Chapter 3: THE PROPOSAL
1943 Words
Isabella had been staring at the same cup of coffee for nearly ten minutes.
It had gone cold, but she hadn't noticed.
Her mind was somewhere else entirely.
The hospital.
Her mother's diagnosis.
The bills sitting unpaid on the kitchen table.
And the black card tucked safely inside her purse.
Alexander Knight.
She had thought about calling him more times than she cared to admit.
She never did.
There was something about accepting help from a man she barely knew that made her uncomfortable. Especially a man like Alexander.
He lived in a world Isabella only saw from a distance.
A world of expensive suits, private events, luxury cars, and people who never seemed to worry about whether they could afford their next meal.
She had spent the last three days trying to find another solution.
She had asked about extra hours at the café.
She had looked into loans.
She had called the hospital and asked about payment plans.
Every answer had led to the same thing.
More money.
Money she didn't have.
Isabella rubbed her tired eyes.
“What am I going to do?”
“You're talking to yourself again.”
She looked up.
Mia stood beside the table with an amused expression.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I was thinking.”
“With your mouth?”
Isabella sighed.
“Go away.”
Mia laughed and walked back toward the counter.
Isabella almost smiled.
Almost.
Then the bell above the café door rang.
She looked up.
Her smile disappeared.
Alexander Knight had walked in.
He looked completely out of place among the mismatched chairs and crowded tables.
Dark suit.
White shirt.
No tie.
His expression was calm, but there was something serious in his eyes.
Their gazes met.
Alexander walked directly toward her.
Isabella's heart started beating faster.
He stopped beside her table.
“Is this seat taken?”
She glanced at the empty chair.
“No.”
He pulled it out and sat.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Isabella folded her arms.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“About my mother?”
“Partly.”
She frowned.
“Then what else?”
Alexander leaned back slightly.
“You haven't called me.”
“I know.”
“You have my number.”
“I know.”
“Then why didn't you?”
Isabella looked down at her coffee.
“Because I don't want to owe you anything.”
“You wouldn't.”
“That sounds too easy.”
“It is.”
She looked at him.
Alexander's expression remained unreadable.
“I meant what I said the other night,” he continued. “If you need help, I'll help.”
“I can't accept charity.”
“It isn't charity.”
“Then what is it?”
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he said, “An arrangement.”
Something about the word made Isabella uncomfortable.
“What kind of arrangement?”
Alexander placed both hands on the table.
“I have a problem.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You?”
“Yes. Me.”
Despite herself, Isabella almost smiled.
“I'm listening.”
“My grandfather left certain conditions in his will.”
“Conditions?”
“He wanted me married.”
Isabella blinked.
“What?”
“My grandfather believed marriage would force me to settle down and take the family more seriously.”
“That sounds... controlling.”
“It was.”
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't need to be.”
Alexander's gaze stayed on hers.
“He left a significant portion of his estate in a trust. The condition is that I must be married before I can access it.”
Isabella stared at him.
“And you came here to tell me this because...?”
“Because I have a proposal.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What kind of proposal?”
Alexander didn't hesitate.
“Marriage.”
For a moment, Isabella honestly thought she had heard him wrong.
“Excuse me?”
“A contract marriage.”
The noise of the café seemed to disappear.
Isabella stared at him.
“You're serious.”
“Very.”
She gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“You've spoken to me twice.”
“Three times.”
“That doesn't make this better.”
“I didn't say it would.”
Isabella leaned back in her chair.
“Why me?”
Alexander's expression changed slightly.
“Because you're not interested in my money.”
She laughed again.
“That is ironic considering you just offered to pay my mother's medical bills.”
“Exactly.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
“If you wanted my money, you would have accepted it immediately.”
Isabella didn't know what to say.
Alexander continued.
“You didn't. You argued with me.”
“That doesn't mean I don't need it.”
“I know.”
His voice softened.
“You need it badly.”
Isabella's jaw tightened.
She hated hearing that.
Because it was true.
“I need to understand something,” she said. “If I agree to this, what exactly are you expecting from me?”
“A legal marriage.”
“Obviously.”
“A public relationship.”
“Meaning?”
“People will need to believe we're a real couple.”
Isabella stared at him.
“So I'll have to pretend to be in love with you?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Affection isn't required.”
She let out a breath.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“And you expect me to marry a stranger?”
“I expect you to consider it.”
She looked away.
Outside the café window, people walked past without a care in the world.
