The Despirate deal

Her apartment, a small, humble space filled with memories of a life she could never reclaim, felt suffocating. Every inch of it reminded her of the abandonment

outside was still moving. It was a message from her doctor. She had been avoiding it

ped off the screen: You need surgery as soon as possible. The cost wi

d been growing worse, a constant reminder that her body was betraying her. But even more than the physical pain, the thought of what she had to do next te

nce existed between father and daughter had been replaced by indifference, and now, it felt like nothing more than a distant memory. Her stepmother controlled everything, from the smallest household decision to

stepmother, and she groaned under her breath. She wasn't in t

ver. "You've been neglecting your duties at home. Your father's birthday is coming

ying the dutiful daughter anymore. She had done everything for her father when he was still a present f

said, her voice as neut

responded, hanging up

g was fine when, in truth, the family she had once known was fractured beyond repair. Her stepmother had taken everything from her-her f

. Slowly, she walked over and opened it. Standing in front of her was a young man in a sharp

mooth and calm, but with an edge of authorit

d, her guard instantly

ring a polite but distant smile. "I'm here t

ood. And she certainly wasn't in the mood to entertain strangers

his tone even more serious now. "I understand you'

hearing him correctly. "Financial i

rs. "You need surgery, don't you? I've been told

about her situation. But how? The last thing she expected was

oice shaking slightly. She wasn't sur

n. "But that's not the point. The point is, I c

kind of deal could someone lik

e asked, barely able to

a contract marriage. In exchange for your agreement to marry me under the terms of this arrang

e idea seemed absurd. But she knew the truth of her situation-she was desper

began, but Adri

en have to like me. This is purely busin

ch. This wasn't what she had imagined

s?" she asked, still tryi

rdening slightly. "And I need a wife. A temporary one. But

ion that had been lurking in the back of her mind now clawed its way to the forefro

," she said, her voi

ut don't take too long, Lena. Time is

ing Lena standing in the doorway, her mind