Love Is Betrayal

Proposal

CHAPTER THREE

I took a deep breath. The wound was still fresh in my heart and I wondered how I’d start speaking without crying my eyes out.

“You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to,” he glared softly at me. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to pity me or console me.

“It’s fine!” I sniffed, pushing my tears back in. They say the first step towards healing is speaking, right?

I took a deep breath to gather myself before opening my mouth. I carefully narrated everything to him while he listened attentively.

“Your guy’s an ass to wait till the wedding day before breaking things off. If he can’t tell you how you betrayed him? Then it’s only an excuse,”

That’s the same thing Avery said to me and thinking about it, they were right.

“Why do you think he did that?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he sighed. “No reason is justifiable. Anyway, so what I’m hearing is, you’re single,”

I frowned, folding my arms. “Is that all you got from what I said?”

“s**t happens!” He shrugged. “But I have a solution,”

“What?” My eyes sparkled curiously,

“I need to get married soon,” he said, looking me straight in the eye. “Will you be my contract wife, stranger?”

I scoffed, looking at him in disbelief. Did this man just hear what I just said? My wedding just got canceled and he’s saying such nonsense.

“And how is that a solution?” I sneered, shaking my head.

“I need a contract wife, and you still get to have your dream wedding plus a five hundred thousand dollar cheque. Sounds like a good arrangement,”

“You must be crazy!” I spat. I stood up and began to walk away when I felt his strong arm grab my wrist.

“Let me go!” I cried out, trying to free myself from him but his grip on me tightened.

“Please hear me out. I promise to make this quick,”

What nonsense is this man saying? Now I regret coming here to spend some time alone. So much for trying to pour out my feelings for a stranger.

“I’m going to scream if you don’t let me go,” I threatened, my eyes filled with venom.

“Fine!” He brought out a card from his pocket. “In case you change your mind then let me know “

He put the card in my palm, squeezing it tightly before walking away. I stared at the card. Tristan Blackwill!

So that’s the jerk’s name. My eyes popped out of my socket as I read the next sentence. CEO of Black and Will industries? It was one of the biggest Furniture companies in the world. I wanted to throw the card away, but something in me kept telling me to hold on to it.

I went back to my room and this time, Avery was there waiting for me. The doctor came in shortly after and told me I was fine, just exhausted and dehydrated. I was later discharged and Avery drove me back home.

My heart was still heavy. Looking at my house, and knowing that I’m going back there when I had packed all my boxes and sold all my important furniture broke my heart into pieces.

As soon as I walked in, I met my aunt seated in my living room with folded arms, her feet tapping on the floor impatiently. She had spare keys to my house because she sometimes slept over when she had work around the area.

As soon as I walked in, she charged at me and slapped me hard across the face.

“Aunt Marie!” I held my burning cheeks in shock.

“Why didn’t you show up at the wedding? What did you do to upset Logan?” She pointed angrily in my face.

“I didn’t do anything,” tears began to fall my face. “Logan called off the wedding out of the blue,”

“I knew it!” She threw her hands in the air dramatically. “Useless child! You can’t even keep a man. How the hell are we supposed to take care of my daughter’s kidney transplant without his money, huh?”

She yelled in my face.

Avery stepped forward to defend me. “Aunt please, take it easy. Logan is not God. He—“

“Shut your mouth! You brat!” She interrupted, pointing at her face before sharply turning to face me. “Since you can’t keep Logan, then find a way to make that money. If anything happens to my daughter, then her blood is on your head.

And with that, she stormed out of the house. As soon as she left, I broke down on the floor and cried. Why does life have to be this way?

After my parents died, my aunt raised me with her daughter, Faith, who was my cousin. I was treated like trash by Aunt Marie but they raised and took care of me so I owe them everything. Logan had promised to pay for Faith’s transplant after she suddenly developed a kidney disease, but now, that won’t be happening. Even if he offers to pay, I would rather die than collect anything from him. Plus, I was still paying the debt my dad left before he died. He loaned a lot of money from loan sharks to start up a building project but it was burnt during a protest.

Every month, I was supposed to pay a certain amount or I'd be in trouble. Right now, I am jobless.

I work in Logan’s company but with what has happened, I can’t work there anymore. I was too tired to start looking for a quick part-time offer. After all I’ve been through. I just wanted to rest from all my troubles.

I suddenly cleaned my tears as I remembered Tristan’s offer.

Perhaps, I might have to consider that.

~~~~~~~~~

I sat in Tristan’s magnificent living room, my eyes darting around. His home looked like a palace. From the luxury walls to the exquisite paintings and sleek marble tiles. Everything about this house screamed expensive. I had decided to call him and he invited me over so we could talk about the terms of the contract.

“Glad you agreed to this,” his voice vibrated in the room. I watched as he walked down the stairs and came towards me, his hands firmly in his pockets with a smirk on his face.

“I really need the money,” I exhaled as he took his seat opposite me.

“I can’t believe I’m just finding out your names today. Becca—it’s a playful name,”

“Please! Let’s get on with this,” I adjusted myself on my seat impatiently.

“Of course. I’m in dire need of this too,”

“Why, if I may ask,”

“My grandmother is seriously ill,” he began, his forehead creasing in sadness. “That’s why I was at the hospital. She’s insisting that I get married so I can get her shares in the company and become the highest stakeholder,”

“I see,” I nodded. “So how long is the contract for?”

“Two years. After that, you’re free to go. Your money will be paid immediately when you sign the contract. And of course, nobody must know it’s a contract marriage except us,”

“That’s fine. Anything else I need to know?”

“Oh yes! One, you have to move here immediately. Two, under no condition must you enter the room with the orange door. It’s the only door in this house that’s painted orange so it’s easy to avoid. Lastly, we have to sleep in the same room so the workers in the house don’t suspect anything,”

“Wait a minute!” I sat up, my eyes twitching curiously. “What’s behind the orange door?”

“Nothing!” He answered sharply.

“Hmm,” I looked at him suspiciously.

“I’m serious,” he sighed, running his hands through his thick hair. “It’s just treasured memories and relics from my late parents. It’s very personal to me. Anyway, let's get down to business,"

I nodded, my heart beating fast in my chest. I can’t believe I’m about to marry a stranger when my wedding was recently canceled. Never would I have thought that this is the next step I’d take.

But it’s too late to turn back now. It’s time to get this done and over with.