Contract Marriage

The continuous ringing of my phone cut through the fog in my head, pulling me into the morning sunlight. For a moment, I lay there, my mind struggling to piece together where I was and how I’d ended up here.

I rolled over, groaning at the weakness that weighed me down, and froze when I realized—I was naked.

My eyes flew open, wide with shock as the memories of last night came rushing back in fragments. The bar, the drinks, the masked man. And then… I closed my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my face as I remembered it all.

I’d slept with him. A total stranger. No idea who he really was, no idea what he looked like beneath that mask. I barely even knew the sound of his voice.

The realization hit me like a wave, and I felt my heart race in shame. I wasn’t the kind of person who ended up in a stranger’s bed.

I sank back into the sheets, feeling the weight of my own actions settle over me. I was better than this. I had always been careful. But in one night, I’d shattered all of that. And for what? A stranger I knew nothing about.

“Get a grip, Kate,” I muttered to myself, trying to steady my breathing.

The phone kept ringing, I grudgingly reached over to grab it. My heart sank when I saw the caller ID.

It was my father.

I hesitated, the last person I wanted to talk to right now was him, especially after everything that had happened.

But ignoring him would only lead to more questions later.

“Hello?” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Kate, where are you?” His voice was steady, calm, “I’ve been trying to reach you since last night.”

“Sorry, I… I wasn’t checking my phone,” I stammered, trying to sound normal.

“I heard about what happened with Alex,” he said, “Well, it’s about time you left him. I never supported your marriage with that man, but you were stubborn—just like your mother.”

My throat tightened as I fought back tears, realizing how little my own happiness seemed to matter in the face of his ambitions.

My father didn't care that I was heartbroken. To him, marriage was a transaction, just another deal to secure his legacy.

"I’ve signed the divorce papers, Dad," I managed, feeling the burn of tears rising.

I could almost see him now, nodding in grim satisfaction, his approval thick in the silence.

Finally, he spoke, "Good.”

He let the word linger, and then his tone shifted.

“This time around, before you fall for another fool, I want you to listen very carefully to me. Can you hear me?”

A chill ran through me, but I answered, “Yes... yes, sir.”

He didn’t hesitate, his voice as cold and calculating as ever. “You won’t inherit a single penny of my fortune if you refuse to marry Mr. Calvin."

"He was my choice for you before you ran off with Alex. Disabled or not, that man is good for business. This isn't about what you want. It's about the family, about the legacy. Marry Calvin, or you'll be on your own..”

"Fine," I whispered, unable to keep the pain from bleeding into my voice. "I'll do it. I'll marry him."

There was a brief silence, followed by the sound of my father chuckling, a deep, triumphant laugh, as though he’d just won a game he’d been playing all along. I could hear him take a shot of his wine, savoring each gulp before speaking again.

“Good girl,” he said, his tone dripping with satisfaction. “Now, go over to his place and seal the deal.”

The call ended, and I released a long, shaky sigh.

As I dropped the phone, my thoughts drifted back to last night. The masked man. The way he’d held me, so intense, like I was something precious, something worth savoring.

Then, like a shadow creeping in, the thought of marrying a cripple made me nauseous.

My chest tightens with pity. I could hardly bear the thought of binding myself to someone out of obligation. And yet, Calvin didn't deserve to be pitied, he deserves a partner who truly wanted him.

There was no escape now; I had no choice but to meet Mr. Calvin and get this over with.

***************

I left the hotel, sliding into the back of a taxi, the thoughts of the masked man kept haunting me, and I couldn't help but feel horny, my body still aching for his touch.

I tried to push it out of my thoughts, forcing myself to focus on what was ahead.

Even as I stepped out of the taxi and stood in front of Calvin's mansion, that desire lingered, making it hard to focus on anything but the memory of last night.

I managed to push it aside, and dialed Calvin's number, but he wasn’t picking up.

Frustrated, I walked over to the security guards.

“I’m here to see Mr. Calvin, my name’s Kate.”

The lead guard looked at me. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Calvin is currently unavailable. It would be best if you came back another time.”

A mix of anger and relief surged through me. Part of me was angry, he invited me to come, but the other part was thankful for the time to think it all through.

I stopped another taxi and gave the driver my destination. As the car pulled away, I realized I hadn’t heard from my mother. If my father knew what was happening, surely she would be informed too.

A notification beeped on my phone, pulling me from my thoughts. I opened the message and saw an email from Mr. Calvin.

"Hello Miss, here’s the marriage contract. Please sign and return send it back to me."

I cursed under my breath, staring at the email he sent. A marriage contract, just like that. No explanation, no warm words, just business.