Forced Contract Marriage To A Ruthless Tycoon

Carla 

      My heart was pounding hard as I walked fast, while gripping the watch tightly in my grip- a wristwatch which belonged to Zade, which I had stolen before taking off.

This was actually my first time taking something that doesn't belong to me, and it was solely out of desperation, because I had a feeling that Dave would have cleaned out the money left in my account, and It was confirmed when I stopped at a bank to check. That's why I took this watch while fleeing, because I planned to sell it and use the money to leave the country.

I stepped into a watch store and informed them I had a watch to sell, then I presented the watch to them, while guilt churned within me. As soon as I successfully leave this country, I planned to instantly call Zade and apologize, then I'd start working towards paying him back for the watch. I wasn't sure of how I'd repay him for the bail, but I was gonna try to repay that as well. 

I just couldn't imagine marrying Zade, not as a contract marriage. I refuse to leave a monster and get trapped by another, that just wasn't fair to me. Zade was worse than a monster, he was a demon. He was ruthless and cunning that even Dave feared him and had always hated him. I never knew there was ever a beef between them, but I knew Dave detested him.

I also couldn't imagine myself playing the role of a mother. I lied when I said I sucked with kids. It was the complete opposite. Being forced to play out that role was just gonna remind me of a pain of mine, one which I've learnt to hide. 

Years ago, I had a child, but the child died at birth. 

Since then, I've been unable to take in. I knew that bothered Dave, because he sometimes complained about it. That was another reason why I readily agreed to go to jail for him, because I convinced myself that after doing something like that for him, he'll feel too indebted to me that he'd never consider leaving me for another woman If I didn't get to conceive again.

But clearly, I shouldn't even have bothered.

"Ma'am, can we have the receipt for this watch?" A woman approached this time. I instantly stiffened before awkwardly laughing and making a show of patting my pockets.

"Ah- I think I dropped the receipt while on my way here." I explained and the woman nodded before leaving and heaved a relieved sigh.

As I glanced around, I noticed a few people were staring at me and I rolled my eyes. I was certain everyone staring at me sees me as a criminal and nothing more, that's why moving to a different country sounded very appealing. I don't have anyone here, my family and friends deserted me, and now Zade would clearly not let me roam scot free. So basically, it was the only option I had. 

"Ma'am?"

I was pulled out of my thoughts and I stiffened. Standing before me was the woman who previously approached me and two different men.

"We can't buy this watch without proof of you being the owner, we're so sorry but we'd like proof that you're the owner first." The man standing in the middle spoke and I stiffened.

Yikes! 

"But I'm the owner." I insisted but they shook their heads. The onlookers weren't trying to hide that they were clearly staring at this point.

When I realized that they weren't gonna change their minds, I sighed and held my hand out for the watch, but they refused to return it, and that's when the panic started.

"Ma'am, are you really the owner of this watch?" The man asked this time and I inched backward, eyed darting around for a means of escape because now I realized that security was now blocking the doorway.

"Don't think of trying to run, ma'am, else we'd call the cops." The man warned, not sounding respectful at this point and I bit at the inside of my mouth while wishing I could just die right now. The onlookers were currently murmuring to each other while pointing at me. Some tried to film but we stopped by the store owners and I was grateful for a little mercy today.

"Ma'am, we'll only let you go if you reveal the actual owner of the watch, and said owner comes to get it. Or we'll call the cops."

I let out a long groan and wished I could disappear into thin air.

Fuck my life.

~~~

     I wished the ground would open up and swallow me. I was dying from humiliation when Zade arrived after I revealed that I got it from him. The look in his eyes made my heart lurch into my throat, and I awkwardly shifted my weight around till he came to stand before me.

"If you're a little smart, you'd have instantly realized that this watch is a costume made type. It's not available in the market so you could have tried harder if you wanted to steal something. At least put your criminal experience to actual use." His low voice filled my entire body with hot embarrassment and was too humiliated to respond.

Zade apologized for the troubles on my behalf, then he was tugging me out and into his car. I sat awkwardly beside him, feeling like the biggest fool ever.

"I'm sorry," I whispered but he only hummed.

"Do I drive you to the station?" He asked and I stiffened before shaking my head.

I guess this was goodbye to my hopes of escaping the devil himself.

"No. I- I agreed to the contract marriage."

"But you ran away... and stole my watch. Are you gonna try claiming you're not a criminal after this theft?"

I swallowed emptily, knowing how the watch situation definitely looked. 

"This is actually my first time stealing anything, and I apologize for those two things, and I also still want the contract marriage." I mumbled and Zade hummed.

"Wise choice. But, if you try running away again, our deal is over. Got it?"

I swallowed again and nodded, staring down at my folded hands. 

"Yes."

"We'll sign the contract tonight, right after you meet my niece."

I turned towards him, taking in his striking side profile.

"What if your niece doesn't recognize me? She might also not want to be around me..." I was still speaking when he waved me off.

"You already know what my answer is." He responded easily and I glanced out the window, losing myself to my worried thoughts.

~~~

     When we arrived back at his home, as soon as we were being let in, a woman clad in a short dress walked right towards Zade, wrapped around his shoulders and kissed him right on the lips.