MARRIAGE CONTRACT WITH THE RUTHLESS CEO

Chapter Three

Mia kept pestering Andrew about what the surprise was, she was a bit anxious but she kept calm.

Well, your ex-boyfriend is here, Andrew said casually.

"Jayden's here!" she exclaimed excitedly as she rushed out of the room and down the hallway. Andrew who was following her tapped her on the back, advising, "Don't act too quickly. Just listen to what they have to say."

Mia agreed by nodding her head while staying hidden behind the door.

Mia wondered, watching Isabel and Jay together, feeling confused.

"Are you scared, Jay? You missed the best part," Isabel asked.

I've changed tactics. Jay said briefly.

Your girlfriend is engaged to another man and you just sit still quiet and undisturbed?

I met with Andrew before the engagement and he agreed to pay me a huge breakup fee. He's a big boss of a luxury group of companies, so I can't be treated badly. Jay concluded with a nasty smile curved on his cheeks.

"I can't believe Mia married Andrew after just one time," Isabel said, her face filled with confusion. "And why do you think he'd give you the money? He's cunning."

"If he doesn't help me, he's the one causing trouble. Meaning he's the third party. Mia is my girlfriend," Jay stated plainly.

"Third-party?" Isabel asked a smirk on her face. "Do you see yourself as Mia's boyfriend? Is it because you love her? No, you're just using that label to ask for money. I know the kind of person you are," Isabel concluded with certainty.

(Jay sighs) Mia is crazy about me now. If only she knew I was leaving because of her, she'd be so moved. It's a pity. I genuinely feel sorry for Mia," he concluded.

Mia, hearing what Jayden was thinking, had tears rolling down her cheeks in pain.

"I feel sorry for Andrew marrying someone like Mia. She's so boring, and I'm tired of her. Andrew can have her. If I get the money, I'll have fun with other women," Andrew said, smiling with a sense of accomplishment.

Out of nowhere, Mia ran to Jayden and slapped him hard. Isabel quickly left the room, seeing Mia upset.

"Are you crazy, Mia?" Jayden's voice trembled with anger.

Jayden looked at Mia, frustration evident in his eyes. "Did you ever love me?" Mia asked, her voice carrying a sense of brokenness and pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably, reflecting the depth of her emotions.

The room fell silent for a moment, Jayden struggled to find the right words, his anger mixed with a tinge of guilt.

Mia, hurt and betrayed, continued to gaze at Jayden, searching for answers in his eyes. The weight of the question hung in the air, leaving both of them caught in a web of emotions. The room seemed to hold the echoes of their unspoken feelings, waiting for a resolution that might never come.

"Mia finally spoke up. You owed a lot to loan sharks, my family was threatened because of you. I worked hard every day, but I couldn't pay them back just because I liked you. You don't care about me at all, right?" Mia expressed angrily.

"Mia, you're not my usual type of girl. You're just too good, especially at helping me clear my loan debt and asking for money. I've worked hard for our future. I allowed the engagement for your sake. Just imagine if I had caused trouble that day." Andrew responded.

"What are you saying, Jay? Did you even have a future planned for me?" she exploded. "So, I was just a tool you used to clear your debt and collect money, right?"

"Yes, what else did you think you were good for? Oh, Mia, you have a bright future now, all because I made it possible. You have to thank me for that," Jay fired back.

In the charged atmosphere, Mia's hand poised for another slap on Jayden's cheeks, fueled by a mix of anger and frustration. However, before the blow could land, a powerful intervention occurred. Andrew, with a swift and strong hand, intercepted Mia's motion, gently guiding her hand downward. The room held its breath for a moment, as the unspoken tension and emotions lingered, encapsulating the complex dynamics between the three individuals in that pivotal instant.

"Don't worry, let me handle this," Andrew said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Thank you Mr Andrew for letting me witness this nonsense," Mia interjected abruptly.

Take a rest in the car, I'll handle this. Andrew said firmly.

Mia walked out, her shoulder slightly pushing against Andrew.

"As you can see, I have no relationship with Mia. You can give me the money you promised now," he said, wearing a smile and rubbing his palms together.

Jay looked up from the paper he buried his head in, staring at Andrew as he spoke, "You deceived me, CEO Andrew?"

"I didn't deceive you. It's your stupidity that gave me the chance to track you," Andrew fired back with a hint of confrontation.

You did this to me, you win now. All I can say is wow. Aren't you afraid I'll make trouble for Mia?" Jayden spoke his tone a mix of resignation and frustration.

"If you threaten me, I'll have to send you to jail," Andrew responded, his voice carrying a hint of fear.

Defiant, Jayden declared, "You may have won, but this isn't the end." He stormed out, anger radiating.

