CHAPTERFIVE
1006 Words
The old man exhaled, shaking his head. “Doctors say I have months, maybe less.” His voice was calm, almost resigned. “I made peace with it long ago. What I haven’t made peace with is leaving behind an unfinished legacy.”
His tired eyes softened as they landed on Drew. “That’s why I’m relieved you have a wife now.”
Drew’s grip on the table tightened. I could practically feel the tension radiating off him.
“Marriage is more than companionship, Drew,” his grandfather continued. “It’s a partnership. You need someone who will stand by your side, through every storm.”
Drew said nothing.
I felt like a fraud just sitting there. This wasn’t real. I wasn’t really his wife. But his grandfather believed it. And the more he spoke, the more I realized how much this meant to him.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “I should rest. We’ll finalize the transfer papers soon.”
Drew stood immediately. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
His grandfather waved him off. “I’m old, not fragile. Just make sure your wife settles in.” He turned to me, his gaze softening. “Welcome to the family, Prevail.”
I forced a tight smile. “Thank you.”
With one last nod, he walked out, his cane tapping against the marble floor.
As soon as he was gone, the silence between Drew and me became unbearable.
He finally turned to me, his expression unreadable. “You should leave.”
I blinked. “What?”
“This is bigger than you, Prevail. You have no idea what you just walked into.”
My pulse quickened. “I didn’t walk into anything, Drew. I was tricked into this marriage.”
His jaw ticked. “Then walk away.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “And then what? Let your grandfather find out the truth? Let him die thinking you lied to him?”
Drew’s expression darkened.
I pushed back my chair and stood. “You might not care about this marriage, but I do. Because like it or not, I’m in it now. And I won’t be the one to break your grandfather’s heart.”
His eyes flashed with something unreadable—anger, frustration, maybe even respect.
But he didn’t stop me when I turned and walked out.
Because for better or worse…
I had just sealed my fate.
I barely made it back to the guest room before my knees buckled.
Gripping the edge of the dresser, I forced myself to breathe. The reality of my situation was suffocating.
I was stuck.
Walking away wasn’t an option—not without shattering an old man’s heart. Drew’s grandfather had mere months to live, and the last thing I wanted was to be responsible for his disappointment.
But that didn’t mean I had to make it easy for Drew.
I turned as the door swung open, and there he was—towering in the doorway, his face shadowed with tension.
“We need to talk,” he said.
I crossed my arms. “No, you need to talk. I’m still waiting for an explanation, Drew. How did this happen? Who tricked me into this?”
His jaw clenched. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it matters!” My voice rose, frustration boiling over. “Your girlfriend handed you a contract bride like I was some business transaction! And now I’m here, married to you—” I scoffed, shaking my head. “And for what? To play the role of your perfect wife while your grandfather signs his empire over to you?”
Drew exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Really? Because it sounds pretty simple to me.”
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You think I planned this?” His voice was low, controlled. “You think I wanted to be forced into marriage with a stranger?”
I swallowed hard, refusing to back down. “Then why aren’t you trying to fix it?”
His eyes darkened. “Because fixing it means telling my grandfather the truth. And I won’t do that.”
I stared at him. “So, what? You just expect me to pretend to be your wife?”
His silence was my answer.
I shook my head, biting back the anger threatening to spill over. “Unbelievable.”
Drew exhaled, stepping back. “Look, I don’t like this any more than you do. But we don’t have a choice.”
My chest ached with the weight of his words. No choice.
He was right.
At least, not if I wanted to keep his grandfather happy.
“Eighteen months,” I murmured, more to myself than him.
Drew’s gaze sharpened. “What?”
I met his eyes, my decision solidifying. “The contract says eighteen months, right? That’s how long this marriage is supposed to last?”
He hesitated, then nodded.
I lifted my chin. “Fine. I’ll stay. But only for eighteen months.”
His brows furrowed. “Prevail—”
“I mean it, Drew. After that, I walk away. No complications, no attachments.” I folded my arms. “And until then, you stay out of my way.”
Something flickered in his eyes, something unreadable. “You want ground rules?”
“Absolutely.”
His lips pressed into a thin line. “Fine. But I have rules too.”
I crossed my arms, waiting.
His voice was low and firm. “Don’t embarrass me in front of my grandfather. No one else can know this marriage is fake. And don’t—” His jaw tightened. “Don’t get attached.”
A sharp laugh escaped me. “Trust me, Mr. Albert, that won’t be a problem.”
We stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills.
But deep down, I knew the truth.
I had just signed myself up for eighteen months of chaos.
- Writer
