CH1: The Agreement That Changed Everything

Heavy rain poured down from the dark sky, hitting the roof and windows of their small, old house as if nature itself was weeping for the hardships that had fallen upon the family. Inside, the atmosphere was even heavier and filled with sorrow. Fiona sat across from her father, looking at his tired and pale face. For months now, he had been suffering from a serious illness, and the cost of his medication and treatment had drained every single saving they had. Now, they were deep in debt, and their creditors were threatening to take away the only home they had left.

“Fiona, my dear… I am so sorry,” her father said softly, his voice weak and trembling with emotion. “I never thought it would come to this. I worked hard all my life just to give you a good future and a comfortable life. But now… I feel like I have failed you. I have nothing left to give, and I have no way to pay for everything we owe. If we don’t settle our debts soon, we will lose this house, and we will have nowhere else to go.”

Fiona felt tears burning in her eyes as she listened to his words. She reached out and held his hand gently, trying her best to stay strong for him even though her heart was breaking.

“Don’t say that, Dad. You have never failed me. You have given me everything I could ever ask for, and you have loved me more than anything else in this world. We will find a way, I promise. I can work longer hours, I can take more jobs, and I can save every single peso I earn. We will get through this together, just like we always have. Please… don’t lose hope.”

Her father shook his head slowly, and tears finally rolled down his cheeks. “There is no more time left, my child. The deadline is only two days away, and the amount we need is far more than what you can earn in such a short time. But… there is one last hope. One way that can save us all, though I know it is something very difficult for you to accept.”

Fiona’s heart began to beat fast with worry and curiosity. “What is it, Dad? Tell me. I will do anything to save you and our family. Anything at all.”

“A man came to see me a few days ago,” her father explained. “His name is Gian. He is one of the most successful, powerful, and wealthiest businessmen in the whole country. Everyone knows his name, and everyone respects and even fears him because of how strict, serious, and unyielding he is. He is young, only twenty-eight years old, but he has built an empire from nothing. He offered to pay every single debt we have, cover all my medical expenses, and even provide us with enough money to live comfortably and securely for the rest of our lives. He promised that we will never have to worry about money or survival ever again.”

Fiona listened carefully, but she knew that such a great offer must come with a heavy price. “And what does he want in return? What is the condition he asked for?”

“He wants you to marry him,” her father said quietly.

Fiona froze in her seat, her eyes widening in complete shock and disbelief. “Marry him? But… I have never even met him! I don’t know anything about him, and he doesn’t know anything about me! How can I marry someone who is a total stranger? And you said he is cold and strict… how can I live with someone like that?”

“I know, my child, and I would never ask this of you if there was any other choice,” her father replied sadly. “But he explained everything clearly. This will be a marriage only in name and on paper. It is a contract that will last for exactly two years. During that time, you will live in his home, you will accompany him to important events, and you will help him with certain personal and business matters that he cannot handle alone. But he promised that you will have your own space, your own freedom, and he will never force you to do anything you do not want to do. After two years, the contract will end, you can walk away freely, and you will still keep all the benefits he has given you. He is a man of his word, Fiona. If he promises something, he will surely do it.”

Fiona sat there in silence, her mind and heart filled with confusion, fear, and uncertainty. She was only twenty years old, with dreams and plans for her future that suddenly seemed far away. But as she looked at her father—sick, tired, and full of regret—she realized that she had no other option. This was the only way to save his life and save the family she loved so much.

She took a deep breath, wiped her tears away, and looked at her father with determination in her eyes.

“If this is the only way, then I will do it,” Fiona said firmly. “I will marry him. I will sign the contract, and I will fulfill my duty for two years. I don’t care how hard it will be, or how cold and strict he is. I will endure everything, just to make sure you are safe and healthy. I love you, Dad, and I will do anything for you.”

To be continue...

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