Chapter 5
1314 Words
Chapter Five
The Heir
Amara didn't sleep that night.
She kept thinking about what she'd overheard.
Six months.
Six months until what?
She had spent the entire evening trying to convince herself that she had misunderstood the conversation.
Maybe Daniel's mother was talking about the business.
Maybe there was another contract.
Maybe—
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
She sat up.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Daniel stood there.
He looked tired.
“You're awake.”
“So are you.”
“I wanted to check on you.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“You seemed distracted earlier.”
Amara looked at him.
“Your mother said something.”
His expression changed immediately.
“What did she say?”
There it was.
That reaction.
Amara noticed it.
“She said you have six months.”
Daniel was silent.
“Six months until what?”
He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
“You shouldn't have heard that conversation.”
“That's not an answer.”
“I know.”
“Daniel.”
He looked away.
Then he sighed.
“My grandfather.”
“What about him?”
“He died two years ago.”
Amara waited.
“He left a will.”
She frowned.
“And?”
Daniel sat down.
“The company belongs to my family.”
“I know.”
“But control of it isn't automatic.”
“What does that mean?”
“My grandfather placed conditions on the inheritance.”
Amara's stomach tightened.
“What conditions?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I have to be married.”
She blinked.
“That doesn't sound so terrible.”
“There's more.”
Of course there was.
“I'm required to have an heir.”
Amara stared at him.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
“An heir?”
“Yes.”
“And you agreed to this?”
“I didn't.”
“Then why are we married?”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Because I was given a deadline.”
“When?”
“Six months from now.”
Amara stood.
“So your family knew?”
“Yes.”
“And they found me because—”
“Because you were willing to marry me.”
Amara's expression hardened.
“So I wasn't just chosen because of my mother's illness.”
Daniel didn't answer.
That was enough.
Amara felt betrayed.
“You knew.”
“I knew about the condition.”
“You knew your family expected an heir.”
“Yes.”
“And you still let me sign that contract without telling me?”
“I wasn't going to force you into anything.”
“That isn't the point!”
Her voice echoed through the room.
Daniel stood.
“I know.”
“You should have told me.”
“I should have.”
“Why didn't you?”
He looked at her.
“Because I knew you would walk away.”
Amara stared at him.
“And you needed me.”
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt more than a lie would have.
She turned away.
“I can't believe this.”
Daniel remained silent.
Then he said something she wasn't expecting.
“You don't owe me an heir.”
Amara looked back.
“What?”
“I mean it.”
“But your grandfather's will—”
“That's my problem.”
“Then why marry me?”
“Because I needed to buy time.”
“For what?”
Daniel's expression became guarded again.
“There's something else in the will.”
“What?”
“I can't tell you yet.”
Amara laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
He moved toward the door.
“Amara.”
She didn't answer.
“I should have told you.”
He paused.
“But I won't ever force you to do something you don't want to do.”
Then he left.
Amara sat on the bed.
She was angry.
Confused.
And somehow, despite everything, she believed him.
---
The next morning, Daniel wasn't at breakfast.
Amara didn't ask where he was.
She went to university.
But she couldn't concentrate.
Her mind kept returning to one word.
Heir.
She had entered a marriage believing the only price was one year of pretending.
Now she knew the Williams family expected something else.
Something much bigger.
At lunchtime, Nia sat beside her.
“You look terrible.”
“Thanks.”
“You know what I mean.”
Amara sighed.
“I found out something about Daniel.”
Nia leaned closer.
“What?”
“He has to have an heir.”
Nia nearly choked on her drink.
“What?”
“Keep your voice down!”
“Sorry.”
Nia lowered her voice.
“So you're telling me your fake husband is under pressure to produce an heir?”
“Apparently.”
“And you knew nothing about this?”
“No.”
Nia stared at her.
“Amara, that's serious.”
“I know.”
“Are you okay?”
“I don't know.”
Nia reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“Then don't let anyone pressure you.”
Amara nodded.
“I won't.”
---
That evening, Amara returned home earlier than usual.
She heard voices coming from the study.
Daniel.
And his mother.
She stopped before entering.
“You're running out of time,” Mrs. Williams said.
“I know.”
“Then stop wasting it.”
“I said I know.”
“Daniel, your uncle is already preparing to take control of the company.”
“I won't let him.”
“Then you need an heir.”
Silence.
Amara held her breath.
“She's young,” Mrs. Williams continued. “She's healthy. She can give you what you need.”
Amara's heart sank.
Daniel's voice became cold.
“Don't talk about my wife like she's a solution.”
“She is your wife.”
“She is a person.”
Mrs. Williams was silent.
Daniel continued.
“I agreed to marry her. I didn't agree to use her.”
Amara froze.
“You're becoming emotional.”
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“I'm setting a boundary.”
Amara stepped away from the door.
She hadn't expected to hear that.
She hurried upstairs before they could notice her.
---
Later that night, Daniel knocked on her door.
“Come in.”
He entered.
Neither spoke for a moment.
Then Amara said,
“I heard you.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“How much?”
“Enough.”
He sighed.
“I meant what I said.”
“I know.”
He sat across from her.
“My family thinks you're part of the solution.”
“And you?”
“I think you're my wife.”
The words made Amara's heart beat faster.
She quickly looked away.
“Daniel…”
“I know this marriage isn't real.”
He paused.
“But I won't let them treat you like a contract.”
Amara looked at him.
For the first time since she'd met him, she saw something different in his eyes.
Not coldness.
Not indifference.
Protection.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Daniel nodded.
He stood to leave.
At the door, he stopped.
“There's something else you should know.”
Amara looked up.
“What?”
“My uncle knows about you.”
Her heart dropped.
“Why?”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Because he's trying to stop me from inheriting the company.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Everything.”
Then he walked out.
Amara sat frozen on the bed.
She had thought she was marrying Daniel to save her mother.
Now she was beginning to wonder whether marrying Daniel had put her in danger of losing something else.
Herself.
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