The Contract
1641 Words
Joy Roberts walked home slowly, her mind drowning in thoughts that refused to settle. The city buzzed around her with its usual evening rhythm, cars honking, people chatting on sidewalks, the distant hum of traffic, but everything sounded muted to her ears.All she could hear was Liam Owen’s calm voice echoing in her head. Marriage, the word still felt unreal.
She wrapped her arms tightly around herself as she continued down the familiar street leading to her home. She had just agreed to marry a man she barely knew, not out of love, not out of desire, but out of necessity.
Joy exhaled slowly, trying to steady the nervous flutter in her chest. Was she terrified? Absolutely. But could she walk away from it? No.Her family was drowning.
The company her father had spent his life building was crumbling under the weight of debts. Suppliers were demanding payment. The bank had already refused them twice, another month like this and everything would collapse, their business, their home. Everything.
Joy clenched her fists slightly as determination hardened inside her chest. I can’t just sit and watch everything fall apart. If marrying Liam Owen could save them, then she would do it. Even if it meant sacrificing something as personal as marriage.
Her heart twisted painfully. She wasn't naïve. She knew what people would say if they ever found out. That she sold herself. That she married for money. But none of those people were watching their family slowly fall apart, none of them were living this life.
By the time she reached the house, dusk had settled over the neighborhood. The lights inside were already on.The moment she stepped through the door, her mother hurried toward her.
“Joy!” Florence Roberts grabbed her arm anxiously. “You’re finally back. What happened at Owen Investments? Did they approve the loan?”
Joy’s throat tightened. She wasn’t prepared for the question so quickly.Behind them, Richard sat casually at the small dining table, lazily munching on an apple while scrolling through his phone.
Joy forced a small, strained smile. “Mom… I actually need to talk to you about something.”
The tone of her voice immediately caught Richard’s attention.He looked up, studying her face.
The serious expression there made him slowly sit up straighter. “Wait a minute,” he said cautiously. “Is something wrong?”
Joy quickly shook her head.“No. It’s not exactly a problem,” she said quietly, “but it is… serious.”
Florence frowned with concern and immediately guided Joy toward the couch.“Sit down, sweetheart,” she said gently, pressing her down beside her. “You’re worrying me. Tell us what happened.”
Joy sat stiffly, her fingers nervously twisting together in her lap. She opened her mouth to speak. Then hesitated.
Her cheeks slowly warmed with embarrassment.
How exactly was she supposed to explain this? “I… um… well… you see…” Her voice trailed off awkwardly.
Across the room, Richard groaned dramatically and tossed the apple core into the trash. “For the love of God, Joy,” he said impatiently, leaning back in his chair. “Just spit it out already.”
Before he could continue, Joy swung her bag and smacked him squarely on the head. “Hey!” he protested.
She glared at him.“I am still your older sister,” she reminded him sharply. “You might want to remember that before you open your mouth again.”
Richard rubbed his head, grumbling under his breath, but staying quiet.
Joy inhaled deeply. “Mr. Owen… made me an offer today.”
Both Florence and Richard immediately focused on her.“What kind of offer?” Richard asked suspiciously. Joy hesitated again.
“Joy,” he said impatiently.She shot him a look that promised violence if he interrupted again.Then she quickly blurted it out. “He offered to marry me.”
The silence that followed was loud. Richard blinked. Florence froze.
Joy lowered her head quickly and began explaining everything in a rush before either of them could react, the meeting, the arrangement, the financial agreement, and the way the marriage would secure their family’s future.
When she finally finished speaking, the room felt impossibly heavy.Florence slowly pulled Joy into a tight hug. “Oh, my poor girl…” she whispered softly.
Richard exploded.
“What the hell?!” Joy flinched at the volume of his voice.
“Mom!” he shouted, gesturing wildly at Joy. “Why are you hugging her? You should be scolding her!”
Florence looked torn, her brows knitting together.
“Richard, please—”
“No!” he snapped angrily. “This is insane! I’m not letting her do something like this!”
