THE CONTRACT BETWEEN US

chapter 3: The decision.

Chapter 3: The Decision

Amelia’s POV

I didn't sleep that night.

The contract sat on my kitchen table, exactly where Alexander had left it.

I had read it so many times that I could almost remember every word.

Three years.

A marriage to Alexander Sterling.

In exchange, my father's company would be saved.

It sounded simple when I put it that way.

But it wasn't.

I picked up my father's old photograph from the shelf and stared at it.

He was smiling in the picture.

He had always smiled like that whenever he wanted me to believe everything was going to be fine.

I touched the edge of the frame.

"Dad," I whispered, "what am I supposed to do?"

The room remained silent.

I gave a small laugh.

"That's stupid. You can't answer me."

I put the photograph down and leaned back in my chair.

My father's company was all I had left of him.

If I lost it, it would feel like losing him all over again.

Ding..Ding...

My phone suddenly rang.

I looked at the screen.

Clara.

I answered.

"Hello?"

"Tell me you haven't agreed to marry that man."

I closed my eyes.

"How did you know?"

"Because everyone knows, Amelia."

I sighed.

"I haven't agreed yet."

"Good."

"Clara..."

"No. Listen to me first. You cannot marry a man you barely know just because he has money."

"He can save the company."

There was silence on the other end.

Then her voice became softer.

"Amelia, don't marry someone because you're scared."

"I'm not scared."

"You're terrified."

I didn't answer.

She knew me too well.

I looked at the contract again.

"I don't have another option."

"You always have another option."

"Not when my father's company is about to disappear."

Clara sighed.

"I just don't want you to wake up one day and realize you gave up your entire life for a company."

"I know."

"Then promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise."

We ended the call a few minutes later.

I stayed at the table for a long time.

Maybe Clara was right.

Maybe I was making the biggest mistake of my life.

But every time I imagined selling the company, I saw my father's face.

I couldn't do it.

I wanted to keep his company.

I wanted to prove that I could protect what he had built.

And if marrying Alexander Sterling for three years was the price...

Maybe I could survive it.

I picked up my phone.

His number was already saved.

I stared at it before finally pressing call.

He answered almost immediately.

"Have you decided?"

Straight to the point.

"Yes."

Silence.

"And?"

I swallowed.

"I'll do it."

Another pause.

"Are you sure?"

His question surprised me.

"Yes."

"Good."

I frowned.

"That's all you have to say?"

"What would you like me to say?"

I almost laughed.

"Nothing."

"Then we'll meet tomorrow."

"Alexander."

"Yes?"

"There's something I want added to the contract."

"What?"

"I keep control of my personal life."

"Agreed."

"No public humiliation."

"Agreed."

"And if either of us wants to end the marriage early?"

His voice became quieter.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"The circumstances."

I frowned.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I can give you."

Something about his voice made me uneasy.

"Fine."

He was silent again.

Then he said, "Get some sleep, Amelia."

My eyebrows rose.

"Excuse me?"

"You sound exhausted."

Before I could respond, the call ended.

I stared at my phone.

For some reason, those four words bothered me more than his entire proposal.

Get some sleep.

It sounded almost... caring.

No.

I shook my head.

I was imagining things.

This was business.

Nothing more.

The next morning, I signed the contract.

My hand trembled slightly as I wrote my name.

Amelia Carter.

Alexander signed immediately afterward.

He looked at the document.

Then at me.

"It's done."

I nodded.

My life had just changed.

But I didn't know how much.

That evening, I returned home to find a black car waiting outside.

Alexander stood beside it.

I stopped.

"What are you doing here?"

"We're married now."

I stared at him.

"We haven't had the wedding."

"Legally, the paperwork was completed this afternoon."

My mouth fell open.

"You already arranged that?"

"Yes."

He opened the car door.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Home."

I looked at the car, then back at him.

"Your home?"

His expression remained calm.

"Our home."

The words felt strange.

Our home.

I slowly got inside.

Alexander entered after me, and the car pulled away.

I watched my neighborhood disappear through the window.

For the first time, I wondered if I had just traded one problem for another.

And somehow, I knew the real trouble hadn't even started.