TBG - Chapter 4: The Contract

At 5 a.m., the streets were eerily quiet. Nadia walked quickly, her mind on the tasks ahead—grabbing clothes for herself and Chris before his chemotherapy in two hours. She hadn’t had a break in months, but today, she promised herself a few hours to catch her breath.

As she walked down the empty street, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Nadia barely paid attention at first until she heard voices—slurred and drunken—growing louder as they approached.

She glanced over her shoulder to see three men stumbling toward her. Their laughter echoed through the stillness of the morning air, and one of them caught sight of her.

"Hey, beautiful," one of them called out, swaying dangerously as he took a few steps in her direction. "Where are you going all alone?"

Nadia sighed, a familiar discomfort creeping up her spine. She wasn’t in the mood for this, but the last thing she wanted was to make a scene. She sped up her walk, trying to ignore them.

"Hey! Don’t walk away from us," the second man shouted, his voice rising in frustration. They were drunk, their words slurring as they closed in on her.

"Go away," Nadia muttered, trying to push past them, but one of the men grabbed her arm, pulling her back roughly.

"Where do you think you’re going, huh?" he slurred, trying to force a grin.

Nadia’s pulse quickened. She could tell they were far past the point of simply being drunk and annoying—they were unpredictable now, dangerous. But before she could react, a figure stepped into her path.

"Let her go."

The command was clear, the voice deep and unwavering. Nadia’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up. The man who had spoken was tall, his presence commanding attention. He had an air of authority about him, and there was no hesitation in his stance.

Before the men could react, the stranger moved with precision. In a few swift moves, he knocked one of the men to the ground with a punch to the jaw, sending him sprawling. The other two men tried to retaliate, but they were no match for his speed and strength. In seconds, they were all on the pavement, groaning in pain, unable to stand.

Nadia’s heart raced as she watched the man approach her, the men lying unconscious on the ground behind him. The tension in the air was thick, and she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. His cold gaze swept over her, and for a moment, their eyes locked.

"Get in the car," he said, his voice low and commanding.

Nadia’s eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to back down. She had every reason to be cautious, every reason to trust no one. She glanced at the car, her stomach tightening.

“I don’t know you,” she said, her voice firm but laced with unease. “Maybe you’re plotting something.”

The man didn’t flinch. He merely smirked, as if amused by her suspicion.

“You’ll regret walking alone at this hour,” he said coldly, the warning clear in his voice.

Nadia took a slow, measured breath. His words felt like a threat, but she couldn’t ignore the unsettling reality of the situation. She glanced down the street, her apartment still half an hour away. The fear from the encounter at the club a few weeks ago came rushing back. If something were to happen now, she wouldn’t be able to escape.

She didn’t want to seem weak, but the idea of walking alone in the dark was too risky. Nadia had learned the hard way that some situations were too dangerous to face on your own.

Reluctantly, her eyes shifted back to the car. The man had already turned, heading toward the driver's side without a word. He wasn’t even making an effort to open the door for her. The coldness in his demeanor made her hesitate even further, but she was running out of options.

She swallowed her pride and walked towards the car, her steps slow and cautious. “Fine,” she muttered, the words heavy on her tongue. “But don’t think for a second that I trust you.”

The man didn’t acknowledge her words as he got into the car. The door slammed shut, and the vehicle started moving, the sound of the engine purring to life as the street lights flickered by.

She had no idea who this man was, and now she found herself in the same car with him. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye but said nothing, unsure of what to expect next. All she knew was that the night had taken a turn she hadn't anticipated.

Nadia relaxed in the car, feeling a rare moment of peace. Her brother’s treatment was secured, and the bills were paid. She glanced out the window, lost in thoughts of simpler times before her father’s abandonment. But then, she remembered the man beside her. Wait... I know him.

She turned to him, amusement in her voice. “You know, I remember you. You’re the one who saved me at the club that night, right?”

He glanced at her briefly, his face still unreadable. She wasn’t expecting him to answer, but she continued anyway, her curiosity piqued. “And what was that about, saying I’m your wife? Is that some kind of joke?”

