Contractually Yours
CHAPTER ONE: GILDED CAGE
Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy reading this story. This is my first time making this, so, maybe, a lot of modifications will apply here. Please bear with me guys 🙏 Thank you 🥹
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the photos used here. All credits go to the rightful owners.
Let me introduce you to the characters
MAIN CHARACTERS
Killian Hart
Age: 28
A cold, powerful billionaire CEO known for his ruthless business tactics and intimidating silence. He has no interest in love, but everything changes when a broken girl literally falls into his world. Behind his icy demeanor is a man capable of deep affection, protectiveness, and obsession—for the right person.
Serena Vale
Age: 25
A quiet but strong-willed woman with a hidden fire in her heart. Abandoned at a young age and adopted into the cruel Vale family, Serena grew up enduring emotional and physical abuse. Despite her suffering, she remains resilient and secretly dreams of freedom. She’s intelligent, observant, and more powerful than she knows—waiting for her moment to break free.
Supporting Characters
Nathan Vale
Serena’s adoptive father. An ambitious, emotionless man who only adopted Serena to appear charitable and maintain social status. He allows Olivia to discipline her as she pleases and treats Serena like a disposable object.
Olivia Vale
Serena’s cruel and manipulative adoptive mother. Obsessive about appearances and social standing, she physically abuses Serena under the guise of “discipline” and takes pleasure in controlling her life. Olivia sees Serena as inferior and a threat to her own daughter's status.
Hana Vale
The eldest of the Vale daughters. Beautiful and sharp-tongued, she mirrors Olivia’s cruelty and loves to humiliate Serena. She's spoiled and bitterly jealous of Serena’s natural grace, even though Serena lives like a prisoner.
Jane Vale
The second daughter. Quiet, calculating, and passive-aggressive. She rarely defends Serena but enjoys watching her suffer. She hides her malice behind a polite smile and subtle jabs.
Keith Lancaster
Killian Hart’s loyal right-hand man and chief of security. Stoic, alert, and sharp, Keith keeps Killian’s world in order. He becomes one of Serena’s early allies once she enters Killian’s life, silently protecting her when danger arises.
The chandelier glittered above them, casting golden halos over guests who wore diamonds like skin and drank vintage wine like water. Laughter and classical music danced in the air, but behind the double doors of the Vale estate, there was no warmth. Only perfection. And pain.
Serena Vale stood quietly in the corner of the grand staircase, her eyes hollow but her back straight, like a well-trained puppet. The red marks on her wrist were barely hidden by her lace gloves, and the bruise on her shoulder throbbed beneath the gown Olivia Vale insisted she wear—tight, suffocating, and too low.
Olivia Vale
You look decent enough
Her adoptive mother whispered earlier that evening as she clipped a sapphire necklace around her neck—too tightly, as always.
Olivia Vale
Try not to embarrass us tonight.
Serena had replied, voice barely above a breath.
Hana Vale floated past in a sleek black gown, her smirk sharp.
Hana Vale
Maybe if you smile a little, people won't think you're the help.
Jane followed, barely glancing at Serena.
Jane Vale
Don’t trip like last time.
And Nathan Vale? He simply nodded in her direction from across the room. Like she was a vase. Fragile. Decorative. Replaceable.
But tonight… was different.
Tonight, her heart beat louder than the violins. Tonight, her fingers trembled not from fear—but resolve.
She had found the spare key in Olivia’s drawer two weeks ago. She had mapped the hallway routes at night. She had learned the blind spots of the estate cameras. And she knew that if she didn’t leave now… she might never get another chance.
A sharp bell rang to signal dinner. Guests began making their way into the ballroom. Serena slipped away.
She ran barefoot down the side corridor, clutching the hem of her dress, her pulse wild in her ears. The chill of the early spring wind met her skin as she pushed through the servant door that led to the balcony.
No harness. No help. Just hope.
She climbed over the ledge, her breaths shallow. One second.
Pain. Searing pain. Her ribs screamed. Her leg twisted unnaturally. She gasped, her cheek pressing against the grass.
A voice. Deep. Steady. Cold.
She blinked through the tears, vision blurring—until a tall figure crouched beside her, sharp-jawed and silver-eyed. Killian Hart.
His black suit was unbuttoned, sleeves rolled, and a book sat forgotten on the garden bench behind him. He had come here to escape society’s noise. Not to find a girl half-conscious, bleeding into his peace.
But something in her eyes froze him in place.
She tried to push herself up. Failed.
Serena Vale
Please… don’t bring me back inside. Please…
He didn’t speak. Just stared.
And then, in a voice as smooth as ice, he asked
Killian Hart
Are you running from them?
She nodded, lips trembling.
Serena Vale
They’ll kill me… if I go back.
He looked at her for a long moment, then pulled off his coat and wrapped it around her trembling form. Without asking, he lifted her into his arms.
Killian Hart
Stay with me instead.
CHAPTER TWO: THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS
The scent of fresh linen and wood polish filled her nose before her eyes fluttered open. Softness beneath her, warmth draped over her shoulders. For the first time in what felt like forever, Serena Vale didn’t wake up in a cold, unforgiving place.
