A slow smile spread across his face.
"Then maybe this will help you understand," he said calmly.
He reached into the folder he was holding and pulled out a document, unfolding it with deliberate ease before holding it out in front of her.
Anamarija didn't take it immediately.
But then her eyes dropped to the page.
And froze.
Her expression shifted—just slightly.
But enough.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice lower now.
Phalin's brother tilted his head.
"A contract," he replied. "It clearly states that once Phalin marries Chak… you automatically become mine."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Anamarija's fingers tightened as she took the document, her eyes scanning the lines quickly.
Then—
She looked up.
First at Vikran.
Then back at him.
"Who exactly allowed this?" she asked, her voice cold now. Controlled.
He didn't hesitate.
"This was an agreement between my parents, Phalin… and me."
A beat.
Anamarija let out a quiet breath.
Then handed the document back without a hint of hesitation.
"I don't care what that paper says," she said flatly. "I will not be your girlfriend. And I will never be your fiancée."
For a split second—
Something dark flickered in his eyes.
"Wait until Chak hears about this," she replied, his tone dropping slightly.
And then—
The office door opened.
The sound cut through the tension instantly.
Everyone turned.
Chak.
He stepped out slowly, his gaze immediately locking onto Anamarija… and then shifting to Phalin's brother.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"What is going on here?" he asked.
Phalin stepped forward before anyone else could speak.
"It's nothing complicated," she said smoothly. "Just a family agreement."
Her tone was light.
Too light.
Chak didn't respond.
He simply held out his hand.
"Give it to me."
Phalin's brother hesitated for a second—
Then handed over the file.
Chak opened it.
Silence fell over the entire office as his eyes moved across the document.
Line by line.
Word by word.
And slowly—
His expression changed.
The warmth disappeared completely.
His jaw tightened.
His eyes hardened.
By the time he finished reading—
His face was ice.
He lifted his gaze.
Straight to Anamarija.
"Don't worry," he said, his voice low but firm. "I'll take care of it."
Phalin let out a quiet, almost amused breath.
"You can't do anything," she said. "This contract can't be broken."
Chak turned his head slightly toward her.
"There is always a solution, Phalin," he replied.
His voice—
Ice cold.
Final.
Then he looked back at the document in his hands.
"They're not interested in you," he said after a moment.
A pause.
"They want your shares. Nothing else."
Anamarija frowned slightly.
"My shares?" she repeated.
Chak's gaze returned to her.
"You own twenty percent of this company."
Silence.
Shock flickered across a few faces in the room.
Anamarija's brows pulled together.
"But I don't have any shares—"
"You do," Chak cut in calmly. "Whether you knew it or not."
He closed the file slowly.
"There's no clear clause here about how to terminate this contract," he added, his tone sharp with restrained anger.
Then—
His eyes softened, just slightly, when they met hers again.
"But trust me," he said quietly, "I'll do everything to keep you safe."
The silence that followed his words felt heavier than anything before.
Like the entire room was holding its breath.
Anamarija didn't look away from him.
"Safe?" she repeated quietly.
There was something in her tone now.
Not fear.
Not doubt.
Something sharper.
"I don't need protection," she added, her chin lifting slightly. "I just need this to end."
Chak's gaze didn't waver.
"And it will," he said.
Simple.
Certain.
Phalin let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.
"You're still not understanding the situation," she said, stepping closer. "This isn't something you can just 'fix' with your authority."
Chak's eyes moved to her slowly.
Cold.
Measured.
"Then maybe you're underestimating me," he replied.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.
Phalin's brother scoffed lightly.
"You can try," he said. "But everything here is legal. Signed. Approved."
Chak didn't even look at him this time.
Instead, he turned slightly—
"Kit."
The name alone shifted something.
From the back of the office, Kit straightened immediately.
"Yes?"
"I want every detail about this contract," Chak said. "Who drafted it. Who approved it. And when."
A pause.
"And I want it now."
Kit nodded without hesitation.
"Understood."
Phalin crossed her arms, watching the exchange with narrowed eyes.
"You really think digging into it will change anything?"
Chak finally looked back at her.
"No," he said calmly.
Then—
"It will show me exactly how to break it."
That made her expression falter.
Just for a second.
But it was there.
Anamarija noticed it.
So did I.
Phalin's brother, however, stepped forward again, his patience clearly thinning.
"You're wasting your time," he said. "Whether you like it or not, she's already tied to me."