Andrew approached the car, surprised to find Mia gone. Disturbed, he wondered where she could be. Recalling he told her to wait, concern filled his thoughts. He called Mia, her teary voice on the other end.

Where are you, Mia? I told you to wait in the car," Andrew said urgently.

"I needed some fresh air after everything that happened. I'll be with you shortly," she explained.

Andrew hung up the call, instructing, "When you're finished shedding tears, reach out. I'll dispatch a driver. I've got more pressing matters to attend to."

{Mia's POV}

My life's a total mess. My so-called best friend, the one I trusted and told all my problems to, tricked me for her reasons. It hurts, to feel used like that. The boyfriend I worked three jobs a day for, thinking he loved me, was just using me to make money. Realizing I was a fool stings. Then, my stepfather kicked me out of the house. I want to save my mom from the pain he puts her through. Now, I'm stuck in a fake marriage with a mean guy. It's hard to trust anyone now. I cry a lot, and my eyes are red, and my face is pale. Why does life have to be so tough?

A young man in a sleek black suit interrupted Mia, "Excuse me, ma'am. I've been noticing you for a while. I hope you're okay. He asked

"Yes, I'm okay. I was just about to go," Mia responded, making her way out.

The mansion resonated with the deliberate pace of footsteps, the sound weaving through the stillness. Andrew, seated in the living room with his attention fixed on the glow of his phone screen, discerned the distinct rhythm of Mia's approach.

Breaking the tranquil air, Andrew's voice pierced through, laden with a blend of relief, surprise, and perhaps a hint of anticipation. "You've finally returned," he declared, the words hanging in the silence, a testament to the unspoken emotions echoing in the space.

His gaze shifted to Mia's hands, where a bag clenched in her grip revealed the presence of several bottles of alcohol. He tinged his words as he sought understanding, "What are you doing with all that in my house?"

The silence in the big house turned into a conversation without words. Every move and expression held the heaviness of unknown feelings in the air.

"Why are you surrounded by all those bottles of alcohol in my house?" Andrew questioned, a frown creasing his forehead.

Mia met Andrew's gaze, her eyes reflecting a mixture of sorrow and defiance. "This is the only thing that could ease my pain," she explained, her voice carrying the weight of emotional turmoil. I paused, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. "I know this is your house, but this is my life—just permit me," Mia responded, her plea echoing with a sense of desperation

Andrew exited, showing minimal concern for Mia.

Mia sat on the floor, opening the boxes of meals she ordered. She quietly listed what was inside, saying to herself, "Grilled chicken, fatty sausages, durian cake." Frustrated, she admitted, "I haven't eaten these things in a while to lose weight."

She ground the food carefully, doing her best to forget how much she hurt inside.

Mia had three glasses of alcohol. Her eyes were sad and dim, and she felt drunk. "I hate this life, there's nothing good here. I feel trapped, and there's no one to talk to. It's just me and this world," she said with a weird laugh. "They're all liars!" she shouted, feeling upset.

As Andrew observed Mia eating, drinking, and talking to herself, a strong sense of pity swept through him, feeling sorry for her situation. She's been through a lot in life.

Andrew was lost in thought when Mia abruptly stood up, pushing him onto the couch and climbing on top. "I was blind to like you," she said. "Even if you don't like me, at least treat me like a human being. Do you even have a heart?"

Andrew, realizing she was drunk, maintained control and said, "What's all this, Mia? Are you mad?" Whispering to himself, he thought, "This woman is awful. Get down from me now."

Mia, in her drunken state, burst into laughter at Andrew's words, the sound echoing in the room. She held onto him tightly, finding his statement hilariously absurd. Despite the situation, her laughter filled the space, and Andrew couldn't help but be bewildered by the unexpected reaction.

In an unexpected turn of events, Mia, fueled by the influence of alcohol, impulsively seized Andrew's finger and bit down with surprising force. Andrew winced in pain, his immediate reaction being to push Mia away from him. The room was filled with a mix of confusion and discomfort as Mia, despite being pushed down, responded with a seemingly innocent and cute smile.

Mia, you're just too innocent, and that's why people keep taking advantage of you," he said softly, his words carrying a tone of genuine concern for her well-being.

In a sudden burst of impulsiveness, Mia rushed towards Andrew, her hands framing the back of his head as their lips met in a moment of intoxicated connection. The taste of excessive alcohol lingered in the kiss, and Andrew, caught in the intensity of the moment, responded with passion. However, realizing the blurred lines between consent and the effects of alcohol, he paused, gently pushing Mia away.

Confronted with the realization that taking advantage of the situation was not the right path, Andrew quietly said to himself, "I can't take advantage of this." He walked out of Mia…