"You're marrying him whether you like it or not," snapped Sebastian Valemont, the billionaire vampire, slamming a blood-red contract on the polished table in front of me.
I blinked, thinking maybe I misheard.
"What?" I said slowly. "But I don't even know your son—"
His crimson eyes narrowed. "You'll learn. After all, he'll be your husband by tonight."
My heart pounded.
I wasn't even out of college. I didn't have a boyfriend. I wasn't ready to be someone's wife—especially not to a vampire prince I'd never met.
Then the door creaked open.
Lucian Valemont stepped inside like a shadow. Black suit, pale skin, tall, sharp jawline, and dark red eyes that held zero emotion.
"Dad," he said, his voice cold. "What... What is all this?"
"You're marrying this young lady," Sebastian replied without looking up.
Lucian froze. "No."
"No?" Sebastian raised a brow. "And why shouldn't you?"
Lucian looked at me like I was some random street cat. "Because I don't even know her name."
"I'm Luna," I mumbled, keeping my eyes on the floor.
Sebastian leaned back in his leather chair. "Her family owes me over two hundred million euros. Her lovely mother tricked me into investing in a fake company and vanished."
Lucian's eyes flicked to me, and something changed in his gaze. A flicker of anger? Pity?
"I don't have that much money," I said quickly, my voice shaking. "Please—please let me marry you instead."
Lucian's jaw clenched. "You're begging?"
"I'm surviving," I said, finally lifting my head to meet his eyes. "Unless you want me to disappear in some vampire prison until I somehow come up with two hundred million euros I clearly don't have."
Sebastian watched the exchange like he was enjoying a show. "If you refuse, Lucian, she will pay the debt another way. And trust me—marrying you is the easiest option."
Suddenly, the blood contract didn't seem that scary anymore.
Compared to what I'd just heard… marrying Lucian Valemont might actually be my only way out.
"I'm not marrying her, Dad!" Lucian snapped, stepping away from the table.
His voice echoed through the marble halls of the Valemont estate. He looked furious—like someone had just ordered him to drink holy water.
Sebastian didn't flinch. "Well then," he said, his voice calm and cruel, "she'll need to pay back the two hundred million euros."
I panicked. "Wait! I—I can be a perfect housewife!" I blurted, my voice shaky.
Lucian turned toward me, clearly unimpressed.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and forced a nervous smile. "I can cook, clean, um… take care of stuff. I'll stay out of your way, I swear."
Sebastian folded his hands, clearly entertained. "Well, son?" he said. "What's it going to be?"
Lucian's jaw tightened. "I said no. I will not—"
Before he could finish, Sebastian reached inside his coat and pulled out a dark red envelope. He slid it across the table with a soft whisper of silk.
"This," he said, "is the Valemont Blood Contract. If you two are to marry, there will be rules. You may hate each other, but you will still honor the agreement. I may be a bad guy," he added, flashing a smile full of sharp teeth, "but I'm not a monster."
Lucian said nothing, but his eyes narrowed.
Sebastian opened the contract and began reading aloud, voice cold and formal.
> Rule One: You may not engage in romantic or physical acts with anyone outside this union. Cheek kisses are allowed—nothing more unless both parties consent.
> Rule Two: If a relationship forms between you, consent is mandatory in all aspects. No touching, no feeding, no intimacy—unless both agree clearly.
> Rule Three: You will present yourselves as a married couple to the public when required. Events, dinners, media. No exceptions.
> Rule Four: You are bound for a minimum of one year. Breaking the contract early means Luna pays the full debt in cash. Or blood.
> Rule Five: Neither of you is allowed to harm the other in any form—physically, emotionally, or magically.
He snapped the folder shut.
"Sign it," he said simply, sliding it toward Lucian.
Lucian didn't move.
Then his eyes met mine. Not kind. Not cruel. Just... blank.
"Fine," he said finally. "But don't expect me to care."
I tried not to let my breath shake as I picked up the pen.
And just like that…
I became the vampire heir's wife.
I know he doesn't want to marry me.
Honestly… me neither.
But it's for my mom. If I don't pay off her debts, we're finished. She's all I have.
Sebastian leaned back, satisfied, as the ink dried on the blood-red parchment. "As you have both signed the papers, by vampire law and blood contract… you are now husband and wife. Congratulations."
Lucian's fists clenched at his sides.
"I'll never forgive you for this, Father," he growled—and then he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the heavy oak door behind him so hard that the chandelier rattled.
I flinched.
Sebastian let out a long sigh, brushing imaginary dust off his suit. "He can have… anger management issues sometimes," he said casually. "Don't take it personally."
I nodded quickly, trying to act like I wasn't visibly shaking.
I just married a billionaire vampire.
That thought hit me like a truck. I just married a stranger. And not just any stranger—one with fangs, a blood empire, and a serious grudge.
"Come," Sebastian said, already walking. "Let me show you your room."
I followed silently, my footsteps echoing behind him. The mansion was massive—endless halls with red carpets and gold sconces. Portraits stared down from the walls, some so old the paint was cracking. I wondered if any of them were still alive.
Finally, he stopped at a tall, dark wooden door.
"This is yours," he said, opening it.
My breath caught in my throat.
The room was huge. High ceilings, silk curtains, a fireplace, and a bed big enough to fit five people. Everything sparkled like it had been touched by magic—or money. Or both.
I stepped in slowly, taking it all in. I couldn't tell if I had just entered a royal palace or the private wing of a billionaire's mansion.
Then a strange thought crept into my head.
Wait... are they royalty?
I had never heard of vampire kings or queens. In fact, no one in the human world even knew who ruled the vampires. That was their rule: no humans were allowed to know their true leaders. No names. No faces.
I glanced back at the man who just handed me a contract, a title, and a wedding I didn't want.
Sebastian Valemont.
Just a billionaire? Or something more?
I wasn't sure.
But one thing was certain—I was in way over my head now.