Page 25 of Crimson Fate

“Wow, that’s... unexpected.” She manages a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “How did this even happen? I didn’t know you were even dating someone.”

“I wasn’t. Gia’s father was the captain I met with, and he proposed the idea,” I explain.

“Wait—what do you mean proposed the idea?”

“He suggested what better way to solidify myself as the new generation of leaders than by combining my family with that of my most loyal captains,” I explain.

“So what,” she gasps, obviously confused. “It’s like some sort of arranged marriage?”

I force a smile. “Not exactly. Gia and I both agree this is a good option for us.”

“Good option? Do you hear yourself? Do you even know this woman?” She spits the words at me in a frenzy. “I’ve probably spent more time with her than you have, and I don’t know her.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course, I know her. You’re being a bit dramatic,” I reply.

“Dramatic? Vincent, you just told me you’re going to marry a woman because you think it’s a good strategy. That’s not what a marriage is about.” Eva gasps.

Her reactions have caught me off guard. “Maybe not all marriages, but I think it’s a pretty solid foundation. I really don’t understand why you’re reacting this way. You were the one who asked me just the other day if I wanted to start a family. I took Gia to dinner the other night, and we had a very lovely time.”

Her laugh is sharp and incredulous. “So what? Are you telling me you fell in love with her over one dinner date?” There’s an edge to her voice that wasn’t there before—a crack in the composure she wears so well.

I can’t help but let out a short, mirthless chuckle. “No one said anyone was in love, cara mia. This is about alignment, power, the bigger picture.” I see the fight flare up in Eva’s eyes, the same fire I’ve always admired, even now when it’s directed at me. “I thought you would understand.”

“Understand? Marriage is not a business transaction,” she presses, her stance rigid with conviction.

“Isn’t it?” I counter, pushing off from the desk to stand before her, close enough to feel the heat radiating from her skin. “In my world, alliances are worth more than gold, and Gia understands this as much as I do. She’s given her consent.”

Eva’s brow furrows, a silent testament to her internal struggle. “Consent isn’t desire,” she argues, her voice low and fierce. “A marriage without love is...”

“Practical.” I finish for her as if the word itself could shield us both from the romantic notions she holds so dear. “I need this unity. And I think there’s a good chance Gia and I can learn to appreciate each other in time.”

Eva stands up before she turns away, pacing the length of the Persian rug with a restless energy. I watch her, every step a silent plea for me to reconsider, to embrace the kind of love she believes in. But her ideals can’t protect my family’s empire or forge the bonds I need to survive the change in power.

“Love is a luxury I can’t afford,” I say, the words tasting bitter even as they ring with truth. “Not when there’s so much at stake.”

Eva stops in her tracks, shoulders squared as she faces me again. “And what about happiness? What about living a life that’s actually worth something?”

“Power ensures survival. Happiness is secondary.” The words are cold, even to my own ears, but they’re the foundation upon which my world is built.

“It’s not impossible to find a powerful match that makes you happy,” she blurts out, tossing her hands up into the air in a desperate gesture. “Just look at Amelia.”

“Yeah, look at Amelia. She chose her happiness, and now our father is dead because of it.”

Eva shakes her head wildly. “That’s not fair, and you know that wasn’t her fault. Surviving isn’t living,” she says, and I can hear the strain in her voice as her hands start to shake.

“Sometimes, it’s all we have,” I reply; the tension between us is taut, a wire pulled too tight, ready to snap. But neither of us moves to bridge the gap or soothe the fray.

“Please, you can’t do this to yourself.” Eva’s voice is laced with urgency. “Marrying Gia... you know it will never make you happy.”

“It’s done, Eva. The decision is made,” I state firmly.

“But happiness—”

“Is a fairy tale.” I cut her off as I stride toward her. The air between us crackles with tension, a silent war raging in the quiet room.

“Since when did Vincent King settle for anything less than what he wants?” She steps closer, her passion igniting the space. “In all the years I’ve known you, you have never let others dictate your life.”

“My father taught me that alliances are the bedrock upon which our family stands. Without them, we crumble,” I explain.

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