"…Both parties agree to support each other in times of need, even if it includes disposing of a body…"
"…Engage in public displays of affection and interaction that are consistent with a committed couple…"
"…If Ariana decides to terminate the contract without mutual agreement, she will pay Shane $7 billion as stipulated in this agreement…"
"This is insane," I muttered under my breath. I didn't even know what was worse—the absurd terms in this so-called 'agreement' or the fact that I was considering signing it.
I went to college for this? Spent hours dissecting the art of storytelling and character development for… this. A legally binding contract that turned me into someone's wife for a few billion dollars?
This isn't how I imagined my life would go. I should be writing novels, not signing contracts with some guy who thought he could buy my life.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" My dad asked, standing beside me as we gazed at the contract on James' tablet.
James had stepped out to retrieve a hard copy, while Shane made a call just outside my father's office. Stephanie and Milly had joined, their eyes fixed on me with different expressions. Milly's face etched with sympathy, while Stephanie's gleamed with impatience.
She couldn't wait for me to sign that contract, no doubt eager to get her designer bags back.
"You're speaking as if she has a choice, Andrew," Stephanie sneered, folding her arms and darting a stern glance at me. "Don't get any ideas, you're signing that contract."
I rolled my eyes at her words. She was always antagonistic, and I doubted she'd ever change. Sometimes I tried to understand her, thinking maybe her tough past in the Philippines had made her this way. But no matter what, I couldn't imagine being as toxic as she was. She was mean to her core.
One day, I'd reach my breaking point, pull out her blonde locks, leaving her and my dad with matching bald heads. But I knew I'd never actually do it. If I did, my dad would finally find a way to disown me.
It was a painful realization I'd come to when I was younger. He didn't love me and would do anything to get rid of me without feeling an ounce of guilt.
I'd exhausted myself trying to win his approval, to make him love me as much as he loved Emily, his biological daughter. But no matter how hard I tried, he made it clear he didn't want me around. It seemed he'd only taken me in to lessen his guilt, and to appear like a decent person.
Christ, now I sounded ungrateful.
He had done a lot for me and I should be grateful instead of complaining. I shouldn't shake off the memories of all the things he'd done for me. When my mom abandoned me, he was still there for me, providing for my basic needs, even if emotional support was scarce.
My fingers circled the pendant in my neck as I thought of my mother but I pushed the thought away.
Maybe he didn't shower me with love like he did with Milly, but at least I had food on the table and an education. Isn't that what parents were supposed to do?
This was my chance to repay him, no matter how bitter the pill tasted.
Signing this contract was my way of repaying him, of releasing myself from the guilt of being a constant reminder of his first love's betrayal. I was living proof that she had cheated and abandoned her child, a child who didn't even share his blood.
This contract wouldn't be so bad, right?
"Dad, are you sure this is a good idea?" Milly asked, her voice laced with concern, from the corner of the room. This situation was unsettling for her as well. She should have been in school.
She was a key reason I was tolerating this situation. She'd been my sole source of comfort during my isolating years of homeschooling, which my dad had insisted on to keep me hidden from the world. He'd only relented when I went to college, still eager to distance himself from me. The thought of her life being turned upside-down or her future marred by our father's wrongdoings was unbearable.
Everything had happened so quickly. I was still reeling from the shock. I'd gone out for a jog then I returned home to our house being raided. The absurdity of it all was still sinking in.
I gazed around my dad's office, where movers were scattered, busily packing up his things.
The large, wooden desk where my dad had spent countless hours working, was now bare and empty, its drawers pulled out and contents boxed up. The leather chair was wrapped in plastic, awaiting its fate. The built-in bookcase, once filled with books was now nearly empty.
The warm glow of the table lamp was gone, replaced by the harsh light of the movers' equipment.
Shane hadn't even instructed them to pause; he said he'd tell them to stop only when I signed the contract.
"It's not like we have a choice," My dad replied to Milly, who let out a disheartened sigh.
I couldn't help but mutter under my breath, "Maybe you shouldn't have gambled away all his money."
Stephanie's eyes flashed with anger as she snapped at me, "Maybe you should watch your mouth and remember why you're here today is because of him."
