Chapter 3: A Contract That Changes Everything
520 Words
The rain had finally stopped.
Morning sunlight poured through the tall glass windows of the mansion, painting golden lines across the marble floor. Emily stood in front of the mirror, staring at the expensive dress the housekeeper had left for her.
It didn't feel like her life anymore.
Only yesterday she had been worrying about unpaid rent and her mother's hospital bills. Now she was standing inside the home of the city's most powerful billionaire.
A knock came at the door.
"Miss Emily, Mr. Adrian is waiting for you in the dining room."
Emily took a deep breath.
"I'm coming."
The dining table was long enough to seat twenty people, but only Adrian sat there.
He looked up from his newspaper as Emily entered.
"Sit."
She quietly pulled out a chair.
A maid poured coffee into her cup.
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Finally Adrian folded the newspaper.
"You have many questions."
Emily nodded.
"Why did you help me?"
Adrian looked at her with unreadable eyes.
"Because I needed someone."
She frowned.
"Someone... for what?"
He slid a thick document across the table.
"A contract."
Emily stared at the papers.
"What kind of contract?"
"You'll become my fiancée."
Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
"For one year."
She almost laughed.
"You must be joking."
"I never joke."
The room became silent.
Emily slowly pushed the contract back.
"No."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You refused without reading it."
"I don't need to read it."
"You'll receive enough money to pay every hospital bill."
Emily froze.
"How do you know about my mother?"
"I know everything before making a decision."
His calm voice made her nervous.
"You investigated me?"
"I had to."
Emily stood up.
"I'm not selling myself."
"You aren't."
"Then what is this?"
"A business arrangement."
She shook her head.
"My answer is still no."
Without another word she walked away.Outside the mansion, Emily finally breathed freely.
She couldn't believe someone would ask a complete stranger to pretend to be his fiancée.
It sounded insane.
Her phone suddenly rang.
The hospital.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Hello?"
"Miss Emily, your mother's condition has become worse. She needs surgery as soon as possible."
Emily's hands trembled.
"How much will it cost?"
The number the doctor mentioned made her knees weak.
She didn't have even half of it.
Meanwhile...
Inside his office, Adrian watched the city through the window.
His assistant entered.
"Sir, she rejected the offer."
"I expected that."
"What will you do now?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Wait."
"She'll come back?"
"Life leaves people with very few choices."
That evening...
Emily sat alone outside the hospital.
She looked at her mother's room through the window.
Tears filled her eyes.
"I don't know what to do anymore..."
At that exact moment, a black luxury car stopped beside her.
The window rolled down.
Adrian looked at her calmly.
"I'll ask only once more."
He held out the contract.
"Will you become my fiancée?"
Emily stared at him.
She knew saying yes would change her entire life.
But saying no...
...might cost her mother's life.
She slowly reached for the contract.
To Be Continued...
- Writer
