Chapter 3 – His Condition

Mira's fingers tightened around the paper.

The edges bent in her hand, but she didn't care.

Her chest felt heavy, like something was sitting on it and refusing to move. She stared at Alessandro across the room.

He sat in the large chair like a king who had never heard the word no in his life.

Something burned inside her throat.

Not tears this time.

Anger.

“What do I have to do,” she asked, her voice shaking, “to escape this fate?”

Alessandro looked at her calmly.

His face showed nothing.

“Nothing,” he said quietly.

Mira frowned.

“Nothing?”

“It is your fate.”

The words hit hard.

Cold. Heavy.

“You will learn to live with it.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

“Live with it?” She slowly shook her head.

“Who learns to live with a monster?”

For one second, something dark crossed his face.

Then it disappeared.

Mira was not moved.

Instead, she stood up, straightened her shoulders.

“You trapped me in this marriage.” Another step. “You used my own family against me.”

She dared not move closer to him

Her voice rose louder inside the cold hall.

“And now you are telling me to accept it? To stay quiet?”

One of the guards near the door shifted uncomfortably.

Alessandro stayed completely still.He did not move his hands. Did not blink. Did not even react.

That calmness scared her more than anything.

There is something he wants.

The thought suddenly came into her mind.

Men like him never gamble without a reason.

Nobody this powerful did things for free.

Her breathing slowed.

She looked at him carefully now. Really looked at him.

“What do you gain from this?” she asked quietly.

Alessandro said nothing.

“No rich man does all this for nothing,” she continued. “So what do you want from me? From this marriage?”

The room went silent.

Then slowly, Alessandro stood up.

Mira stepped back before she could stop herself.

Anger flashed through her immediately.

She forced herself to stay where she was.

He walked toward her slowly.

Each step echoed against the marble floor.

When he stopped, he was close enough to make her uncomfortable. His hazel eyes stayed on her face, sharp and unreadable.

“What made you think,” he said, almost mocking her, “that you have something I want?”

He tilted his head slightly.

“Baby girl… what exactly can you offer me?”

A low laugh came from the guards near the door.

Mira's jaw tightened.

Heat rose to her cheeks, embarrassed but she refused to look away.

“So you are telling me,” she said carefully, “that you planned all this… the fake marriage, the kidnapping… for no reason?”

She crossed her arms.

“Stop joking.”

His expression did not change.

“Or…” she paused, something dangerous flashing in her eyes, “are you in love with me?”

The room became silent.

For a second, something changed in his face.

Very fast. Almost invisible. But she saw it.

Then it was gone.

A quiet chuckle left his lips.

“Don't flatter yourself.”

“Then what do you want from me?” she pushed again.

He looked at her for a long moment. Then he turned and walked back to his chair like nothing happened.

Slowly, he sat down.

One arm rested against the chair as he looked at her calmly.

“Baby girl,” he said.

Mira’s stomach twisted angrily.

“Don’t call me that.”

“I think it suits you.”

“I have a name.”

Alessandro tilted his head slightly.

“Mira,” he repeated softly.

The way he said her name made her chest tighten strangely.

She hated it immediately.

“But baby girl sounds better.”

Mira opened her mouth to speak.

“Baby girl, you don't have a choice.” he said with his gaze on her .

“But,” he continued, “since you want something to hold on to…”

He paused, his hand placed on his jaw, like he was thinking about it.

His eyes locked onto hers.

“Give me an heir to my empire.”

The words hit her.

It was like someone poured cold water on her .

“Then,” he said simply, “you are free.”

Mira stopped breathing for a second. Her mind struggled to understand what he meant.

But the meaning stayed the same.

A child.

He wanted her to carry his child.

Her lips parted slowly.

“You are joking.”

“I don't joke.”

Smirking.

No hesitation.

“You wanted a condition,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “I gave you one.”

Something dangerous hid inside his quiet voice.

“Give me an heir,” he repeated softly. “Then this ends. You get your freedom back. Your little life back.”

He leaned back again.

“Until then…”

His eyes slowly moved around the room.

The tall walls. The guarded doors. The windows showed a world she could see but could not touch.

Then his gaze returned to her.

“You don't leave.”

Mira's legs lost their hold on her.

Her family had handed her over like she meant nothing. And now this man sat in front of her, calm and cold, telling her that the only way out of this prison was through him.

Her hands shook again.

She quickly pressed them against her sides so he would not notice.

But she still looked him in the eyes. With every bit of strength she had left.

“I will never,” she whispered, her voice quiet but strong, “give you anything.”

“I hate you”

“This is prison” she whispered, not sure her voice was heard by anyone.

Alessandro said nothing. He only watched her. Then slowly, he smiled.

A small, quiet smile.

Like he had heard those words before.

Like he already knew how this story would end.

And she was the only person in the room who didn't.

“I refuse to be trapped. By you or anybody.” She whispered.

She tried to reassure herself.