Chapter 2: The Devil's Proposal
1021 Words
"Ding-ling!" The crisp sound of a bell rang out as a tall man pushed open the glass door of the Sweet Surrender bakery.
Lucien Black walked in, and he had a regal aura, like a king checking out his kingdom. He was wearing a dark suit, and the fabric looked like it was made from a very expensive material. His clothes were perfectly ironed, with no wrinkles at all. It looked like he just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
He appeared to be around one meter nine, or perhaps slightly taller. His broad shoulders and narrow waist completed his confident, regal appearance.
He had a strong presence. He had a natural air of authority, like the air in the room felt a little thinner when he walked in.
Lucien's eyes, a deep gray-blue, seemed to reflect endless depths. He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the glass cases full of fancy pastries.
He stopped for a moment in front of a raspberry tart, then looked at the cute pictures on the wall.
Finally, his gaze landed on Elise, who was standing a little awkwardly behind the counter.
He seemed impatient and distant, like a king looking over a small, unimportant corner of his kingdom and not really being all that interested.
He walked up to the counter and stared at Elise, his voice even but with this pressure that made it hard to breathe.
"Ms. Chen, I'm Lucien Black." His voice was deep, like the low notes of a cello, and it kind of hummed in the small shop.
Elise felt her heart skip a beat. She tried to calm her nerves and smiled politely, just a little bit, and nodded her head. She tried her best to make her voice sound steady, like a little boat trying to stay afloat in a storm.
"Hello, Mr. Black. How can I help you?" Lucien wasn't interested in small talk. He was direct, his tone businesslike and emotionless.
"I understand your bakery is having money problems. I can help you pay off all your debts, but..."
He paused for a second, his eyes intense and focused.
"But in exchange, you'll need to sign a contract that says you'll be my wife for a year."
He spoke casually, as if it was no big deal, but the words were like a bomb going off in Elise's head.
Elise just stood there, totally stunned, like she'd been struck by lightning. The rag in her hand almost fell to the floor, nearly hitting the box of blueberries at her feet.
"A con... contract marriage? What are you talking about?" Her eyes widened, and her pupils shrank. The bright sparkle in her eyes turned into shock and confusion, as if she had just heard the craziest story ever.
She didn't know this guy at all, and she'd never heard of "Lucien Black" before. This man seemed to come from another planet. He suddenly barged into her life with this crazy idea, like a villain in a fairy tale offering her money in exchange for her freedom.
"Mr. Black, I think you must have made some kind of mistake. I don't know you, and..." Elise's voice started to shake. She tried to speak clearly, but each word came out with a slight tremble.
"I've never even thought about getting married, let alone signing a contract to get married. That's ridiculous."
She took a step back without thinking, her hands grabbing the edge of the counter so tightly that her knuckles went white.
Lucien seemed like he had expected this reaction. He took out a thick file and put it on the counter in front of Elise.
The cover of the file had the word "Contract" printed in big letters. The font was cold and serious, like two icy daggers stabbing right into Elise's heart.
"These are the detailed terms of the contract. You can take a look. One year. During that year, you'll attend certain necessary events as my wife, things like business dinners, family gatherings, that sort of thing."
He tapped the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap-tap" sound, as if he were urging Elise to make a decision quickly.
"In return, I'll cover all your debts, and I'll also give you some money. I'm sure you'll be happy with the amount. And of course," he said, his voice taking on a deeper tone.
"There's also a special clause – the 'Sugar Test.'" Lucien smiled, knowing what he was doing.
"You'll understand the 'Sugar Test' soon..."
"Ms. Chen, this is a fair exchange, right?"
He made it clear that this marriage wasn't personal for him. It was purely for his "needs." He said there was no love involved, just a transaction, plain and simple.
As Lucien spoke, Elise felt like she had seen this guy somewhere before. The way he talked, the look in his eyes, even the way he smelled, it all felt vaguely familiar.
It was a strange feeling, like seeing someone in a dream, or like a tiny piece of a memory flashing in her mind. She tried to think hard, but her head felt fuzzy, as if she had a cloth over it, making it hard to see clearly.
The pile of bills at home felt overwhelming. She looked at the contract, and every word felt like a needle pricking her. She bit her lip hard, her knuckles white as she gripped the counter.
She stared at the contract, the cold paper with its words that looked like black holes, ready to swallow her whole. She thought about her dad's hopes for the bakery, the happy memories, the smiling faces of the customers, and the late nights she spent working in front of the oven.
All of it would be gone if she couldn't pay back the money.
Lucien's words seemed unbelievable, but it was her only hope. She needed to save her bakery and keep her dad's legacy alive. Elise's mind was a mess, with her logic and emotions fighting each other.
She looked into Lucien's deep, dark eyes. Finally, she nodded her head, her voice barely a whisper.
"I... I agree."
- Writer
