small bag with her belongings.

"Thank you," she said hesitantly, taking the bag.

The man nodded curtly. "There's one more thing," he said, halting her movement. "The person who dropped the case wants to see you before you're officially released."

Sure! Of course, she owed it to whoever it was that had decided to set her free, willingly. Even without requesting this, she would have taken it upon herself to find this kind-hearted soul and show her immense gratitude later.

Misinterpreting her silence for uncertainty and unwillingness, he continued with a firm voice. "It's not a request. It's a condition of your release."

Realizing she hadn't responded, she corrected that by nodding affirmatively with a glint of gratitude shimmering in her eyes.

The man nodded and gestured her towards the gate where a black Mercedes-Benz was waiting for them. She followed him diligently.

But why was her heart pounding in her chest? Wasn't she going to meet a kind soul who had dropped her case?

She bit her lips, trying to calm her nerves. Nothing would possibly go wrong, right?

She climbed into the luxurious car, the lush smell of leather hitting her senses. She had never had the privilege to enter such an expensive car. The finesse of the car was quite gratifying.

A release. A ride in an expensive car she had only seen in movies. She was just being paranoid for nothing.

With that, she relaxed, a smile etched on her face as they drove to their destination.

They arrived at an opulent mansion over fifteen minutes later. Wow! Everything about the house was top-notch! Luxury at its peak if she was being completely honest right now.

The owner must be filthy rich and powerful. It was no surprise to her that her case was handled the way it was. Who would dare to defile such a personality?

Her eyes wandered around, taking pleasure in the grand scenery as she made her way through the man's lead upstairs.

The man led her through marble-lined hallways and crystal-chandeliered rooms, finally stopping at a door made of dark wood.

"He's waiting for you in there," the man said, his voice low and serious.

Natalia's hand trembled as she raised it to knock on the door, her fingers faltering for a moment before making contact. Why was she suddenly so nervous again? Her palms were sweating as she reached out to open the door.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside her, but her legs still wobbled like jelly as she stepped into the room.

An enigmatic figure was sitting behind a massive desk. The room was dimly lit, with only a single lamp casting a golden glow on the figure's face.

"We finally meet," the figure said, his voice low and smooth. "I've been waiting for you."

His piercing gaze on her was quite unwelcoming. It was far from what she anticipated on her way here.

The gratitude speech she had rehearsed over and over again as they drove to the mansion died on her lips as she met the stranger's foreboding eyes.

Eyes that bore into her very soul. She turned hers away, feeling cowed.

He stood up from the desk, making the room look smaller and more menacing than it already was.

He walkz towards her, and she instinctively took a step back. His sinister demeanor made her feel very uneasy.

He closed up the gap mere seconds later. Towering her with his overbearing presence.

She willed herself to stand still, clutching her skirt as a means to unnerve her, and spoke up, not daring to look up.

"T...thank...thank you for dropping the case and setting me free." She stammered, "I'm... I'm deeply grateful. I also want to use this medium to offer my deepest condo--" the fear in her voice was so obvious.

"Cut it." He growled. He stepped into her space and lifted her chin up. Her gorgeous green eyes met his pitch-black ones in a flash.

He let out an ominous sneer, "Is that what you think? Do I look like some kind-hearted angel with a forgiving soul?"

Natalia swallowed. She had thought so too, until she met him. Nothing about him was angelic or kindhearted.

Instead, it was the contrast. Devilishly and sinfully handsome. Ominous. Evil. Dangerous. All she wanted was to be far away from this compelling figure. He screamed, Run!

"So, why did you let me out, if...?" she asked lightly, her voice barely audible in the silence.

He cut her short again. A slight smirk played on his lips. "To atone for your sins."

Perplexed. She solicited: 'He just said he didn't look like an angel, of course, which he's not. Then why is he talking about atoning for my sins? He doesn't look like a priest or a God-fearing fellow.'

She was even more confused at his answer. However, she remained mute, waiting for him to unveil his true intentions completely.

"I have decided to exchange your penalty, replacing the initial sentence with a different yet equivalent one. In other words, I will be adjusting the punishment to better fit the circumstances."

Natalia: "..." 'I'm afraid I still don't understand. Why is he speaking in riddles?'

"Four years ago, you killed a woman," he thrust her away, turning his back as he tried to hide the pain in his eyes.

"The woman you killed that night was no other than my ten-hour-old wife!"

Natalia's eyes struck in horror at the same time, losing her balance at his forceful push.

The man's words hung in the air like guillotine. She choked on her throat, her breathing quite erratic.

She remembered the accident, but she had never known the details or the identity of the victim. Oh God! What has she done? She ended a family before it even got the chance to begin...

Wait, she wasn't even the one that had killed her, but the habit of taking the blame and suffering for it had become so deeply ingrained in her.

At this point, it had become second nature to her.

She stumbled on the floor, overcome with grief and guilt.

Her eyes welled with tears. She would only imagine the depth of his pain and loss. "I am very sorry," her voice muffled with sobs.

He swirled back, his gaze turning icy. "I didn't call you here to solicit sympathy. You will replace what you brutally tore from my life."

Her mind reeled with fear and remorse at his intended words. What does he mean by replace? How?

Her heart was pounding as she lay limp on the floor, waiting to hear his verdict. She mused to herself: To think she was over the moon a few hours ago...

"You will replace her."

She scrambled to her feet, a bit distraught as she struggled to comprehend his words.

"Re...re...replace her? How? What...what do you mean?" She stammered, her voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.

"You shall become my wife." He declared with fierce determination.

"My ten-year contract wife," he emphasized.

Natalia froze. His ultimatum hung in the air like a death sentence.