Marco's and Sofia's POV
The park was quiet, the early evening sky painted in soft hues of pink and orange. Marco and I walked side by side along the winding path, the faint sound of rustling leaves and distant chatter the only noise filling the air. He had insisted on taking a walk, and I was too emotionally drained to argue. The weight of everything was starting to sink in, and I just needed a moment to breathe.
We sat on a bench beneath a tree, and I couldn't help but feel the distance between us. Not physical, but something more... personal. There were so many things left unsaid, and yet, all I could think about was how much I didn't understand.
I turned to Marco, who was watching me with those calculating eyes of his, but today, there was something softer behind them. It was almost as if he was waiting for me to speak, to voice whatever was swirling inside my head.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice shaky as I tried to hold it together. "I don't get it. You're doing all of this... for me? For my family? You don't even know us."
Marco shifted closer, his arm brushing against mine as he leaned back against the bench, his gaze never leaving mine. His eyes softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something human, something real, behind that cold exterior.
"You think I'm doing this because I have nothing better to do?" His voice was low, almost thoughtful. "You think this is all just some game to me?"
I blinked, swallowing the lump in my throat. "You make it seem like I'm just... a project. You don't even see me, Marco. You just see someone you can control."
He stiffened, his jaw tightening slightly. "I don't want to control you, Sofia."
But I couldn't stop myself. The frustration, the hurt, it all came rushing out before I could hold it in any longer. "You just see me as a toy," I blurted, voice breaking. "That's all I am to you. A little distraction. Nothing more."
Marco's expression hardened for a split second, but then something shifted in his eyes. He reached for me before I could react, pulling me gently towards him. His hand cupped my chin, and before I knew it, his lips crashed against mine.
It was unexpected, raw, and intense. His lips moved against mine with a sense of urgency, his hand gently cupping the back of my neck as if to anchor me. For a moment, all the noise in my head stopped. There was nothing but him—his warmth, his presence, the way he kissed me like he needed me just as much as I needed him.
When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "A toy?" he whispered softly, his eyes never leaving mine. "You think I got exiled from my family, broke up with my fiancée, helped your family, risking everything, for a toy?"
I was speechless. The weight of his words hit me like a wave. I opened my mouth to say something, but I was at a loss. His fingers gently brushed against my cheek, and I felt the heat of his gaze on me, like he was looking straight through me.
I blinked, trying to make sense of it all. "But you said it's all part of the deal," I replied, my voice trembling slightly, still unsure where I stood in all of this.
Marco chuckled softly, a mischievous look flashing in his eyes. He leaned in just a little closer, his lips brushing against my ear as he spoke. "Yeah, but you didn't ask how long the deal is for."
I pulled back slightly, my heart racing. "How long is the deal for?" I asked, genuinely curious, even though I didn't expect an answer that would make sense to me.
Marco's lips curled into a smirk, and there was a glint of something almost playful in his eyes. "For a thousand years," he said, his voice low but filled with certainty. "I want you to be mine for a thousand years."
I blinked, not sure if I'd heard him correctly. "A thousand years?" I repeated, half-laughing, half-in disbelief.
He nodded, his face still serious, but his eyes were warm. "A thousand years. You, me, together. You can't back out now, Sofia. Not after all of this."
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I looked at him, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a little less lost. Maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to make this work.
"Well then," I said, my voice light but full of a new resolve. "That's a deal I can work with."
Marco's smile softened, and there was something almost tender in his expression as he looked at me. "Good," he said, his voice smooth. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
---
We both stood up from the bench, and the air between us felt a little less tense. The city around us was quiet, the park slowly emptying out as the evening grew darker. Marco reached for my hand, and I didn't hesitate to take it. His grip was firm, like he was holding on to something that mattered. Maybe he was. Maybe I was.
We walked back to the car in silence, but this time, it wasn't uncomfortable. It wasn't filled with questions or uncertainty. There was a strange calm between us, as if something had shifted. The world still felt heavy, but somehow, it felt like I had more control over it than before.
As we reached the car, Marco opened the door for me, a rare act of chivalry that made my chest tighten. I slid into the seat, and he followed, getting in beside me. He started the engine, and we drove back to my apartment, the city lights passing by in a blur.
I leaned back against the seat, my thoughts still swirling, but I didn't feel as lost as I did before. Marco had made me an offer I couldn't quite turn down. And now, we were heading back to where it all began—back to my family, back to the reality I couldn't escape. But maybe... just maybe... this deal wasn't the end of my story.
It was only the beginning.