Theodore’s gaze didn’t leave the road. His voice, calm and firm, cut through her rambling. “It’s not a joke, it’s a fact.”

Nadia blinked, stunned. “What?” she asked, her voice higher than usual. “You’re serious?”

He didn’t respond, but his next words hit her like a punch. “You will be my wife. Our wedding will be scheduled in a month.”

Nadia burst out laughing, trying to mask the shock. “You’re kidding, right?” she laughed nervously, looking at him for any sign that he was joking. But his expression remained cold and indifferent, and for a second, she wondered if he really wasn’t.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of Nadia's small apartment, its engine idling as Theodore reached into the back seat to retrieve a file. Without a word, he handed it to Nadia, who hesitated before opening it. Her fingers brushed the cold surface of the folder, her heart pounding as she flipped it open. Inside, she found a document titled "Arrange Marriage Contract".

She skimmed through the terms and conditions, her eyes widening as she read about the two-year marriage agreement, the promises of payment, and the clear outline of what was expected from her. Her thoughts swirled as she looked up at Theodore, confusion and disbelief on her face.

“What is this?” Nadia asked, her voice a mixture of shock and curiosity. “Are you serious?”

Theodore remained calm, his expression cold and unreadable. “This is the game we’re about to play. I need a wife to secure my inheritance. To claim my family’s fortune, I have to marry before I turn thirty. You’ll play the role, and we both get what we want.”

Nadia’s heart raced, trying to process his words. “You’re telling me this is... real?” she asked, still struggling to understand.

Theodore’s gaze remained steady, his voice unwavering. “I’m not joking. This is a business arrangement, nothing more.”

Nadia’s mind was spinning. She had never imagined anything like this, but the more she read, the more she realized it was her only option. Her brother’s health was at stake, and the mounting medical bills were impossible to ignore. But as she pondered the contract, something else suddenly crossed her mind.

“My brother’s hospital bills...” she began, her voice faltering. “I found out they’ve already been paid. Someone anonymous took care of it. Do you know anything about that?”

Theodore’s eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained calm and collected. He didn’t hesitate. “I paid them,” he said flatly. “I’ve already followed through on the terms. Your brother’s bills are settled. You don’t need to worry about that anymore.”

Nadia froze, her heart skipping a beat. He paid them? Her mind raced back to the moment she’d found out about the payment. She had assumed it was some kind of miracle, a stroke of good luck. But now it all made sense. Theodore had been quietly fulfilling the terms of the deal before she even agreed to it.

“You... you did that?” Nadia asked, her voice soft with a mix of disbelief and confusion.

Theodore nodded, his tone indifferent. “I told you. This is part of the arrangement. I follow through on my commitments.”

Nadia’s head was spinning. She had been so focused on her brother’s treatment that she hadn’t even questioned how the bills were suddenly paid. But now, with the realization that Theodore had done this for her, a strange feeling swirled inside her.

Her fingers tightened around the contract, heart racing. "What if I don’t agree to this?" she asked, her voice steady. "What happens then?"

Theodore’s gaze remained cold. "Refuse, and your brother’s bills will pile up again."

Nadia’s chest tightened as the weight of his words sank in. Her eyes darted to the contract again, her mind racing. She knew Theodore wasn’t lying. Her brother’s treatment had been her only priority, and without this arrangement, she would have no way to afford it.

She swallowed hard, trying to fight back the frustration and anger building inside her. But at the same time, a part of her understood the harsh reality. This was her only way out, her only chance to secure Chris’s future.

With a resigned sigh, she lowered the contract, her fingers brushing over the bold terms written on the page. "You’re forcing me into this," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Theodore’s eyes remained locked on her, his expression unreadable. “I’m not forcing you, Nadianna. I’m offering you a choice. You either agree, or you face the consequences. The decision is yours.”

Nadia took a deep breath, steeling herself. This was it. There was no easy way out. She glanced back at him, her mind made up.