The Silent Vow

CHAPTER 3: A Done Deal

As she got to the house, her heart was beating faster with every step she took.

The situation seemed worse than she had expected. A huge man in a dark suit stood at the front door like a bodyguard. Her mother was standing by his side with her face pale.

“Sophie, it’s them. It’s the bank. They’re threatening to take everything away.” Her mother said in a voice filled with distress.

Sophie walked towards the man, staring him right in the eyes. “Let’s make a deal then.” She said boldly.

The man looked at her with disdain. “The bank doesn’t make deals with amateurs. If you can’t pay up the debts today, your family loses everything.” He replied.

As Sophie stood in front of the man, her mind raced through every possible thought. Every thought of a way out seemed impossible. There was only one person who could save her now: Oliver Ferdinand. But the price of his help would be steep, and Sophie wasn’t sure how much longer she could pretend to be someone she wasn’t.

She turned to her mother, her resolve hardening. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

She pleaded with him for a timeframe of forty-eight hours to come up with something, and promised that by then they would have it all sorted out. He agreed to leave, and promised to be back in two days’ time if nothing was done.

About an hour later, Sophie picked up her phone to make a call.

Her fingers trembled with fear as she held on to her phone, looking through her contacts for Oliver’s number. As the phone rang, her chest felt heavier and tighter, she had to brace herself for the life changing conversation.

A deep, calm voice answered. “Sophie Baker.”

She found it deeply unsettling that he didn’t say hello, like he knew she’d call. She took a deep, shaky breath and spoke with an unsteady voice. “I’ve made my decision”

There was a long pause on Oliver’s end, and then, “Go on.” He said.

“I’ll do it. I’ll marry you,” she said, forcing the words out of her mouth. “But I have one condition. I would need my family’s debt cleared before we sign anything.”

Oliver’s silence made her stomach twist. She was scared that he might hang up or refuse the condition, but his response came in, cold as usual. “Consider it handled. Send me the details, my team would handle it immediately.”

There was no second-guessing, no hesitation. It was just business, as usual with Oliver. The thought of this frightened her.

“Thank you,” Sophie whispered, feeling a little bit of relief with a mix of fear.

“My lawyers would send over the contract tomorrow morning,” Oliver said. “Prepare yourself, Miss Baker. This arrangement requires more than just a signature.”

Before Sophie could give her response, the call ended. She stared at her phone, her heart beating now faster than ever. She had made the deal, there was no going back.

The next morning, Sophie woke up to her mother shouting cheerfully.

“What is it, Mom?” She asked.

“The debt, Sophie. They’ve called off the debt!” her mother exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. “Whoever you spoke to… they’re a miracle worker.”

Sophie managed to put up a weak smile. “I’m glad, Mom.”

Before she was able to let out a sigh of relief, a courier arrived, delivering a thick envelope stamped with the Ferdinand Enterprises logo. Her hands shook as she opened it, while her eyes scanned through all of the writing in deep search for the terms of the agreement. She eventually saw it and it read:

-The marriage would last a minimum of one year.

-Public appearances would be required to maintain the facade.

-Personal relationships outside the marriage were strictly prohibited.

-Violation of any clause would result in immediate nullification and significant financial penalties.

Sophie’s stomach churned. This wasn’t a marriage—it was a contract, cold and unfeeling. But she had already agreed to it, and there was no backing out now.

Later that evening, Sophie called for a family meeting. She made them aware of her plans and pleaded with them not to try to talk her out of it. Her mind was already made up.

She sat quietly for a while, her heart pounding in her chest as she began to explain the terms of the marriage as best as she could: “A marriage of convenience, one for the name only, no strings attached.” She said, looking up at them, in anticipation for what they had to say.

It seemed too good to be true, but Sophie knew that sometimes, the best deals came with the toughest costs. She wasn’t a fool—she understood the rules clearly. There would be no love in the marriage, all she would need to do was perform her duty. After all, she was nothing more than a tool he would use to secure his inheritance. Yet, in her heart she still had a bit of hope. Perhaps, through the arrangement she would finally get to have the life she always dreamed of—a life of comfort for her family, also one where she could build the children’s library she always wanted, leaving the chains that had tied her down so tight to her small-town.

“NO!” Her mom said in a loud voice. “I cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself for a debt you do not owe.”

Everywhere went silent for a while, until Sophie broke the silence.

“I already made up my mind.” She said, her voice calm but firm. The words felt like a surrender, but she had already decided and was not willing to turn back. She knew she had to make the most out of this situation she found herself in.

“I signed the contract.” She said quietly.