Married to get his Inheritance

Martha "Marry me" He said How can a stranger see me crying and the first thing he says is "marry me"? I felt like attacking him but he was so strong. A tall man wearing an expensive black trousers paired with a white shirt and a black jacket. I can smell his cologne. Even with my emotional state the cologne left me in awe. It will cost some thousands of dollars His standing is showing “I'm wealthy”. Little did I know that he is the richest man in the country. "Why should I" I asked. Struggling to speak with tears running down my cheeks. "I'm aware of your problem and I can solve it for you" He said with a firm voice waiting for my reply while adjusting his blazers. "And if I don't?" I asked, trying to size up his seriousness. A thought ran through my mind. "What will this marriage entail?" Will I subject myself to suffering in order to save my parents life? Am I ready for this? All these questions were running through my mind while waiting for his reply. "I will walk away with my offer. You won't find it anywhere again." He said, affirming his stand. "I..I.. I will marry you" I said", struggling to speak while crying. Tears were running down my cheeks. "Good, there is a contract for you to sign, I will give it to you to review " He said without looking at me. A very cold man yet arrogant. ''I'm willingly walking into hell just to save my parents. I hope I won't regret this." I said mumbling. "You should not tell anyone about this". He said Authoritatively. I will call you tomorrow by nine o'clock,be ready. Good night. "He said" opening his car and he drove off. —----------------------------------- How did I find myself at the mercy of this man? I have only read about contract marriages in books, now I will have a first hand experience. The experiences are not always good but my parents are my world. Marriage is the only option I have to save my parents. Will my story end with a tragedy? I don't want to lose them, I'm in my prime, I'm about to be working class, waiting for an offer letter when this tragedy strikes. My life shattered leaving a permanent scar in my life. My parents were involved in a fatal accident that claimed several lives, not that they are alive but they are not dead either. They were still in a coma till I received a call from the hospital asking me to come as soon as possible. I rushed down there silently praying it wouldn't be bad news. I met the doctor on my way to my mother's room. "Come with me," The doctor said. We got to his office and he broke the news to me. "I have a bad and a good news for you" "The bad news is, your mum is still in a coma. She's not responding to treatment yet. We can only hope she lives, "he said, sounding defeated. "The good news please " I asked. A little bit of happiness about my parents will lift up my mood. I've not been happy in a long time" "Your dad woke up earlier today. We ran a series of tests. We will need to treat and operate the abdomen due to the injuries sustained. That will cost you one hundred and fifty thousand dollars " He said, reading out everything from a file on his table. I couldn't hold my tears back when I heard the cost of the surgery. Where will I see that? My dad was laid off at his work five months ago while my mum works as a nanny. The only reason I went to college l was because I won a scholarship in high school. Now I need to save my parents. I don't have a source of income yet. I found myself at the mercy of the richest man in our country. "You should go and make the payment so the surgery can commence immediately" He said, bringing me back to life. I was lost in my thoughts. "Okay, thank you" I managed to say while thinking of how to raise one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Several thoughts ran through my mind. Should I create a GoFundMe account? Should I go live on social media and beg for money? We live in a rented apartment. There is nothing I can sell to raise the money. Truth be told I will trade my scholarship to save my parents The only way I make money is through an online survey. I make less than ten dollars per day. I will have to work for several years to raise that money. Even if I get a job an entry level salary is not even half of that per month. I was lost in my thoughts till the doctor said he's closed for the day. I exited his office without a clear plan to raise the money. I head to my mother's room first. I sat beside her telling her how this is the time I needed her the most as I watched the machine beeping. I silently prayed that she wakes up as soon as possible. I left her room and went to my father's room. He was sleeping when I entered. The machines were not beeping. I sat beside him and cried silently. " Dad, will I be able to save you?" I said before leaving. —------------------ I got home thinking about my encounter with the strange man that offered to help me only if I agreed to marry him. Weighing my options that's the best thing to do. I laid down on my bed staring at the ceiling as if I would find the answers to my questions there. Unable to sleep I opened the internet only to find myself as the number one trending topic. Series of messages from my fellow students in our class group congratulating me. "Billionaire Christian Brooks spotted talking to a lady. A recent graduate of Civil Engineering from the university of Illinois " Is this a sign that he has a woman in his life?" That was the headline.I pinched myself to be sure I'm not dreaming. How? I have heard his name, ladies often talk about how handsome he is, I don't care as it's none of my business. Seeing him surpass how they describe him. He was the definition of handsome. I actually fall in love with seeing him but I quickly took my mind off it and focus on what's at hand. How will I explain that I'm not married to him even though I agreed to marry him? I pondered on this question till Sleep claimed me. —--- The next day. I woke up early like I'm going to work, I had my bath hurriedly, and had a cup of coffee while waiting for his call. Staring at my wall clock and my mobile phone simultaneously checking the time and as well waiting for his call respectively. I heard a knock on my door . Checking the time, it's not nine o'clock yet, so I was reluctant to open the door. I heard a voice saying " I was sent here by the man you spoke with yesterday at the hospital" processing what he said, my phone rang and I picked up. "It's the stranger you spoke with yesterday, I sent my driver to you. I will be waiting for you" He said, ending the call immediately. The driver was wearing a black suit and black shoes with a black sunshade. "Good morning ma. Shall we go now he said" He opened the car for me, and I entered. To my surprise, Christian was present in the car.