Chapter3
1541 Words
Rita lay awake long after the lights had gone out, her eyes fixed on the cracked ceiling above her. The silence inside their tiny apartment was only broken by the occasional hum of the old fan struggling to rotate overhead.
She slowly turned her head.
On the small, worn-out bed beside hers, her mother and Daniel slept peacefully. Since being discharged from the hospital earlier that afternoon, her mother still looked weak, though the color had gradually returned to her face. Daniel had insisted on sleeping beside their mother, his hand wrapped around hers as though afraid she would disappear again.
A faint smile appeared on Rita's lips. At least... They were finally home.
But the smile faded just as quickly.
Home. If this tiny apartment could even be called that.
The peeling walls, leaking ceiling, and old furniture were constant reminders of the life they had been trapped in for years. Every month was another battle to survive. Every paycheck disappeared before she could even think about saving.
Then there was her father. The mere thought of him tightened her chest.
Even after abandoning the family emotionally, he never stopped demanding money from her. Whether he needed it for drinking, gambling, or paying debts she knew nothing about, he always found his way back to extort whatever little she had earned.
She was exhausted.
She was tired of running.
Tired of worrying whether there would be enough money for medicine or food.
Her gaze slowly shifted toward the document lying on the table beside her bed.
The contract. She had already read every page over ten times. Every sentence was engraved into her mind.
Donald Hart would provide financial security throughout the duration of their marriage. Her mother's future medical expenses and medication would be covered. Daniel's education and treatment would no longer depend on whether she managed to work overtime. They would live comfortably without constantly fearing the next bill.
When the contract ended, she would also receive generous compensation. The conditions sounded almost too good to be true.
The only thing he wanted in return was for her to become his wife.
Temporarily... No romance, no interference in each other's private lives, no unreasonable demands. Just a marriage on paper.
Rita closed the document and let out a long breath. If accepting this contract meant giving her family a chance to live without fear... Wasn't it worth sacrificing a part of herself?
She looked once more at her sleeping mother. At Daniel's peaceful face. Slowly, determination replaced hesitation.
She picked up the pen; her hand trembled slightly before she finally signed her name at the bottom of the agreement.
Rita Williams.
As the ink dried, she felt as though the course of her life had changed forever.
Without giving herself another chance to reconsider, she picked up her phone and sent a simple message.
I've signed the contract.
---
At the same moment, inside the Hart family's luxurious mansion, silence blanketed the second floor.
Donald sat alone in his private study. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a table lamp beside him. His study door remained half open.
On the corner shelf rested a silver picture frame. Inside it was a smiling young woman whose features resembled his almost perfectly.
His twin sister.
Donald slowly swirled the amber liquor inside his glass before taking another sip.
His eyes never left the photograph. "You always hated seeing me sad," he murmured bitterly.
A hollow smile appeared. "But it won't matter much longer." His fingers gently brushed against the edge of the frame. "I will join you soon."
A soft knock interrupted the heavy silence.
"Young Master..." A maid cautiously pushed the door open. "I brought your evening..."
"Who allowed you in?" Donald's icy voice cut through the room.
The young maid froze instantly. "I... I only wanted..."
"Get out." His piercing glare alone was enough to make her legs shake.
"Madam Hart said..." She tried to pursue further.
His voice rose sharply. "GET OUT!"
The terrified maid flinched before hurriedly running out of the room. By the time she reached the hallway, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
She had become the seventh maid to leave his room in tears.
A few minutes later, another gentle knock sounded.
Without waiting for permission, an elegant middle-aged woman stepped inside carrying a tray.
Unlike everyone else, she showed no fear.
"Enough scaring my employees." Betty Hart placed a plate of Donald's favorite dessert on the table.
"I had the chef make this specially for you."
Donald sighed. "Mom..."
She ignored his cold expression and calmly sat across from him. "Honestly, Donald, must you frighten every maid that walks into this room?"
