Marriage by contract,claimed

The rain fell without mercy over the city that evening, turning the street into blur of light and reflection . Amara Bennett stood outside the hospital entrance,her chin cloth already soaked through,but she didn't move ,she felt the cold anymore ,what she felt was fear.Her trembling finger tightened around the paper in her hand Hospital bill. The number printed on it felt like a death sentence. She read then over and over again , hoping they could somehow change , hoping she has misread thorning in her panic. But the total remained the same impossible, unreachable,crushing. Her father had been admitted two days ago after collapsing at work. One moment he had been fine , struggling through life always,and the next ,he had fallen to the ground unconscious.The doctors said,it was a secure heart condition. Emergency, surgery was the option. But surgery required money. Money,she did not have . Since that day ,Amara had not rested,she had gone from house to house ,from one relative to another begging and pleading, explaining,some listened most didn't.A few even avoided her call completely. Everyone had an excuse . "I'm sorry Amara" "I can't help right now " " It's to much for me " Too much Those ,words echoed in her mind as she stood in the rain everything was" too much "for them but not her. She was one watching her father slowly fade away. A soft sight scraped her lips as she titled them back , letting the rain mix with the tears she refused to let fall. "God ....." She whispered shakily; what am I going to do ' for a moment,their was only silence. Then her phone rang She quickly wiped her faced and answered " Amara,came her Aunt voice gentle but usually serious. " Their is a way" Amara heart beat slowed What way ? She asked care fully . Her Aunt lowered her voice.. "Their is a man ' she began ,a very wealthy man.he needs a wife but not for love.it a contract marriage,if you agree ,he will pay for your father's hospital bills and cover the surgery completely The words did not register immediately,for a few seconds, Amara simply stood still,the rain falling around her ,the word fading into silence. Then she repeated softly " a marriage ?" Yes ,her Aunt confirmed "one year only " Amara grip tightened around her phone . A contract marriage. No emotion, no love ,just an agreement between two strangers. Her mind immediately resisted the ideas ,it soundly wrong ,cold ,and impossible. But then her thought shifted Her father face . His weak voice . The hospital bill. The tickling clock. Four days. That was all she had left. Her throat tightened " Aunt ....."she asked slowly " Aw long did you say the contract will end again. " One year " her Aunt repeated firmly" but you need to decide quickly. The opportunity won't stay longer . Amara looked through the hospital glass doors where her father lays inside fighting for his life with out even knowing how close he was losing it . For a long time ,she did nothing. Then softly,she whispered "I'll think about it" "You don't have much time" her Aunt warned again. Please Amara" Thank you " she replied quietly And the call ends *†**†***†**🌸 Amara remained outside in the rain for several minutes after the call ended,her phone still pressed against her ear Her thought was heavy Marriage to a stranger. A contract marriage with no future Pride could not save her father Hope had already failed her . Only Desperation remained, slowly she turned and walked back to the hospital the smell of disinfectant greeted her as she entered the wards,soft beeping of machine filled the air like a constant reminder of what was at stake. Her father lay on the bed pale and weak ,his breathing shallow but steady. Tube and wired , surrounded him,keeping him alive in a way that fragile . Amara walked to the side and sat gently. She shook his hand . It was warm - but weaker than before ' I"m still trying " her voice cracked slightly. "You always told me to be strong " she continued,"But what happened when being strong isn't enough anymore" There was no answer, only the sound of machines . A Nurse entered quietly breaking the silence, "Miss Bennett,she said gently" The doctor asked me to remind you that the surgery cannot wait any longer if it is not done within four days,the risk might increase insignificantly " Four days. Again. Amara closed her eyes briefly. "Okay ," she managed to say ." Thank you " When the nurse left, Amara stayed seated for a long time ,holding her father's hand . Something inside her father's hand Something inside her shifted Slowly, painfully. A decision forming in silence. That night, Amara did not stop. She said by the window in her small apartment, staring at the city light . In the distance,life continued outside, car moving , people walking, building glowing -but her world felt paused . Her phone lays beside her table she kept staring at it . Her thought drifted to the hospital,to her father.to the ticking deadline. Then finally she exhaled . "I can't lose him" she whispered. Her hand moved before her mind fully agreed ,she picked up the phone . And called her Aunt . "I'll do it ",she said immediately after the call connected . Their was silence on the other end. Then her Aunt spoke again "Are you sure" Amara closed her eyes . "Yes " ,And just like that ,her fate changed . THE WORLD OF ALEXANDER STONE . Morning came quickly,but Amara Bennett felt so peace in it ,she had barely slept the decision that she had made the night before still lingered in her mind like a shadow she could not shake off ,even now ,as she sat on the edge of her bed ,the word echoed repeatedly in her thought. Marriage Not love, Not choice,A contract Her phone rang again She already knew before she picked it up " A car will arrive in twenty minutes," her Aunt said without greetings" you need to get ready, everything is moving fast now " Amara swallowed. " So soon" This is not something,that can wait , Amara " her Aunt replied gently but firmly ,the man does not like delays" The line Ended Amara sat still for a moment,staring at her reflection in the dark screen of her phone. A stranger wife . Twenty minute later a black luxury car stoped outside her Apartment building. People on the street turned to look. Car's like that did not come to places like her's A man suits stopped out. Miss Bennett " he said politely, opening the door and collected her suit case. " Pls,come with me ma"am" M↓€£§ Amara hesitated only for a seconds before stepping forward their was no turning back now The car ride was silent Too silent Amara sat stiffly,hand fold tightly on her laps.The city passed by outside the tinted window's,but she barely saw it Her mind was too loud What kind of men agree to buy a wife ?what kind of life is she walking into ? Finally the car stoped . The building in front of her captured her breath . It was a massive building,the glass and steel stretching the light in the sky like mirror of power , people moved in and moved out with purpose,all dressed in expensive suits. STONE GROUP. One of the most powerful companies,in the country and now........ She is walking inside it . Inside, everything was different. The smell of faintly luxury and authority .The floor was polished marble , Employee bowed slightly has they passed her, though she didn't understand why. " Follow me ,ma'am" The driver said . She did Elevator door the world rose rapidly around her floors after floors. Higher. Until finally ,they slope Top floor The door opened . The hallway stretched ahead and intimidating,At the end of it was a large door "Go in ma'am"The driver said stepping aside Amara hesitated. To Then she pushed the door opened The first thing she noticed the view of the outside world ,The entire city spread out behind wall of glass then, she noticed him. A man stood by the windows his back turned toward her,tall,calm completely still as if the world itself revolved around him. He turned towards her,she recognized him immediately, Alexander Stone. They both attended same high school ,The guy she had a crush on for eight years before he went abroad ,she wasn't able to confess her feelings to him ,back then because he is fierce and hard to approach. Here ,he is powerful, silent, untouchable. " You are early" He said ,his voice deep and controlled. " I was told to come " The truth was when she came and saw him she forgot her breath. His presence was overwhelming not loud,not aggressive but steady in a way that made everything else feel smaller , His eyes studied her calmly as if he was reading something that only he could see. " So do you agree" he said and paused " Yes " Amara replied forcing her voice steady not showing the excitement she going to marry her long time crush"for my father" she quickly added. M$£€§ A brief silence passed between them. Then he walked to his chair picked up a file. "This is the contract " he said placing it in front of her " "one year marriage '"public appearance only ,no emotional expectations,no interference in each other private lives Amara looked at the document Every word felt heavier than the last " And after one year ? She asked quietly. " We separate " he replied simply Just like that ,as if it meant nothing She hesitated " And my father?" Already arranged,his medical expenses and surgery will be fully covered." Amara's chest tightened That was it ,the pride of freedom. Alexander watched her care fully.To her it more than happy ,at least she was able to marry the guy she had a crush on for years,even though it won't last long but she was able to marry him, " That an achievement. " You don't need to like it ,but understand it " he said . Amara looked up at him. " I understand " she said softly 'But I have a question" he raised his eyes ball slightly. " Why me " for the first time something flickered in his expression,but it was gone immediately. " This is not important " he replied, Amara didn't press further,she picked up the pen ,her hand trembled slightly for a moment,she saw her father face again,weak, pale fighting and she sighed . AMARA BENNETT. The ink dried instantly but nothing in the life ,would ever be the same again. Alexander signed after her. The Gates opens slowly revealing the world of Amara Bennett never imagined,she could enter. The car rolled along private doorway lined and soft golden light .At the end of the path stood a mansion,vast Elegant and Almost Unreal,It didn't look like home it looked like power made in Architecture, Amara sat stiffly in the back seat,her finger lightly dripping the edge of her dress, everything that had happened in the past 48 hours still felt like a dream, she hadn't fully woken up from. Contract marriage, press conference, fiancee conference. Mrs. Stone And now this place ,the car finally stopped . The driver stepped out first opening her door " Mrs. Stone " he said politely " we've arrived. Amara hesitated for only a moment before stepping out. The Air outside felt different, cleaner, colder , heavier. In a way, she couldn't explain. The mansion above her . It glass reflecting the evening sky like a silent warning. " This is your Life "