Marrying Raymond St Daniels

Cullman Kings patted his youngest daughter affectionately.

Once they were seated, the maid burst in to announce the arrival of their guests.

Mr. Kings nodded, and she hurried off to escort them in.

Mari's eyes widened in surprise as Mr. and Mrs. St. Daniels entered the room.

The two families exchanged respectful greetings.

Her father cleared his throat.

All eyes turned to Mari.

She felt a suffocating sense of unease. Her lungs tightened, restricting airflow.

"Catherine, Mr and Mrs St Daniels, have come to finalize a contract with us," Cullman Kings announced, his eyes on Mari's. "It's all about you, my dear daughter. And it's of grave importance that you accept their offer."

Confusion marred Mari's face. The words "contract" and "it's all about you" seemed to mock her.

Mari's palms grew damp with sweat, and she swallowed hard, her throat constricting.

But nothing could have prepared her for the shocking sight of Mrs Danielle St Daniels falling to her knees before her, tears streaming down her face.

"Please, Catherine, you have to help my son Raymond," Mrs Danielle begged, her voice trembling with emotion. "All he needs is a loving heart that can love and accept him in his current state."

Mari's heart swelled with compassion as she gently helped Mrs. Danielle back to her seat.

A warm smile spread across her face as she met the expectant gazes of everyone

"Of course, I'll be willing to help Raymond."

"Thank you so much, Catherine," she whispered, her voice choked with gratitude.

Melissa and Cullman exchanged a discreet, knowing glance. Their faces lit up with approval, clearly pleased with Mari's decision.

Her parents turned to her beaming.

"I guess we have a wedding to plan," Melissa gushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I'm thrilled our families will now be united through marriage." Mrs. Danielle's tears had miraculously dried, replaced by a bright, beaming smile.

Mari's breath was knocked out of her. A chill swept over her, making her shiver. Wedding? Marriage? What the hell was happening?

The two families were now toasting and cheering, oblivious to her distress.

She'd just agreed to a deal and had no idea what she'd just gotten herself into.

When the St Daniels have left, Mari turned to her parents in fury.

"Mom, I don't get what's happening? Wedding?"

"But darling, you already accepted the St Daniels' offer," Melissa said sweetly to her daughter.

"I didn't know what I was accepting," Mari protested. "She pleaded with me to help her son Raymond."

"Of course, honey, you're helping Raymond by marrying him," Melissa said. Her tone is filled with sweetness, trying to damp her daughter's fury. "And besides, this arrangement is crucial to your father. Tell her, Cullman, she needs to know."

Mari's gaze shifted to her father, her eyes narrowing.

"Catherine, my businesses are crashing and I'm on the brink of bankruptcy," her father admitted. "I couldn't bear the thought of my competitors gloating over my downfall. I had to strike a deal with the St Daniels. They were looking for a suitable bride for their eldest son, and...I'm afraid you're the price I had to pay, Catherine."

Mari sighed, her mind still reeling in confusion.

"But Raymond St Daniels is still in a coma, how is it possible for me to marry him?"

Both parents exchanged a secret glance.

Her mother was the one that spoke up.

"Raymond St Daniels has awaken from his coma. But the doctors said he'll be crippled for the rest of his life."

Mari's heart felt like it had turned to ice. He's awake? Crippled? For the rest of his life? The words echoed in her mind, sending a chill take hold of her entire being.

She felt a flutter in her chest. Dancing butterflies in her stomach.

Excitement or foreboding, she couldn't say which.

Her mother misinterpreted her silence as disagreement and quickly reached out to clasp her hands.

"Catherine, I know it's hard to accept marrying someone who's crippled, but you're our only hope," Melissa said, her voice tinged with desperation. "Your sister had the chance to marry Grayson, but she threw it away because he cheated on her. Can you imagine? Grayson is now the sole heir to the St Daniels dynasty, and she gave up her chance to be his wife over something as trivial as infidelity."

Melissa's grip on Mari's hands tightened.

"You're the only one I can count on, Catherine," Melissa said, her voice soft and persuasive. Mari was her only hope and she needed her to understand that. "I know you're trying to establish a career, but you'll have to quit your job and devote yourself to taking care of Raymond full time. You'll never want for money as long as you're married to him. He may be crippled, but I'm sure he'll still be able to father a child. I want my grandchildren to bear the St Daniels name."

Mari's heart made the decision for her.

And it's no money, fame or social status she's chasing.

She genuinely wanted to help Raymond.

Mari put in her age long feelings for him into her decision.

"Yes, I accept. I'll marry Raymond St Daniels."

That night as she lay down on the creaky bed in her old bedroom, her mind played a series of scenarios.

She imagined Raymond St Daniels weeping over her with gratitude as she agreed to be his wife.

Raymond St Daniels kissing her feverishly as he confessed his dying love to her.

"Catherine, you make me the most happiest man on earth by agreeing to marry me." She imagined him say. "You are the only woman that loves me."

Mari imagined herself kissing him back with the same hunger and starvation of a beast.

Her love for him would conquer every obstacle, even his crippled legs - or so she naively thought.

When her body couldn't take it any longer, she hitched her gown up and exposed her underwear.

She trailed her fingers inside her core.

She was already damn wet.

And when she brought herself to a glittering shuddering orgasm, Mari was sure she'll never regret agreeing to marry Raymond St Daniels.