Chapter 5

 Ethan's pov

That night with the strange beautiful girl was one of the best nights I had in a long time. 

I had initially gone to the wedding because I needed to mingle. My board of trustees were threatening to pull out their investments and sell their shares which was going to be very bad for business.

 They wanted me to settle down and produce an heir, someone of my own blood and grooming who would handle things when I was gone. 

I wasn't a very social person. I wasn't particular about getting married so soon. But I knew they weren't bluffing, they were serious about their demands and while I was the richest young man this city has ever known, it didn't mean I wouldn't be affected if they all turned against me. 

So I agreed and that was why I was at the wedding in the first place. I came conveniently late when the after party had already begun and decided to scavenge for a woman I could make my contract wife.

 I was about to leave-most of the ladies there already had partners- when I noticed a sad girl drinking aggressively by the bar, she was beautiful as she was broken. I didn't hesitate when she asked me to take her away, no man would have. 

But in the morning, to my shock, she had left a note saying goodbye and some cash for the night as though I was some cheap thing she picked off the street, she had no idea who I was. 

So I sent out my men in search of her and soon after, they called me to inform me they had found her but they also told me another disturbing thing, apparently, she had driven herself to a river and was about to jump. 

My men had dealt with serial killers, crazy men and criminals but they never did anything like this. 

I rushed to the address they sent and was surprised to see she really was about to jump. I called out to her but she only paused for a second before jumping right in. 

I also didn't hesitate to jump right after her. 

I searched the water and found her already going down, she wasn't trying to stay afloat, she really did want to die. 

I swam to her and caught her then I pushed her towards the surface and laid her on the bank. She coughed, spluttering out water and then she was on her two unsteady feet, attacking me. 

“Why?! Why did you save me? I didn't ask for your help!” She yelled but then stopped to cough more water out. 

I couldn't believe this girl. 

“No you didn't, but I had to, why were you trying to kill yourself just now?” I asked, shaking out the water from my hair and then waited for her to respond. 

She glared at me for a very long time. The wind whipped up her curly dark hair but she didn't move, she looked like something straight out of a nightmare or a dream, her blue eyes pinned me in place but then she began to cry, tears pouring out of her eyes, she turned away from me and wrapped her hands around herself. 

“I don't want to talk about it, just let me die in peace.” She said, barely above a whisper and my heart ached for her. 

She began to inch toward the water again but I caught her in my arms. I held onto her and she shook, sobs racking through her small frame, she kept whispering for me to let her die so I decided to take her home. 

When we arrived, she looked around astonished by the estate I lived in, she stared like it was something out of a fairytale I would have chuckled at the childlike wonder I saw on her face if not for the fact that she was just begging for me to let her die a few minutes ago. 

I took her to my room and ordered for hot tea for her, she needed to regain strength and warmth and then I left her some of my clothes and let her use my bathroom. By the time I returned, she look revitalised. 

“I see my clothes fit you well.” I said teasingly and she weakly lifted her arms and waved my oversized sweatshirt sleeves in the air, my clothes were too big for her, they made her look even smaller and cuter. 

“Thanks.” She said shyly, ashamed. 

“I'm sorry about earlier, it's just that my life's ruined. I have nothing left…” She began and then she told me about everything that happened to her and I found myself extremely angry with the whole situation but I knew we could help each other out. 

“I have a proposition.” I said seriously and her interest piqued.

 “I can help you get the revenge you want but you will have to agree to a contract marriage with me and give me a child.” Her eyes widened and she began to shake her head.

 “Just think about it.” I said and left her to ponder on my request. 

I went out to take care of some business and by the time I returned I found her seething in my room, angry at something she was watching on my Tv. It was her ex fiancé and sister, I supposed, their pictures were splashed all over some talk show and they were reading out comments from social media congratulating the newest millionaire couple in town. 

Her gaze shifted from the Tv to me and she said with all the determination in the world; “I changed my mind, I agree to your terms.”

I smiled wryly and approached her. “We're going to burn him down to the ground.” 

But then her expression faltered, a look of uncertainty plastered on her beautiful face.

“But how?” She asked and I smiled even wider. 

“Just wait and see.”

Let the games begin.