In The Name Of Marriage

Liana stood under the rain as it poured down heavily, not caring if she was already shivering as she stared down at the letter in her hand. Her name was written on it with cold, bold letters “Liana Brook- Department of Literature” but it wasn’t the name that made her freeze but the content of the letter “ scholarship withdrawal notice” Her hand shook as she read it for the fifth time hoping and praying that the words would magically rearrange themselves into something else but the letter remained the same “ Due to a revaluation of department funding, your scholarship has been terminated effective immediately. You’re required to settle your tuition fee within the next fourteen days or risk expulsion.” She held back her tears. Liana Brook can’t be seen crying in public, that’s one rule she set for herself while growing up, life might knock you down, but don’t ever let anyone see you crying. She folded the letter back and put it in her bag with her mother’s voice echoing in her head “ Don’t worry about me, my baby. Just focus on graduating with good grades.” How the hell was she supposed to do that now with her admission hanging on a thin thread? The rain had completely drained her by the time she got to her apartment, the one-room bedroom she shared with her best friend, Selena. “You look like you fell into a pool,” Selena joked as she opened the door. But her smile quickly faded as she saw Liana’s expression “What happened?” Liana dropped her bag on the floor without saying her word “Lia?” She sank onto their tiny couch as she handed Selena the letter Selena read it, eyes narrowing. “No. No. They can’t do that, they can’t just terminate. What about financial aid?” “I already checked. There’s nothing left for me. I’ve exhausted all my options.” Her voice was too calm. “So what are you going to do?” Liana stared blankly into the ceiling, with her jaw clenched. I don’t know honestly.” Selena sat beside her, hugging her. “You’ve come too far to just give up now.” “I’m not giving up,” Liana said, her voice low but fierce. “But I don’t have any idea what to do.” Across town, in a penthouse overlooking the city skyline, Dr. Adrian Bennet was reading a different letter. He stood at the window, A glass of scotch untouched in one hand and a thick envelope in the other. The letter was typed, blunt, and signature stamped by his father’s assistant. “If you’re not legally married in the next two months, your claim to the Bennet estate Trust will be voided.” He laughed bitterly The wasn’t the first time his father had threatened of over his inheritance. Fred Bennet has spent his life treating his son as a business venture, an asset to control. Ever since Adrian’s mother died, everything has been about public performance. Image. Control. Now he wants a “responsible” heir to carry on the Bennet name. A family man. A man with a perfect wife and a carefully staged life or no inheritance. Adrian tossed the letter aside and drained the scotch in one gulp. The lecture hall was unusually quiet as Adrain walked in. He was everything the rumors described Tall, lean, dressed in a gray suit that looked like it had been custom-made for him only. His presence silenced the hall. Not just because of his looks but the way he carried himself, like he had no time for foolishness or flaws. Liana was sitting in the second row as usual, still shaken from the scholarship news but trying her best to focus as this was her favorite course, Contemporary Literature Theory. And he was the only professor who actually challenged her intellect. But today she couldn’t focus, not with her world falling apart. Adrian’s eyes swept through the hall, pausing for a second when they met hers. Something flickered. Recognition? Curiosity? She didn’t know. He spoke with boldness and authority, never looking down at his notes, his tone was rich with precision. He was brilliant but cold. So cold. After the class, Liana stayed behind. Waiting until the last student left before walking up to him. “Dr. Bennet?” He turned, surprised that she had stayed behind. “Yes?” She took a deep breath. “You used to work in publishing before you started teaching, right?” “Yes”. He tilted his head. “Why?” “Is there any part-time work available? Internships? Anything I can do?” Her voice cracked. She hated it. He studied her. “You’re a scholarship student”. “Was”. The silence that followed was loud. Something shifted in his expression. He saw the desperation, masked behind pride. He saw a puzzle forming and his mind was already putting it together. “Are you in some