Contract Marriage With My Rival

Chapter 1

Paula's POV.

"Please, Dad, tell me this is some joke." I pleaded as I stared at my father in disbelief, my jaw almost dropping.

"Paula....I am not." My father heaved a weary sigh while I felt like my world was crumbling.

It couldn't be. My father surely didn't know what he was saying. I mean, how could he even bear to tell me such?

"I refuse. I am not getting married to Shane Dante." I half-yelled and my mother frowned.

"You have no choice. This wasn't a request." My mother said as I scoffed.

She had to be kidding.

"So you guys are willing to sacrifice my happiness just to attain more power?" I shook my head sideways in awe.

I couldn't believe this was my parents. How could they do this to me?

"Do you have a better option? This isn't just about more power; it's also about our business that is going down the drain." Father yelled as he stood up and I flinched.

'Wait! What?'

Dad and mum run one of the biggest companies in the city. It was the second best but all of a sudden, we dropped to number 5 in the society, and Dad is very pissed about it.

I, on the other hand, decided not to join the family business and run a beauty company, which Dad allowed because it was bringing benefits to him.

But it wasn't any longer. All because of that my bastard rival.

"If care isn't taken, Investors would begin to pull out and everything we have ever built would crumble," Father told me as my lips parted in shock.

How come all these things were happening, and yet I had no idea?

"That still doesn't give you guys the right to seal my fate. What about the man I love?" I blurted out stupidly and then froze, when my mother gasped.

'f**k! What have I done? I loved no one. How could such come out of my mouth?' I pondered as I bit my lower lip hard in regret, but then, as I watched my parents' hardened expression soften, I thought it might not be a bad idea after all.

"Hold up! You are in love?" Mum questioned as her eyeballs widened from shock while Dad looked like I had punched him in the guts.

I bowed my head and smirked. This seems to be great. Perhaps they would abandon this crazy idea now.

"Y-yes," I stuttered and Dad gave me a look.

"Then we would like to meet him. Who is he?" Mum hurriedly asked and a huge lump formed in my throat.

"I hope he isn't from an ordinary family. If not, you shall still proceed with the marriage to the Mafia family." Dad warned, with a deep glare that sent shivers down my spine as my palms grew sweaty.

I think I just created more problems for myself but wait! I couldn't marry that brute from the Mafia.

Not only would my happy life be ruined, but my freedom would also be compromised. I couldn't allow that to happen so I immediately began to rack my head for another lie to tell.

"Paula?" Dad called with a serious tone as I raised my head to realize that he was looking at me suspiciously, like he knew I was lying.

I trembled not to tremble under his heavy gaze as I forced a smile instead when an idea hit me immediately.

It was the worst of all but I had no choice at this point because that bastard was the only one that came to mind now. He met all qualifications and was the only man my parents would approve even though it was unbelievable.

"Paula, don't feel scared. Even if this man is a pauper, just let us know. The worst we can do is to just remove you as our heir and let your siblings handle the Empire." Mum said as if to assure me but rather, my heart skipped a beat in fear.

Paul and Lucia. Mum reminded me of my crazy twin and selfish younger sister. Those two were the weapons fashioned against me. They would do anything to see me miserable and have been trying to sabotage me ever since.

"Hell no." I refused, and Mum and Dad frowned.

"Then who is this mysterious Dude? Why are you just mentioning him? It's weird, you love someone and I have never seen signs." Mum mocked and I dug my nails into my palm.

"That's because we have both been hiding it. He isn't who you would expect." I told them and they exchanged looks, obviously confused.

"Who is he, Paula?" Dad asked, and I took in a deep breath, thinking I was crazy for even wanting to do this, but I had no choice.

It was either this fool or that brute Mafia guy and the safer option was this fool.

"Christian Cole," I replied, and bit my tongue heavily for having to say those cursed words.

Both mum and Dad went pale, as everywhere went silent. Mum looked at me like I had grown two heads while Dad chuckled.

"I am not in the mood for jokes, dear daughter." Dad laughed in a way that almost sent my soul out of my skin, and Mum, recovering from her shock, joined in.

I clenched my fists, feeling like a clown but I couldn't blame them. I myself wanted to laugh at this horrible lie, but then I had to make it a reality.

I wasn't getting married to some Mafia. I would rather choke to death.

"I am serious. We are in love and planned on telling you two but only after we were married." I lied again, and Mum stiffened.

"George. Paula doesn't seem like she is kidding." My mother nudged my dad and I fought the urge to grin.

Dad sat back down on the couch, looking lost, while Mum moved closer to place a hand around his shoulder.

"Really?" He whisp

ered but I caught it and nodded, feeling my heart racing against my chest wildly.