Marriage Contract

/Third Person POV\  

**Vero Family Main Estate**

The enormous estate stood fortified, guards patrolling the perimeter with vigilance. Some wore the emblem of the Sparrow family, but most bore the Vero family crest, a reminder of the power within these walls. Inside, the number of guards diminished, though their imposing auras made it clear they weren't to be underestimated. 

At the heart of the estate, in a large meeting room, four individuals sat around a long table. At its center was a stack of thick papers, a contract that carried weight far beyond its ordinary appearance.

On one side sat Noah Vero, a middle-aged man with short black hair and a beard, his posture confident, strength radiating from him. Beside him was his son, Daniel, a younger version of his father with the same dark hair but no beard. He slouched in his chair, his eyes fixed intently on the young woman seated across from him.

The woman in question sat with her arms crossed, her long purple hair flowing down her back. Her eyes remained closed, though her growing annoyance was evident.

"Alexia! Show Mr. Vero your respect!" shouted the man sitting beside her. His brown hair hung just above his shoulders.

Alexia cracked her eyes open, glancing at her father with barely concealed disdain.

"It's fine, Zavier. Please, call me Noah. We're here to discuss the harmony between our families." Noah said smoothly, his words placating Zavier's irritation.

"As I was saying, Daniel is eager for this marriage to happen quickly. We've decided the fourteenth of next month would be ideal for the ceremony." Noah's tone was casual, but each word stoked Alexia's anger further.

She stared daggers at the people around her, barely managing to maintain her composure.

"Father-in-law, is there any issue with this?" Daniel chimed in, a sickeningly sweet smile on his face as he turned to Zavier. He was thrilled, so close to getting everything he wanted.

"None at all!" Zavier said with a hearty laugh, patting his leg. "Alexia might be stubborn, but don't worry. She'll come around, haha!" His eyes gleamed with greed, already imagining the rise in his status.

"I feel the same. My daughter's been distant, rebelling again. But no matter, she'll fall in line soon enough." Noah said coldly, thinking about his own estranged child.

The two men stood, preparing to seal the deal with a handshake, when—

*THUD*

*BOOM*

The door to the room burst open, and one of the Vero guards came flying through, crashing into the table with a loud thud. His body lay motionless, unconscious.

Through the cloud of dust, two figures emerged, striding confidently into the room.

"Who dares?!" Noah's aura flared, and Daniel shrank behind him. Zavier stood, his own aura rising, though it paled in comparison to Noah's.

Alexia glanced at the intruders, her curiosity piqued as she felt a familiar presence in one of them.

"I dare! Your guards tried to stop me from entering *my* own home!" The dust cleared, revealing an elderly man with long white hair, his body frail but his gaze sharp. Walking beside him was a young woman with black hair tied in a neat bun. She bore a striking resemblance to Noah and Daniel.

"F-f-father! Y-you shouldn't be out of bed! And Sierra, why would you bring him here?" Noah stammered, his heart dropping as he recognized the old man—his father, Lord Vero. His anger immediately shifted to his daughter, Sierra.

Sierra merely laughed, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Alexia. A flash of jealousy crossed her face, though she quickly masked it. 

Alexia noticed the brief expression and smiled to herself. Things were becoming far more interesting.

"Lord Vero! It's... a pleasure to see you in good health," Zavier said, bewildered. He had been told that Lord Vero was near death, so why was he here now, looking stronger than ever?

Lord Vero's gaze swept the room in disgust. He was disappointed in his son and grandson, seeing the corruption that had taken root since he'd stepped down. Next, his eyes lingered on Zavier, the man so willing to sell off his own daughter for a scrap of power. Finally, his gaze landed on Alexia. Unlike the others, she didn't shrink or avert her eyes. She looked back at him with curiosity, not fear.

Satisfied, Lord Vero moved to the head of the table and sat, Sierra supporting him even though he didn't truly need it.

"Please, sit. I have much to discuss." he said, gesturing for everyone to return to their seats. They did so, though tension filled the air.

"Not long ago, I was bedridden, close to death. Then my granddaughter brought a most... interesting young man to see me." Lord Vero began.

Everyone listened intently, their focus solely on the old man.

"He healed me. A young man with a rare healing physique came to see me and performed a miracle. In return, all he asked was—"

"Father, this is absurd! Why would someone with such a rare ability help you for nothing? He clearly has some ulterior motive!" Noah cut in, his voice dripping with disbelief and panic.

Lord Vero sighed. "As I expected. But no, all he asked was for me to do one thing."

With a snap of his fingers, the contract on the table tore apart, ripped to shreds by the sheer force of his aura.

Everyone except Sierra gasped in shock.

While it wasn't the only copy, the symbolism was clear. The marriage contract was null and void.

Noah's anger flared, he didn't care much about the actual marriage, he just wanted to spoil his son and maybe absorb the Sparrow family. But he couldn't stand the blow to his pride.

Daniel on the other hand was confused and upset. Who would want the contract destroyed, why couldn't he get his way? Questions kept going through his mind.

Alexia was also surprised. Her mind was spinning as she was thinking about everything. 

When the old man first entered the room she faintly felt the presence of someone she knew attached to him, though it was fading.

It was Akashic, she was sure of it. And now that more has been explained she figured that after Akashic had healed the old man, it left a bit of a mark. 

She didn't know how she sensed him or when he even awakened but everything that was happening raised her hopes about the future and her own special physique.

She couldn't wait until this was over so she could speak to him.

Meanwhile, Zavier felt his world crumbling around him. His plans, his ambitions—everything was falling apart.

"This marriage is no longer happening. I apologize for the pressure my family has placed on you, Ms. Sparrow." Lord Vero said.

"Thank you, Lord Vero. And, Alexia is fine." She didn't like to be connected to the Sparrow name.

"Please, accompany my granddaughter for a while. I need to have a private conversation with my son." Silas gestured for everyone to leave, and they did.

"Take him with you." Daniel nodded and dragged the unconscious guard out by his collar.

Once the door closed, Silas turned to Noah, his anger barely contained.

~

In another room, Sierra and Alexia sat in silence. The atmosphere between them was calm, though Sierra's mind raced with questions. She broke the silence first.

"How do you know Akashic? How long have you known each other? What's he like?"

Sierra's questions came one after another, focused entirely on Akashic. She didn't even realize the nature of the questions or why she was asking them.

Alexia answered as best she could, her thoughts elsewhere, wondering about the man who had somehow influenced all of this.

Something they didn't know was that there was someone outside the door, listening in, growing angrier and angrier the longer the topic remained on Akashic.

It was Daniel, clenching his fist and gritting his teeth at the situation.

In just a few minutes he lost a perfect woman and was embarrassed, now his sister and his fiancée are in the room going on and on about one of the men he hates most.

'That piece of shit, I knew he'd become a problem eventually!" Daniel didn't know if he had anything to do with the marriage contract being destroyed, he was just looking for someone to blame and take his anger out on.

Why not the person he despises most? 

Even if he didn't kill him, he could threaten his life to make Alexia fall in line. 

'Deep breaths, Daniel. Just be a little more patient. Once father gets the situation with grandfather settled, I'll have power back. And once Sierra marries that Sky family brat I'll be unstoppable! What Alexia? What Akashic? They'll be nothing to me then.' Daniel calmed himself down, choosing to wait instead of act rashly.

'I'll ask mother, she can look into this Akashic kid for me! I want to know everything about him before I try to kill him.' Daniel moved away from the door, thinking about the day he kills Akashic and finally beds Alexia, a large smile on his face as he walked outside, going to find his friends.