"What... Where did you get this?
-From you.
-No. I never signed this.
-Isn't this your signature?
-I mean... It is but... How?"
Payne quickly put the papers away. I perfectly remembered the first time he showed me these papers. It was literally days before the attack. I had just gotten into a huge fight with Rubia when Payne and his entire family showed up. I thought that they would take Rubia's side as usual but for some reason the knights went towards her and not me. I didn't know who was more surprised: Rubia or me? She just stared at the knights, bewildered:
"What is going on? Payne...
-Don't call me that."
Seeing Rubia so surprised, I couldn't help but laugh. I laughed so hard that I almost choked on my own saliva. I didn't even notice Payne walking up to me and he suddenly lifted me in his arms. That finally woke me up and I hit his shoulder:
"What the hell are you doing? Let me down!"
Payne completely ignored me and turned to the knights:
"Take her away."
Rubia struggled with all her might:
"Payne? What are you doing? You can't treat me this way... I am the future Duchess of Grimsbane."
Payne immediately cut her off:
"You will be judged tomorrow for putting in danger Demien and Quistis Grimsbane, for lying to the Grimsbane family and most importantly for disrespecting the future Duke of Grimsbane."
Rubia froze:
"What does that mean?"
Payne looked down at me and I froze in turn:
"It means what it means.
-Wait what?"
Payne tilted his head while looking at me:
"Why are you so surprised? You are my fiancé in the first place."
I started struggling and continued hitting Payne with all my might but seeing how hurt Rubia looked, I couldn't help smiling. I surrounded Payne's neck of my arms and snuggled against his neck, not looking away from Rubia for a second:
"You are right my dear fiancé. We should punish her."
Seeing Rubia blow up was the best feeling ever but having Payne holding me destroyed my mood. He didn't let me down for a second and I even had to confront his family in that position. I was already ashamed to have them hear my altercation with Rubia. I didn't need Payne adding into it. It seemed they had realized what had really happened and they were trying to apologize but it was too late. Hearing them feel bad just made me angry and I didn't stop acting like the villain.
Even after I screamed at Payne's family he didn't let me down and just carried me to his study without a word:
"Let me go! Let me down!"
He completely ignored all my cries and only let me down once inside his study. I couldn't help insulting him. Payne sat down cold as ever, staring at me with empty eyes:
"What?"
He didn't say anything and just took a paper out before handing it to me:
"Sign it."
I read what it was and snarled:
"Oh so now you want to marry me suddenly?
-I always wanted to marry you."
I laughed:
"Yeah sure. You were just dying to have the Church give their approval as soon as possible weren't you? You looked so sad when they said that they needed more time."
Payne ignored my mocking and pointed to the papers again:
"Sign it."
I shook my head:
"No way in hell. I am not signing that. It's way too late now."
Payne took it back:
"Is there something you don't like about it?
-Of course! You! There is no way in hell that I would marry you. I don't even care if the Church orders it.
-No way?"
I didn't like the way he was smiling. Did he take it as a challenge?
"Everyone has a price.
-Well I don't.
-I could give you everything."
I rolled my eyes:
"The only way I would marry you is if you gave me the entirety of your fortune."
I knew that he would never agree to such terms but I still went on wanting to piss him off. I was playing the role of a villain blinded by money back then:
"I want the title of Duke and I want to have the final say in everything concerning the Dukedom. Apart from your money I want all your properties. I want everything."
Seeing Payne write made me hesitate but I was convinced that he couldn't accept such conditions. Who would? However, when he handed me back the documents, I noticed that he had added exactly what I had asked for:
"What the hell is wrong with you? That's crazy even for you.
-You said that you would sign under those conditions."
I felt like he was making fun of me at that point and I couldn't take it:
"You think I won't? I will!"
Payne smiled:
"Great. Then we agreed. Once you sign, everything I own will be yours. All you'll have to do is to stay stuck to me forever.
-Forever?"
I looked back at the contract.
"What do you mean forever?
-I thought you didn't care and would sign."
I couldn't take his almighty smile:
"Oh trust me, I will!"
I thought that he was just pushing me because he knew I wouldn't do it. And nothing was making me want to do it more than that. I was sure that no one was stupid enough to sign such a contract and thought that he would rip it in pieces. Who would agree to give someone everything they owned? Their enemy moreover! But as soon as I signed, Payne grabbed the pen.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing him sign made me freeze:
"What..."
Payne put the pen down and looked at the contract with a smile:
"It's official. We are really getting married.
-You!"
I jumped up trying to snatch the contract away:
"What the hell is wrong with you? I was just joking!"
I didn't have time to grab the contract tha Payne immediately pulled it away from me. I couldn't have him keep that contract. I knew that I only had a few days left before I could finally leave but I still couldn't take the idea of him having his way. I needed to rip it apart as soon as possible. I jumped on the desk and slid to Payne's side, reaching for the contract. Payne was unfortunately quicker. He stood up and raised the contract high in the air. I could only think about getting the contract and I rushed forward, raising my hand in the air. Payne didn't step aside. On the contrary. He stepped forward and surrounded my waist with one arm. Being way taller than me, he could keep the contract away even while embracing me and I could feel his hold getting stronger and stronger. At some point it started hurting and I had a hard time breathing. I lowered my hand and tried pushing Payne away:
"Let go! Let... Go..."
Payne didn't say anything, looking at me as he was holding me closer and closer. I started panting and my vision got blurry. The last thing I saw was Payne as he kissed my forehead:
"It's okay. You are just going to sleep for a bit. Don't be scared."
The next second I was gone and when I woke up next, I was in bed. Payne was still there with me but the contract was gone. It was gone and I had no idea where he had hidden it.