Joy immediately straightened, her patience snapping. “I don’t need your permission for anything,” she shot back. “You barely turned twenty a few months ago, Richard!”
He clenched his fists. “I already got a job,” he said defensively. “I’m working as a delivery driver now. I’ll give you every single cent I make!”
Joy’s chest tightened painfully, but she shook her head slowly. “That’s not enough,” she said quietly. “It wouldn’t even make a dent in our debts”
Florence looked between them helplessly. “Joy…” she said softly. “Are you really sure about this?”
Richard stared at their mother in disbelief. “Mom! You should be telling her not to do it!”
Joy stood abruptly. “Nothing and nobody is going to change my mind,” Her voice trembled despite her attempt to sound brave. “I’m not proud of it,” she admitted quietly. “But desperate times call for desperate measures.”
She looked at them both. “You both know how deep in debt we are. If nothing changes soon, we are going to lose everything.”
Her voice cracked slightly, though she quickly forced herself to straighten again. “I’m doing this because someone has to.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Joy forced a final smile. “I’m tired,” she said softly. “I’m going to my room.”
Richard watched her walk away, his jaw clenched tightly. He was far from accepting this.
Across the city, Liam Owen sat inside one of the most expensive bars downtown. Soft jazz music floated through the air while crystal glasses clinked quietly around them.
Cameron leaned back comfortably in his chair, studying his friend. “So,” he said casually, swirling the drink in his glass. “What do you think about Joy Roberts?”
Liam took his time answering. He studied the amber liquid in his glass thoughtfully before finally speaking. “She’ll do.”
Cameron blinked. “That’s it?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes.” Liam took a slow sip of his drink. “So far she plays her part well enough.”
Cameron chuckled. “Well, that won’t be a problem.” He leaned forward slightly. “So how long are you planning to keep this little arrangement going?”
Liam thought for a moment before answering. “I haven’t decided yet,” he admitted calmly. “But three years sounds reasonable.”
Cameron shrugged. “That seems fair.”
His phone rang moments later. After finishing the brief call, he looked back at Liam. “The contract is ready.”
Liam nodded with quiet satisfaction. “Have the lawyer bring it over.” Then he paused thoughtfully.“She hasn’t seen the terms yet.”
Cameron raised an eyebrow.“And?”
“What if she backs out after reading them?”
Cameron smirked confidently. “Trust me,” he said. “That girl is not backing out.”
Later that night, a knock sounded on Joy’s bedroom door. “Come in,” she called tiredly.
Richard stepped inside holding a brown envelope.
“This was left for you,” he said, handing it to her.
Joy stared at the envelope suspiciously before taking it.
“Thanks.”She started turning away. “You can leave now.”
Richard crossed his arms. “That’s from Liam Owen, isn’t it?”
Joy hesitated.
“I’m your brother,” he continued stubbornly. “If you’re about to walk into something dangerous, I have a right to know what’s going on.”
She sighed heavily. “No.” Richard didn’t move. Finally, she gave up. “Fine.”
They sat together on the bed as Joy opened the envelope. Inside was a thick contract, they read through the pages silently.Then Joy suddenly froze.
Her eyes locked onto one particular line. Duration of marriage: Three years.
Richard slammed his hand on the bed. “Who the hell does he think he is?!” he shouted angrily. “I’m not letting my only sister waste three years of her life for some guy she barely knows!”
Joy rubbed her temples. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?!”
“I swear I’ll throw you out of my room if you keep shouting.”
Richard snorted. They both knew she couldn't. Still, he forced himself to breathe slowly, and they continued reading. Suddenly Richard cursed loudly.
“Three days?!”
Joy blinked. “What are you talking about?”
He pointed to another line in the contract. Her eyes widened as she read it. The bride will move into Mr. Owen’s residence within three days.
Joy swallowed.
“They didn’t discuss this with you?” Richard demanded.
She shook her head slowly. “No.”
She slowly put down the contract as she walked to her window, and wrapped her arms herself, she didn't even know how she felt anymore. She closed her eyes as she tried to calm her heart that was beating too fast.
- Writer
