The Contracted Heart

Episode 3: The Proposal of All Proposals

Elena sat across from Adrian Sinclair, her heart racing in her chest as she attempted to process the man's words.

They lingered in the air—oppressive, choking, hard to believe.

"I needtootookawaii,fe."

She blinked twice at him, taken aback and shocked beyond comprehension as she thought she misheard him. "Excuse me?"

He leaned back in his black leather office chair, his cold grey eyes boring through her figure as if she were transparent. "A temporary wife. A contract situation. One year." This was a man who had none of the expected demeanour upon learning of such a life change—no softness, no vulnerability;y as if they weren't discussing a marriage, but a business merger.

Elena straightened her spine, her belief system caving as a laugh she couldn't repress stumbled from her lips. "You're kidding."

He did not waver in his gaze. "I am not a kid."

Her throat dry heaved at the suggestion of something so absurd, so life-altering. "Why me?"

He made a steeple under his chin by squeezing his fingers together.

"You meet the criteria."

She frowned. "What kind of requirements?"

"You don't participate with my family," he said, his voice like a caress over the syllables. "You have no financial obligations. You're not a hidden agenda. You're not going to try to use me or my finances to your advantage."

Elena's body tensed. This was the expectation? He wanted a wife he could control. A nothing. A nowhere. An afterthought.

A flare of anger surged within her. “And what’s my profit?” she asked.

“Whatever you want.” Adrian said, “A home, good finances, and your mother’s medical costs? All paid for.”

She could barely breathe.

Her mother.

Those hospital bills were so crippling. The treatment, the medication, the never-ending visits—it didn’t matter what kind of extra shifts she picked up, she would never be able to stay on top of it all.

Adrian’s eyes locked with hers, he must have felt her uncertainty. “One year, Elena,” he said softly, yet uncompromisingly. “In the end, all the money you have earned will be enough to set you free. Unchained. Independent.”

Elen’s fists were now balls of frustration.

It was hard to resist. Very, very hard.

He was asking way too much of her, but the heaviness of what he was asking her was nearly impossible to breathe through. Surprise filled her words as she asked, “What do you want from me exactly?”

Adrian answered without changing his expression. “You’re going to make public appearances and act. The Sinclair family would need this to be real.”

She took a sharp breath with great difficulty. “What happens behind closed doors?”

“What happens behind closed doors is entirely for us to decide. What’s in the contract is what we choose to abide by. No expectations.” He said, looking devoid of emotion.

Elena looked aside, her mind distorted and in a panic. Although she was never the type of girl to picture herself with a prince, this scenario was completely out of context.

A marriage might look like a contract, but Similaris was purely a financial agreement.

It felt... immoral.

Though the answer was rather simple for her.

With debt claiming everything she owned, all that stood in her way from accepting this offer was etiquette.

This had to happen; if her mother’s life had any value to her, then, she had to do this.

They were, paused, suspended, in the air.

With a calm voice that did not nearly match her heartbeat, Similar Countered, “I would like the contract please.”

“Certainly,” Adrian said. He looked satisfied and maybe slightly amused

The Agreements to a Union

The following day Elena found herself confronted with a fully drafted contract sitting on her side and a freshly prepared chair staring back at her in one of Adrian's legal offices. It felt heavy and foreboding.

"Clause two: Publicly, you are Adrian Sinclair's wife. Go to social functions, go with him if he needs it, , keep up the facade of being a happy wife."

She gritted her teeth.

"Clause three: No romantic or physical expectations."

She let out a breath, relief mixed with discomfort.

"Clause four: Once the contract is ended, you are to be paid financially for five million dollars."

Her breath snagged. Five million. More money than she could have ever dreamed of. Enough to pay off every debt, cover her mother's retirement, and begin anew.

Victor went on. "Clause five: Violation of confidentiality will cause automatic revocation of the contract, with monetary damages."

Elena's fingers shook, as she flipped through the pages. All so calculated, so cruel.

This wasn't a marriage. It was a contract.

She turned her gaze toward Adrian who remained next to her without movement.

She exclaimed, "This is crazy because people don't carry out this type of action."

Adrian spoke in a harsh tone which seemed distant from his . " do worse for less "

Her heart was racing. "And your family? They're actually forcing you to do this?"

There was a flash of feeling on his face—something akin to frustration. "They think they can dictate my life. This will show them otherwise.".

"Clause two: You will be Adrian Sinclair's wife in public. Show up Merely for engagements, accompany him when he requires it, and act like a faithful wife."

She grit spelt teeth.

"Clause three: No s*x or romantic obligations."

She took a breath, relief mixed with terror.

"Clause four: Upon termination of the contract, you will get an exit payout of five million dollars."

Her breath caught. Five million. More money than she had ever imagined. Enough to settle all the debts and provide for her mother's future trembled to begin anew.

Victor went on. The breach of confidentiality will trigger immediate contract termination and result in monetary compensation according to clause five.

Elena's hands trembled while she turned the pages of the document.

All so specific, so merciless.

This was no marriage. This was a business contract.

She looked at Adrian, standing next to her, quiet and still.

"This is crazy," she breathed. "People don't do this. They just don't."

Adrian's tone was even, almost detached. "People do worse for less."

Her heart was racing. "And your family? They're actually making you do this?"

There was a flash of something across his face—something almost like anger. "They think they can control me. This will show them wrong.".

His lips had a glint of a smile. "Legally, once the paperwork is processed, we will be."

Her pulse pounded. “And your family? Do they actually make you enter into this situation by force?

His facial expression shifted quickly then before returning to its usual mask. The members of his family believe they have the authority to dictate what happens in his life. This will prove them wrong.”

Elena studied him. Something different lingered beneath his frigid appearance. Vulnerability appeared foreign to Adrian Sinclair since he never displayed such qualities. But something deeper.

This wasn’t just about business.

It was about power.

Keeping his status at all costs was what Adrian chose to do.

She lowered her eyes to read the contract. With this one signature, everything in her life would permanently transform.

The pen became trapped in her clenched fingers.

She took her time to execute a signature on the document.

Bound to a Stranger

Elena spent her evening in her small apartment while gazing at the filled suitcase that lay before her.

The following day she would start living within Adrian's sphere.

From that day on she would be known as Elena Sinclair and marry the wealthy billionaire.

A sudden chill ran through her body when she thought about it.

Would she regret this?

The hospital bed where her mother rested, unaware of the near loss of their possessions, crossed her mind.

No.

The decision lacked both love and pride as motivations. It was about survival.

A deep breath helped her suppress the panic that tried to grip her heart.

She would begin her new existence, which did not belong to her when the day arrived.

During the following twelve months, she would exist as the wife of Adrian Sinclair.