Contract Marriage: I’ve Always Loved You

The next evening, I stand in a crowded room filled with laughter and music. I spot my father, who gestures for me to join him.

“Hi, Dad.” I greet him after approaching him.

“I’m so glad you’re finally ready to meet the girl of my choice.” He expresses his joy, taking me in a warm hug.

“Anything for you.” I pass him a small smile.

“Come, let me make you meet her. She’s the daughter of my friend.”

As he walks towards a direction, I follow him, looking around.

“There she is.” He points at a girl standing, showing her back to me and conversing with a man of my father’s age.

As we step in front of her, I’m taken aback, witnessing her face. She is that same arrogant girl.

Why does fate keep intertwining our paths? Why is God making her meet me again and again when she isn’t my type and differs completely from the girl I desire? What is going on in my life?

My father hugs the man she was conversing with while she passes me a wicked smile.

This girl is getting on my nerves.

“Steve, she is Grace, and he is her father.” Dad introduces them to me.

“Dad, I’m sorry, but I can’t marry this arrogant girl.” As I deny directly, he stares at me in shock.

“Please excuse us.” He takes my hand and drags me to the corner while I glare at Grace, who is just grinning as if she is planning something.

“What the hell, Steve? How could you insult her like this?” He chides me.

“Dad, you don’t know about her. She is…”

He cuts my words.

“I know her, Steve, and she is best for you.” I frown after listening to his words.

“Dad…”

He again doesn’t let me speak.

“I don’t want to listen to anything, Steve. You promised me you would marry the girl of my choice. I want to see you happy, my son.”

“Dad, I know, but she is not the right girl for me.” I try to explain to him.

“You’re thinking wrong, Steve. She is a nice girl. Please, for me, talk to her.” As he requests, my heart melts and I agree to talk to Grace reluctantly.

I give him a slight nod. “Okay, fine.”

As I approach her, she smirks, thoroughly enjoying the discomfort she’s causing me. I don’t know what magic she has done to my father.

“You both talk, we’ll be right back,” Dad says, and he leaves with Grace’s father, leaving me alone with her.

“I’ll never marry a girl like you.” I snap at her.

“Do you have any choice, Mr Steve Grey?” She scoffs, taking a sip of her drink.

“Yes, I have. Nobody can force me to do what I don’t want.” I try to keep my voice low, despite my rage.

“Seriously? But it seems something else.” A soft chuckle escapes her lips.

“What do you mean?” I ask, shooting her a disdainful look.

“I mean, by talking to me, you’re already doing something you don’t want, Mr Grey.” She speaks with mischievousness in her eyes, causing me to roll my eyes in frustration.

She seems eviler than my imagination. How did I develop feelings for her in the first place?

“Okay, let’s come to the point. We both don’t want to marry each other, but our father desperately wants this, so I have a deal for you.” My brows furrow in confusion, listening to her words.

“What deal?”

“We’ll tie the knot for the sake of our fathers, but after marriage, we’ll have no claims on each other. Our lives will be ours to live as we please. Let’s commit to a three-month marriage contract, and once that’s done, we part ways. This way, we can put an end to our fathers’ relentless push for us to marry.” She proposes, raising my anger.

“Shut up. Marriage might be a joke to you, Miss Grace, but not to me. Find someone else to sign this deal with.” Her expression turns to a frown as I reject her offer.

“Well, my bad luck is that I have to sign this deal with you because my father wants me to marry you.” She responds, irked.

I shrug my shoulders. “Whatever! I don’t care what your father wants. I’ll never marry you.”

“Your father will force you to marry me as he forced you to converse with me, and then you have no choice except to accept my deal. Just wait and watch.” She walks away after giving me a mischievous wink.

“This Girl!” I mutter, stamping my foot in fury.

Frustrated and angry, I watch as Grace walks away, her wicked smile etched on her face. How did I end up in this mess? I never wanted to marry someone like her.

I take a deep breath and decide to confront my father once again. I can’t let him dictate my life.

As I walk towards him, a frown appears on my face, seeing Grace shedding crocodile tears in front of him.

“Uncle, I’m sorry. I try to convince Steve to marry me, but I don’t know why he dislikes me so much.”

What is she? So fake! Why, God, did our paths have to cross?

“Don’t worry, Grace. I’ll make him understand.” As he reassures her, she walks away, wiping her tears and passing me an evil smile.

Fuck! How can she be so manipulative?

I won’t leave her. She is playing with my father’s feelings, and now I’ll make her pay for messing with Steve Grey.

As my father turns around and sees me, he rebukes me. “What’s going on with you, Steve? Why do you dislike Grace?”

“Dad, I’m sorry that I misjudged her. I’ll apologise to her, and I’m ready to marry her.” As I declare, his eyes glint with joy.

He pulls me into a hug. “I’m so happy, son. Thank you so much.”

I just pass him a feigned smile as he pulls away from me.

Yes, I’m ready to marry the rude and manipulative Grace to teach her a lesson and make her regret every day in our three-month contract marriage.

I walk over to Grace and tell her my decision. “I’m ready for the deal.”

She gives me a smug smile. “I knew you would come.”

You know nothing, Grace. I’m going to make your life hell.

I grab her arms and yank her to myself. “You’ll regret playing with the fire, Grace.” I warn her, moving dangerously close to her face.

I feel something as her warm breath brushes against my face. My anger intensifies, not just because of her manipulative games, but also because of the attraction I’m feeling.

“I’m myself a fire, so I’m not afraid to be burned.” She answers, staring straight into my eyes.

I feel frustrated as she stares back at me, unflinching. Her confidence fuels my determination to ensure she regrets every bit of her manipulative behaviour.

I take a step closer, my voice seething with intensity. “You may think you’re a fire, Grace, but remember, even fire can be extinguished.”

Her smirk wavers for a moment, but she quickly regains her composure. “We’ll see about that, Mr. Grey. Just remember, this marriage is just a game to me. And I always win.”

I dig my nails into her skin, fighting the urge to lash out at her because I can’t let her see how much she is getting under my skin. After marriage, I’ll show her how much I hate her.

I force a tight smile and reply, loosening my grip on her. “We’ll see who comes out on top, Grace. But mark my words, you won’t be able to manipulate me like you did my father.”

With that, I release her arms and turn away. As I march out of the party hall, I wonder how I got myself into this mess.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

But now, I’m resolved to turn the tables on Grace and make her feel remorse for even crossing paths with me.