CHAPTER 6: Our Contract

SOPHIA'S POV

“I’ll marry you. Just… Please save my Hayden.” My words barely escaped my lips, and I couldn't bring myself to look Mr. Graham in the eyes. My hands trembled as they clutched at my clothes.

“I'll talk to you later, buddy” I heard him hang up his call. “Stand up, Miss Clark” he said, his voice deep but surprisingly soft, as though he pitied me. 

My legs wobbled as I struggled to get back to my feet. “Thanks sir. I…I'm ready to marry you. Please, I urgently need the money you offered.” 

Not even the full amount.

“I heard you the first time, Miss Clark. I knew you would come running back to me for help after you ran out yesterday.” He smirked.

His words disgusted me.

I thought he pitied me some minutes ago? Was it just an act?

“By the way, who is this Hayden?”

I was about to reply when he quickly cut me off.

“Your boyfriend? Ohh! He's so unlucky you're sacrificing your love to save his life” He laughed.

“He's not my boyfriend. Hayden is the name of my…” He cut me off again.

“Okay...okay, enough of our chit chat. It's time to go into business” He opened one of the drawers in his desk, pulling out a sheet of paper.

“Here.” His finger tapped on the contract. “This is it. Our marriage contract. I prepared it even before you gave your consent for the marriage.”

I couldn’t speak. My throat felt raw from all the tears I had shed. He slid a pen across the desk towards me.

“You can read it if you want, but I doubt you have the time.”

He was right. There was no time. Hayden didn’t have time. My son…my sweet, innocent Hayden, lying in that hospital bed, his heart barely hanging on. 

I took the pen with shaking fingers and scribbled my name at the bottom of the page. 

Tears blurred my vision as I signed away my freedom, but what was freedom compared to my son’s life?

Mr. Graham watched me carefully, then, without a word, he signed his name beside mine, sealing the deal. 

“Two days from now,” he said, breaking the silence. “We’ll have the wedding at the registry. 2PM”

“What?” I blinked, shocked at the same time. “Two days?”

“I don’t see the point in waiting. Get prepared, Miss Clark!”

I couldn’t believe how fast this was happening. Panic clawed at my insides, but I swallowed it down. There was no turning back now.

“These are the rules.” He reached for another paper, one with a list of terms and conditions. His voice was crisp as he began to read them out, as if this was just another business transaction.

✓ You will attend every family function with me, as my happily wedded wife.

✓ Aside from my P.A and bodyguards, absolutely no one from the company must come to know of our contract marriage. 

✓ No personal relationships, except in the presence of my family. This is purely for show.

✓ No physical intimacy. 

✓ No discussing the terms of our deal with anyone.

✓ You wish to break off the deal before the stipulated time, you refund me.

‘Wait, what?’

✓ I wish to break off the deal due to your insolence, you still refund me.

‘You're stuck with him for a year, Sophy!’

My head swam as he droned on. I partly cared about the details. But all I could fully think about was Hayden who would live. 

Finally, he called one of his bodyguards into the room. “Take her wherever she needs to go.” Mr. Graham reached into his wallet and handed the guard a sleek black card. “Use this.”

I didn’t wait for more instructions. I bowed my head, mumbling a rushed, “Thank you, sir” before spinning on my heels and rushing out of the office. I couldn’t breathe in there anymore. 

As I rushed down, Mr. Graham's voice echoed in my mind ‘two days.’ I could barely process this fake wedding, and my life tied to his, for a contract.

The bodyguard jogged to catch up with me, calling out. “Miss Clark, wait! We’ll take the car.”

I ignored him, my feet moving on their own. My chest felt tight, and my face was hot and swollen from all the crying. But nothing mattered except getting to the hospital. Nothing mattered except Hayden.

It wasn’t until the guard finally caught up and blocked my path that I realized I couldn’t outrun this. “Please,” he said, gesturing to the car waiting by the curb. “The driver will take us.”

Reluctantly, I nodded, sliding into the backseat. “St. Charles Hospital,” I told him. “Now, please.”

The drive was a blur. My fingers wouldn’t stop trembling. I clutched my phone, stared at the time, praying I wasn’t too late. 

When we pulled up to the hospital, I leapt out before the car had fully stopped, rushing inside to the receptionist. The bodyguard followed behind.

“Payment for Hayden Clark's surgery,” I said breathlessly, while the bodyguard shoved the black card across the counter.

The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly, but she processed it quickly. “That’ll be eight million.” she said, her voice neutral. She handed me the receipt, and I nearly crumpled it in my hand.

I thanked the bodyguard for his help and asked him to leave before I ran to the doctor’s office.

When I bursted through the door, Dr. Matthews looked at me, startled. “Sophia! Where…how did you…?”

“Just… just start the surgery,” I gasped, thrusting the receipt toward him. “The money’s paid. Do it now. Save my son.”

His face softened, though I could see the confusion in his eyes. He wanted to ask more, but I didn’t give him the chance. There was no time for explanations. 

“We’ll begin preparations immediately,” he said, nodding. “Hayden will be in good hands.”

As soon as he left, I let out a sob of relief, collapsing against the wall. He was going to be okay. Hayden was going to be okay.

A soft voice broke through my haze. “Sophia.”

I looked up to see Mother Rose, holding Kayden by the hand. Her face was etched with worry. “Where have you been? You disappeared without informing anyone of your whereabouts”

“I’m sorry, Mom” I whispered, rushing forward to hug Kayden, holding him tight as fresh tears streamed down my face. “I’m so sorry, but I…I had to do something.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her concern shifted to suspicion. “What did you do, Sophia?”

“I’m getting married.” The words felt strange in my mouth. “In two days.”

“What?” Her voice was a mix of disbelief and shock. “Married?”

“It’s a contract marriage,” I said, swallowing back more tears. “I had to. For Hayden. I did it to save him.”

She looked at me, her mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t find the words. But Kayden, sweet Kayden, hugged me tighter, his tiny arms offering me a comfort I didn’t deserve.

And at that moment, I knew I would do anything for my children. Even if it meant losing myself.