Chapter 109
Though she was still uncertain of Christian’s true motives, Fleur refused to give Raphael false hope. He deserved a woman who could offer him a whole heart, and Fleur knew her own soul was irrevocably bound to the ruthless Alpha King who had just walked out on her.
"Raphael... please don’t," she murmured softly. "I can’t give you what you want."
"Relax, sweetheart. I’m just poking at you," Raphael chuckled softly, though a dull, heavy ache echoed through his chest. "I know where your heart lies. But remember, the door is always open. That said, circumstances are forcing my hand. I have to finalize a contract and take a bride immediately."
"I don’t understand, Raphael," Fleur replied, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"I’ll explain the whole situation in person, Fleur. Not over a phone line," Raphael said, his tone gentle but firm. "I’ll see you soon."
"Alright," Fleur murmured. She hung up, made sure her appearance was composed, and quietly slipped out of the estate.
***
Across the city, Mila hadn’t slept a wink. She spent the entire night pacing her small bedroom, analyzing Raphael’s absurd offer. By the time the golden morning light broke through the blinds, she had resolved to discuss the news with her uncle.
He was the only father figure she had left after her parents died, and protocol dictated she inform him first. However, she planned to keep the corporate, contract-marriage nature of the arrangement entirely secret. If word leaked that the grand union was a PR sham, it would destroy Raphael’s career and spark an uproar among the regional pack elders who backed his media empire.
Fixing her clothes and taking a deep breath to steady her hammering pulse, Mila walked downstairs.
Her uncle was already at the kitchen table, his face buried in his phone screen, a sour frown etched onto his features. Her aunt Eva and cousin Hannah were seated across from him, eating breakfast. Though her stomach pinched at the smell of fresh food, Mila pushed through her anxiety and stepped into the room.
"Uncle, I need to speak with you about something important," Mila began, her voice trembling slightly.
He didn’t even bother looking up. "What is it now, Mila?"
"Raphael Dumas proposed to me," she announced, holding her breath.
The room went dead silent. Every head snapped toward her, three pairs of eyes staring in absolute shock.
"Have you lost your mind?" Hannah snorted, a mocking laugh bursting from her lips. "Raphael Dumas? To you? Please, Mila, there’s a limit to how delusional you can be."
Mila remained composed, completely ignoring her cousin’s taunts. "It’s the truth, Uncle," she said directly.
"Why on earth would a high-ranking star like him want to marry you?" her aunt grimaced, eyeing Mila’s oversized, modest clothes with disdain.
In their eyes, Raphael Dumas was like a god among men—a wealthy, stunning figure who belonged to a completely different world. It was why Mila had always kept her distance as his manager, knowing he was far out of her league. She had her own life, a boyfriend in Daniel, and she knew Raphael had been hopelessly in love with Fleur Swann.
"So he proposed, and you accepted?" her uncle finally grunted, his narrow eyes searching her face. "Why bring this to me now?"
"I haven’t given him my answer yet, Uncle. I wanted to ask for your blessing first," Mila said quietly, lowering her gaze to show respect.
Her uncle scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Fine. Tell him he needs to meet with me first."
Mila nodded, wondering how on earth she would convince a superstar wolf like Raphael to sit down in this cramped dining room. As she turned to leave, her aunt’s sharp voice cut through the air.
"Wait a minute!" Eva barked, turning to her husband. "If she gets married and leaves, what happens to our monthly allowance? We won’t see a dime! Why should we give our blessing?"
"Eva, if she wants to get married, we can’t chain her here," her uncle replied, though his eyes gleamed with cold calculation. He looked back at Mila. "However, I want to inspect this man myself to ensure you aren’t being foolish. And more importantly, you aren’t quitting your job, right? Who is going to pay for your grandmother’s hospital bills and care facility if you stop working?"
Mila suppressed a bitter laugh. They didn’t care about her happiness; they only cared about losing their primary source of income.
"Don’t worry, Uncle," Mila said coldly. "The financial settlement from this marriage is substantial. There will be more than enough to cover the family’s needs and pay off Grandmother’s medical bills in full."
Hannah’s face twisted into a sharp, bitter smirk. "Of course, cousin. You really hit the jackpot, didn’t you? What did you do, trap him? Seduce him into a shotgun wedding? I bet you’re already pregnant with his baby."
Mila rolled her eyes, exhausted by Hannah’s constant malice, but she refused to let the insult slide.
"Not everyone sells themselves to get ahead, Hannah," Mila retorted sharply.
Hannah flared with rage. "What did you just say to my daughter?!" her uncle roared, slamming his fist onto the table.
"Uncle, she started—"
SLAP!
A sharp, violent crack echoed through the kitchen. The force of the blow snapped Mila’s head to the side, a blinding sting blooming across her cheek. She staggered back, clutching her face as a whimper of shock escaped her lips.
"Don’t you dare speak to my daughter like that!" her uncle growled, his breath ragged. "And she’s right! How else would a plain creature like you get a man like Raphael Dumas to put a ring on your finger?"
The words cut deeper than the strike across her face. The irony was suffocating. Mila had guarded her virtue her entire life, saving herself for marriage and refusing to give her innocence even to Daniel, who had agreed to wait for their wedding night. Meanwhile, Hannah had been sleeping with half of the city since she was fifteen, using her body to buy favors and designer clothes.
Yet, Mila knew her uncle would never believe the truth about his precious daughter. Swallowing the metallic taste of blood in her mouth, Mila lifted her chin, her eyes flashing with a cold, defiant light.
"I am accepting his proposal," she declared, stepping backward toward the door. "And the contract is final."