The Contract Bride
494 Words
The wedding was over in less than twenty minutes.
No flowers. No music. No smiling guests. Just a lawyer, two signatures, and a pair of rings that weighed heavier than chains.
Adaobi sat stiffly in the back of the sleek black car, her hands clenched in her lap. The ring on her finger glimmered under the city lights, mocking her with every sparkle.
Was this really marriage? Or just another transaction?
The man beside her hadn’t said a word since they left the registry office. His profile was sharp, carved like marble, his gaze fixed out the tinted window. Even in silence, he exuded dominance.
She stole a glance at him, her chest tightening.
“I don’t even know your name,” she blurted before she could stop herself.
He turned his head slowly, pinning her with eyes as dark as midnight.
“Oba,” he said at last, his tone clipped. “Oba Kalu.”
Adaobi’s stomach dropped. She had heard that name countless times whispered in office corridors. The Oba Kalu—CEO of Kalu Group, the ruthless businessman whose decisions made or destroyed entire careers. He was feared, admired, untouchable.
And now… her husband.
The car rolled to a stop before a mansion that looked like it belonged in a glossy magazine. Massive iron gates swung open to reveal a sprawling estate, marble fountains sparkling under golden lights. Guards bowed as the car drove in.
Adaobi’s breath caught. She had never seen such wealth, not even in her wildest dreams.
But instead of awe, all she felt was dread.
Oba led her inside without a word. The foyer alone was larger than her old apartment, with crystal chandeliers, gleaming floors, and a grand staircase that stretched toward the heavens. Servants lined up, heads bowed.
“This is your home now,” Oba said flatly. “A keycard will give you access to most rooms. Don’t wander where you don’t belong.”
His voice carried no warmth, no welcome. Just cold command.
A maid stepped forward and guided her upstairs to a lavish bedroom. The king-sized bed looked like it had been carved for royalty, but Adaobi felt no comfort.
That night, she sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her suitcase. Every instinct screamed at her to run. This place wasn’t home, it was a golden cage.
Her heart raced as she rose, grabbing the handle of her suitcase. If she left now, maybe she could still escape. Maybe there was another way to survive.
She tiptoed down the hallway, her footsteps muffled on the plush carpet. The mansion was eerily quiet, every shadow looming like a warning.
Finally, she reached the massive front doors. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the handle,
And froze.
A figure stood in the doorway, tall and broad-shouldered, blocking her path. His eyes gleamed like fire in the darkness.
“Trying to run away already, Mrs. Kalu?”
Adaobi’s blood turned cold.
- Writer
