CONTRACT MARRIAGE
1517 Words
“Please… I will pay you back. Just give me a little more time,” Camelia’s voice trembled as she clutched her shirt tightly, her eyes filled with fear and desperation.
The men didn’t look convinced.
“Time?” the biggest among them scoffed, his voice harsh and unforgiving. “You think we run a charity? You’ve had enough time already.”
He stepped closer, grabbing her wrist roughly.
Camelia winced.
“Please… I’m begging you”
“STOP.”
The voice cut through the air like a blade.
Deep,Calm and Dangerous.
Everyone froze.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
The men turned, their expressions shifting instantly from aggression to unease.
A man stood a few steps away, tall and composed, his presence alone enough to command silence. His eyes were cold, unreadable, yet powerful enough to make anyone think twice.
“Do you know who you’re touching?” he asked quietly.
The big man swallowed hard. “Who are you to interfere?”
The stranger took a slow step forward.
“I said stop,” he repeated, his voice lower now. “Or did you not hear me the first time?”
There was something in his tone something that made even the boldest hesitate.
Then he spoke his name.
“Frederick George.”
The reaction was instant.
Shock,Fear and Respect.
“We… we’re sorry, sir!” the man stammered quickly, letting go of Camelia’s hand. “We didn’t know it was you. Your father is one of the major contributors to HS Loan Bank…”
Frederick didn’t respond immediately. His gaze shifted slowly landing on Camelia.
For a brief moment, everything else disappeared.
She stood there, shaken, vulnerable, yet undeniably beautiful even in her worn-out clothes.
“Interesting…” he murmured.
Camelia felt her heart race under his gaze.
Hope flickered in her chest.
A dangerous kind of hope.
“Look at me,” Frederick said.
She hesitated for a second before lifting her head.
Their eyes met.
Hers pleading, tired, searching.
His calculating, amused… intrigued.
“I have a business proposal for you,” he said calmly. “Do you think you can handle it?”
Camelia didn’t even think twice.
“Yes,” she said quickly. “I will do anything.”
Frederick’s lips curved into a faint, almost sinister smile.
“Anything?” he repeated.
Her throat tightened.
But she nodded.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He took another step closer.
“You’re going to marry me.”
Camelia blinked.
“What…?”
“A contract marriage,” he clarified. “Six years. You act as my wife, and in return…”
He paused deliberately.
“I will give you one hundred thousand dollars.”
The world went silent,Camelia’s ears rang.
One hundred thousand… dollars?
Her heart pounded wildly.
That amount alone could change everything.
Her debts,Her child, Her future,gHer entire life.
But six years…
Six whole years of her life tied to a stranger.
Her mind spun with thoughts.
What choice do I have?
Go back to the bar?
Be dragged by loan sharks again?
Raise a child in poverty?
Her fingers curled tightly.
This wasn’t a choice.
It was survival.
“Are you in,” Frederick asked, his voice sharper now, “or not?”
The men behind him watched silently.
The pressure was suffocating.
Camelia inhaled slowly.
Then
“Deal.”
The word left her lips before she could take it back.
Frederick smiled.
A smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Good,” he said. “Come tomorrow. I’ll have the contract ready.”
He reached into his pocket and handed her a card.
“Be there,” he added, his tone turning cold again. “I don’t like being kept waiting.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Leaving behind silence.
And a decision that would change everything.
“Lia… who were those people?” Nina rushed toward her, worry all over her face.
Camelia exhaled slowly, still trying to steady herself.
“They came for the money,” she said quietly. “But… someone stepped in.”
Nina’s eyes widened. “Who?”
Camelia hesitated.
“A man.”
Nina raised an eyebrow immediately. “Of course it’s a man,What did he want?”
Camelia looked down at the card in her hand.
“He wants me to marry him.”
“What?!”
“It’s a contract,” she added quickly. “Six years. In exchange for money.”
Nina stared at her in disbelief.
“And you agreed?”
Camelia didn’t answer immediately.
“I… I don’t know what else to do,” she whispered.
Nina softened.
“Lia… this sounds dangerous.”
“I know.”
“But”
“I know!” Camelia snapped slightly, then sighed, her shoulders dropping. “Everything is already falling apart. I don’t even know where to start anymore.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Nina spoke gently.
“Just… think about it carefully, okay?”
Camelia nodded slowly.
But deep down She already knew.
That night, sleep never came.
Camelia lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts louder than ever.
Noah and Tina betrayal.
The pregnancy.
The stranger.
And now…
A contract marriage.
She let out a bitter laugh.
“When did my life become like this…” she whispered.
Tears slipped quietly down her temples.
“If I had parents… maybe none of this would have happened.”
The words lingered in the dark.
Unanswered and Unforgiving.
The Next _6Day
Camelia arrived early.
Too early.
She stood outside the location Frederick had given her, glancing at the time repeatedly.
Thirty minutes passed.
Nothing.
“I knew it… arrogant man,” she muttered under her breath.
Just as she was about to turn
“Look who we have here.”
Her body stiffened.
She didn’t need to turn to know that voice.
Frederick.
He walked toward her slowly, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” he said, though his tone held no apology. “I had something more important to attend to.”
Camelia crossed her arms, irritation flashing across her face.
“And I’m not important?” she snapped. “Or is it because you think I’m desperate enough to sell myself for your contract?”
Frederick’s lips curved slightly.
“I like that ,” he said calmly pointing at her hair clip. “Don’t lose it.”
Her anger only grew.
“Let’s get to the point,” he continued.
He pulled out a file and handed it to her.
“You will cut off all relationships with other men once this contract begins,” he said. “You will act as my wife in public. No mistakes.”
His gaze darkened slightly.
“And if you break any rule… I have the right to terminate the contract immediately.”
Camelia’s grip tightened on the file.
“You will receive half of the payment now,” he continued ,“The remaining half after six years.”
She flipped through the pages quickly.
“So I’m basically selling my life to you,” she said coldly.
Frederick tilted his head slightly.
“Call it… an investment.”
Silence lingered between them.
“You have 30 days to back out,” he added. “After that… there’s no escape.”
With that, he turned and walked away again.
Leaving her standing there.
Confused,Angry and Trapped.
“Such a jerk…” she muttered under her breath.
Her phone rang suddenly.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?!” Nina’s voice came through urgently. “Get here now! Madam Nazar is already asking about you!”
“I’m coming!” Camelia said quickly before hanging up.
Later that evening, exhaustion clung to her body as she walked home.
Her mind was still spinning.
Contract Marriage,Money,Future.
As she reached her door, something caught her attention.
A white envelope.
Placed neatly on the floor.
Her heart skipped,Slowly, she picked it up.
Opening it carefully
Her eyes scanned the words inside.
You’re keeping me waiting.
I don’t have patience.
Sign the contract… or face the consequences.
A chill ran down her spine.
“Is he threatening me now?” she whispered.
Her grip tightened on the paper.
“Can’t he give me time to think?”
Her chest felt heavy,Everything was closing in on her.
Again.
She stepped inside quietly, dropping her bag.
“I just need food…” she muttered. “I can’t come and die.”
She moved into the kitchen, trying to distract herself.
But just as she began Her phone buzzed again.
A notification.
She opened it.
Your house rent is overdue. Pay immediately or vacate the premises.
Camelia froze.
For a long moment, she didn’t move.
Then she let out a hollow laugh.
“Of course…” she whispered. “Why not?”
Her eyes slowly drifted toward the contract in her hand.
Then to her stomach.
Her fingers rested there gently.
“I don’t have a choice… do I?” she murmured.
Silence answered her,But deep inside She already knew.
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