Page 17 of Twisted Vows

“Left them at home.” He steps closer, and I still. “And for the record, I’m more Hades than Satan.”

“Seems accurate.” I tilt my head slightly, letting the silence stretch just enough to show I’m not intimidated. “Your chilly lord of the underworld vibe is impossible to ignore.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“I’m not surprised.” His thumb slides over the corner of his mouth as his lips form a smirk.

“Why are you doing this, Max?” Impatience and frustration swirl in my chest, and I notice for someone so adept at violence, his gaze is remarkably warm.

“There’s a lot at stake, Ari.”

“And what’s that?” I ask, despite knowing exactly what he’s getting at. Control. Power. And the precarious balance between the two.

“Everything.” He pauses, letting the words sink in. “This isn’t a game. One wrong move and both our families will pay the price.”

“I have no interest in games,” I shoot back sharply.

His eyes narrow slightly, and for the first time, I see a flicker of something—surprise, maybe? Respect? It’s gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the same unreadable mask he always wears. “Good,” he says finally. “Because I don’t lose.”

“Neither do I,” I reply, the words coming out more like a promise than a statement.

He pulls a small velvet box from his pocket and opens it with a quiet click. An emerald ring sparkles in the dim light. My pulse quickens, and I ignore it just like I always do.

He holds out the ring, his expression impassive. “This is yours if you accept it.”

It’s beautiful but feels more like a shackle than a symbol of anything good. Maxsim watches me carefully, not saying a word. He’s testing me, waiting to see how I’ll react. “And if I don’t?”

His expression doesn’t change. “Then you walk away, and we both deal with the consequences.”

Confused by the open door he’s offering, I focus on the gravity of the decision in front of me. Wearing the ring means accepting the marriage, the alliance, and everything that comeswith it. “Are you sure about that?” I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

Maxsim’s gaze never wavers. “I’m sure of the outcome,” he replies, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “But the choice is yours.”

My hand trembles, an involuntary betrayal of the fear simmering beneath my carefully constructed facade.

He slowly lifts it, and I can’t help but notice the warmth of his fingers. “This isn’t a prison sentence.” His eyes hold mine, unblinking, and I know he’s testing me—waiting for my response, waiting to see if I’ll falter.

“It feels like one,” I say, forcing the words out with more strength than I feel. His expression doesn’t change, but I catch the flicker of something in his eyes. Interest? Amusement? I can’t tell. But it’s enough to know he’s watching closely, waiting for me to make a move.

“You’re tougher than you look, Arianna.” His voice is smooth, like a blade cutting through the tension between us.

“And you’re more predictable than you think,” I shoot back. His eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t respond. Instead, he holds out the ring, waiting for me to accept.

I stare at the ring, its emerald catching the light like a promise I don’t trust. It’s beautiful, but beauty doesn’t make it any less of a shackle. If I take it, I’m binding myself to him, to this alliance, to everything I’ve fought against my entire life. But refusing isn’t freedom—it’s just another cage, one with cold stone walls and whispered prayers.

I finally nod, letting him slip it onto my finger. “Don’t expect me to play by your rules,” I say quietly, my voice laced with defiance.

Maxsim leans down, sending a shiver down my spine as he whispers against my ear, “That’s exactly what I’m counting on.”

As the cool metal of the ring settles against my skin, I feel a mix of resignation and something I can’t name.

“You’ve made the right choice,” he says, his voice low and steady. There’s no gloating, no satisfaction in his tone—just a calm certainty that grates on my nerves.

I see my brother standing at the door and realize he brought me here so I could have the conversation away from my mother. Looking down at the ring, I swallow the uncertainty rising in my throat.

This isn’t the life I wanted. But it’s the I’ve been given, and if Franco thinks this ring is my salvation, he’s wrong.

It’s just another weapon I’ll use wisely.

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