CHAPTER 1:THE CONTRACT

Chapter 1: Bound by a Contract

Kristin Shaw’s heart raced as she stared at the contract on the table. The room felt suffocating, and her stepmother’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

“You don’t have much of a choice, Kristin. Sign it,” Vanessa said, crossing her legs with a smirk. “Or would you rather watch your father die?”

Kristin’s chest tightened. Her father’s weak, fragile figure flashed in her mind, lying in that hospital bed, hooked up to countless machines. The doctors had made it clear—without surgery, he didn’t stand a chance.

“This is... insane,” Kristin whispered, her voice trembling. “You’re asking me to marry a man who’s in a coma. And not just marry him—you expect me to have his child?”

Vanessa leaned forward, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the table. “Lucas Moretti is a billionaire, Kristin. His family needs an heir, and we need money. This is a win-win.”

Kristin felt her stomach churn. There was nothing “win-win” about this. Lucas Moretti was a stranger—a comatose stranger—and she was being sold off like property to save her father.

“I’ll figure something out,” Kristin said, her voice wavering. “I’ll find the money—”

“How?” Vanessa’s tone sharpened. “You think your part-time job at that little bookstore will pay for the surgery? Be realistic, Kristin. This is the only way.”

Tears stung Kristin’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had spent years enduring Vanessa’s manipulations, but this was a new low, even for her.

“Do it for your father,” Vanessa added, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “You wouldn’t let him die, would you?”

Kristin’s resolve cracked. She hated Vanessa for putting her in this position, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her father.

Her gaze dropped to the contract. The words blurred together: “The undersigned agrees to enter into a marriage contract with Lucas Moretti, with the intent to conceive and deliver an heir...”

This wasn’t a marriage—it was a transaction. A cold, calculated deal.

Her hand shook as she picked up the pen. She hesitated, her mind screaming at her to stop, but her father’s face haunted her thoughts. She had no choice.

With a trembling hand, she signed her name.

Vanessa snatched the contract with a triumphant smile. “Good girl. Pack your things—you’re moving into the Moretti estate tomorrow.”

---

The next morning, Kristin stood outside the gates of the Moretti mansion. The sprawling estate loomed before her, its grandeur both intimidating and suffocating.

Her heart pounded as the iron gates creaked open, and a sleek black car pulled up in front of her.

“Miss Shaw,” the driver said politely, opening the door.

Kristin hesitated before sliding into the car. The ride up the winding driveway felt surreal, like she was heading to her own funeral.

When the car finally stopped, Kristin stepped out, her eyes widening at the sight of the massive mansion. Everything about it screamed wealth and power, but it felt cold, lifeless—just like the man she was about to marry.

A stern-looking woman in a crisp black suit approached her. “Miss Shaw, I’m Mrs. Delacroix, the housekeeper. Follow me.”

Kristin clutched her bag tightly and followed Mrs. Delacroix into the mansion. The interior was even more luxurious than she had imagined—marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and walls adorned with priceless art.

“This will be your room,” Mrs. Delacroix said, opening the door to a spacious bedroom. “You’ll meet with Mrs. Moretti this evening to discuss the terms of your arrangement.”

Kristin nodded silently, stepping into the room. The door closed behind her, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands trembling. How had her life come to this? She was about to be tied to a man she had never met, bearing a child for a family she didn’t belong to.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she wiped them away. There was no time for self-pity. Her father was counting on her.