The Billionaire Contract Bride

Ending things

"What? You want me to get married to a total stranger?" I screamed at my parents in annoyance, pacing round the room in frustration, expecting an explanation from them.

"You have to, it's for our sake," my mum said.

"What sake? Did you inform me? All you did was to sign papers on my behalf and, boom, I'm married, really? Mum ,dad?"

"My dear, you know things aren't the way they used to be , the company is at stake and that was the only option to save it" Mum explained, lowering her gaze to avoid eye contact with me.

"So I'm a superhero now ? Why can't you guys be selfless for once ? Did you even think about me being okay with it? Did you think about telling me? Did you consider your daughter's feelings at all?" I spoke with tears dropping from my eyes.

'We are sorry, "

"Sorry mum? Dad is not saying anything.I have a boyfriend, remember?"

"We are aware," Mum replied.

"So?" Dad finally said something. He had been quiet since the beginning of our conversation.

"You end things with him. Ryan is a nice man, but he isn't what we want, we want someone powerful and wealthy." He concluded.

"I love Ryan! And I'm not breaking up with him to marry a stranger,"I cleaned my tears with my hand.

"That's enough!" Dad said, slamming his hand on the small stool in the sitting room.

"Dad?" I called out with sadness writing all over my face.

"We already signed the papers, you are marrying Jude and that's final!'' He firmly said , stood up and left in annoyance.

Mum stood and hugged me. "It's okay dear, this is the best decision to secure your future. At least your children's future will be secured."

I disengaged myself from the hug, feeling disappointed at her for not convincing dad to change his mind. Why will they sign the marriage contract without hearing my opinion? What will I tell Ryan? How will I explain to him that I'm marrying someone else?

Feeling confused, I ran out of the house to my safe place; Ryan's house.

" Liya, wait, where are you going?"I heard mum calling after me, but I ignored her.

I took a cab to Ryan's house. In the cab, I dialed his number, but he wasn't picking up.

"Come on pick up, please" I muttered under my breath.

My chest tightened to breathe, making it difficult for me to breathe. It's a panic attack.I do have this whenever I'm confused, frustrated or overstressed.

"It's here again, It's coming" I shivered, hitting my chest with my hand.I felt suffocated, trying to breathe.

"Are you okay miss?" The driver asked, worried.

Quickly, I took out my medication from my purse, swallowing it immediately.

Slowly, my chest relaxed, the grip was gone, and I breathed a sign of relief.

"I'm fine "I replied to the taxi driver.

"We are here" he said, stopping at Ryan's house.

"Oh, thank you"I got down and pay.

"Keep the change" I said, hurrying into Ryan's house.

"Ryan"I knocked at the door. Ryan opened the door and was surprised to see me in tears.

"Baby what's wrong?" He asked, worried.

I opened my mouth to tell him what happened, but the words couldn't come out. I couldn't imagine the pain he would feel.

Anyway, I have to do this. If Ryan was about it ,it should be from me. It's going to hurt, but I need to take the big step.

"Liya, Come in, don't just stand here crying". He ushered me in, but I shifted away from him.

"I don't want to come in."

"Really?,Why?"

"Ryan, I need a break."

"A break? What break? Are you alright? You haven't told me what brought you to my house in tears"

I took a deep breath, this isn't going to be easy.

"I'm breaking up with you"I dropped the bombshell, looking deep into his eyes expecting his sad reaction, but Ryan burst out in laughter.

"What's funny"I asked him.

"What are you saying babe, I don't understand, you are breaking up with me?"

I moved closer to him. "Yes, I'm tired of this relationship, I'm so done" I blurted out.

"Liya, we have been together for the past three years, we promised to get married next year, remember?" He asked with a frown.

"SO?" I crossed my hands.

"So? Listen, if this is a joke, stop. This is not becoming fun," he warned.

"Do I look like a clown to you? Ryan, I'm sorry, but I'm getting married to someone else". I lowered my gaze, avoiding contact with him.

"You say what?, look at me and say that again" Ryan held my shoulder and lifted my face to him.

"I…" I tried talking, but the words wouldn't come out.

Not knowing what to say, I ran, leaving him confused.

I heard him calling after me, boarded a taxi, entered it and allowed the tears to flow freely.

It was midnight, and I couldn't put myself to sleep.

I watched TV for a while, but I ended up crying as the movie was emotional.

I finally turned off the TV and played music, which helped lift my mood.

My room was a mess; the bed was unarranged, snack wrappers were everywhere, food crumbled on the floor, tissue papers were on the floor, and there was a smell of fish in the room.

