Accidentally contracted To The Crippled Billionaire

Chapter 3: Contract

*Elara’s pov*

Friday came too quickly. Despite my confident words, I hadn’t found a husband.

“Evander said he is busy today, so you will be going alone to pick up the marriage certificate paperwork,” my dad said, smiling like he’d already won.

Words wanted to come out but ended up getting stuck in my throat. I had no excuse, no backup plan. I could only nod in agreement.

“You and Celine also need to go sort out your wedding dresses today,” dad added.

“Dad, Elara promised to wear Mom’s old wedding dress,” Celine interrupted, pouting perfectly. “We always wished we could wear it, but I’m willing to let her have it instead.” She glanced at me with a smug, victorious smile.

“That’s very mature of you, Celine,” dad praised, giving her exactly the reaction she wanted.

I couldn't stand being in the house for another second. Using the marriage certificate errand as an excuse, I grabbed my keys and hurried out the door.

When I arrived at the city registry office, the lobby was bustling, but a commotion in the corner caught my attention. A man sitting in a wheelchair was yelling at someone on the phone.

“She should be here by now. I hate people being late,” he said, checking his wristwatch. His face met mine, and his voice sent a chill down my spine for some unknown reason.

“I don’t do lateness, Henry.”

I didn’t think. I just moved—or maybe panic made me stupid or brave.

"If your bride isn't showing up, marry me instead"

I braced myself for a rejection or to be thrown out, but his response shocked me.

He lowered his phone, his cold gaze locked onto mine. "Deal," he said bluntly. "Let's get the paperwork signed."

I stood frozen, unable to process what he had just said. He wanted us to get the paperwork signed right now?

The woman stretched the marriage certificate toward me. Desperate to escape my current life, I grabbed the pen and signed my name on the dotted line without even looking at the groom's name.

My eyes roamed over him. He could have been the perfect husband if he wasn't bound to that wheelchair. He scribbled his signature on the paper and shot me a cold smile.

"The wedding is tomorrow." His words hit like ice. "We’re picking out your dress right now."

I didn’t expect everything to move this fast, but it was exactly what I wanted to walk down the aisle with a man no one expected. I couldn't wait to see Celine’s face.

I walked out of the registry office beside him. He refused my car, ushering me straight into his.

The staff bowed the moment we walked into the boutique. He bypassed the racks and pointed straight to the corner.

"Put on the black one."

I gasped when I saw the price tag. He had just chosen the only black wedding dress in Russia a priceless, shimmering gown. It was just a contract wedding, so why the hell is he going to such extreme lengths for the preparations? I looked over at him He was deep in a phone conversation, likely with his secretary.

His gaze snapped directly to mine. He rolled toward me and stretched out his hand. For a second, I completely misunderstood, thinking he was reaching for my hands, but his expression stayed ice cold. He tapped his forehead, letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Cellphone," he muttered.

I scrambled to hand it over. He snatched it, rapidly tapped his number, and shoved it back into my hands.

"Don't be late," he warned. "I'll text you the wedding venue. I don't tolerate lateness."

*****

The mansion didn’t feel like home. It felt like a designed trap, a cage built to keep me small. Every hallway ceiling existed only to magnify Celine’s spotlight, forcing me to live as nothing more than a ghost lurking in her shadow. It felt like a living hell, where every luxury was just a reminder that I was meant to be invisible.

I entered quietly clutching the wedding certificate like my life depends on it.

Celine was on the sofa, live-streaming and giggling to her followers while showing off the wedding ring Thane got her.

"And that is my twin sister," Celine said to the camera, pointing at me. "She’s getting married to his cousin Evander, the poor janitor. I feel so bad for her... “ she paused to clean her fake tears.

“Don't mind the way she dresses, guys. She doesn’t really know much about fashion. I’ve tried to teach her how to dress, but she just can’t learn."

She paused the live stream and stood up, blocking my way with an intimidating glare. "Where have you been?"

"Celine, it's none of your business," I said.

She went quiet for a second, then burst out laughing.

"Oh, I get it. Are you trying to rebel now?" She dragged her eyes down my outfit, nose wrinkled. "Let me guess. Thrift store chic again? Don't worry, I'll make sure Evander's friends don't judge you too hard."

Before I could move, she snatched the folded marriage certificate out of my hands. She started to open it, a smirk on her face. "Let's see just how pathetic this—"

"Celine! Come upstairs right now!" Mom screamed from the top of the stairs. "Thane's family just sent over the keys to a beachfront villa for your honeymoon!"

Celine’s eyes went wide. She shoved the certificate back into my chest. "Hold your trash," she snapped. "I have a real wedding to focus on."

She sprinted up the steps.

I stood alone, quickly unfolding the paper. My heart stopped. Celine hadn't looked, but if she had, she would have seen that the groom's name wasn't Evander. That would have caused an immediate disaster; she would definitely find a way to force me back to the registry to marry the janitor instead.

My eyes roamed across the page, finally taking the time to read every single word I had skipped at the registry office. My finger paused over the groom's line. A sudden chill ran down my spine, despite the cold weather, beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

“No, it can’t be," I whispered.

Hands trembling.

"Not him. Not the family I’m desperately trying to avoid.”