CONTRACT
1094 Words
Claire left the Jones Residence clutching the photograph of her mother. As the car glided through the city, she stared down at the image in her hands, studying every delicate feature. There wasn’t much resemblance—her facial structure mirrored her father’s more than her mother’s. But her eyes, those piercing hazel orbs, were undeniably her mother’s. The way she carried herself, the quiet strength in her posture, even the subtle tilt of her head—those were her mother’s too.
A pang of longing struck her chest. She missed her mother deeply. Missed the woman she barely remembered, and yet suddenly felt so close to.
Sebastian remained silent beside her, hands on the wheel, his gaze fixed on the road. The silence stretched between them like a glass wall—clear, but thick with unspoken thoughts. By the time they pulled into a quiet restaurant for lunch, neither had said a word.
Claire was the first to break the silence.
“Did you know?”
Sebastian looked up, brows slightly furrowed. “What?”
“About Mum's last wish.” Her eyes met his for a split second, searching for something in his expression. “Is that why you asked me to marry you? Is that why you're helping me?”
Sebastian's jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer.
Claire leaned in, voice lower. “What about mum’s fiancé—the one who died with her? Did you know about him? Was he a Caldwell?”
Her heart raced. A chilling possibility struck her—what if her mother had been engaged to a Caldwell, and after losing him, made a vow for her daughter to marry into the family instead?
She turned pale, her eyes widening as she stared at Sebastian, realization dawning.
“Sebastian,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “Say something.”
He finally looked at her. His eyes weren’t cold, but they carried a weight she hadn’t seen before—something dark, something restrained.
“Yes. I knew.”
Claire blinked, her throat tightening. “You knew about her wish?”
“No. It was my dad's wish.”
“The man she loved. He was my dad. Albeit Cladwell.”
The world seemed to tilt around her. “Your dad…”
“He died when I was a child. The only lead I had were the Harrys.”
Claire sat frozen, her breath catching as the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place.
“So... marrying me was a promise?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian's eyes softened. He shook his head slowly.
“It started as a promise. But now... it’s more than that.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. Emotions swirled — confusion, hurt, hope — all tangled together.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
He hesitated, his fingers tightening slightly around the glass in his hand.
“Because I didn’t trust you at first. I didn’t know who you were. Not really. And part of me... was afraid to.” How was he supposed to tell her if she didn't find out on her own anyway?
Claire looked away, blinking rapidly.
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” she murmured.
Sebastian leaned forward, reaching across the table to gently take her hand.
“Then let’s figure it out together,” he said, his voice steady, sincere. “I want to get justice for my dad. I want to uncover the truth — and punish whoever was behind his death. Let’s do it together, Claire.”
She looked back at him, studying his face. Slowly, she nodded a quiet fire building in her eyes.
“Then we’ll strengthen our agreement. We’ll get married, work together to fulfill our parents’ wishes... and when it’s all over, we can go our separate ways.”
Sebastian’s heart clenched. Her words were practical, cold even — but he could see the hurt behind them, the walls she was building to protect herself.
He wouldn't want to end up like his father all because of a woman. Besides he could get his old man to rest now if he married her. The man seemed to be getting more worked up these days over the issue. And also he would love to see Claire smile again.
He cleared his throat, playing along with her terms.
“Fine. Let’s get married then.”
Claire straightened in her seat, a spark of determination in her gaze.
“I’ll write the contract,” she said, reaching into her bag without hesitation.
Sebastian nearly choked on his drink. “You already have one?”
She arched a brow, lips twitching with subtle amusement. “I planned.”
A faint smile tugged at his mouth, surprising even him.
He took the neatly folded document from her hand and began to read. As his eyes scanned the lines, the amusement quickly faded, replaced by speechless astonishment.
The contract was meticulous—filled with strict boundaries.
They were to operate entirely independently, except when working on the mission. All personal matters were off-limits. Any interaction outside of mission-related business was strictly prohibited.
And most importantly—they were to keep everything secret. No one was to find out about their partnership.
Sebastian looked up, clearly impressed. “You thought of everything.”
She met his gaze, calm and composed. “Yeah.”
He took the pen she handed him and paused briefly before scribbling something at the bottom. Then he signed with a quiet finality.
Claire reached for the contract, her fingers brushing the edge of the paper. But as she scanned the lines again, her eyes narrowed. That… wasn’t part of the original agreement.
Her brows furrowed. “We’ll live together? Why?”
Sebastian leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Because it’ll make the cover story more believable. Married couples living miles apart?”
Claire folded her arms. “So you just added it without discussing it with me first?”
He shrugged, unapologetic. “Shouldn't we be efficient? This is efficient.”
She stared at him, debating whether to argue—but deep down, she knew he had a point. Still, she wasn’t one to be caught off guard.
“Fine,” she said at last. She would need to leave the house anyway. She could just stay with him then.
“We'd stay in separate rooms. I believe that's already included in the contract.”
A smirk touched his lips. “Of course.”
With that, they agreed to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow afternoon.
- Writer
