004: A MARRIAGE CONTRACT

~~Selene~~

It’s been two days since the scandal happened. Two days since I signed away my future to marry a guy I have only seen in business magazines. Today is my engagement, an event organized by the two families to fool the press that Rain Manchester and I had planned to get married a long time ago. They camp outside the building, scrambling to grab anything newsworthy. 

“It’s been an hour,” Aunt Astrid speaks up. I am seated around a large table with my relatives, awaiting the start of the event. “Why hasn’t the groom arrived? Is he trying to ruin the wedding before it even happens?”

I glance over at my grandfather. He’s with Roman Manchester, chatting like long lost best friends that just reunited. Rain Manchester still hasn’t arrived. 

I smooth my hand over my dress. What if he’s pulling out? The event is being delayed because of him. 

“Maybe he is,” Uncle Victor says, raising a cocktail glass to his lips. “If I was getting married to the daughter of a psycho, I would try to ruin the wedding too.”

My hands clench, but I stay quiet. I have endured their derogatory remarks for years. Enduring it for two more weeks is nothing.

“At least Selene is useful for once.”Aunt Olivia leans forward, her tone honeyed. “Don’t feel bad about taking Vivienne's place. No conglomerate family would have taken you in as a daughter in law, so be happy with the opportunity you’ve gotten.”

Before her words can register, the doors open, and my stomach drops. Vivienne walks in, her arm linked with Ethan’s. They look so good together. Ethan stares at her with so much affection, it reminds me of the good times I had with him. I spring to my feet and dash into the dressing room, my hands trembling profusely. I can’t afford to break down in front of the same people who have always ridiculed me. 

How dare she bring him to a family event? How dare she rub their disgraceful relationship in my face, right at my engagement?

I lean against the cold wall, trying to steady my breathing as heavy footsteps advance towards me. 

“Selene Vaughn.”

I freeze. 

Rain Manchester stands before me, clutching a brown envelope. His face is clouded with pure distaste as he stares down at me. 

The cameras do not do his looks enough justice. He radiates raw power and control. Sharp jawline, jet black hair styled to sit atop his head, tailored black suit hugging his broad shoulders. 

“So.” His voice snaps me back to the present, filled with disgust. “You’re the one who set me up.”

He takes a step closer, and I catch a faint whiff of his cologne. Woody, masculine. My stomach does a tiny flip. 

“It’s nice to meet you too.” I clip.  “And no, I didn’t set you up.” 

His lips curve in a humorless smile. “Drugging me just so you could leak that video to the press was a setup, Miss Vaughn, but you don’t need me to tell you that.”

Wow, Vivienne! Way to go! She went as far as having him drugged?

Rain glares at me. I don’t need a soothsayer to tell me how much he despises my existence. He makes no effort to hide it. 

“Believe it or not, I was given as little choice as you were, Mr Manchester.”

A glint of irritation appears in his eyes. “Do not try to fool me. You are gaining a lot from this marriage. Being a Manchester is enough to push you up the social ladder in a way your family never has.”

I let out a mirthless chuckle. He knows about my stand in the Vaughn family, I can see. And he doesn’t mind using his words as a knife. Too bad, he isn’t the only one who did his homework. 

“Social ladder? You’re illegitimate, Mr Manchester. In the eyes of the city, we’re on the same level. Spare me the lecture.”

Something flickers in his gaze. A slight mixture of anger and humiliation, and it grants me a sense of satisfaction. If it wasn’t for my mother, I'd never have considered getting married to him at all. Who does he think he is?

Without another word, he stretches the envelope to me. I rip it open and pull out a document. 

A marriage contract.

I can’t help the laugh that rips past my throat. “What the hell is this?”

“The wedding won’t hold if you don’t sign that.”

I scan through the document. The contract has a lot of terms. Rain states them as I read.

“We’ll be married on paper only. We will give everybody a show, my father included, just like you want.”

“I don’t want–”

“Ervyething ends in public,” he cuts in curtly. “Exactly one year from now, we’ll get a divorce, one you will initatiate. You will take the fall for it.”

My spine straightens in defiance. “I will do no such thing.”

“Why?” Rain tilts his head to the side, a sardonic smile lining his face. “You started all this. You should end it.”

The arrogance in his voice makes my blood boil. I let out rapid breaths, struggling to keep my composure. 

“Do not expect a real marriage behind closed doors,” Rain continues. “We will have separate wings in our home. We will never share a bed. And most importantly, do not expect fidelity from me.”

My fingers clench around the document. His tone is filled with so much hatred, it makes me have second thoughts about this marriage. All my life, I have endured disdain from everyone around me. Adding my husband to the list isn’t worth it. 

But I'm left with no choice. 

“What if I don't agree to these terms?”

“Then the wedding is off.”

“Quit bluffing, Mr Manchester. I know how much you need this wedding. You will be as good as dead to your father if it doesn’t hold.”

His eyes widen. 

“Yes, I did my research. Your company is signing a merger in a few weeks, and a scandal would ruin everything. You have no right to give me instructions when I'm saving your ass.”  That said, I squeeze the document into a ball.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Rain bellows, his formidable frame towering over mine.

“I will agree to all your conditions as long as you agree to mine.”

His expression shifts. With eyes narrowed into slits, he asks. “What are your conditions?"

“That you become the rightful heir of the Manchester empire within our marriage year.”

For the first time since he walked in, I see a crack in his icy mask. Genuine surprise mixed with a trace of suspicion.

“Why would you want that?”

“Because everyone thinks I deserve nothing but scraps.” Their words echo in my ears. Ethan, Vivienne, Grandfather, all of them. Blood rushes to my ears. “They think I will amount to nothing. If I have to be stuck with you for a year, let the world see that I turned the bastard son into the rightful heir.”

Seconds tick by. The air between us is charged, pure disgust crackling beneath it. I hold his gaze stubbornly.

“I will not disappoint you.” His words are a solemn vow. “One year, Miss Vaughn. Once it’s over, take the fall and leave.”

I flash him a smile. “I’m glad we understand each other.”

“I will draft up a new contract with your terms included.” That said, he closes the distance between us, his hand falling to my waist. A jolt of electricity shoots through my body at the contact. I back away, a protest building on my tongue.

“There are reporters in the hall. Smile, Mrs Manchester. The performance starts now.”