Listening to Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Arianna Grande, tears flowed freely as the lyrics hit straight to my heart. I suddenly heard noises, and someone was tapping her window.

I paused the music.

Someone is trying to break into my room.

"Am I dreaming? Or am I seeing things?" I wondered if what I was seeing was real.

The person's shadow blocked the moonlight, trying to break in through my window.

"Am I being kidn*pped?" I ran to her wardrobe and got a hanger, which Ryan gifted me on my birthday.

"Hello? Who are you?" I said to the intruder.

The intruder tapped on the window, saying something, but I couldn't figure it out because my window was closed.

Ryan's call came in immediately, and I picked it up.

"Baby, I think someone is trying to break into my room." I said, frightened.

"Hey, listen, open your window, no one is trying to break in; I'm the one."

"You? But... What are you doing here?" I looked at the figure; it belonged to Ryan.

I slid open her window. "Ryan? "

"Hi, baby," Ryan said, kissing me.

"It's midnight; why are you here? And why are you climbing my window? You should have come in a normal way.

"What way?"

"Through the door!" I said, pointing to the door.

"You expect me to knock at your house at 2 a.m.? With your parents and neighbors asleep, that's disrespectful, "Ryan stated.

I sighed"fine,"

"Besides, your dad warned me against coming here."

"My dad? Why? " I was shocked to hear that.

"He said I'm brainwashing you to be disobedient towards him, he also said you are another man's property, and me coming here will be trespassing."

"I can't believe this. I'm sorry my dad said that to you."

"You should, because I was hurt."

"Now to business, baby. I will be asking you a few questions, which I want you to answer sincerely."

"What questions?" I asked him, hesitating.I already knew what he wanted to talk about.

"Are we truly breaking up?"

"Yes"I said, barely audible, then I shifted away from him.

"Why? Liya, I love you so much, why will you break up with me?" He moved closer to me.

"Nothing, I just feel…feel like it"I stammered.

"Quit lying"Ryan yelled.

"You can't say that we loved each other. Why will you just decide to end things?"

"It's my parents, they signed me off to someone else."

"Do you want to get married against your will?" He looked deep into my eyes.

"no"

"Babe, let's run away."

I can't leave my family or my home."

"Not for us?" Ryan asked, unhappy.

"Baby, I..." I wanted to explain, but Ryan interrupted her.

"Never mind; I thought you changed your mind. I'm sorry for bothering you."

"Ryan". I hugged him from behind.

"Bye, I wish you a happy married life in advance," he said, walking towards the window.

Unexpectedly, he turned back, walked to me, and kissed me deeply. We kissed passionately.

Ryan took me to bed, and he took his lips to my neckline, kissing and giving me soft bites.

I let out a soft moan as he did that. Ryan wanted to take off his clothes, but I stopped him.

"Let's not do this," I whispered to his ears.

Ryan adjusted, "Mm, I'm sorry."

"I wanted to have a taste of you for the last time."

"I understand," I said, standing up to kiss his forehead. "Take care of yourself."

Ryan left unhappy.

Author P.O.V

He was a tall man with a muscular build, always dressed in expensive designer suits and wearing a Rolex watch. He walked with a swagger in his step, exuding confidence and power. His well-groomed hair is always styled perfectly, and his facial features are chiseled and angular. He speaks with a deep, assertive voice that commands attention, often interrupting others mid-sentence.

He has a haughty gaze that makes people feel inferior in his presence.

He is used to getting what he wants, and his sense of entitlement is greatly expressed in his demeanor.

His arrogance can be seen in the way he talks, in his gestures, and in the way he treats others. He doesn't listen to others' opinions, dismisses any constructive criticism, and dismissively deems his ideas as the only feasible ones.

All in all, he is a self-righteous, overbearing individual with a massive ego.

He is Jude Sebastian.

The CEO of the Sebastian Empire has lots of companies under him. Oil and gas, textiles, entertainment, video gaming, house estates, and an import and export business.

Jude Sebastian is famous in the eyes of the public because, apart from being filthy wealthy, he does charity work like paying for children's surgeries in hospitals, visiting orphanages, giving jobs to unemployed men, giving out scholarships to students, and so on.

Apart from his status, Jude is famous for his angelic appearance. If handsomeness were a person, he was. He won the title of the first-most handsome man in his country three times; yes, he won it three times. He was also the third-most handsome man in the world.

But even a mighty man has a weak one.

Jude has one weakness.

And that weakness is...