Chapter 3 The Price to Pay

“Let go of my hand!”

Agatha yanked her hand with all her might. However, Xavier’s grip on her wrist was too strong. The man did not budge in the slightest.

“Five hundred million?” Agatha repeated the number in disbelief. Her breath hitched. “You paid such a high price just to own me? You’re crazy.”

Xavier did not answer. Instead, he pulled Agatha’s hand roughly, forcing the woman’s body to crash into his broad chest. He closed the distance until no gap remained.

The man’s body heat penetrated Agatha’s blazer. Xavier looked down, letting his warm breath sweep over Agatha’s nape.

“I don’t just buy any woman, Agatha,” whispered Xavier, his voice low. “I bought the most dangerous rose in this world just for myself. Isn’t that a good investment?”

“I am not an investment!” hissed Agatha. She stared wildly into the green eyes in front of her.

“Oh, really? Then why are you trembling?” Xavier smirked crookedly.

His hand moved up, touching Agatha’s earlobe. The touch was gentle but made Agatha shiver.

“What are you afraid of? This stiff body of yours does not reflect your courage when you beheaded Vollkov earlier.”

Agatha gritted her teeth. She clenched her free hand, restraining the urge to punch that arrogant face.

“I have paid off their debt of one hundred million dollars,” Agatha said with emphasis. “And the rest is none of my business. My body is my own. Let go!”

Xavier chuckled softly.

With a rough movement, he released Agatha’s hand. But before the woman could retreat, Xavier slammed the wooden door behind Agatha with both hands. He trapped the woman.

“You are too naive for an assassin,” said Xavier coldly. His eyes narrowed, examining Agatha’s face which was beginning to pale.

“One hundred million was just gambling interest. Your adoptive father asked for additional money for the asset he had raised preciously.”

Xavier brought his face closer. His nose almost touched Agatha’s nose.

“He used you as collateral for a total of five hundred million dollars. Silas sold everything. Your hair, your skin, your body... everything is written on the contract paper with his signature.”

Agatha fell silent. Her tongue felt numb.

She knew Silas was crazy about gambling, but she did not expect her adoptive father to have the heart to use her as collateral.

“Five hundred million? Impossible...” Agatha shook her head slowly. “He promised this was the last time. He swore...”

“A gambler’s promise is worthless, Agatha. You should know that better.”

Xavier moved away. He walked back to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a dull brown folder.

Without saying much, Xavier threw the folder onto the desk.

Thud!

The sound of the folder hitting was loud in the quiet room. Thin dust was seen flying under the beam of the desk lamp.

“Open it,” ordered Xavier.

Agatha stepped hesitantly towards the desk. Her hands trembled as she touched the edge of the folder. Slowly, she opened it.

The first sheet was a black and white photo. A photo of an old building half burnt down. Black debris scattered on the snow.

Agatha’s breath hitched. She recognized the twisted iron gate in the photo.

“Saint Rionsa Orphanage,” she muttered softly.

“You remember this place, right?”

Xavier’s voice sounded behind her, close and intimidating.

“The place you grew up. The place where you played with children who have now turned to ash.”

Xavier tapped the desk with his index finger.

Tap... Tap... Tap...

Agatha touched the photo. Her fingertips trembled as she touched the image of the building ruins. A cold feeling spread down her back. Memories of fire, black smoke, and the screams of her friends returned to her head.

“Donations decreased that year... the orphanage caretakers let us starve,” muttered Agatha unconsciously. Her eyes stared blankly at the photo.

“And your nurses?” baited Xavier. He stood right beside Agatha’s shoulder. “They left, right? Leaving the children alone until debt collectors came to burn the place down.”

“They destroyed everything,” Agatha closed her eyes.

“Then there was fire... a warm air that drove away the cold,” she continued softly.

“Warm air?” Xavier folded his arms across his chest. “That was the fire that burned the orphanage, Agatha. When you woke up, there was only ash. No one survived, only you.”