She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder, her bang rollers teetering on her forehead. I shot her a venomous glare before reining in my anger and focusing on the tablet again.
"Dad, I'm scared," I whispered. My anger slowly gave way to hurt, and my chest ached with unshed tears.
Shane was a stranger, and the thought of signing a MARRIAGE contract with him was daunting.
My dad sat beside me, taking my hand in his.
"Listen to me, Aria, he has been my business partner for a few years now and he's a very dangerous man," he warned, looking serious.
I felt a lump form in my throat before I swallowed it and asked, "Why would you borrow such a huge amount of money?"
"I needed the money, and I made an investment that turned out to be a fraud. It got complicated, and I didn't know what to do." He explained
I felt a surge of resentment toward him. Because of his mistakes, I was now being forced into a situation I didn't want.
"What do I do?" I tried to act tough but my voice betrayed me
His voice was laced with something like concern. "Just do whatever he says, don't protest, and you'll be fine"
I opened my mouth to retort, but my words trailed off as James walked in with Shane. The documents were clutched in James' hand, and my heart sank. Shane's gaze settled on me immediately, his eyes seeming to bore into my soul. I shifted uncomfortably, not liking the feeling one bit.
The air in the room grew thick with tension as Shane's presence commanded attention. He had this controlling aura, that made everyone else want to shrink in his presence.
My dad placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder as he walked towards us, his eyes never leaving mine, and took a seat opposite me. He intertwined his fingers, placing them on the table, his gaze piercing and unwavering like he was daring me to look away.
James slid the contract across the table and suddenly, all my doubts and fears came flooding back, and I couldn't help but think of how I didn't want to do it.
He handed me a pen, and I reached out to take it, only to realize my hands were shaking. Shane's eyes darted to my trembling fingers and I felt a surge of embarrassment slam into me.
The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioner. I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on me, waiting for me to make my move. I fidgeted with the pen, my agitation growing as I bit my lip, stalling for a moment before making the unavoidable decision.
Stephanie shifted impatiently behind me, her eyes fixed on the contract. "Sign it already," she whispered urgently.
I felt vexed. She seemed to have forgotten that I was the one sacrificing my future to ensure our family's well-being.
"Mom," Milly intervened, casting a disapproving glare at her mother.
My gaze drifted to James, who stood confidently in front of the table. He looked like a masterpiece as if the angels had taken their time crafting him. With his glasses and pointed nose, he was like the perfect blend of nerdy charm and introverted intelligence, with a hidden freak.
Jesus, what was I thinking about?
He met my eyes, his expression gentle and encouraging as if urging me to sign the contract. While Shane's bad-boy charm was inviting, I preferred James's sweet and endearing aura. He seemed genuinely nice, and for a fleeting moment, I wished I could enter into a contract marriage with him instead of Shane opposite me.
I took a deep breath, steadying my trembling hands as I guided the pen to the contract, The tip hovering over the signature line.
Shane's voice cut through the silence,"You're wasting my time."
I eyed him with growing annoyance. He looked like he was just a little older than me, yet he was strutting around in an over-the-top suit, giving orders like he owned the place. His attitude was provoking.
I began to scribble my signature on the contract. The pen moved slowly as if weighted down by the gravity of my decision.
When I finished signing, a sense of finality washed over me. It was done. I had just signed a contract marriage with a stranger – my father's business partner.
"I'm looking forward to working with you, Ariana," he said with a devilish smile, his side dimple appearing.
I'm screwed
"How do I know you're not going to harm her?" My dad hissed, his tone defensive as if he hadn't just stood by and watched me become a stranger's contract wife.
Shane stood up, his movements confident, and slipped his hands into his pockets. "You have my word, she'll be fine," His expression remained unreadable as he added, "As long as you pay me back." The unspoken threat hung in the air.
"James, tell the movers to stop and go home," he ordered. "I'm sure the Quinns can arrange their things back."
I could hear Stephanie's muffled curses in anger behind me.
He turned to leave, James following closely behind. But then, he suddenly turned back, his glare making me feel like I might disappear into thin air.
"What are you doing?" he stared blankly at me "We're leaving. Now."
What??