AN IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSAL
1365 Words
Sophia stood outside her apartment, watching the sleek black Rolls-Royce parked in front of the building.
Children had abandoned their games.
Women whispered from their balconies.
Even the old security guard standing by the gate couldn’t stop staring.
She let out a frustrated sigh.
“So he really sent you.”
Ethan smiled politely.
“Good afternoon, Miss Carter.”
“I thought I made myself clear yesterday.”
“You did.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Mr. Blackwood requested one last meeting.”
“I already said no.”
“He believes you’ll change your mind after hearing everything.”
Sophia folded her arms.
“Tell your boss to stop believing impossible things.”
Ethan chuckled softly.
“Mr. Blackwood is a very patient man.”
“Well, I’m not.”
She turned toward the building.
“Miss Carter.”
She stopped walking.
“He asked me to tell you something.”
She didn’t answer.
“If you still refuse after today’s meeting…”
“…he’ll never ask again.”
Sophia remained silent.
For a long moment, she simply stared at the expensive car.
Her life had become one problem after another.
Maybe hearing him out once and for all would finally put an end to this.
She exhaled slowly.
“Fine.”
“But this is the last time.”
“I understand.”
As Ethan opened the car door for her, dozens of curious eyes followed every movement.
One of the elderly women whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear,
“I knew that girl would marry a rich man someday.”
Sophia almost rolled her eyes.
“If only she knew…”
The drive to Blackwood Group was unusually quiet.
Neither of them spoke.
Sophia watched the city pass by through the window, wondering why a billionaire would waste his time chasing someone like her.
Nothing about it made sense.
Minutes later, the car stopped in front of the magnificent Blackwood Group headquarters.
The towering glass building reflected the afternoon sunlight like a giant mirror.
Sophia swallowed nervously.
“This place is huge.”
Ethan smiled.
“After you.”
Inside, the lobby looked more like a five-star hotel than an office building.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
White marble floors shone beneath her feet.
Employees greeted Ethan respectfully as they walked toward the private elevator.
Some secretly looked at Sophia with curiosity.
She ignored them.
The elevator doors opened onto the top floor.
Ethan gently knocked before opening the office door.
Damian Blackwood stood beside the enormous window overlooking the city.
He turned slowly as they entered.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds…
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Damian broke the silence.
“You came.”
Sophia shrugged.
“I came because your assistant is persistent.”
A faint smile appeared on Ethan’s face.
Damian walked toward his desk.
“Have a seat.”
“I’ll stand.”
“As you wish.”
He calmly sat down instead.
Sophia remained where she was.
“You’ve dragged me all the way here.”
“What exactly do you want?”
Without answering, Damian opened a drawer and placed a thick folder on the desk.
He gently pushed it toward her.
“Read it.”
Sophia frowned.
“What is it?”
“Open it.”
Curiosity got the better of her.
She picked up the folder and opened the first page.
Her eyes widened.
Across the top, in bold letters, were the words:
CONTRACT MARRIAGE AGREEMENT
She blinked once.
Then twice.
A laugh escaped her lips.
“No…”
She looked up at Damian.
“This is a joke, right?”
“No.”
She laughed harder.
“You’re serious?”
“I am.”
Sophia closed the folder.
“I’ve met strange people before.”
“But you…”
She shook her head.
“You might actually be crazy.”
Ethan coughed awkwardly, pretending not to laugh.
Damian remained completely calm.
“I expected you to react that way.”
“You expected correctly.”
She pushed the contract back across the desk.
“I’m leaving.”
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“At least hear me out.”
“I don’t need to.”
“You haven’t even listened.”
Sophia stared directly into his eyes.
“I don’t marry strangers.”
“It wouldn’t be a real marriage.”
“It would look real enough.”
“It would only last one year.”
She folded her arms.
“And after one year?”
“We divorce.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“You actually planned all this?”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
Damian didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he walked toward the window.
“My grandfather is dying.”
Sophia’s expression softened slightly.
“He has one final wish.”
“He wants to see me married.”
She remained silent.
“My family’s board of directors also believes a married man appears more trustworthy.”
“So?”
“So I need a wife.”
Sophia almost laughed again.
“And somehow you decided I should volunteer?”
“I’m offering you an agreement.”
“I’m not interested.”
“You haven’t heard the benefits.”
“I don’t care about the benefits.”
“You should.”
“I shouldn’t.”
Their eyes locked.
Neither of them was willing to back down.
For the first time in years…
Damian found someone who wasn’t intimidated by him.
It was strangely refreshing.
He returned to his desk.
“I know your mother is ill.”
Sophia’s face immediately changed.
“How?”
“I made inquiries.”
“You investigated me?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“You had absolutely no right.”
“I know.”
“No…”
“You don’t.”
She grabbed her bag.
“This conversation is over.”
Just as she reached the door, Damian spoke again.
“The anonymous person who paid part of your mother’s hospital bill…”
Sophia froze.
Slowly…
She turned around.
“What about them?”
“It was me.”
The room became silent.
Her heartbeat quickened.
“You?”
Damian nodded once.
“I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t looking for gratitude.”
Sophia couldn’t speak.
For days she had wondered who had helped her.
She had imagined charities.
Kind strangers.
Old family friends.
Never him.
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want your mother to lose her treatment while we talked.”
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then something inside her snapped.
“So that’s what this is?”
“What?”
“You help me…”
“…then expect me to marry you?”
“No.”
“I’m giving you a choice.”
She laughed bitterly.
“A choice?”
“You think this is a choice?”
“You know my mother needs surgery.”
“You know I have no money.”
“And now you’re asking me to sell my life?”
Damian remained calm.
“I’m asking you to consider a contract.”
“No.”
“I’m asking you to think.”
“No.”
“I’m asking—”
“I SAID NO!”
Her voice echoed through the office.
Even Ethan looked startled.
Tears filled Sophia’s eyes.
“You think because you’re rich…”
“…everyone has a price.”
She threw the contract back onto the desk.
“My mother raised me better than that.”
Without another word, she stormed out of the office.
The heavy door slammed shut behind her.
Silence filled the room.
Ethan looked toward Damian.
“Sir…”
“I don’t think she’ll ever agree.”
Damian picked up the contract, straightened its pages, and calmly placed it back inside the folder.
Then, for the first time that day…
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“She will.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Damian looked out at the city below.
“Because she’s fighting for someone she loves.”
“And people who fight for love…”
“…always return.”
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