“Stop it!”

Agatha’s scream broke the silence. She covered her ears, turning to face Xavier with ragged breathing.

“You...” Agatha stared at the man sharply. “How far did you investigate me? Why do you know this much detail?”

“I know everything. More than you know.”

Xavier sat casually on the edge of his desk.

“You spent every penny from your assassination missions to hire trash detectives. You risked your life killing drug lords just to pay people to find out who your biological parents are.” Xavier smiled cynically.

“And do you know what they found? Nothing. A big zero. Because I took all that information first, Agatha. I bought all the archives about you, burned the copies, and locked them tight in my safe.”

Agatha’s emotions exploded.

Despair turned into anger. She stepped forward and grabbed Xavier’s shirt collar with both hands. She pulled the man’s collar roughly.

“You bastard!” shouted Agatha. Several buttons on Xavier’s shirt came off, revealing his chest. “That’s mine! That’s my life! Why did you hide it? What do you want?!”

Xavier did not fight back. He let Agatha vent her emotions. He instead stared at the woman’s angry face calmly.

“Your life belongs to me because I am the owner now,” answered Xavier casually.

Agatha released her grip. She stepped back a few steps, feeling defeated.

“What do you really want?” asked Agatha softly. “Money? Power? You already have everything.”

“You,” answered Xavier briefly. “Marry me.”

“What?” Agatha laughed dryly. “Xavier Valois needs a wife? What kind of joke is this?”

“Be Mrs. Valois,” continued Xavier, ignoring Agatha’s laughter.

“I need your beautiful face to get rid of the old board of directors who keep pushing their spoiled daughters on me.”

“Hah...” Agatha ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “So you need a shield as well as a guard dog? Why don’t you just get rid of them yourself? Aren’t you a cruel ruler?”

“A ruler also needs a Queen by his side, Agatha,” Xavier smirked.

“And what do I get?” asked Agatha cynically.

Xavier took a gold pen from his suit pocket. He twirled it in his long fingers.

“Every time you play the role of a good wife... I will give you one piece of information about your biological family.”

Agatha’s body tensed.

“I know where they are, Agatha,” whispered Xavier. “They are still alive. And they are looking for you.”

Agatha’s heart beat fast. They were still alive? They were looking for her?

Xavier held out the gold pen. On the desk, there was already a marriage contract document.

“You will get luxurious facilities. Total protection, and the name Valois which is a symbol of unrivaled power will be your shield, Mrs. Valois.”

Agatha stared at the pen, then stared at the document on the desk. Her curiosity defeated everything. She had to know who her parents were.

“One year,” muttered Agatha. “Only one year. After I get all the information, the contract is void. I leave.”

Xavier held the pen closer.

“Sign it. Leave the old name, use my name.”

Agatha took the pen. Her hand trembled. Black ink scratched the paper, binding her fate.

Agatha signed it.

Once finished, Xavier immediately pulled the paper. He looked at Agatha’s signature with satisfaction.

His hand reached for Agatha’s chin again, forcing the woman to look into his eyes.

“From this second, Agatha Arionsa Elara is dead,” said Xavier coldly.

“You are Mrs. Valois. My wife.”

Xavier’s finger stroked Agatha’s cheek.

“Don’t let others see your weakness like earlier. Just save those tears of yours only for me.”

Xavier released her, then rang a small bell on his desk.

Ding...

“A maid will escort you to your room,” said Xavier without looking back again. “Rest. Tomorrow is our wedding party. I want you to look perfect.”

The room door opened. An old maid entered and bowed respectfully.

Agatha turned around. She walked out with heavy steps. Her black blazer suit felt suffocating.

While walking down the mansion hallway full of guards, Agatha realized one thing.

She had just entered a luxurious prison made by Xavier Calestiano Valois. And this prison was far more dangerous than any mission she had ever undertaken.