CHAPTER 2 — THE WEIGHT OF A CHOICE
368 Words
AMARA'S POV
I didn’t sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice again.
Marry me.
It wasn’t supposed to feel real.
But it did.
My mother knocked softly on my door early in the morning.
“You didn’t sleep,” she said immediately.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
She didn’t believe me.
Neither did I.
Later that day, another notice arrived.
Faster. More urgent.
Days.
Not weeks.
Days.
I sat on my bed staring at my phone.
His number was still there.
I shouldn’t call.
But I did anyway.
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ALEXANDER'S POV
I was in my office when she called.
I answered immediately.
“I received your proposal,” she said.
Careful. Controlled.
She was thinking too much.
Good.
“I assumed you would,” I replied.
“I want conditions,” she said.
Expected.
“Go on.”
“My family stays out of this.”
“Agreed.”
“No control over my personal life outside the contract.”
“Within reason.”
A pause.
“That’s not a full yes.”
“It is sufficient,” I said.
Another pause.
Then—
“I want to meet you.”
That was expected too.
“Tomorrow,” I said.
Silence.
Then—
“Fine.”
She ended the call first.
That was unusual.
Most people didn’t do that with me.
Interesting.
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AMARA'S POV
The black envelope arrived that evening.
No sender.
Just my name.
Inside was the contract.
Thick. Detailed. Controlled.
It didn’t feel like an agreement.
It felt like a life already designed without me in it.
I read every page.
Emotional detachment clause.
One-year duration.
Public compliance required.
Private separation allowed.
It was terrifyingly structured.
Like someone had removed chaos from existence entirely.
I should have been scared.
But I wasn’t just scared.
I was desperate.
And that was worse.
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ALEXANDER'S POV
I reviewed the contract before sending it.
Everything had purpose.
Nothing unnecessary.
Emotion complicates decisions.
I don’t allow complications.
When I heard she wanted to meet, I didn’t react.
It was expected.
People always wanted clarity.
I didn’t give unnecessary explanations.
Only outcomes.
Tomorrow, she would come here.
And everything would move forward.
Exactly as planned.
- Writer
