MARRY ME, LISA
1456 Words
LISA'S POV
I had never felt so exhausted in my life.
By the time morning came, my entire body felt weak from crying, stress, and sleeplessness. The police station smelled like old coffee and cold air, and every second I spent there made me feel like I was slowly losing my mind.
My mother was in the hospital and nobody was telling me enough.
Every time I asked questions, the officers either avoided my eyes or told me to stay calm.
How was I supposed to stay calm?
The last thing I heard was that she collapsed during questioning.
Since then, nobody had allowed me to see her.
I sat quietly in the interrogation room with my arms wrapped tightly around myself, staring blankly at the table in front of me.
My thoughts kept spinning uncontrollably.
What if something happened to her?
What if I never saw her again?
A painful lump formed in my throat immediately. No, I couldn't think like that. My mother was strong.
She had survived too much already.
The door suddenly opened, making me jump slightly.
I expected another detective for another accusation.
Another question about a necklace I had never touched.
But instead, Charles Manson walked into the room.
For a moment, I genuinely thought I was imagining him.
He looked completely out of place inside the small interrogation room. His dark suit looked expensive, perfectly fitted against his tall frame, and his calm expression somehow made the room feel even smaller.
The officers behind him immediately straightened.
“Mr. Manson,” one of them said respectfully.
Charles gave a small nod before his eyes landed on me.
And suddenly, I felt nervous all over again.
Not because he looked angry, but because he looked too calm.
Like nothing around him could ever shake him.
The detective cleared his throat awkwardly. “We’ll give you both a moment.”
Both? Confusion flashed across my face immediately.
The officers quietly stepped out, closing the door behind them. The room became silent.
Charles slowly sat across from me.I swallowed nervously and looked away first.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” I admitted softly.
“I know,” he said.
His voice was calm. For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he finally sighed quietly and leaned back slightly in his chair. “I heard about your mother.”
Pain hit me instantly at the mention of her.
My eyes burned again. “They won’t let me see her,” I explained.
Charles watched me carefully. “She’s receiving treatment now,” he said.
I took a deep breath.
Treatment?
“ Treatment? You know where she is?”
“Yes,” he said.
Hope rushed through me so suddenly that I nearly cried again.
“Please,” I whispered desperately. “Can you help me see her?”
Then he nodded once.“I can help.”
Relief crashed into me immediately.
I closed my eyes for a second, trying to hold myself together.
“Thank you,” I whispered shakily.
When I looked back at him, he was still watching me quietly.
Like he was studying every reaction I made.
“I saw what happened at the gala last night,” he said after a moment. “The arrest.”
Embarrassment flooded me instantly. I looked down at my hands. “That must have been humiliating to watch.”
His voice remained calm. “You looked frightened.”
I let out a weak laugh. “Because I was.”
The thought of it alone made me sad.
The whispers from the people, some were even making videos.
They all stared at me like I was already guilty.
“I still don’t understand why this is happening,” I admitted quietly.
Charles leaned back slightly in his chair. “The police believe you were involved in financial fraud connected to the hotel.”
“I know what they believe,” I said tiredly. “But I didn’t do it.”
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then finally, “I know,”
I looked up to him immediately.
“You believe me?” I asked.
“I believe you're not guilty,” he said.
It was more kindness than anyone else had shown me since last night.
A small part of my fear eased slightly.
Maybe I wasn’t completely alone.
Charles rested one arm against the table casually. “As one of the major shareholders connected to the hotel, I have some influence over this situation.”
I blinked in surprise. Shareholder?
That explained why everyone at the gala treated him like royalty.
“I can make sure your mother receives proper treatment,” he continued calmly. “And I can help clear the charges against you.”
The words hit me so hard that I struggled to process them properly.
“You can?” I asked.
“Yes,” he agreed.
For the first time since my arrest, I finally felt like I could breathe again.
“Oh my God…”
I covered my mouth quickly as tears rushed into my eyes.
“You have no idea what this means to me,” I murmured.
Charles remained silent. He was just listening carefully.
Then after a few seconds, he finally spoke.
“But I also need your help.”
I was shocked. What could I do for him.
“What kind of help?” I asked.
He looked away briefly before answering.
“My company is finalizing an important international contract.”
I listened quietly.
“The investors involved prefer dealing with stable leadership, family-oriented leadership.”
I was quiet, listening very well.
“I don’t understand,” I finally asked.
Then he looked directly into my eyes. “They expect me to be married.”
My heartbeat stumbled awkwardly.
What?
Charles continued calmly.
“I was supposed to handle this arrangement with someone else, but the situation collapsed recently.”
I stared at him blankly.
Surely he wasn’t saying what I thought he was saying.
“There are people connected to this contract who believe a married man appears more trustworthy and responsible,” he explained. “Without that image, I could lose the deal.”
The room was quiet, the silence was awkward.
My brain struggled to catch up. This was a lot to take in.
“What does this have to do with me?” I asked.
“I need someone willing to temporarily help me maintain that image,” he said.
The air left my lungs slowly. No way.
“You want me to pretend to be your wife?” I asked.
“It would be a legal marriage,” he corrected calmly. “But temporary.”
I stared at him in complete shock. My thoughts became chaotic immediately.
Marriage to Charles Manson? This had to be insane.
He watched my reaction carefully but remained completely composed.
Meanwhile, my heart was beating uncontrollably.
“I know this sounds sudden,” he admitted. “But you’re currently in a difficult position, Lisa.”
That was an understatement compared to the s**t I was in.
“I can protect you,” he continued quietly. “Your mother will receive proper care. The charges against you will disappear.”
I took a deep breath. This didn’t feel real at all.
A man like Charles Manson could marry literally anyone he wanted. He would have chosen one if the beautiful actresses, socialities or even models.
So why me? That question sat heavily inside my chest.
Still, another thought slowly pushed through my panic. Maybe this was luck.
Maybe after the worst night of my life, something good was finally happening.
And most importantly, he clearly did not recognize me.
That realization alone made relief spread quietly through my chest.
If Charles knew I was Elena Laurent, he would never sit here offering to help me.
Which meant my secret was still safe.
I almost wanted to cry from relief.
“You barely know me,” I said softly.
“That can change,” he said
He was so certain. How was this even possible.
“I don’t know how to repay you for this,” I admitted honestly.
“You don’t need to repay me,” he said.
“But I want to” I insisted.
A strange silence followed those words.
Then slowly, he leaned forward slightly.
“Then marry me, Lisa.”
The words settled heavily between us.
My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.
This was crazy, but at the same time, it also felt like the only way to save my mother.
And maybe even myself.
I lowered my eyes slowly, trying to think clearly.
“I’ll do it” I said quietly.
- Writer
