A Contracted Heart

CHAPTER THREE: THE BURDEN OF THE WILL

Brad was in a state of disbelief after reading the contents of his father’s will. His father, a man of wealth and influence, had left behind a set of stringent conditions that Brad had to meet in order to inherit his fortune. Brad was expected to get married within three months, a demand that seemed impossible considering his current state of mind and lifestyle. It was a cruel twist of fate, as his father had never been one to care about his emotional well-being. All that mattered was the family legacy, and now Brad was stuck with this absurd obligation.

Unable to contain the overwhelming frustration and confusion, Brad dialed his personal assistant’s number, Tom. "Meet me at the bar," he snapped into the phone before hanging up. He needed to talk to someone, and Tom, while efficient, was always a good sounding board for venting. Tom, who had been working for Brad for several years, was used to his boss’s unpredictable moods, so the call didn’t come as a surprise.

When Brad arrived at the bar, he was in no mood to indulge in pleasantries. He strode in and ordered a drink, not bothering to look at the bartender. The weight of the situation hung heavily on his shoulders, and he couldn't seem to shake the thoughts of the will.

"You have no idea what I’m dealing with right now," Brad muttered, his tone tense as he took a seat. "I need your advice on something."

Tom, ever the professional, poured him a drink and listened carefully as Brad continued to pour out his frustrations. Brad couldn’t help but vent. "I have three months to get married, and I don’t even know where to begin. How the hell am I supposed to find a wife that quickly? What am I supposed to do?"

Tom remained silent for a moment, letting Brad’s words sink in. After a long pause, he spoke. "You’ll figure it out, Brad. But there’s always the possibility of an arranged marriage, or you could just find someone who’s willing to go along with it. After all, it’s just a business arrangement at the end of the day, right?"

Brad shook his head. "No, it has to be real. He made it clear in the will. No tricks. No loopholes. It’s got to be genuine. It’s insane."

He took another sip of his drink, then suddenly noticed a woman across the bar. She was sitting alone, her shoulders hunched, sobbing quietly into a glass of wine. The sight struck Brad, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt compelled to find out more about her.

"Who’s that?" Brad asked, pointing toward the woman, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

Tom followed his gaze. "I’m not sure, but I’ll find out," he said, already pulling out his phone. Brad knew that Tom was adept at gathering information and wouldn’t take long to uncover the woman’s identity.

Tom, always quick on his feet, returned shortly. "Her name is Emma," he said. "Her father’s been ill for a long time, and it looks like the medical bills are piling up. She’s been trying to figure out a way to pay them, but I think she’s feeling overwhelmed."

Brad was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the situation to be so serious. "Medical bills, huh?" he muttered, glancing over at Emma again. She was clearly at a breaking point, and for some reason, it tugged at his heartstrings. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t shake the image of her sadness. There was something about her that was impossible to ignore.

“Maybe I can help,” Brad said slowly, almost to himself. His voice carried a hint of uncertainty, but it was a fleeting thought. Could helping her somehow serve his purpose too? If she was desperate enough, perhaps she could be the answer to his predicament.

"Brad, you’re not seriously considering this, are you?" Tom asked, clearly surprised by the suggestion.

Brad stared into his drink for a long moment before looking up at Emma again. He had just been given a ridiculous ultimatum by his father, and Emma was clearly in desperate need of something or someone to help her through her problems. In a way, they were both trapped in their respective circumstances, both victims of situations that they didn’t know how to handle.

"I’ll go talk to her," Brad finally said, standing up and brushing the thoughts aside. "Maybe she’ll listen."

Tom, while skeptical, didn’t argue. Instead, he stood with Brad, silently supporting whatever decision his boss was about to make.

As Brad approached the woman, his heart pounded in his chest. He had no idea what to say, no idea if she would even want to hear him out. But as he took a deep breath and sat down next to her, he realized that there was something more at play here, something that went beyond the strange coincidence of their lives intersecting. It was as if fate had brought them together, two people on the brink of losing everything, only to find a possible way out in each other.

"Hey," he said softly, breaking through her sobs. She looked up at him, startled. "Are you okay?"

Emma wiped her tears quickly, trying to hide her vulnerability. But Brad could see right through her. "I’m fine," she muttered, her voice shaky.

Brad didn’t press her. Instead, he leaned in slightly. "I’m not here to pry," he said, his voice gentle. "But if there’s anything I can do to help, I’m here."

The silence stretched between them as Emma regarded him warily. It was clear she didn’t trust easily, but the offer, no matter how strange, seemed to touch a chord in her. Maybe it was the sincerity in his voice, or maybe it was the weight of their shared struggles. Whatever the reason, she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

"Why would you help me?" she asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Brad paused for a moment before answering. "Maybe because, in some strange way, we’re both looking for something we don’t know how to find."