The Contract Marriage

Chapter Seven: Telling her

I had signed the contract.

I was getting married in six days.

And my mother had absolutely no idea.

That was the problem.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone.

Mum was saved as Mum .

I had opened her contact at least fifteen times that morning.

Every time, I closed it again.

How exactly was I supposed to explain this?

Hi, Mum. Remember how I told you I got a job offer?

Well, technically it's not a job.

It's marriage.

Fake marriage.

To a billionaire.

For money.

Also, we're getting married in six days.

I covered my face with both hands.

"She's going to kill me."

My phone rang.

Laura.

I answered.

"Please don't ask."

"I haven't said anything."

"You were going to."

"I was going to ask if you told your mum."

I groaned.

"See?"

"So?"

"No."

"Aria."

"I know."

"You can't keep avoiding it."

"I know."

"You've signed the contract."

"I know."

"You're getting married in six days."

"I KNOW."

There was a pause.

"Okay."

I lowered my hands.

"Okay what?"

"I'm coming over."

"What?"

"I'm not letting you tell your mother that you're marrying a stranger alone."

I laughed nervously.

"He's not a stranger anymore."

"That somehow makes it worse."

"Laura."

"I'm serious."

I looked around my room.

"I'll tell her today."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She was quiet for a moment.

"Are you sure about this?"

I looked at the contract sitting beside me.

"No."

She sighed.

"But you're doing it anyway."

"Yes."

"Why?"

I swallowed.

"Because I need the money."

"I know."

"And because Damien isn't forcing me."

"I know."

"He gave me an option."

"Aria..."

"I know it's crazy."

"It's more than crazy."

"I know."

I stared at my phone.

"But I think I can do it."

Laura sighed.

"Then I'll be there."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. I might run away when your mum starts shouting."

I laughed.

"Traitor."

"See you soon."

The call ended.

I stared at my mother's contact again.

This time, I pressed call.

She answered on the third ring.

"Aria?"

"Hi, Mum."

"Where have you been?"

"Home."

"You sound strange."

I closed my eyes.

Of course she noticed.

"I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

I swallowed.

"Something important."

There was a pause.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Did something happen?"

"No."

"Then why do you sound like that?"

I laughed weakly.

"Can I come home?"

"Of course."

"I'll be there soon."

"Aria."

"Yes?"

"You're scaring me."

"I'm sorry."

"Just come home."

The call ended.

I stared at my phone.

Well.

There was no going back now.

---

My mother was sitting in the living room when I arrived.

She looked tired.

That was the first thing I noticed.

The second was the stack of hospital papers sitting beside her.

My chest tightened.

"Hi, Mum."

She looked up.

"Come here."

I walked over and hugged her.

She held me tightly.

Then pulled away.

"Sit."

I sat.

She studied my face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing bad."

"Then tell me."

I looked at the papers beside her.

"How much do you still owe the hospital?"

Her expression changed.

"Why?"

"Just tell me."

"Aria."

"Please."

She sighed.

"I don't know exactly."

"Approximately?"

She hesitated.

"Enough."

I looked down.

"Okay."

"Why are you asking me this?"

I took a breath.

"I got an offer."

"What kind of offer?"

"A job."

She frowned.

"What job?"

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

I tried again.

"It's with Blackwood Enterprises."

Her expression changed immediately.

"The company owned by that Blackwood family?"

"Yes."

"What kind of job?"

I stared at my hands.

"This is going to sound insane."

"Aria."

"I know."

"What happened?"

I took a deep breath.

"They offered me money."

"For what?"

I looked at her.

"To marry Damien Blackwood."

Silence.

My mother stared at me.

I waited.

She blinked once.

Then twice.

"Excuse me?"

I swallowed.

"It's a contract marriage."

She stood up.

"No."

"Mum..."

"No."

"Please listen."

"No, Aria."

"It's not what you think."

"You're telling me a man wants to pay you to marry him?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"His inheritance."

She stared at me.

I continued quickly.

"He needs to be married for a year. It's part of the conditions for his inheritance."

