Married To The Disabled Groom

SCARLET'S POV: It was Friday night, around nine. I was in my room studying on my laptop when I heard a loud knock at the door. “Oh! Who is there?” I asked, rising from my bed and moving to the door to check. As I pulled the door open, I met my mother’s gaze. “Mom, what do you want?” I asked. She smiled, but she seemed anxious. “Scarlet, you have to come with me now. We have guests in the living room, and your father wants to see you. He has something important to tell you,” my mother said, obviously avoiding my eyes. “Mom, what does Dad want to say? I already told you I have an exam this Monday, and today is Saturday. I need to study so I can advance as a neurologist,” I muttered. My mother only smiled. “I know. This will help you improve too. Come quickly,” Mom urged again. I sighed. “Fine. Give me a moment to turn off my laptop,” I told her, moving back into my bedroom. A minute later, I rejoined her. “Okay. Can we go now?” I said. My mother smiled and led me downstairs to the living room to meet my father. My gaze widened, when I saw the man in a black shirt and pants standing in the living room with my father. I immediately recognized him as Aiden Williams, Mr. Jack Tristano’s assistant. “What’s going on here, Dad?” I asked my father. He shifted his gaze away from Aiden and offered me a warm smile. Dad was fair-skinned like me, but also a very mischievous man. “Scarlet,” he said warmly as he walked over to me. “You know who this man is, right?” I took a deep breath and replied, “Yes, Dad. I know him. He is Mr. Jack Tristano’s assistant, Aiden Williams.” “Good evening, sir,” I greeted Aiden. He was a young man, probably not yet thirty. He usually came to pick up my younger sister, Annabelle. Annabelle had been in a relationship with Jack Tristano. They dated for four years before Jack had an accident two years ago and sustained a spinal cord injury. Jack was now thirty. If not for his condition, he and my younger sister might have been married. But guess what? Annabelle left him for his best friend, Henry, also a billionaire CEO. I cannot imagine the hurt Jack had to endure. Not only did Annabelle cheat on Jack with his best friend, she ran away to another city with the man. The news trended after photos of Annabelle and Henry surfaced online. Many fans were angry with Annabelle because they knew how much Jack loved and cared for her. Still, she left him and ran off with his best friend. It had been six months, and we had not seen Annabelle since. Some fans expected Jack to sue my sister, but he let it go. Now, I heard his parents were looking for a bride for Jack so he would not be alone, especially since he owned a multimillion-dollar company. They wanted a woman to marry him and perhaps have children through surrogacy. Since Jack was not born disabled, they wanted him to have an heir and move on with his life. But Jack had rejected many women, from what I heard. The price offered to any family whose daughter he accepted—or whose daughter accepted him, despite his coldness—was ten million dollars. Imagine that. I had called my sister to return home, but she refused and did not want to discuss Jack. Annabelle is now twenty-four. She had known Jack for five whole years before his condition began. So, back to the present. My father smiled from me to Aiden and said, “Scarlet, you must go with Aiden here to Jack's mansion.” “What?” I gasped, nearly fainting. “Why, Dad? Is Aiden here because of Annabelle?” My father looked at me and shook his head. “No, Scarlet. The Tristano family is looking for a wife for Jack, which I am sure you know. They offered to pay ten million dollars to any family whose daughter is willing to marry Jack. After the wedding, we will receive another ten million.” “What?!” I looked at my father in disbelief. He wanted me to marry Jack and had accepted the offer. Dad had actually considered it and decided to trade me for my sister’s ex-boyfriend. Dad did not care to ask my permission before inviting Aiden to our house and likely telling him I had agreed to marry Jack. “Dad, this is ridiculous! How can you offer me to Jack just for money? I am worth more than ten million dollars, and I will not accept this contract marriage!” I told my father, my voice stern. My father glared at me. “Scarlet, I have no choice. You are growing older—you are twenty-six now—and you still refuse to consider a relationship. You will go with Aiden tonight to Jack's villa, unless you want me to take drastic steps against you.” My fists clenched as I glared at my father, unable to speak. “It is all right, sir. You do not need to force Scarlet to come with me,” Aiden spoke on my behalf, but my father stopped him. “No, Aiden. This is not about the money alone. Scarlet is a medical doctor who specializes in spinal and brain injury care. I believe she is the best compensation I can give Jack for what my younger daughter, Annabelle, did to him. That is why I called you here, even though I know Jack may decline my offer. Please.” I stood there watching my father prepare to trade me off to be with a disabled man, no less—my sister’s ex-boyfriend. Aiden’s shoulders slumped as he looked at me and replied, “I understand, sir. But that is only if Scarlet willingly accepts my boss. He has been difficult lately, and if she is difficult too, then the two of them will not work in a contract marriage.” My father glanced at me and said, “Scarlet, you can make your choice now. Either go with Aiden, or I will make your life difficult.” “Dad…” I frowned, wondering if this man was truly my father. He was being brutal, and he had never asked me to do anything like this before. “I do not think Jack will want me,” I said to my father. He shook his head and replied, “You can only try your chances with him. I believe he will accept you.” I shut my eyes. Did Dad have to force me into this? “It is all right, honey. I think we should give Scarlet some time to process this,” my mother interjected. “We cannot force Scarlet to marry Jack just as Aiden said.” Mom spoke on my behalf. She knew it was unfair to push me into a contract union with my sister’s ex, who was also disabled. “There is no time to think about it,” Dad replied sternly. “Scarlet must go with Aiden here tonight, or face punishment for disobeying me.” My father’s face was serious. I looked at him, knowing he was a serious man who did not make threats idly. He did not hesitate to break his enemies. I was not his enemy, but I was his daughter. “Fine. I will go with Aiden, but on one condition.” I raised my left hand, and they all looked at me. “If I get there and this contract marriage does not work out, then I return home. I have my own life to live.” I looked at my parents sternly. My father sighed with relief. “That is all right, Scarlet. I trust you to do this, and the marriage will work,” Dad said. I sighed. “Mmm.” I looked away from my father’s face and said, “Just give me a moment. Let me go upstairs and pack some of my things. I was not aware of this arrangement, or I would have been prepared.” “It is all right. Hurry up,” my father replied. I turned and went back upstairs to my bedroom to pack a few of my things.