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Chak closed the folder.
Hard.
Slowly, he turned his head.
This time—
His full attention landed on him.
"And who exactly do you think you are," Chak said quietly, "to decide that for her?"
There was no raised voice.
No visible anger.
But somehow—
That made it worse.
The man held his ground, though his jaw tightened slightly.
"It's already decided."
"No," Chak replied.
One step forward.
"That's where you're wrong."
Another step.
Closer now.
"Nothing is decided," he continued, his voice dropping even lower, "until I say it is."
"She's my sister. She will be the one to decide who her boyfriend is. Not some contract."
The room went completely still.
Even the air felt tense.
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then—
Anamarija stepped forward.
"Enough."
Her voice cut clean through the tension.
Both men stilled.
She moved between them, her posture straight, her expression calm—but firm.
"This isn't something you fight over like I'm not even here," she said.
Her gaze shifted to Phalin's brother.
"I already told you my answer."
Cold.
Clear.
"I'm not yours."
Then to Chak.
"We find resolution together."
A beat.
Her voice softened just slightly.
Something in Chak's expression shifted again.
Not anger this time.
Something quieter.
Respect.
Understanding.
Phalin clicked her tongue softly, clearly annoyed.
"This is getting nowhere," she said. "Believe whatever you want."
She turned toward her brother.
"Let's go."
He didn't move at first.
His eyes lingered on Anamarija for a second longer.
The silence hadn't fully settled yet.
People were still whispering.
Still watching.
Still trying to process what had just happened—
When suddenly—
A sharp sound cut through the room.
Paper.
Tearing.
Everyone froze.
All eyes turned at once.
Anamarija.
She was standing in the middle of the office, the contract still in her hands—
Or what was left of it.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
Without hesitation, she tore the document straight down the middle.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
The sound echoed in the silence, each rip louder than the last.
Phalin's brother stopped in his tracks near the door.
Slowly—
He turned around.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice tightening.
Anamarija didn't answer immediately.
She just looked at the torn pieces in her hands for a brief second—
Then stepped forward.
One step.
Two.
Until she stood right in front of him.
Her gaze lifted.
Cold.
Unshaken.
"This," she said quietly.
And then—
She let the pieces fall.
Right against his chest.
Some slid down to the floor.
Some stayed, crumpled against his shirt.
Her eyes never left his.
"I told you," she continued, her voice steady, unwavering, "I don't care what that contract says."
A beat.
"I'm not yours."
The room went completely silent.
No one dared to move.
Phalin's brother stared at her, something dark flashing across his face—
Anger.
Humiliation.
Disbelief.
"You think tearing a paper changes anything?" he said, his voice low now, dangerous.
Anamarija didn't even blink.
"No," she replied.
Then leaned in just slightly.
"But it makes one thing clear."
A pause.
"I'm not playing your game."
That—
Hit.
Hard.
For a second, it looked like he might actually lose control.
His hand twitched at his side.
But before he could take a step—
"Enough."
Chak's voice.
Sharp.
Final.
He moved forward instantly, placing himself just slightly in front of Anamarija.
Not blocking her.
But close enough.
A warning.
Phalin's brother let out a short, humorless laugh.
"You think this protects her?" he asked.
Chak didn't respond right away.
His eyes dropped briefly to the torn pieces on the floor.
Then back up.
Cold.
"You just made a mistake," Chak said quietly.
A beat.
"Because now," he continued, his voice dropping even lower, "I don't have to play nice anymore."
That changed something.
Even Phalin, who had been silent until now, narrowed her eyes.
"Chak," she said sharply, "don't overstep."
He didn't even look at her.
Instead—
"Kit."
"Yes."
"Get legal on this. Now."
"Already on it."
Phalin's brother exhaled slowly, trying to regain control.
But the damage was done.
Everyone in the room had seen it.
He had been challenged.
And not just by Chak.
By her.
His gaze returned to Anamarija one last time.
This time—
Colder.
"You'll regret that," he said quietly.
Anamarija tilted her head slightly.
Unafraid.
"No," she replied.
"You will."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
Then—
He turned and walked out.
Phalin followed, her expression darker than before.
The door closed behind them.
And just like that—
The tension snapped.
But something lingered.
Something stronger than before.
Chak didn't move for a moment.
Then slowly—
He turned his head.
Looking at Anamarija.
Really looking at her.
And this time—
There was something new in his eyes.
Not just concern.
Not just responsibility.
Respect.