The rain outside was relentless, a torrential downpour that mirrored the turmoil inside Suba's heart. The droplets drummed against the windowpane like a frantic warning. Under the dim glow of the desk lamp, the 'Marriage Contract' lay open—a cold, white sheet of paper that felt more like a prison sentence than a legal document.
"Three more months... barely ninety days," Suba whispered to the empty room. "And then, what are we? Strangers again?"
She was known to the world—or at least the world of shadows—as the 'Shadow Angel.' A woman who feared nothing, a warrior who moved through the night with lethal grace. Yet, today, a mere piece of paper was stripping away her armor, leaving her vulnerable.
"Suba..."
His voice, deep and calm, sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't need to turn around to know he was there; she could feel his presence, the steady warmth that had slowly become her sanctuary. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air.
"Why are you still awake? Still trapped in your thoughts?" he asked, extending a cup toward her.
Suba turned slowly, her eyes meeting his. His gaze was always like a mysterious ocean—vast, deep, and impossible to read.
"This contract..." she started, her voice trailing off.
He cut her off with a soft, knowing smile. "That contract was created to bind us legally, Suba. But no ink on paper can ever command a heart. Why do you keep staring at that expiration date? Do you truly believe I would just let you walk away the moment the clock strikes midnight?"
Suba took a sip of the coffee, its warmth grounding her. But her silence spoke volumes.
"Suba, look at me," he stepped closer. "You think you're hiding in the shadows, but I've been watching you. I know who you are. Your 'Shadow Angel' identity, the secret missions you undertake under the cover of night... I know it all. And I never asked you about it because I didn't marry a name or a reputation. I married you."
The cup trembled slightly in her hands. "You... you knew?"
"I knew. And it doesn't matter. Whether the contract ends tomorrow or ten years from now, I don't want you to leave. In this past year, you've become more than a 'contract wife.' You are a part of me. Let's stop pretending this is business. Let's start something real."
For a moment, the 'Shadow Angel' vanished, leaving behind a woman who just wanted to be loved. But her past was a dark shadow that refused to fade. If she stayed, her enemies would eventually find him too.
Suddenly, a sharp crash echoed from downstairs—the sound of breaking glass.
In a heartbeat, the vulnerability vanished. Suba's eyes sharpened, her pupils dilating as her combat instincts took over. The soft wife was gone; the hunter had returned.
"Someone is inside," she hissed.
He tried to hold her back, but she was already at the door. From a hidden sheath at her waist, she pulled a small, silver blade that glinted dangerously in the low light.
"Stay here. I'll handle this," she commanded, her voice cold and precise.
She moved like a ghost, her footsteps silent as she descended the stairs. In the living room, a dark figure was rummaging through the desk, searching for something specific. This wasn't a common thief; the intruder's movements were professional.
Suba closed the distance in seconds. "What are you looking for?"
The figure spun around, launching a strike. Suba parried the blow with practiced ease. A brutal, silent struggle ensued, muffled by the roaring storm outside. Suba was a blur of motion, her blade slicing through the intruder's sleeve, forcing him back.
"Who sent you?" she growled, her knee pinning him against the wall for a split second.
The intruder was fast. He managed to break her grip and dived through the shattered window, disappearing into the curtain of rain before she could unmask him.
Suba stood there, her chest heaving, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. He came running down the stairs, his face pale with worry. "Suba! Are you hurt?"
She looked at him, her expression grim. "He wasn't here for me. He was looking for your files. Don't you see? Being with me brings the shadow to your doorstep. For your own safety, this contract should end."
He walked over and pulled her into a firm embrace, ignoring the knife still in her hand. "If there's danger, it only makes me want to protect you more, not let you go. You are my Shadow Angel. I'm not going anywhere."
The storm raged on, but inside the house, the cold walls of the contract had finally crumbled, replaced by a bond that no enemy could easily break.