"Mrs. Peterson, please-" Mia started, but the woman cut her off.
"Don't you dare speak to me! You have no right to be anywhere near children or seen in this neighborhood after what you did!" Mrs. Peterson's face was contorted with rage. "Everyone knows you were inappropriate with my Ray, You deserve to be homeless!"
"I never touched Ray" Mia whispered, her voice breaking. "The investigation proved-"
"The investigation was a joke! You might have fooled them, but I know what you are." Mrs. Peterson stepped closer, jabbing her finger at Mia's chest. "A predator masquerading as a teacher. You should be in jail!"
Tears mixed with raindrops on Mia's cheeks as passersby stopped to stare. This was her life now – public accusations, whispered rumors, and doors slamming in her face whenever she applied for teaching positions. Three months of this hell had drained her savings and now, finally, her home.
"Is there a problem here?" A deep male voice interrupted the confrontation.
Mia turned to see a well-dressed man in his thirties holding an umbrella, his expression concerned but firm.
Mrs. Peterson straightened her spine. "This doesn't concern you, sir. This woman-"
"Is clearly being harassed," the man finished. He stepped between them, effectively shielding Mia. "I suggest you leave before I call the police about your public disturbance."
Mrs. Peterson's face reddened, but she backed away. "Fine. Protect her if you want. But keep her away from children!" She stormed off, leaving Mia trembling in the rain.
The stranger turned to Mia, holding his umbrella over her. "There's a café around the corner. Let me buy you a coffee. You look like you could use it."
Mia hesitated, clutching her eviction notice.
"I'm James, by the way," he added with a gentle smile. "And I promise I'm not a serial killer, just someone who hates seeing people bullied in the rain."
Despite everything, Mia found herself letting out a weak laugh. "I'm Mia. And... thank you."
The cafe was cozy and calm, with only a handful of patrons looking for refuge from the storm. James requested two coffees and waited until they were settled in a corner booth before he began to talk.
"Do you want to explain what that was about?"
Mia wrapped her cold hands around the coffee mug. "It's a long, ugly story."
"I've got time."
The whole story spilled out between sips of coffee – how Ray Peterson had accused her of inappropriate touching after she'd reported his declining grades to his parents. The investigation that cleared her name but couldn't save her reputation. The whispers that followed her from school to school until no one would hire her.
"And now this," she concluded, setting the crumpled eviction notice down on the table. "I can't even pay for a studio apartment with a waitressing income.I just..." Her voice broke. "At times, I wish I had died with my parents in that accident rather than endure all of this."
James remained silent for a while, observing her with a focus that caused her to shift uneasily.
"What if I said I have a solution to your problem?"
Mia laughed bitterly. "Unless you're offering a time machine to undo the last three months, I doubt it."
"Not quite that dramatic." James leaned forward. "But I do have a friend who needs a wife."
Mia nearly choked on her coffee. "Excuse me?"
"My friend, Harry Bennett, needs a wife. Temporarily." James reached into his briefcase and pulled out a thick envelope. "His mother is pressuring him to marry, threatening to arrange a marriage if he doesn't choose someone soon. He needs someone to play the role of potential wife for maybe half a year while he sorts out some business matters.He's willing to pay $100,000 for six months of pretending to be his wife."
"This sounds insane," Mia said, but her heart was racing. That kind of money would change everything.
"Harry Bennett?" The name sounded familiar. "The billionaire?"
"The same." James slid the envelope across the table. "Inside you'll find a contract. Sign it, and all your problems disappear. $100,000, a place to live, and all expenses covered for six months
Mia's hands trembled as she unsealed the envelope and quickly looked at the paper inside . The conditions appeared simple: act as Harry Bennett's romantic partner, obey basic guidelines regarding public conduct, and ensure total secrecy. In exchange, she would gain financial stability and an opportunity to build her life.
"This seems too good to be true," she murmured.
"Sometimes the best opportunities come when we least expect them," James replied. "Do we have a deal?"
Mia stared at the signature line, her mind racing. This was crazy, absolutely insane. But as the rain continued to pour outside and her wet clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, she thought about her alternatives. Homeless, jobless, and alone.
She picked up the pen James offered and signed.
"Excellent." James smiled, taking out his phone. "I'll arrange a hotel for you tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll head to the Bennett mansion to meet your future husband."
As Mia lay in the opulent hotel bed that night, sleep elude her. She gazed at the ceiling, contemplating whether she had just committed the greatest error of her life or paved her path to redemption. Her final thought before falling asleep was a quiet prayer: "please, don't let me regret this."
Unknown to her, on the other side of town, another woman was signing the same contract with entirely different motives.
/0/81910/coverbig.jpg?v=be1d9a97a10053b9b7a7b9087a683e7c)
View More Comments on App
/0/68171/coverbig.jpg?v=92e6e4e17a19258321d73e95334e93ba)
/0/49353/coverbig.jpg?v=3f0747c7fc818f64f5e5e0b1cec8ff99)
/0/31471/coverbig.jpg?v=02b01ebcb0f73832f53ecdd04cea4870)
/0/42077/coverbig.jpg?v=e78a9ac5934da291f605c01af36b4310)
/0/23814/coverbig.jpg?v=04c36b67af425601cbf104b5d58d7a04)
/0/68500/coverbig.jpg?v=5103f1b64512f131f34fd0190398d0ce)
