Contract Marriage with Mr Billionaire

What’s going on?

“Help! Somebody help!” Maliya shouted, waving her hands frantically towards the security guards and two nurses rushed out.

The two emergency nurses came out and they moved quickly, placing Nikolai on a stretcher and wheeling him inside.

Maliya followed close behind, her hands still trembling from gripping the wheel so tightly earlier.

“What happened?” one of the nurses asked as they rushed him down the hallway.

“I don’t know,” Maliya replied with a shaky voice. “He just started coughing badly, then he couldn’t breathe properly. He told me to bring him here.”

The nurse nodded and they disappeared through a set of doors marked “V private ward.” Maliya was left standing in the quiet waiting area with her arms wrapped around herself.

The adrenaline that had kept her going suddenly drained away, leaving her dizzy and weak.

She sank into one of the leather chairs, staring at the expensive artwork on the walls. I don’t understand what’s going on.

One minute Nikolai was threatening her life, the next minute his body collapsed like he was shutting down. Was this some kind of game or was something seriously wrong?

After what felt like hours, a kind nurse brought her water and a blanket but Maliya barely touched them. She kept replaying everything in her head until she fell asleep.

“Ma’am?” a doctor in a crisp white coat tapped her awake.

Maliya stood up quickly. “Yes doctor. Is he okay?”

“He’s stable for now, he asked to see you.”

She followed the doctor into the luxurious private ward that looked more like a five star hotel suite than a hospital room. Nikolai was propped up in the large bed, monitors beeping softly beside him. His face was still pale but his eyes were sharp and stormy as ever.

Maliya approached the bed slowly. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Nikolai’s lips curved into a weak smirk.

“Worried about your new husband already? How touching.”

“Don’t even start,” she shot back, subtle relief passing through her. “Now tell me what’s going on with you or I’ll cancel our contract.”

“Canceling isn’t even an option, Mrs Volkov. I don’t think you’re financially capable of paying the contract breaking fine.” Nikolai said with an evil smile on his face.

“Whatever. Now tell me what’s wrong with you?”

Maliya wanted to know, she had to know.

Before Nikolai could answer, the door opened again and Dr Park walked in, carrying a tablet.

“Mr Volkov,” the doctor said with a professional calmness. “Due to the last episode you had, you have to be placed on a monthly maintenance. We’ve adjusted the dosage on the neuroprotective cocktail and added a new respiratory support to help with the shortage of breath.”

Maliya felt her head spunning with all the medical grammar the doctor was speaking.

“This should buy you another four to six weeks of stability before your body declines again. I’ll monitor your vitals closely, the tumor is progressively growing faster than expected but we’re doing everything possible to slow it down.” Dr Park continued.

Maliya’s blood ran cold and she couldn’t control her expression. “Wait…what?”

Dr Park glanced at her, then at Nikolai. “I assume you have not told her yet.”

“Yes.” Nikolai weakly replied.

The doctor nodded politely and excused himself. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”

The door clicked shut.

Maliya stared at Nikolai, her mind trying to process what the doctor said. “Four to six weeks? Neuroprotective cocktail? Nikolai…how long do you actually have?”

Nikolai met her eyes with the usual arrogance he always had. “Eighteven months at most, probably less now. The disease is aggressive.

It has no cure…just maintenance until it isn’t enough anymore.”

Maliya felt like crying but no tears came out. She stepped back and said with a shaky voice “You married me today and didn’t think to mention that you’re dying? I thought you were just some controlling asshole with anger issues but this… you’re actually dying?”

Nikolai’s expression hardened, but something vulnerable flashed behind his eyes.

“Would it have changed your answer? You needed the money and I needed an heir. The details don’t matter.”

“They matter to me!” Maliya rose her voice. “I just drove through the rain like a madwoman thinking you were having a heart attack and now I find out you have months left? What kind of person does that?”

Maliya knew deep down she was not over reacting. Would she become a mother and a widow at the same time?

No, no this was not how she planned her life. If this man truly had a few months left to live, she would become a widowed woman and have to deal with having a dysfunctional family.

She stared at Nikolai, searching his face for any sign that this could be a joke but it was not.

“Why didn’t you inform me before I signed? Isn’t that illegal?” She asked.

Nikolai leaned back against the pillows, looking like a very unbreakable billionaire even in a hospital bed. “Because it wasn’t part of the deal. You signed for money and security, not my life story.”

“That’s bullshit!” Maliya snapped, stepping closer to the bed. “You dragged me into this knowing you might not even be here to see your own child grow up. Did you even think about what that would do to me or to the baby?”

“Technically, there’s no baby yet. And besides I can control it, I’ve always controlled everything.” Nikolai responded.

“News flash, you can’t control death, Nikolai.”

The room turned silent except for the sound of the monitors beeping.

Nikolai finally spoke in a low voice. “Then maybe you should leave. Tear up the contract. I allow you to walk away now before it gets harder for you.”

Maliya laughed bitterly but there was no humor in it. “And let my family drown in debt? I’m not doing that.”

She turned away, running a hand through her hair, trying to hold herself together. Everything felt heavy and fast. She married this morning, might become a mother in a few months and possibly widow by next year.

When she turned back around, Nikolai was watching her with a strong gaze that made her stomach flip.

“Come here.” he said quietly.

Against her judgment, she moved closer. He reached out and caught her hand, his grip still strong.

“I’m not a good man, Maliya. But I keep my promises, I’ll take care of you and the child, whether I’m here or not. That’s our deal.”

Maliya looked down at their joined hands. His skin was warm but his fingertips were cold. For the first time, the arrogant billionaire didn’t look invincible, in fact she felt pity for him.

She pulled her hand away gently. “I need air.”

She walked out of the room before he could stop her and rested her body against the wall to catch her emotions.

Some footsteps around the corner made her raise her head and her eyes met with an older man in an expensive tailored suit. He had an intimidating and sharp eyes. Four bodyguards stood behind him, making the corridor even smaller.

The man studied her carefully, as if measuring her worth.

“Are you my grandson’s wife?” He asked in a low commanding tone.

Maliya: “??”