Contract to love

Mrs Blackwood

Chapter Five

The scratch of a fountain pen echoed through the room.

Nora Carter stared at the ink drying beneath her signature.

It was done.

The contract that would change her life forever now bore her name.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The conference room remained eerily silent as Ethan Blackwood reached across the polished mahogany table. He picked up the contract and carefully flipped through each page with practiced precision.

Satisfied, he uncapped his pen and signed beneath her name.

Ethan Blackwood.

His signature was bold.

Confident.

Decisive.

Nothing like the hurried handwriting Nora had left behind when she signed.

The family lawyer, David Lawson, adjusted his glasses before gathering the documents into a leather folder.

"I'll have these notarized immediately."

Ethan gave a brief nod.

"Good."

David glanced between the newly married couple—or soon-to-be married couple—and quietly excused himself, closing the door behind him.

Silence settled over the room once again.

Only Ethan and Nora remained.

Nora lowered her eyes to her trembling hands.

She had just agreed to marry a man she had known for less than three days.

A strenger.

A billionaire,Ethan Blackwood.

A man who had offered to save her family's legacy in exchange for becoming his wife.

If her parents were still alive...

Would they have approved?

She closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"No," she whispered to herself.

"I wouldn't have been forced into this if they were."

Ethan's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"I kept my promise."

She slowly lifted her head.

"As of this moment, every legal proceeding against Carter Heights has been suspended."

Her eyes widened.

"Good"

"The bank has received full payment."

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"The auction has been canceled."

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

"Okay"

"Yes."

"The foreclosure?"

"Lifted."

"The building..."

"...still belongs to you."

Nora finally relaxed.

"That was fast"

"I told you," Ethan replied evenly, "I don't make promises I can't keep."

A lump formed in her throat.

For the first time in weeks...

She could finally breathe.

The building her father had spent his entire life building was safe.

At least for now.

She looked at him with genuine gratitude.

"... Thank you." She whispered, barely heard by Ethan.

Ethan studied her quietly.

It was the first real smile he had seen on her face.

Not forced.

Not polite.

Real.

It softened every feature of her face She looked beautiful.

For a split second, he found himself staring.

Then he looked away.

"We're leaving in thirty minutes."

Her smile faded.

"Leaving?"

"yes "

"The wedding."

She froze.

"Now?"

"You didn't think we'd wait, did you?"

She looked at him and said.

"Was thinking ..."

Never mind, let's go.

Everything had happened too quickly.

Only days ago, she had been fighting banks and creditors.

Now she was preparing to become Mrs. Blackwood.

Ethan stood and buttoned his suit jacket.

"I've arranged a private civil ceremony."

"No guests."

"No reporters."

"No unnecessary attention."

"It will take fifteen minutes."

Fifteen minutes.

That was all it would take for her entire identity to change.

Nora swallowed hard.

"I need to call Noah."

Ethan nodded.

"Go ahead."

She picked up her phone and stepped into the hallway, taking a slow breath before dialing her younger brother's number.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Sis?"

His voice sounded calm and comforting.

"Are you okay?"

Nora leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

"The auction has been canceled."

There was complete silence.

Then—

"What?"

"Carter Heights is safe."

She hesitated.

How could she possibly explain this?

"I..."

Her voice caught.

"I found someone willing to help us."

Noah let out a shaky laugh of relief.

"I knew you would."

Nora closed her eyes.

"You always fix everything, Sis. Dad always trusted you."

His words pierced her heart.

If only he had known the price she had paid.

"When are you coming home?" Noah asked.

"I'll be a little late."

"Okay."

There was a brief pause before he spoke again.

"I love you, Sis."

A faint smile touched Nora's lips despite the ache in her chest.

"I love you too."

She ended the call and remained standing in the quiet hallway.

The polished glass wall reflected a woman she barely recognized.

The same face.

The same eyes.

Yet everything had changed.

She took a deep breath before returning to the conference room.

Ethan was already waiting.

"We should go."

She nodded silently.

An hour later...

The courthouse stood beneath the warm afternoon sun.

Simple.

Quiet.

Almost ordinary.

There were no flowers decorating the entrance.

No orchestra playing a romantic melody.

No family waiting with tears of happiness.

Only a judge.

Two witnesses.

A lawyer.

And two strangers about to become husband and wife.

Nora stood beside Ethan wearing a simple ivory dress she hadn't chosen.

It had arrived less than an hour earlier inside a Blackwood garment bag.

Elegant.

Modest.

Beautiful.

It fit perfectly, as though it had been tailored just for her.

She brushed invisible wrinkles from the fabric, trying to calm her racing heart.

Beside her, Ethan looked as composed as ever.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt.

His expression remained calm.

Unreadable.

As though these were merely another business agreement.

The judge smiled warmly.

"Marriage is a partnership built on trust, respect, and commitment."

Nora almost laughed.

Trust?

Respect?

She and Ethan barely knew each other's favorite color.

The irony wasn't lost on her.

The judge turned to Ethan.

"Do you, Ethan Blackwood, take Nora Carter to be your lawful wife?"

"I do."

His answer came without hesitation.

Steady.

Certain.

Then the judge looked at Nora.

"And do you, Nora Carter, take Ethan Blackwood to be your lawful husband?"

Every eye in the room shifted toward her.

Her heartbeat thundered inside her chest.

She looked at Ethan.

His face revealed nothing.

This was just a contract.

Nothing more.

She slowly exhaled.

"I do."

The judge smiled.

"By the authority vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

The words echoed through the room.

Husband.

Wife.

The titles felt foreign.

Almost unreal.

The judge chuckled.

"You may kiss the bride."

David Lawson cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Actually... Mr. Blackwood requested we skip the kiss."

The judge raised an amused eyebrow before laughing softly.

"In that case..."

He smiled at them both.

"You may shake hands."

Nora blinked in surprise.

It was certainly the least romantic wedding she had ever imagined.

Ethan extended his hand toward her.

She hesitated for only a moment before placing hers in his.

His hand was warm.

Firm.

Steady.

He held her gaze for a brief second.

"Congratulations..."

His deep voice was quiet enough that only she could hear.

"...Mrs. Blackwood."

The unfamiliar title sent a strange shiver down her spine.

Mrs. Blackwood.

Yesterday she had been desperately trying to save her father's legacy.

Today...

She had become the wife of one of the most powerful men in New York.

Whether she was ready or not.

The ceremony ended almost as quickly as it had begun.

As they stepped outside together, the peaceful afternoon shattered instantly.

Camera flashes exploded like lightning.

Reporters rushed toward them from every direction.

Microphones stretched into their faces.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

"When did you get married?"

"Who is your wife?"

"Is this a love marriage?"

"Miss Carter!"

"Were you secretly engaged?"

"How long have you been dating?"

Nora instinctively stepped backward.

The crowd surrounded them.

Questions came so quickly she couldn't think.

Panic tightened her chest.

Before she could retreat any farther, Ethan reached for her hand.

His fingers intertwined with hers.

His grip was firm.

Protective.

He leaned close enough that only she could hear him.

His voice remained calm.

Low.

Almost teasing.

"Smile, Nora."

She turned to look at him, confusion written across her face.

He met her gaze without the slightest hint of panic.

"The performance starts now."

Taking a slow breath, Nora forced a smile onto her face as camera flashes continued to burst around them.

Hidden among the crowd, a man lowered his phone after recording everything from the moment they left the courthouse.

A message appeared on his screen.

Did you get it?

He typed back without hesitation.

Every second.

The reply came almost instantly.

Good. Send it to me.

The man glanced once more at Ethan and Nora before disappearing into the crowd.

Neither of them noticed him leaving.

But somewhere in the city...

Someone smiled as the video arrived.

Someone who had been waiting for this exact moment.