The Forced Choice

Hannah

I rushed through my door and immediately headed to my bedroom, my mind still reeling from that strange offer.

I couldn’t believe I was even still thinking about this. Five million dollars was a huge amount of money, but it wasn’t worth getting married to someone I did not know.

Wiping my forehead nervously, I sat down and opened my laptop, glad that I had at least made it back home in time for the Screenwriter examination. 

Immediately, an email notification popped up on my screen from Royal Group, and anxiously, I clicked on it.

My eyes widened in horror as I read the mail, “Rejected?” I blurted in disbelief, slumping into my seat.

“But I haven’t even taken the examination yet.” I thought, trying to process what was happening. 

Soon as the realization set in, my whole body weakened and tears welled up in my eyes. This was my dream, my only hope of taking care of my mother’s medical bills. I’d done everything right, and followed all the application rules, so why was I rejected?

Suddenly an idea lit up in my head and I opened the Royal Group’s website and started writing them an email, when just then, another notification popped up from the head of the admissions unit.

Filled with curiosity, I clicked it open and scanned through it. 

Without wasting any time, I grabbed my bag, got up, and left my room, heading to the location the man included in the mail.

It didn’t take long for me to arrive at The Mayonette Cafe. My heart was beating out of my chest, desperate to find answers as I rushed through the cafe door, scanning my eyes around the cafe, not exactly sure of who I was looking for.

Just then, a waitress walked up to me as if she recognized me, “He’s waiting for you at Table 6, ma’am.” She said and turned away.

Heaving a deep sigh, I composed myself, breathing in and out calmly to settle my nerves, and approached the table, eager to get to the root of this issue.

“You!” I exclaimed in confusion, my eyes widening in shock as his gaze caught mine. 

“What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” I asked accusingly.

“We meet again Ms. Grey,” the man said in a cold voice that sent chills down my spine.

“Please sit down.” He urged, pointing to the seat in front of me.

I took a deep breath, scanning my eyes around the cafe in confusion before looking at the man again, “Why are you here? I already told you, I’m not going to marry you.” 

“I think you might have a change of heart once you hear what I’m about to say, so why don’t you sit down.” He said, looking at me with an expressionless face, gesturing towards the seat.

Hesitantly, I pulled the chair and sat down, his cold blue eyes staring at me so intently, it made me shift uncomfortably.

Ugh! I groaned inwardly. Why was this man having such an effect on me?

He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a file, sliding it towards me. 

“What’s this?” I asked with a cold stare.

“It’s our marriage contract and you are going to sign it.” He said with a wry smirk.

Immediately, I grabbed my purse and was about to stand up and leave. Clearly, this man was delusional, and I had no time to entertain such.

“I understand you got rejected from the Royal Group.” He blurted, seeing I was about to leave.

Those words suddenly caught my attention as I sat back down, staring at him in confusion.

“How do you know about that?”

“I’m the one that got you rejected Hannah.” He said, taking a sip of his drink, then shifted his gaze back to me.

“I simply told the Group that your time will be needed elsewhere as such you won’t be able to commit to such a program.” He added with a blank look on his face.

I could feel my blood boiling in a hot rage as I stared at him, fighting the urge to smash this glass cup through his face,

“Who the hell are you to make such a big decision on my behalf?” I asked angrily. 

My emotions were getting the best of me, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself, not wanting to cause a scene.

“Ethan…Ethan Ford. I understand that you are shocked Hannah, that’s why I called you here, so we can see how to move forward together.” He uttered nonchalantly.

My eyes widened in shock when I heard his name, “Ethan Ford?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” Ethan answered and took another sip of his drink.

“I sent the email, Hannah. I thought we could have another talk about my offer.” He said calmly.

I could not believe his arrogance. Even if I wanted to consider this absurd arrangement, there was no way I would accept the contract now after finding out who he was.

The Fords were one of the most influential families in the world, infamous for their dealings with the underground society. 

Ethan was the only son and was known for being ruthless and cruel. 

I’d never met him until earlier that night, but I had heard how horrible he was and now seen it firsthand. There was no way I was going to marry this man.

“Ms. Young, I am offering you quite the deal here. Five million dollars and all you’ll have to do is marry me.”

I scoffed, amused by his words. “You consider getting me kicked out of my dream school to force me into a marriage, a good deal?” I asked.

“I think it is, considering I could do a lot worse. I can make sure that you don’t get a job anywhere else in this city, Hannah. But instead, here I am offering you the deal of a lifetime. Five million dollars and you won’t have to work all those meager jobs where you are getting harassed and assaulted by men every day, but refuse and I can just as easily make your life very difficult. The choice is yours.” Ethan said with a wry smirk and leaned back in his chair.

I sat in quiet for a while, reflecting on his words and how I’d gotten myself into this situation.

As much as I hated it, Ethan was right. With five million dollars I could pay my mother’s hospital bills easily and get much better treatment for her. My mind was in chaos. I despised Ethan so much right now, but I’d already lost my chances at Royal Group and the Fords were powerful enough for him to follow through with his promise of not letting me get a job anywhere else.

I felt backed into a corner, if I didn’t accept his offer, I would lose everything, including my mom. 

Heaving a deep sigh, I picked up the contract and read through it. It was almost like a regular marriage until my eyes suddenly caught some rules he had highlighted in the paper. 

“Rules?” I asked, raising my gaze to him. He nodded with a strange look of satisfaction, and urged me, “Read it.”

“Rule 1. The wife will strip dance every night to her husband, Ethan Ford.’

‘She will call him daddy in the privacy of their room, and only call him “hubby” outside.’”

My eyes widened in disgust as I read through the contract, slowly raising my eyes to him.

“I can’t sign this. I won’t do it.” I retorted, furrowing my brows in anger. However, Ethan seemed unaffected by my sentiments. He slowly stood up, walked beside me, and leaned in, “Either you do, or I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life regretting that decision.” He said with a smug smile and planted a soft kiss on my forehead, then walked away.

I remained frozen in the seat after he left, the weight of my decisions crushing down on me. There was no way out of this. Slowly, I picked up the pen, my hand trembling as I stared at the contract, my life flashing before me, and then signed my signature.