A young couple stood at the corner, laughing as they waited for the light to change.
Isabella watched them.
Marriage had never looked like a contract to her.
She had always imagined something different.
Love.
Trust.
A man who chose her because he wanted her.
Not because his grandfather had put conditions in a will.
She looked back at Alexander.
“What do I get?”
His answer came immediately.
“I'll cover your mother's medical expenses.”
Isabella's heart stopped.
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Whatever treatment she needs.”
She stared at him.
“That could be a lot of money.”
“I know.”
“And you're willing to spend it on someone you barely know?”
“I'm not doing it for your mother.”
Her expression hardened.
“Then why?”
“Because the arrangement benefits both of us.”
His honesty surprised her.
At least he wasn't pretending to be some knight in shining armor.
Alexander reached into his jacket and placed a folder on the table.
“You don't have to decide today.”
Isabella looked at it.
“What is that?”
“The contract.”
Her stomach twisted.
She didn't touch it.
“What are the conditions?”
“You'll live with me after the wedding.”
Her eyes widened.
“Absolutely not.”
Alexander's eyebrow lifted.
“You haven't heard the rest.”
“I don't need to.”
“You'll have your own room.”
She paused.
He continued.
“You'll have access to whatever you need for your mother's care. I'll make sure the hospital bills are handled. In return, we remain married for one year.”
“One year?”
“Yes.”
“And after that?”
“We divorce.”
The word landed between them.
Isabella looked down at the folder.
One year.
A year of pretending.
A year of living with a man she barely knew.
A year of being part of his world.
And in exchange...
Her mother's treatment would be paid for.
She swallowed.
“What happens if I fall in love with you?”
Alexander went completely still.
For the first time since he sat down, Isabella saw something flicker across his face.
Surprise.
Then it was gone.
“You won't.”
The certainty in his voice irritated her.
“You sound very confident.”
“I know myself.”
“Apparently you know me too.”
“I don't.”
“Then don't tell me what I will or won't feel.”
Their eyes locked.
The air between them suddenly felt different.
He was too close.
Not physically.
But somehow, she could feel his presence more than before.
Alexander's gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
Isabella's breath caught.
Neither of them moved.
Then Alexander leaned back.
“This isn't about romance.”
“Then what is it about?”
“Survival.”
The single word silenced her.
He wasn't talking about her alone.
He was talking about both of them.
His grandfather's expectations.
Her mother's illness.
Two problems.
One solution.
Isabella looked at the folder again.
Her fingers finally reached for it.
She opened it carefully.
The first page contained her name.
Isabella Carter.
Below it was Alexander's.
She read through the first few lines.
Everything was written in precise legal language.
The agreement.
The conditions.
The responsibilities.
The duration.
And the payment.
Her heart pounded harder with every paragraph.
Alexander watched her silently.
“You don't have to answer me now.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
Isabella closed the folder.
“I need time.”
“Take it.”
She looked at him.
“Why do I feel like you're already expecting me to say yes?”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Because you need a reason not to.”
She hated that he was right.
Alexander stood.
“Think about it.”
He turned to leave.
“Alexander.”
He stopped.
Isabella hesitated.
“If I agree...”
He looked back at her.
“Yes?”
“This stays a contract.”
His expression was unreadable.
“Of course.”
“No feelings.”
“None.”
“No controlling me.”
“I won't.”
“And my mother comes first.”
Alexander nodded.
“Your mother comes first.”
She studied him.
“Then I'll think about it.”
He gave a small nod.
“That's all I'm asking.”
Then he walked away.
The bell above the café door rang as he stepped outside.
Isabella remained seated.
She looked at the contract again.
Then at the door Alexander had disappeared through.
Her heart was pounding.
She had spent years believing that love was supposed to be simple.
Meet someone.
Fall in love.
Get married.
Build a life together.
She had never imagined that one day, she might have to negotiate the terms of a marriage with a man she barely knew.
But this wasn't about love.
It was about Olivia.
Her mother needed treatment.
And Isabella was running out of options.
She picked up the contract and slipped it into her bag.
Maybe this was a terrible idea.
Maybe it was the worst decision she could ever make.
But when she pictured Olivia's face lying in that hospital bed, she knew one thing.
She couldn't simply sit back and watch her mother lose her fight because she was too proud to accept help.
Isabella closed her eyes.
“One year,” she whispered.
Just one year.
How bad could it really be?
She had no idea that the answer to that question would change everything.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD