Bargained Marriage

CHAPTER 4

Ella Samford's POV

Shocking Incidents

It would have been so good if this had been the only issue with Richard. He ended up revealing clauses which I hadn't taken note of when signing the contract. This was very disturbing.

But staying in Richard's house wasn't so bad. I had enough to eat, enough clothes to wear, and there were enough maids to run my errands. I was being handled like a princess.

I began to have it in mind never to quit the contract marriage thingy as long as Richard didn't want to call it quits. It was simply me staying in a rent-free and comfortable home, eat good food, reading books, shopping for things with my monthly bonus, and sleeping.

This was me living the soft life.

Richard indulged me a lot in my first few weeks of staying in the mansion. I didn't only feel comfortable about his treatment, I also began to fall in love.

I didn't know why but after a few weeks, Richard began to change. He stopped talking to me like before and he kept to himself. I didn't know why he recoiled this way. I was also proud and I refused to talk to him almost immediately.

We slept in the same room but as usual, we had no intimacy. Even with no intimacy, we could be tagged as roommates. We had to share a room because any of the maids could by a spy to confirm if our relationship was real. The screening of the maids was usually strict but still, you never can tell.

Both of us weren't roommates. We were better off being called flatmates.

Unlike before when we talked about each other's day before sleeping, Richard changed completely. He made me realize the reality of a contract marriage.

But I had fallen in love with him already. I tried my best to keep it all cool but one day, I got tired of masking my feelings. I decided to tell Richard that I truly loved him.

I prepared a cool atmosphere for this. For this first time of my stay at the mansion, I directed the maids on which food they had to prepare for dinner. After this, I got Richard's favorite wine and had him take this after dinner. I was involved in this process and I made sure one of the maids leaked this to him. I hoped he would feel like I cared about him like I truly did.

I pretended like I knew nothing about the meal whereas, I had tipped one of the maids to tell him about my full involvement. I waited for him in the bedroom.

As soon as he entered the bedroom, I stood up. I had been sitting on the bed before.

"I want to tell you something, Richard…" I told him plainly.

"What is that?" Richard asked now. He sounded not bothered at all.

"It's about our contract marriage!" I replied. "I want us to end it now."

"What!" Richard shouted in shock. "Don't you need the money again? You are here for the money, aren't you?"

I sighed.

"I don't care about the money anymore, Richard!" I told him shortly. "Right now, all I want is you. I don't want anything else. Let's end this contract and begin a new relationship please. I have began to fall in love with you, Richard, and I promise you, I will be in love with you forever."

I waited for Richard's facial expression. At first, he looked shocked. Soon, he started to laugh. Seeing him laugh over this made me quite surprised. I didn't know if my proposal was funny. It made me feel embarrassed.

"Ohh!" Richard exclaimed after a long round of laughter. "You are truly a materialistic woman. You feel like the amount I am paying yearly isn't enough and you act like you are truly in love with me. Cut that crap, Ella! I am a billionaire truly but that doesn't mean I am not a businessman as well. If you think doing this would ease your financial burdens, you are right, and that's exactly the reason I will reject your proposal. Go to sleep!"

I was shocked on hearing Richard's outburst. I felt really embarrassed and as I crawled to sleep on the same bed with him, I cried. I had made up my mind not to act attracted to him once again in my life.

In the next few days, I made sure I kept to myself. I didn't betray any form of liking or attention towards Richard. I was determined to pay him back in his own coin.

But if I had thought Richard would be hurt by this, I was one hundred percent wrong. He acted like he never knew I existed.

That same week, Richard's childhood female friend came to the county from Paris. Her name was Anna and I had to say that she was an adult cry baby.

Anna would cling to Richard all day. Even when Richard went to work, she would almost beg him to put her in his briefcase.

Anna was a devil in the absence of Richard but in his presence, she was a weak girl who could be easily bullied.

One night, Anna had come into the room I shared with Richard. She had a pillow with her.

"Richard, can I sleep here? I am scared!" Anna said. She had this pitiful look. To me, this was her being mischievous.

"The bed can only contain two people, Anna," I told her now. "If you want to sleep on this bed, one of us has to leave."

"Yeah!" Richard seconded.

"But I'm scared…" Anna said. She was going to start crying now.

This was cheap emotional blackmail. I was tired of these.

Instantly, Richard began to comfort her. He made her rest her head on his chest. This pricked my heart. I was jealous.

"Don't worry, you will get what you want!" Richard told her now.

I was surprised as I heard him make this promise.

"I hope you are the one who is going to leave this bed, Richard," I said simply now.

"Nah!" Anna began to shout like the crybaby she always acted to be in the presence of Richard. "You will have to leave, Ella. Richard has to cuddle me to sleep. On nights like this, I need to be cuddled and pampered or else, I wouldn't be able to sleep."

I couldn't believe my ears. How could Anna say this when I was allegedly married to Richard?

It was a contract marriage truly but she didn't know about it. This was quite surprising.

"Please, Ella…" Richard pleaded.

I didn't say anything. I picked up my pillow and vacated the bed. I watched as Anna and Richard occupied the bed with Richard cuddling Anna.

I was stricken with jealousy. I decided to go to the guest room.

After ten minutes of pacing back and forth in the guest room, I decided to go back to the bedroom where Richard and Anna were staying now. I was prepared to sleep on the bare floor.

I took my pillow once more and went to the bedroom. I opened the door without knocking.

Lo and behold, Richard and Anna were on the bed kissing passionately. Richard's shirt had been removed and Anna was currently battling with his trousers. As for Anna, she had only her underwear on.

I was shocked.

My heart broke into tiny pieces.

This had to be the end. Yes, I couldn't take this anymore.