Chapter 3: A contract for my innocence
1207 Words
Leah stood in front of the glass building, her hands trembling. The address Xavier gave her led to one of the biggest law firms in the city. She had taken three taxis just to get here, using her last cash. Her mother's condition was getting worse by the minute, but this… this could be the only way out.
Inside the firm, everything looked too clean, too expensive. The receptionist didn’t even smile as she looked Leah up and down.
“Do you have an appointment?” she asked coldly.
“Yes… I’m here to see Mr. Xavier Knight. He told me to come.”
The receptionist raised an eyebrow but checked the computer anyway. “Room 702. Seventh floor. You’ll be escorted.”
Minutes later, a tall man in a black suit led Leah to a quiet office at the top floor. She hesitated before entering.
Xavier was already seated at the end of the room, dressed in a crisp navy-blue suit. He didn’t look up when she walked in.
“You’re late,” he said calmly.
“I… I’m sorry,” she mumbled, standing awkwardly.
He finally looked up. His eyes swept over her outfit again—a faded blouse and a long skirt. She didn’t belong here, and he knew it.
“Sit down.”
She obeyed quickly, clutching her bag to her chest.
He pushed a thick document across the table. “This is the contract. Read it.”
She picked it up with shaky hands. Her eyes scanned the pages. It was filled with legal words she barely understood, but one thing stood out clearly:
**“In exchange for one million dollars and full medical coverage for Mrs. Evelyn Carter, Leah Carter agrees to be legally married to Xavier Knight for one year.”**
Her heart pounded.
“I… I thought it would be fake… Just an agreement on paper,” she said quietly.
Xavier leaned back. “This is a legal marriage. You’ll be my wife. In public. In private. On paper. And you will follow my rules.”
“Rules?” she echoed.
He nodded. “Rule one: You move into my house. No contact with any other man. Rule two: You wear what I ask, speak when spoken to, and attend events as my wife. Rule three: You never fall in love with me. Ever.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
“I don’t need a lover. I need a wife who won’t catch feelings. Can you do that, Leah?”
She swallowed hard. “Why me?”
“You’re desperate. You’re innocent. And you won’t make this messy. That’s what I need right now.”
Her fingers tightened on the paper. She remembered her mother’s face—pale, dying—and the tears they both shed last night.
“What happens after one year?” she asked.
“We divorce. You get the money. I move on.”
Her heart felt heavy. This was not a fairytale. It was a deal. A cold transaction.
“Do I sign now?” she asked softly.
“Sign if you agree. Walk out if you don’t. I won’t chase you.”
With trembling fingers, Leah picked up the pen and signed her name at the bottom. It felt like signing away her soul.
Xavier took the paper, glanced at it, and nodded. “You’ll be moved in by tomorrow. I’ll send a driver.”
She nodded and stood. Just as she reached the door, he called out.
“Oh, one more thing.”
She turned slowly.
“There will be a wedding. This weekend. My family expects it. You’ll need a dress.”
Her eyes widened. “A real wedding?”
“With vows, photos, and a crowd,” he said. “Don’t worry. You’ll be trained to act like you love me.”
Leah walked out of the building numb. Her world had just changed. She was going to be married in three days… to a man who didn’t believe in love.
***
Three days later, Leah stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a wedding gown she hadn’t chosen. The stylist Xavier hired had worked on her hair, face, and nails. She looked like someone else—a porcelain doll, painted and polished.
There was a knock on the door.
It was Xavier’s assistant, a woman named Maria. She handed Leah a small box.
“Your necklace,” she said.
Leah opened it and gasped. It was a diamond pendant, sparkling under the light.
“Why would he get something this expensive?”
Maria smirked. “He’s trying to make this marriage look real. That means dressing you like a queen, even if you’re just a rented one.”
The words stung.
At the grand wedding venue, everything looked perfect. Flowers everywhere, music playing softly, guests laughing, photographers moving around like bees. Leah stood beside Xavier at the altar, her hands cold in his.
“Smile,” he whispered through clenched teeth. “They’re watching.”
She forced a smile, but inside, her heart screamed.
When the priest said, “You may now kiss the bride,” Leah panicked. She hadn’t thought about this part.
Xavier leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. It was brief but enough to draw applause from the crowd.
As they walked down the aisle together, Leah felt dizzy. She had just become a wife… to a man she barely knew.
***
That night, back at his mansion, Leah was shown to her new room. It was huge, cold, and smelled like fresh paint.
“You’ll sleep here,” Xavier said from the doorway. “Don’t enter my room without permission.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He stared at her for a moment before leaving.
Leah sat on the bed, feeling hollow. She should be happy. Her mother would now get the best treatment. But why did she feel so broken?
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was a message from her best friend, Zara.
**“Girl, you’re all over the news! Married to the richest bachelor in the city! What’s going on???”**
Leah bit her lip. She couldn’t tell anyone the truth. Not even Zara.
She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. This was just the beginning. One year. She could survive this. Right?
***
Meanwhile, across the house, Xavier sat in his study, staring at an old photo in his hands.
It was a picture of him and a woman—beautiful, smiling, with the same diamond necklace he gave Leah.
He whispered to the photo, “This wasn’t supposed to happen again.”
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Sir,” Maria said, peeking in. “Your father wants to speak to your wife. He thinks this is a real marriage.”
Xavier’s jaw clenched. “He must never find out the truth. If he does, I lose the company.”
Maria nodded. “Understood.”
Xavier looked out the window, his expression hard.
He had married Leah for control, to protect his inheritance. But what he didn’t know was…
Someone had been watching. Someone who knew this marriage was fake. And they were planning to ruin everything.
- Writer
