Just A Contract

Are you alright?”

The young woman quickly bent down to help the elderly lady who had fallen to the ground after being shoved aside by one of the bodyguards.

In front of the grand cathedral, a luxurious bridal car had just arrived.

The moment the car door opened, chaos erupted.

Camera flashes exploded from every direction as reporters rushed forward, desperate to capture the first glimpse of the bride of the Wedding of the Year.

Today, the mysterious heiress of the powerful Sutherland Group, the wealthiest family in the country, was finally getting married.

Her groom was none other than Lieutenant Colonel Richard Gordon, the rising star of the Armed Forces, a decorated soldier hailed by many as the nation’s newest hero at only twenty-five years old.

The Sutherland heiress was not a celebrity.

Yet everyone was watching.

For years, she had been known as the hidden princess of the Sutherland family, rarely seen in public. No one had ever clearly seen her face before.

Today would be the first time.

And everyone was curious to see just how beautiful the woman was who had captured the heart of Lt. Col. Richard Gordon.

But amid the chaos, Katherine’s attention was drawn to the elderly woman on the ground.

“Are you alright?” Katherine asked gently, offering her hand.

The old woman slowly lifted her gaze.

Her eyes locked onto Katherine’s face.

For a moment, Katherine felt a strange chill run down her spine.

“The suffering you will face,” the old woman said quietly, “will open the door to a new hope.”

Katherine blinked in confusion.

She didn’t understand. What suffering?

She had lived her entire life like a princess, protected and cherished by her family.

And today, she was about to marry the love of her life.

What could possibly go wrong?

Shaking the strange thought away, Katherine helped the woman stand.

But suddenly, the old woman grabbed her wrist tightly.

Katherine gasped in surprise.

“The moon will guide you to the place where you will find salvation.”

The woman placed something into Katherine’s palm.

It was a pocket watch.

Katherine stared at it in shock.

Even at a glance, she could tell it was an antique, beautiful and expensive.

“I--- I can’t accept this,” Katherine said.

When she looked up again. The old woman was gone. As if she had vanished into thin air.

“Lady Katherine.” A voice interrupted her thoughts.

“The groom is waiting inside the cathedral.”

One of her attendants gently guided her forward.

Katherine stepped toward the cathedral doors as the flashes of cameras followed her every movement.

Then she saw him. Standing at the altar in his immaculate military uniform.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Gordon. Tall. Handsome. Noble.

Like the prince from every girl’s dream. And he was her first love.

Katherine felt as if her happiness had reached the heavens.

For years, she had dreamed of this day. And now, it had finally come true.

Standing before the altar, wearing a gown that shimmered under the cathedral lights, Katherine could hardly believe it was real.

The man standing across from her was the one she had loved since childhood.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Gordon.

Her first love. Her dream.

When the priest finally spoke the word.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Katherine felt tears gather in her eyes. Richard slipped the ring onto her finger, his touch warm and steady.

“I promise to protect you,” he whispered softly, his voice gentle enough that only she could hear.

Katherine smiled through her tears.

“I know you will,” she replied.

At that moment, she truly believed she was the happiest woman in the world.

She had everything. A loving family. A powerful legacy.

And the man she loved as her husband. But happiness built on lies never lasts.

It did not take long for Katherine to see the cracks beneath Richard’s perfect smile.

At first, they were small things. Late nights at work. Secret phone calls.

Conversations that stopped the moment she entered the room.

When Katherine asked about it, Richard would simply smile and pull her into his arms.

“You worry too much,” he would say calmly.

“I’m doing all of this for our future.”

And Katherine believed him. She trusted him completely.

After all, he was her husband. Then one night, everything changed.

The police arrived at their home just past midnight.

Katherine still remembered the look on the officer’s face.

Grave. Careful. Almost pitying.

“Miss Sutherland,” the officer said quietly, “there’s been an accident.”

Her parents’ car had been found at the bottom of a ravine.

Neither of them survived. Katherine felt as if the world had collapsed beneath her feet. She cried until she had no tears left.

And through it all, Richard stayed by her side. He held her. Comforted her.

Whispered gentle reassurances.

“I’m here,” he told her softly.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

But months later, Katherine discovered the truth. It wasn’t an accident. Richard had arranged it.

Her parents had been murdered. The man she loved had destroyed her family.

By then, however, Richard already had control over everything.

The company. The trust funds.

The entire Sutherland empire.

He had convinced her to sign the documents while she was drowning in grief.

“You don’t need to worry about business matters,” he had told her at the time.

“Let me handle everything for you.”

And she had. God help her, she had trusted him.

But Richard’s cruelty did not stop there.

One evening, Katherine returned home earlier than usual.

The mansion was quiet.

Too quiet. Then she heard laughter.

A woman’s laughter. Coming from the master bedroom.

Katherine’s heart began to pound as she walked toward the door.

When she pushed it open. Her entire world was shattered.

Richard was there. In their bed.

With another woman.

The stranger wore Katherine’s silk robe, her long hair spilling across the pillow as if she belonged there.

The woman glanced lazily at Katherine and smiled.

“Oh,” she said mockingly.

“So this is the famous Mrs. Gordon.”

Katherine felt her hands tremble.

“Richard----” her voice broke. “What is this?”

Richard didn’t even look ashamed. He simply sat up in bed, completely calm.

“You weren’t supposed to come home yet,” he said coldly.

Katherine stared at him in disbelief.

“That’s all you have to say?” she whispered. “You’re cheating on me!”

The woman beside him laughed.

“Cheating?” she repeated. “Oh, sweetheart, you really don’t understand anything, do you?”

Katherine’s chest tightened.