The Devil Who Claimed Me

By the time Mila returned home, darkness had settled outside.

As she stepped into the hall, she saw Max sitting on the sofa. She paused, surprise flashing across her face.

It was the first time he had returned home so early.

"You are back already?" she asked, placing the shopping bags on the sofa.

"Why?" Max asked coldly. "You don’t want me home early?"

Mila blinked. There was a sharp edge in his voice that immediately put her on guard.

"I didn’t mean that."

"Then what did you mean, Mila?" he snapped, catching her off guard. "I know our marriage isn’t built on love, but I still expect loyalty from my wife."

A frown creased her forehead. "When have I ever been disloyal?"

Max’s jaw tightened. "Still pretending you don’t know?"

He picked up his phone and thrust it toward her.

Mila looked down.

It was a photograph of her and Remy sitting together at the café.

"Explain this," Max demanded. "Who is he? What were you doing with him?"

For a moment, Mila simply stared at him. The jealousy in his eyes was unmistakable.

But why?

Their marriage was only a contract. There was no love, no intimacy, no promises beyond what was written on paper. In three years, they would part ways.

Then why was he looking at her as if she had betrayed him?

"He is Remy," she answered calmly. "A doctor and a friend. Meeting him today was a pure coincidence. We talked for a while. Am I not allowed to meet my friends?"

Max’s expression stiffened.

A small part of him knew he had jumped to conclusions and assumed she had cheated on him. But pride refused to let him admit his mistakes.

"Just a friend?" he scoffed. "The way he held your hand while crossing the road didn’t look very friendly to me."

Mila’s patience finally snapped. "If you don’t trust me, no explanation will satisfy you."

She met his gaze directly. "And I don’t owe you one."

Her chin lifted proudly. "The contract clearly states that you have no right to question where I go, who I meet, or what I do. You agreed to those terms."

The moment the contract was mentioned, something flickered across Max’s face. He suddenly realized how fragile everything between them truly was.

He knew Mila didn’t love him. But he had always believed that one day she would forget her past and choose him.

Now that hope seemed painfully uncertain.

What if she never did? What if, when the contract ended, she simply walked away?

The thought twisted something inside him.

He loved her. And he wasn’t ready to lose her.

Closing the distance between them, he grabbed her arms. "I am your husband, Mila," he growled. "Of course, I care when you are with another man."

His voice lowered. "I love you. And I can’t share you with anyone else."

The words struck Mila like a thunderbolt. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

"I don’t want to lose you," Max continued, his eyes filled with desperation. "Give me a chance. Let me fill the emptiness in your heart. I promise I won’t disappoint you."

Mila immediately stepped back.

But Max followed. He gently cupped her face. "Please, Mila..."

"Max..." Panic rose in her chest.

"It’s been six months." His gaze darkened. "This distance is killing me. Every time I see you, I want to erase the distance between us. I want you."

Mila shook her head. "You promised you’d never force me."

"I don’t want to stay away from you anymore," he said hoarsely. "I want a real marriage. I want you as my wife."

Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips against hers.

Fear surged through Mila. She pushed against his chest.

"Max..."

But he refused to let go.

Her struggle became more frantic until she finally managed to shove him away.

"What are you doing?" she shouted, breathing heavily.

"I kissed my wife," he shot back. "And yes—I want you. Is that so wrong?"

Mila stared at him in disbelief.

They had agreed from the beginning that physical intimacy would never be part of this arrangement.

"According to the contract—"

"I don’t care about the contract anymore," he roared, interrupting her.

His eyes burned with frustration. "I’ve had enough of pretending. I won’t let a piece of paper decide our marriage. You are my wife, Mila."

He stepped toward her again. That was the final straw.

Mila raised her hand and slapped him.

Max froze. Shock flashed across his face.

Mila glared at him, trembling with anger.

"Remember what I told you," she said through clenched teeth. "The moment you force me, this marriage ends."

"Ends?" Max laughed bitterly. "You want a divorce?"

His expression hardened. "Mila, I thought you were kind. I thought you were reasonable."

His voice rose. "But you are just using me."

Mila’s eyes widened.

"You used me as a shield for yourself and that bastard."

He pointed at her stomach.

"He is not a bastard."

Her hand struck him again.

The second slap snapped his head to the side.

Mila’s entire body shook with fury.

Max stood motionless. His face burned. His pride screamed at him to retaliate. But despite the rage boiling inside him, he couldn’t bring himself to raise a hand against her.

He shot her one last furious look before storming out of the house.

The front door slammed shut.

Silence followed.

Mila staggered backward. Her legs gave way, and she sank heavily onto the sofa.

Tears slowly filled her eyes. Her thoughts drifted to Dominic.

’Where are you? How much longer are you going to stay away from me?’

She buried her face in her hands and cried silently.

Max drove aimlessly before eventually stopping at a bar. He sat alone at the counter and downed one shot after another.

"Drinking alone?" A woman’s voice drifted beside him.

Max glanced sideways.

She wore heavy makeup and a revealing dress that left little to the imagination. A seductive smile curved her lips.

"Bad day?" she asked.

Max looked away and reached for another drink.

The woman moved closer. Her fingers slid lightly along his arm.

The woman smirked. "Girlfriend or wife?" she asked knowingly.

His eyes narrowed. "What?"

"You fought with your woman." The woman leaned closer. "Am I wrong?"

Max’s grip tightened around the glass.

"I know you are upset because of your woman. But don’t worry," she purred. "You don’t have to be alone tonight."

Max immediately pulled away. "I don’t need company."

His mind replayed Mila’s tears, her rejection, her threats of divorce, and the way she still seemed unable to let go of Dominic.

Bitterness flooded his chest. Finally, he emptied the remaining drink in one gulp.

"Forget about her tonight," she whispered. "Come with me. I’ll make sure you don’t think about anything else."

He thought for a while. ’If she doesn’t care about me, I don’t care about her either.’

He looked back at the woman. He found her alluring. Spending one night with her wouldn’t be a bad idea.

"Fine."

A triumphant smile appeared on the woman’s lips. She slipped her hand into his.

Together, they walked out of the bar.

The next morning...

Mila woke up earlier than usual.

The excitement of finally meeting Valentina had kept her awake for most of the night. Even now, her heart was racing.

After getting ready, she left for the hospital.

The nurse looked surprised when she saw her. "Dr. Vega, you are here."

Mila nodded as she walked into her office. "An old friend contacted me. She is coming for a checkup today. I couldn’t stay away."

The nurse smiled knowingly. "I understand. I’ll send her in as soon as she arrives."

"Thank you."

The nurse left.

Mila sat behind her desk and immediately glanced at her phone.

Nothing.

She checked the time. Only ten minutes had passed since she arrived. But she was already impatient.

Her finger hovered over Valentina’s number.

’Should I call her?’ She hesitated. ’No. Valentina is probably on her way. There is no point rushing her.’

Mila forced herself to wait.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then thirty.

Every few moments, she would glance at her phone, hoping to see a message. But there was nothing.

Her patience almost snapped. Just as she was considering calling again, a knock sounded on the door.

The nurse stepped inside.

"Dr. Vega, there is an elderly woman outside. She is insisting on seeing you."

Mila frowned. She had only come to the hospital because of Valentina.

"I don’t have appointments today. Tell her I’m unavailable."

The nurse looked conflicted. "She said she has been waiting a long time to meet you. Maybe you could spare a few minutes? Your friend still hasn’t arrived."

Mila glanced at her phone once more.

Still nothing. Perhaps Valentina had been delayed.

With a small sigh, she nodded. "Fine. Send her in."

"Right away."

The nurse left.

A few moments later, the office door opened. An elderly woman slowly entered, leaning heavily on a walking stick. Her back was hunched. Deep wrinkles lined her face. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

A pair of gray eyes settled on Mila.

For some reason, Mila felt a strange sense of familiarity.

"Have we met before?" she asked curiously.

The old woman smiled. Then, before Mila could make sense of it, the woman straightened.

The hunch in her back vanished as if it were never there.

Mila froze.

The woman casually tossed the walking stick aside.

"What..." Confusion flashed across Mila’s eyes.

Then the woman lifted her hands to her face. Slowly and deliberately, she peeled away the wrinkled mask covering her skin.

Mila’s breath caught in her throat.

The fake gray hair came off next, then the glasses.

Piece by piece, the elderly woman disappeared, and another face emerged.

Her chair scraped against the floor as Mila shot to her feet. Tears instantly welled in her eyes.

"You..."

The woman smiled warmly. "Mila."

Mila’s entire body shook. "It’s you..."