"And you agreed?"

"I did."

Her face fell.

"Why?"

I looked at the hospital papers.

She followed my gaze.

Understanding slowly appeared in her eyes.

"No."

"Mum..."

"No."

"I can pay your bills."

"I don't want you selling yourself to pay my bills."

"I'm not selling myself."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I'm making a deal."

"A marriage is not a business deal."

"For us, it is."

She shook her head.

"Aria, you're too young to understand what you're getting yourself into."

"I understand."

"No, you don't."

"I know it's temporary."

"You don't know that."

"I signed a contract."

"Contracts can be broken."

"So can marriages."

She went quiet.

I took her hand.

"He gave me conditions too."

"What conditions?"

"Separate rooms. No interference in each other's lives. I keep my job. I can leave if I feel unsafe."

She looked at me carefully.

"Does he treat you well?"

"Yes."

"Does he respect you?"

"Yes."

"Are you afraid of him?"

I thought about it.

"No."

She looked down at our hands.

"And you don't love him?"

I almost laughed.

"No."

"Does he love you?"

"No."

She nodded slowly.

"Then why do I feel like this is still a terrible idea?"

"Because it probably is."

She looked at me.

"But?"

I squeezed her hand.

"But it's the only terrible idea I've ever had that might actually save us."

Her eyes filled with tears.

Mine did too.

"I don't want you to do this because of me."

"I'm doing it because I want to."

"You're my daughter."

"And you're my mother."

She looked away.

"I should be taking care of you."

"You are."

"Not like this."

I moved closer.

"Let me help you this time."

She wiped her eyes.

"You really signed it?"

I nodded.

"When?"

"Yesterday."

"And when is the wedding?"

I hesitated.

"Six days."

Her eyes widened.

"Six days?"

"I know."

"Six days, Aria?"

"I know."

"You've known this man for how long?"

I thought about it.

"Not long."

She stared at me.

Then she covered her face.

I couldn't help it.

I laughed.

She looked at me.

"This isn't funny."

"I know."

"Then why are you laughing?"

"Because if I don't laugh, I'll probably cry."

She sighed.

Then, unexpectedly, she laughed too.

It was small.

But it was there.

"You've always been stubborn."

"I got it from you."

"Don't blame me for this."

I smiled.

"I won't."

She looked at me for a long moment.

"Does he have money?"

I blinked.

"Mum."

"I'm asking."

"Yes."

"How much?"

"Enough."

She sighed.

"Of course."

I laughed.

Then she became serious again.

"I want to meet him."

My smile disappeared.

"What?"

"If you're going to marry him, I want to meet him."

My stomach dropped.

"Today?"

"No."

She paused.

"Tomorrow."

I stared at her.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Mum..."

"If he's asking you to marry him, he can sit in front of me and explain himself."

I swallowed.

She wasn't angry anymore.

She was protective.

That was somehow worse.

"Okay."

She nodded.

"Good."

I stood.

"I should go."

"Where?"

"Laura is waiting for me."

She smiled faintly.

"That girl has probably been helping you plan this madness."

"She knows."

"I knew it."

I hugged her.

She held me for a long moment.

Then whispered, "Be careful."

"I will."

When I pulled away, she touched my cheek.

"Whatever happens, don't forget that you don't owe anyone your happiness because they gave you money."

I nodded.

"I won't."

I walked outside.

My phone buzzed before I reached the gate.

A message from Damien.

The announcement will be released this evening.

I stopped walking.

Another message appeared.

Are you ready?

I stared at the screen.

I wasn't.

Not even close.

But for the first time since signing the contract, I didn't feel completely alone.

I typed back.

My mother knows.

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately.

Then disappeared.

Appeared again.

Finally, his reply came.

How did she take it?

I smiled faintly.

She wants to meet you tomorrow.

There was a long pause.

Then:

I'll be there.

I put my phone away.

Tomorrow, my mother was going to meet the man I was supposed to marry.

And tonight, the entire world was going to find out.

Six days.

That was all I had left to pretend this was just a contract.