"What's the condition?" he asked.
His voice was steady, almost careless, as if he were asking about the weather. We were standing opposite each other, the space between us heavy and tight, filled with words that hadn't yet been said.
The wind brushed past, cool against my skin, but my chest felt hot, tight, aching. My hands were clasped together in front of me, fingers twisting, nails digging into my own skin as if I needed the pain to steady myself.
"The child we're going to have, can I be in his life for at least a few years till his old enough to be without a mother," I said softly.
The words came out slow, careful, fragile. I didn't lift my head as I spoke. I was afraid—afraid of what I would see in his eyes, afraid of rejection, afraid that saying it out loud would make it impossible to take back. My voice trembled despite my effort to stay calm.
"Why?" he asked calmly, searching for answers in my eyes.
I finally looked up. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, as if he were dissecting every breath I took. My throat tightened.
"I know how it feels not to have a mother or father figure in a kid's life. I've gone through that and I don't want my child to go through that pain," I said.
My voice broke at the last word. My hand drifted to my stomach without thinking, a small protective gesture, like I was already trying to shield someone who didn't exist yet. My chest ached, and my eyes burned, but I refused to cry.
"A contract is a contract, Ara. You can't change or twist it. It's my contract and you have to accept the terms and conditions," he said, his voice firm.
The words hit hard. Clean, cold and final.
I nodded slowly, forcing myself to breathe. I already knew this answer, but hearing it still hurt. My lips parted, closed again, then opened once more as courage gathered painfully in my chest.
"I know, but I promise you that's the only thing I will ask from you. You don't have to pay me, take care of me, or do anything for me. Just to be in the child's life for a few years. Please," I said, trying to hold my tears.
My voice cracked anyway. Tears sat heavy at the corner of my eyes, threatening to fall. I blinked fast, inhaling deeply, refusing to let them spill. Begging was never something I liked but for this, I would swallow my pride.
He took a deep breath.
The sound of it felt loud in the silence, like a pause in the universe. His shoulders rose and fell slowly, as if he were weighing something heavy inside his chest.
"I'll review the contract again," he said calmly.
For a second, I didn't react. Then hope exploded in me like light breaking through darkness.I became so happy.
"Thank you so much. Thank you," I said with a smile of joy.
The smile felt real—wide, trembling, full of relief. My eyes shone, and for the first time since meeting him, something warm filled my chest. I nodded repeatedly, almost to myself, as if afraid he would take the words back if I didn't accept them fast enough.
That was enough. Having a child isn't so badat least I won't be lonely. And if I'm lucky, I'll get to be in the child's life. I nodded again, holding onto that fragile hope, praying silently for him to truly change his mind.
"It's getting dark," he said, walking toward the car.
"Yes," I replied quickly and ran after him.
The gravel crunched under my feet as I hurried to keep up with him. The sky above had started to fade into deep shades of blue and grey, the sun disappearing behind distant trees. Night was coming fast.
The drive back to the hotel was quiet. No one said a thing. Not a single word. Only the sound of the engine and the road beneath the tires filled the car. The silence felt heavy, thick, like it was swallowing both of us whole.
I stared out the window, my thoughts loud in my head.
I really hope he reviews the contract.
Then suddenly, he passed a familiar turn, and my heart jumped.
"Wasn't that the turn back to the hotel?" I asked, confused.
He didn't reply.
The car sped up instead. The engine roared louder, and my fingers tightened around the seatbelt.
"Ahm, Raisem, where are we going?" I asked, trying to calm down.
My voice sounded smaller than I wanted. My heart began to race. This pumpkin man wasn't saying a thing.
"Where are you taking me?" I said.
"You have another test," he smirked.
Cold fear crawled up my spine.
What does he mean by another test after what happened? I still have to go through another test from him? No way.
"Please stop the car, stop the freaking car!" I screamed at him.
The car finally came to a sudden halt. My body jerked forward. My head slammed hard against the seat in front of me—I wasn't wearing a seatbelt.
Pain exploded across my forehead, sharp and blinding, and before I knew it, a scream tore out of my throat.
"What's wrong with you?" I shouted at him.
Before I could even think straight, I realized where we were—a dark highway, the kind that looked like something straight out of a horror movie. No streetlights, no cars. Just endless darkness.
I took a deep breath, my feet shaking already.
"Where are we?" I said, furious.
My head throbbed painfully.
"Today's test is called Survival Mode," Raisem said with a smirk, eyeing me with that hungry, hollow smile.
Fear gripped my chest. What is this man up to? Suddenly, I heard it.
A sound.Low, long and chilling but it was like a howl.
Realization hit me like a punch to the gut, that was an animal. A wolf.
Please tell me I'm dreaming. Wake me up.
I turned slowly, dread flooding my body. And there they were.
Hungry eyes glowing in the dark.
My breath hitched. Sweat poured down my skin uncontrollably, soaking through my clothes as terror took over. My legs trembled so badly I could barely stand.
I backed away, my whole body shaking.
The wolves were huge—thick fur matted and wild, sharp claws digging into the ground.
Their muscles rippled beneath their skin as they moved. Chains clanked around their bodies, heavy and cruel, held tight by men in black. The wolves growled low, saliva dripping from their mouths, eyes locked on me like I was already theirs.
"Run, Ara." Raisem whispered into my ears.
Those words echoed in my ears and the men released the chains.
The wolves howled and charged forward.
I screamed and ran with everything in me. My feet pounded against the ground as the animals chased me, their growls loud, furious, closing in.
"That man was crazy. I am stupid for trusting him. He just wanted to kill me!" I screamed through my tears.
The animals didn't stop.
"Don't you think you're going too far?" Austin asked.
"She's going to bear my child. Is something wrong with me training her to be strong for the future?" Raisem said.
"Will you tell her about the cancer?" he asked raising his brows.
"She has no business with my personal life. All I need from her is the child," Raisem said coldly.
I ran into the woods.
Mud sucked at my feet. Dirty water splashed onto my legs and clothes as I stumbled through it. Branches scratched my skin.
Leaves whipped against my face. The air smelled damp and rotten, filled with the scent of fear and earth.
I cried as I ran. I was wrong.
This man is a serial killer.
What was I thinking? I'm doomed.
The wolves kept coming. I was the prey. They were the predators. And the hunt had begun.
One lunged at me. I felt its breath, hot against my skin. I screamed and twisted away just in time, barely escaping its attack. Its claws scraped the air where I had been.
Pain shot through my ankle as I tripped and fell hard to the ground.
I tried to stand, but my leg gave out. Mud soaked into my clothes as I scrambled back, helpless. The wolves approached slowly now, circling, growling.
Is this the end? Stupid me. If I survive this, someone's head will be in my palms.
I closed my eyes, ready for the bite. Then, I heard footsteps, fast and powerful. I opened my eyes and there he was. That beast.
Raisem.
The ginger-haired maniac kicked the wolf hard in the face. It yelped and collapsed. The others backed away, growling low.
Raisem walked toward me with that same hollow smile.
Anger burned through me like fire.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said and stretched his hand toward me.
I slapped it away with all my strength.
"You're a maniac," I muttered.
"Oh, I didn't tell you. The wolves are harmless. I took out their whole teeth," he said, pulling one wolf and forcing its mouth open.
Indeed, they had no teeth. My chest heaved as rage and disbelief crashed into me.
"Do you still want to sign the contract?" he asked.
The decision was mine anyways.
"Ara, it's okay to give up," he smirked, looking into my eyes for answers.
"Who said I want to give up?" I smirked back at him.
"Then give me an answer. Do you still want to sign the contract?" he asked.