kind of trouble?” Liana straightened. “Just… looking for options.” Adrian’s mouth curled into something unreadable. “Sometimes the solution you need isn’t the one you expect.” Her brows pulled together. “What does that mean?” But he was already walking away. “Meet me at the Haven cafe tonight, I think I might have an offer for you.” That night, Liana sat at a quiet corner table in Haven Café, her fingers wrapped around a cup of coffee she hadn’t touched. Rain tapped steadily against the glass windows. She glanced at her phone for the fourth time. He was late. Or maybe this was a mistake. What kind of professor invites a student to a café at 9:00 p.m. She hadn’t been able to think straight since he mentioned he might have an offer for her. When the bell above the café door jingled, she looked up and there he was. Dr. Adrian Bennett. Dressed in a charcoal black suit, his hair wet from the rain, eyes sharp and unreadable. He walked toward her table like he owned the air around him, and without asking, took the seat across from her. "You came," she said. He gave a single nod. “I don’t waste time, Miss Brooks. And neither should you.” She blinked. “You asked me here to discuss... a solution?” “Yes. A very specific one.” He leaned forward, folding his hands over the table like he was negotiating a business merger, not proposing something utterly insane. “I need a wife,” he said, calmly. “You need money.” Liana stared at him. “That’s not funny.” “It’s not a joke.” Her breath caught. “You’re talking about marriage.” “A two-year contract,” he said, like it was the most logical thing in the world. “Strictly professional. We’ll establish public appearances, play the part, then part ways no feelings, no strings, no expectations.” Liana narrowed her eyes. “Why me?” “Because you’re smart, discreet, and desperate enough to consider it.” The bluntness hit her like a slap. “And the payment?” she asked calmly, not sure she wanted to know. He slid a sleek, black envelope across the table. “₦200 million. Half upon signing. The remaining half when the marriage is dissolved.” Liana’s heart stopped. She opened the envelope slowly and saw it, a signed bank draft and a copy of the proposed contract. “You’re serious.” “Deadly.” She gripped the paper with trembling fingers. It felt unreal. Too surreal. “Why are you doing this?” she whispered. Adrian’s gaze darkened. “Because my father gave me a deadline, “get married or get disowned”. I don’t plan on losing my legacy because of his obsession with appearances.” She looked at him, really looked at him. This cold, stunning man who spoke of marriage like a merger. And her life? Her dream of finishing school, supporting her mother, staying afloat? Two years. No love. No strings. Just survival. Adrian reached into his blazer pocket and pulled out a business card. He placed it gently on the table beside her untouched coffee. “If you decide to accept,” he said, standing, “call me. Or text. Either way, the offer expires in 48 hours.” And then—he turned and walked out, the door chiming quietly behind. Liana sat there long after he’d gone. Her mind was a storm. ₦200 million. Her entire life had never been worth that much, not to anyone. And now a man she barely knew was offering it for her name on a piece of paper. She stared at the business card. The sharp edges. Adrian Bennett. Private Line. What kind of man planned a marriage like a corporate merger? And why was she even considering it? By the time she walked into the apartment, Selena was already in bed, scrolling on her phone. “Where were you?” she asked, sitting up. “You look like you just walked out of a funeral or into one.” Liana dropped her bag on the floor and collapsed on the bed beside her. She stared at the ceiling for a while, then whispered, “He offered me ₦200 million.” Selena blinked. “Who?” “Dr. Bennett.” Selena sat up. “For what?” Liana exhaled slowly. “To marry him. For two years. A contract marriage.” There was a beat of silence. “You’re joking.” “I wish I were.” “Wait, are you actually considering it?” Liana turned her head to her best friend, her eyes teary. “If I say yes… I can pay tuition. Pay rent. Help Mom. I can finally breathe.” Selena stared at her, completely speechless. And for the first time in weeks, Liana felt something close to control. Later that night, as the rain still poured down softly outside the window, she picked up her phone and opened a new message. She hesitated for only a moment before typing: “I accept your offer. What are the terms.” She stared at the message for 10 long seconds. Then she hit Send.