The contract bride

Paths cross again

Chapter 6: Paths Cross Again

Linda woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her small window. For the first time in years, she felt a strange sense of peace—no shouting, no insults, no demands. The sunlight poured into her new apartment, highlighting its simplicity. It wasn’t much: a single bed, a small kitchen space, and a table that had seen better days. But to Linda, it was a haven.

After making herself a cup of tea from the little groceries she had bought, she sat down to list her priorities. I need a job. Something stable… anything to keep me going for now, she thought. The cash she found in Liam’s pocket had given her a head start, but it wouldn’t last long. Determined, she grabbed her coat and stepped out, ready to tackle the world.

Miles away, Liam sat in his office, his mind elsewhere as his assistant briefed him on the day’s schedule. He hadn’t been able to focus since waking up that morning. The memory of the blood-stained sheets and Linda’s tear-streaked face haunted him.

“Michael, have you found her yet?” Liam snapped, interrupting his assistant mid-sentence.

“No, but we’re close. I’ve got someone tracking down the cab she took that night,” Michael replied, trying to sound optimistic.

“It’s been days, Michael. I don’t care what it takes. I want to find her,” Liam said, his voice low but commanding.

Michael nodded, though inwardly, he wondered why Liam was so desperate. It wasn’t like him to chase after someone.

Linda walked from store to store, handing out resumes and asking if anyone was hiring. Most places either weren’t looking or gave her a curt “We’ll call you.” By noon, her feet ached, and she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Frustration bubbled up inside her as she slumped onto a bench.

“What am I going to do?” she murmured, her hands covering her face.

As she sat there, she noticed a small café across the street with a “Help Wanted” sign taped to the window. Might as well try, she thought, standing up and crossing the street.

Inside, the café smelled of fresh coffee and pastries. The owner, a kind middle-aged woman, seemed hesitant at first but agreed to give Linda a trial shift. Relief flooded her.

Later that evening, Liam decided to grab a coffee after a long day. His usual spot was closed for renovations, so he ended up at a quaint little café he’d never noticed before. As he stepped inside, his eyes scanned the room—and froze.

Behind the counter, moving quickly between the tables and the kitchen, was Linda. She hadn’t noticed him yet, too busy trying to balance a tray of drinks.

Liam’s heart raced. He wasn’t sure if it was relief, anger, or something else entirely. Without thinking, he approached the counter.

“Linda,” he said, his voice sharp.

Linda turned abruptly, nearly dropping the tray. Her eyes widened when she saw him. “You,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Before she could say anything else, her manager called her into the kitchen. “One moment,” she mumbled, retreating quickly.

Liam waited, his patience wearing thin. When Linda finally came back, he was sitting at a corner table, his piercing gaze fixed on her.

“We need to talk,” he said as she approached cautiously.

“I’m working,” Linda replied, her tone defensive.

“Then quit. Now,” he snapped, his frustration evident.

“I can’t,” she said firmly, surprising herself with her own boldness. “What do you even want from me?”

Liam leaned forward, lowering his voice. “You left with my money. You think you can just walk away after what happened?”

Linda’s face turned red with anger and embarrassment. “I didn’t take your money. It was in the pocket of the clothes you gave me. I didn’t even know it was there until later,” she hissed.

Liam didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back, his expression unreadable. “You’re coming with me,” he finally said.

“What? No!”

“You owe me, Linda. I don’t care how you justify it. You’re going to repay me.”

Linda stared at him, her hands trembling. “What do you mean, ‘repay’? I don’t have anything to give you.”

“You’ll work for me,” Liam said simply.

“Work for you?” she repeated, incredulous.

“Yes. Be my personal assistant. You’ll earn enough to pay me back, and maybe then we’ll be even.”

Linda wanted to argue, but she knew she didn’t have many options. The café job was temporary, and she still had no place to go if she couldn’t make rent.

“And there’s one more thing,” Liam added, his eyes darkening.

“What now?” Linda asked warily.

“You’ll marry me. On paper, at least,” he said.

Linda’s jaw dropped. “What? Why would I do that?”

“I need a wife for… business purposes. Let’s just say it’s complicated. You agree to this, and I’ll pay you a hefty sum once our arrangement is over. Enough to set you up for life,” Liam explained, his tone matter-of-fact.

Linda laughed bitterly. “So, what? You want me to be your fake wife? Is this some kind of sick joke?”

“Take it or leave it,” Liam said coldly. “You can walk away and keep struggling, or you can take this deal and secure your future. Your choice.”

Linda glared at him, her mind racing. She hated him for putting her in this position, but she couldn’t ignore the practicality of his offer. With no home, no family, and no steady job, she had nothing to lose.

“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “But I’m only doing this to pay you back.”

Liam smirked, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

I'm Liam by the way wait for my call he said while getting ready to leave the cafe.

As Liam left the café, a familiar face watched him from the shadows. Melinda, seething with jealousy, had followed him there after overhearing a conversation with Michael.

“So, this is who he’s been chasing,” she murmured to herself, her lips curling into a sinister smile. “Let’s see how long she lasts.”

Linda, oblivious to the storm brewing around her, clocked out of her shift, her mind swirling with thoughts of the deal she’d just made. Little did she know, her life was about to take another unpredictable turn.