"They should learn to knock properly."
"They did."
He remained silent.
Betty pushed the dessert closer. "Eat."
"I'm not hungry." He said, giving a dismissive look.
"You always say that." She picked up a spoon herself and held it toward him.
Donald stared at her for several seconds before reluctantly taking the plate.
Seeing him finally eat, Betty smiled with satisfaction. "That's much better."
She reached over and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead, just like she used to when he was younger. "You have become too thin."
Donald quietly continued eating.
After a moment, Betty cleared her throat. "I've been thinking..."
Donald already knew that tone.
"...there's a daughter from the Lawson family I would like you to meet."
"No."
"You haven't even heard me out."
"I don't need to."
"It's only a blind date."
Just as Donald was about to refuse again, his phone vibrated on the desk.
He glanced at the screen.
I've signed the contract.
For the first time in days...
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Betty blinked in surprise.
"What happened?"
Donald locked his phone and calmly scooped another spoonful of dessert into his mouth.
"You don't have to arrange any blind dates."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"I will bring my wife home soon."
Betty laughed.
"Oh? Since when did you become a comedian?"
Donald merely continued eating.
"I'm serious."
She looked at him suspiciously before chuckling again.
"Oh, hear, you can't tell me that lie. I know how you Gen-Z run your stuff these days. " She folded her hands beneath her chest, "I will believe it when I see it."
Donald did not explain.
Instead, he silently finished his dessert.
Watching her son eat so obediently made Betty's heart unexpectedly warm. She smiled softly as she gently stroked his hair once again.
No matter how old he became...
He was still her little boy.
****
The following morning... A sleek black luxury car waited outside a coffee cafe. Donald asked her to wait there; she took one last glance at the contract file before climbing inside the car.
Donald was already seated in the back seat, and Michael occupied the front passenger seat. No one spoke during the drive.
Rita nervously folded her hands together; everything still felt unreal.
Within an hour, the car pulled up in front of the Civil Service Center.
The entire process happened faster than Rita had imagined. From Signatures, Photographs, fingerprints, and a few official stamps.
Clearly, her contract husband is no ordinary person. Everyone seemed to respect and fear him as well.
Finally, they got their marriage certificate.
She stared at the document in disbelief. She was officially Mrs. Hart. As they stepped outside, another young woman approached with a warm smile.
She bowed politely.
"Good morning, Mrs. Hart."
Rita instinctively turned around, assuming someone else stood behind her. "Are you referring to me?"
"There isn't anyone else," the woman said with a smile.
"I'm Emma." She extended her hand. "From today onward, I will be serving as your personal assistant."
Rita blinked. "My... assistant?"
Emma nodded respectfully. "Young Master Donald has instructed me to assist you with everything."
Donald adjusted his suit before speaking. "Emma."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Prepare suitable outfits for her."
His gaze shifted toward Rita. "You will be meeting my family today. I don't want you looking like a lost cat"
Rita's heartbeat skipped. " Your family?"
"I don't like repeating myself. He moved a bit closer to her ears. "You better adjust to the agreement and stop acting off at every single work. One mistake from you and you pay the penalty"
Just like a lot of benefits associated with their contract, Donald added a huge penalty of one million dollars. With the current financial stability of Rita, that will cost a lifetime to pay.
"I will leave the preparations to Emma." He turned toward Michael. "Let's go."
Without another word, the two men entered another waiting vehicle and drove away.
A second luxury car pulled up in front of Rita.
Emma stepped forward and respectfully opened the rear door. "This way, Mrs. Hart."
Rita remained frozen for several seconds. Donald's words set in, and the new identity. Mrs. Hart.
The title sounded foreign. Yet everyone around her continued addressing her with that name as though she had belonged to the Hart family all along.
Taking a slow breath, Rita finally stepped into the waiting car, wondering if she had just made the biggest mistake or the greatest decision of her life.
- Writer
