hree – Fl

ith him across the small table. The café around us faded into the background-the

mply overreacting to bad weather instead of his absurd proposition. "Will

ng into my palms to keep myself grounded. "You don't even know me. I don't know you. A

ly. Then his expression softened-just a little. "This is

, eyes narrowed. "How is this a benefit to me? Because from w

an arranged marriage. A real one, with a woman I've never met and don't intend to

e air. A contract marriage. Like this was some ki

ed, "and I'll pay for your grandmother's

you know about my grandmother?" My voice was low now, almost a wh

e?" he said smoothly. "What matters is that we both get what we need. You need

about this

e fog. "I'm not interested," I said firmly, thou

t the tiled floor. I didn't care if people wer

st cutting. "Have you forgotten? She only has two mont

cks. My heart dropp

mo

he clamor of the café, louder than the fear in my chest. My

me thing from the doctors last week. Without more advanced treatment-trea

the chair, my hands shaking slightly as I stared

or two years," I said slowly. "N

He leaned back, voice composed again. "After that, we go ou

arely process. But the basics were clear. Marriage. Two years. Confidentiality. No expec

Like I was signing away my freedom f

oice did I

slightly. As I pressed the tip to the paper, I tried to remind myse

settled over me. Like I'd finally jumped off a clif

ying on his lips. "Good. No additional

ut this time it felt final, like a door closing behind me. I didn't look back as I w

each other without order. What had I just agreed to? Who was thi

-

to go. Everything felt surreal, like I was dreaming,

quiet, a stark contrast to the noise in my head. I sat on the

s my li

expecting anyone. My heart jumped. I moved

ca

cou

ly, arms crossed. "Wha

and a phone in the other. "I came to deliver the sign

ed, the exhaustion catch

. We have to announce the engagement within the

t him. "You

der. "You signed a d

ide to let him in. He walked in like he belong

e laid out a calendar, some papers, and a phone alrea

" I muttered, ru

asured. "It's just busines

was the

t just b

s my

what I had just

-