The billionaire's contract wife

The Dream and the Decision

Chapter Five

The sun had barely risen, casting soft, golden rays through the curtains of Theo’s room, yet he was wide awake. His heart raced as he recalled the vivid details of his dream. The girl—Emily—was in danger, and he felt an overwhelming urge to act.

Without thinking, Theo jumped out of bed and dashed down the hallway. He needed to tell his parents about the dream. He knew they might dismiss it, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was significant.

He burst into his parents’ room, breathless. “Mom! Dad!” he called, startling them both.

Thomas sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “What is it, Theo?” he asked, concern etching his features.

“I had a dream about Emily,” he blurted out, stepping closer. “She was in danger! We have to do something!”

Elena sat up straighter, her brow furrowing at the mention of the name. “What do you mean? What happened in your dream?”

“I saw her being chased. There were men—bad men,” Theo explained, his voice rising in urgency. “I think they’re after her, and we need to get her out of our house before it’s too late!”

The mention of danger made Elena's expression shift, but Thomas remained skeptical. “Theo, it was just a dream,” he said, trying to calm his son. “Dreams can’t predict the future. You’re letting your imagination run wild.”

“No!” Theo protested, frustration bubbling within him. “It felt real. I know it sounds crazy, but I can’t just ignore it!”

“Listen to your mother,” Thomas said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “For now, just focus on your day. Let’s not make decisions based on a dream. You need to calm down.”

Anger simmered beneath Theo’s skin. He wanted to shake his father awake, to make him understand the urgency he felt. But all he saw was dismissal. “Fine,” he spat, turning on his heel and storming out of the room.

As he slammed the door behind him, he could hear his father sigh in exasperation. “That boy needs to learn how to differentiate between reality and fantasy,” Thomas muttered, his voice fading as Theo hurried down the hallway.

In the solitude of the house, Theo felt isolated, frustration gnawing at him. He needed an escape from this place, away from the dismissive attitudes of his parents. Grabbing his jacket, he slipped out the back door and made his way into the cool morning air.

As he wandered through the estate, his mind whirled with thoughts of Emily. He couldn't shake the feeling that her life was intertwined with his now, and he was determined to find a way to help her. But this was more than just a desire to protect; he needed to ensure that she was no longer a risk to his family. He settled on a nearby bench, staring out at the sprawling gardens, hoping to find clarity.

As he sat there, lost in contemplation, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. “Theo? Is that you?”

Startled, he turned to see Daniel, a former classmate from university, approaching with a grin. “I didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Daniel! What are you doing here?” Theo asked, forcing a smile despite the turmoil in his mind.

“I just moved back to town. Thought I’d check out the old neighborhood and see if anything’s changed,” Daniel replied, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “What about you? How’s life treating you?”

Theo hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “You know, just... the usual. Work and family stuff.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something was off. “You don’t look too happy, man. Everything alright?”

Theo sighed, feeling a rush of frustration. “It’s just... there’s a lot going on. We took in this girl named Emily. I’m worried she might be in danger.”

“Emily? I don’t think I know her,” Daniel said, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What’s the deal?”

Theo rubbed the back of his neck, struggling to explain. “She was hit by a car, and my dad brought her home for recovery. But now I have this feeling that something’s wrong. I had this dream, and it felt real, like she’s being hunted or something.”

Daniel frowned, his expression shifting to concern. “That sounds intense. Are you sure it’s just a dream?”

“I don’t know,” Theo admitted, his voice dropping. “But it feels like there’s something more to it. I don’t want to put my family at risk.”

Daniel stepped closer, his tone growing serious. “Listen, if you think there’s a real threat, maybe you should investigate. Find out who she really is. There might be more to her story than you know.”

“Yeah, I thought about that,” Theo replied, a sense of urgency bubbling inside him. “But my parents don’t believe me. They think I’m just being dramatic.”

“Forget them. This is your instinct kicking in. You can’t just ignore it,” Daniel said, placing a hand on Theo’s shoulder. “If you’re right, you could be saving her life.”

Theo nodded, feeling a rush of determination. “You’re right. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

“Good. Let’s dig a little deeper. We’ll figure out what’s going on,” Daniel said, his eyes glinting with resolve. “Do you have any way to contact her? Maybe she can tell you more.”

Just then, Theo’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a message from his mother: “Come back home. We need to talk.”

A wave of anxiety washed over him. “I need to go back. My parents want to talk,” he said, his heart racing.

“Alright, but don’t let them discourage you,” Daniel replied, giving him a reassuring nod. “I’ll be around. Let’s catch up later.”

Theo made his way back to the house, his mind racing with possibilities. As he stepped inside, he could sense the tension in the air. His parents were in the living room, waiting for him.

“Sit down, Theo,” Thomas said, his tone serious.

“What’s going on?” Theo asked, the unease creeping back in.

“Your mother and I have been talking,” Thomas began, glancing at Elena. “We’ve decided we want to help Emily, give her a job so she can start anew.”

Theo’s heart raced at the thought. “You’re bringing her into the family business? Are you serious?”

“Yes, we think it could be good for her—and for us,” Elena interjected. “She needs support, and we want to offer her a chance.”

“Are you kidding? You want to put her in harm’s way?” Theo exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. “You don’t understand the danger she might bring! I’m trying to protect you both!”

“Protect us?” Thomas shot back, anger flaring. “You’re overreacting. You need to stop thinking that every little thing is a threat.”

“Maybe you should listen to me for once!” Theo shouted, feeling the tension in the room escalate. “This isn’t just a whim. I had a dream about her being in danger!”

Elena held up her hands, trying to calm the situation. “Theo, we’re just trying to help her. We believe she deserves a chance to get back on her feet.”

“But at what cost?” Theo countered, frustration spilling over. “What if it puts us all at risk?”

Thomas’s expression hardened. “We can handle ourselves, son. You need to trust us to make the right decision.”

Theo felt a rush of anger surge through him. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, the weight of his father’s words hanging heavy in the air.

As he stepped into the hallway, he could hear his parents discussing something quietly behind him. He felt torn, caught between wanting to protect Emily and being forced to accept his parents’ decision.

Rushing back to his room, he slammed the door shut, breathing heavily as he tried to collect his thoughts. How could they not see the danger? He had to act fast.

He sat on his bed, his mind racing. He couldn’t let them bring Emily into their lives without knowing who she truly was. He would need to figure this out for himself.

Tomorrow, he would confront her. He would get to the bottom of her story, and if there was even a hint of danger, he would find a way to keep his family safe—no matter the cost.