Chapter 2: ”TheContract“
622 Words
The Black Rolls-Royce disappeared into the night.
Ariana remained rooted to the sidewalk, her heart pounding so hard it hurt.
“I already know what happened five years ago.”
Those words echoed in her mind.
How could he know?
No one knew.
No one except…
She shook the thought away.
“No,” she whispered. “That’s impossible.”
Her phone rang.
Mom….
With trembling fingers, she answered.
“Ariana…”
Her mother’s voice was breaking.
“The bank is here.”
Ariana’s stomach dropped.
“What?”
“They’re taking everything.”
“Our house… they said they’re repossessing it.”
⸻
Twenty minutes later.
Ariana rushed through the front door.
Men in suits were carrying furniture outside.
A framed family photograph slipped from a worker’s hands and shattered on the ground.
Her mother knelt beside it, crying as she tried to gather the broken glass.
“Please…” Victoria begged.
“Give us a few more days.”
One of the bank officials sighed.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Brooks. We’ve already extended the deadline twice.”
Ariana clenched her fists.
“There has to be something we can do.”
“There is.”
A familiar voice answered.
Everyone turned.
A black luxury car rolled slowly into the driveway.
Damien Moretti stepped out.
His tailored coat moved gently in the breeze as he walked toward them.
The bank officials immediately straightened.
“Mr. Moretti.”
They sounded… nervous.
Almost respectful.
Damien glanced at the paperwork.
“How much?”
The manager hesitated.
“$18.4 million.”
Without another question, Damien handed his assistant a single black card.
“Clear it.”
Silence.
Ariana blinked.
“You can’t just—”
“It’s done.”
The assistant returned less than a minute later.
“The transfer is complete.”
The manager checked his phone.
His eyes widened.
“The payment has been received.”
Every debt.
Gone.
Just like that.
⸻
The movers quietly began carrying everything back into the house.
Victoria stared at Damien with tears in her eyes.
“You saved us…”
Damien gave a polite nod but never looked away from Ariana.
“I told you I could solve your problems.”
Ariana swallowed hard.
“I didn’t agree.”
“You don’t have to.”
He reached into his coat and removed a thick folder.
He placed it gently into her hands.
“The contract.”
She stared at it.
The first page read:
MARRIAGE AGREEMENT
Duration: One Year.
Her pulse quickened.
“I haven’t signed anything.”
“No.”
“But you will.”
His confidence irritated her.
“What makes you so sure?”
Instead of answering, Damien stepped closer.
Just close enough for only her to hear.
“Because tomorrow morning…”
“…your father is going to receive news that could kill him.”
Ariana’s face paled.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll understand soon.”
He turned to leave.
“Wait!”
He stopped.
She hated herself for asking.
“What happens if I refuse?”
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then, without looking back, he answered quietly,
“I’ll still protect your family.”
“But you’ll never learn who ruined your life.”
He got into the car.
The engine started.
The Rolls-Royc
Ariana looked down at the contract in her hands.
A cold breeze lifted the first page.
Tucked inside was a single photograph.
Her breath caught.
It showed a rain-soaked warehouse.
A frightened young woman running toward the exit.
And in the corner…
A man lying on the floor.
Bleeding.
The woman in the photo was unmistakably…
Ariana.
She whispered, barely able to breathe,
“…Who took this picture?”
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