She sat up in a rush, panic blooming in her chest.
The sheets were white. The room was minimalist, modern—far from the grandeur and suffocating elegance of the Vale Manor. A massive window poured in golden morning light. And just across from the bed, a man sat with his back to her, reviewing a tablet in silence.
Tall. Sharp suit. Powerful shoulders. Unreadable energy. She remembered that figure.
Killian Hart spoke without turning around.
His voice was low, smooth—yet carried a weight that quieted everything around it. Serena’s fingers gripped the blanket instinctively.
Serena Vale
Why... where am I?
Killian Hart
My private estate
Killian Hart
You jumped three floors. I found you half-conscious in the garden.
Serena Vale
Why didn’t you call the police?
Killian’s eyes were like storm clouds—gray and unreadable. His face, sculpted like a statue, gave away nothing.
Killian Hart
Because I don't believe in handing people back to monsters.
Serena Vale
You don’t know me.
Killian Hart
No. But I saw enough.
Silence stretched between them. She couldn’t understand why this stranger, this man who looked like he ruled empires, was speaking like he owed her nothing—but still gave her safety.
Serena Vale
What do you want from me?
Killian’s lips curved faintly.
Killian Hart
Interesting. Most people ask what I plan to do. You ask what I want.
Serena Vale
Isn’t it the same thing?
She replied softly, but there was steel in her tone.
Killian leaned back in his chair.
Killian Hart
No. I don’t want anything from you... yet. But you're not going back to that house.
Serena flinched at the word house, memories of Olivia’s cold slaps and Hana’s venomous voice slicing through her mind.
Serena Vale
Why are you helping me?
A pause. Then Killian stood and walked toward her slowly. His presence was overwhelming—elegance cloaked in danger.
He stopped just a few steps from her.
Killian Hart
Because I know what it's like to be trapped.
And for the first time, Serena looked up—really looked at him. Beneath that iron mask, was there a man who’d also bled? A man who understood?
Serena Vale
I don’t want pity.
Killian Hart
I don’t give it.
Their eyes locked again. Something unspoken passed between them—tension, curiosity... a spark.
Killian turned away, heading toward the door.
Killian Hart
Rest. Keith will bring you breakfast. You’re safe here.
Serena Vale
And if I don’t want to stay?
Killian Hart
Then you’re free to leave. But be warned—the world outside may not be as kind as the devil you just met.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Serena exhaled, sinking back into the pillows. Her heart raced, her thoughts a storm.
But one thing was clear:
She wasn’t in the Vale Manor anymore.
She wasn’t their pawn.
And Killian Hart?
He was a different kind of danger.
And she wasn’t sure whether to fear him… or follow him.
CHAPTER THREE: THE MAN BEHIND THE SILENCE
The early morning light streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows of Killian Hart’s penthouse. The silence inside was pristine—cold, like the man who owned it. Serena sat curled up on the edge of the cream-colored sofa, wrapped in a soft robe Keith had given her. Her eyes, tired but alert, flickered toward the towering man who had saved her just hours ago.
Killian stood by the kitchen island, dressed in black slacks and a navy dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. He hadn’t said much since bringing her here. He didn’t ask questions—he observed.
And Serena… she couldn’t decide if that was comforting or terrifying.
Killian Hart
You didn’t sleep,
His voice cut through the silence—deep, calm, unreadable.
Serena flinched slightly.
Serena Vale
I’m not used to peace.
Killian’s eyes lifted from the cup of coffee he was stirring.
Killian Hart
Get used to it.
She bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
Serena Vale
I… I’ll leave soon. I just needed—
Killian Hart
You jumped off the third floor,
Killian Hart
You’re not leaving. Not yet.
Serena Vale
Why did you help me?
Killian’s gaze locked onto hers.
Killian Hart
Because I was there.
Serena Vale
That’s not an answer.
Killian Hart
It’s the only one I have for now.
Silence fell again. Serena looked down at her hands.
Serena Vale
They’ll come looking for me.
Killian Hart
They won’t find you.
Serena Vale
You don’t know them.
Killian Hart
I know power,
Killian Hart
And I know how to make things disappear.
There was something terrifying about how calmly he said that. But something safe, too.
After a pause, Killian walked over and set a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. Serena blinked at it.
Serena Vale
Do you always rescue strange women and make them coffee?
His lips twitched—almost a smile.
Killian Hart
Only the ones who fall out of the sky.
Serena gave a short laugh, then quickly looked away.
Serena Vale
You don’t even know my name.
Killian Hart
I don’t need to.
Killian Hart
But I’ll take it anyway.
His eyes flickered with something—recognition?
He repeated, like he was tasting the sound of it.
Killian Hart
You’ll stay here. Until you’re ready.
Serena Vale
Ready to what?
Killian Hart
To stop running.
Her chest ached at that. She looked at him—not just a billionaire with sharp eyes and a cold presence. There was something beneath it. Controlled fury. Buried pain. And for some reason… he’d offered her a lifeline.
Maybe it was foolish to trust a man like him.
But Serena had nothing left to lose.
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