Chapt. 19 - A Lifetime Contract

"What makes you want to keep me here for the rest of my life? You said you didn't want to be around me for too long." –Jiji–

***

A man sat across from Angie in a café, enjoying coffee and snacks in front of them as they chatted for an hour.

They didn’t meet by accident. Angie was bored with her daily life as an unemployed person, so she went to campus to take care of some administrative matters as instructed by her mother-in-law.

After that, she walked around the shopping center just to kill time and stop by a bookstore to buy one or two novels.

However, let’s say today was her lucky day. A young man was in the same place and picked up the same book she wanted to buy.

They ended up there. At L’Cafe, it was their favorite spot when Jordan was still in college and helped her with some assignments.

Now, they sat across from each other, sharing absurd stories that kept unfolding, responding to each other as if they had been living the same life for a long time, even though they were just two people who had accidentally fallen for each other but had to part ways because of a silly fate.

“Are you happy?” Jordan asked after a few minutes of staring at Angie’s beautiful face as she told her story, occasionally laughing. He enjoyed listening to her stories. And every time Angie smiled, a small dimple appeared on her cheek, making her look adorable.

Angie, faced with such a question, pressed her lips together. She couldn’t possibly say she was happy. The truth was, she wasn’t. No one would be happy in a fake marriage with a man they didn’t love.

“I don’t know what to say. Is this about my marriage to Mike?” Angie asked back, but couldn’t hide the awkwardness creeping in.

How foolish of her, she thought. Discussing Mike in front of the man she desired wasn't something she enjoyed. If she were still single, she wouldn’t hesitate to jump onto Jordan’s lap right now.

Jordan nodded in understanding, biting into his croissant and chewing while keeping his attention on the girl before him.

“I don’t know if I can call this happiness. But I’m fine. How about you? Is your job there going well? Mr. Anderson must like you and promote you.” Angie smiled with unwavering admiration. Jordan was still her idol in every way.

“I’m moving,” Jordan said, placing the food back on the plate. He looked at Angie, who seemed quite surprised, hoping she would ask more questions.

“Move? Do you mean... move for work? Where?”

“Anywhere. To a quiet, peaceful country, working at a small, newly established company, living peacefully with the person I love.”

Angie’s blood raced upon hearing Jordan’s final words. Her heart felt like it was breaking into pieces, imagining that he had already found his dream woman. The one he loved.

Was it Tatiana? Because that girl was one of the women closest to Jordan besides herself.

“Do you already have a girlfriend?” Angie asked with a forced smile. “She must be a beautiful and lucky girl to be loved by a man like you.”

Jordan smiled, gently brushing Angie’s lips with his thumb and gazing deeply into her dark eyes. He didn’t answer, but wore a serious expression he hadn’t shown before.

“Will you go with me, Ji? Leave Mike. We’ll live a better life bound by love. Just you and me.”

***

Angie quietly entered the apartment. It looked empty, and there were no signs of life. Mike must have been in his room or out clubbing for some fun. Angie never stopped him from doing that, because living under the same roof with him inevitably made her feel anxious.

Today, Angie was in a good mood. Meeting Jordan while she was at a shopping center made her feel happy.

Jordan was still the same, even though she wasn’t. Her status was no longer that of a single girl. Despite being bound by a disgusting contractual marriage, she still had to play that role.

At least, she had to be a wife who upheld the family’s dignity and honor. If Mike could do all that for his own interests, then Angie could too.

However, she couldn’t deny that Jordan’s words had stirred a thousand emotions within her.

She was tempted by his promises, honestly. Fleeing to another country and starting a new life based on love, exactly like her dream. But was it permissible?

Could she, just once, not have to submit to the traditional Eastern customs that her mother had always upheld?

Could she, just once in her life, make a decision based on her own will without anyone’s interference?

Thinking about all these unanswered questions made Angie’s head feel like it was about to explode. Maybe it would be better if she just forgot about Jordan’s invitation. That man couldn’t possibly have meant it seriously, could he?

“Where have you been? Why are you wandering around like a stray dog until midnight like this?” asked a voice that made Angie stop in her tracks. Mike was sitting on the sofa. It seemed he had been there all along, waiting for her return.

“Should I tell you everything I do? Isn’t our marriage just a piece of paper?”

Mike didn’t like that statement, even though it was true. For him, the truth belonged only to him, especially when it came to Angie and their strange marriage.

Stepping closer and turning Angie’s body, which was about to walk away, then closing the distance until there was no space left between them, Mike glared sharply at his wife.

“I make the rules and have the right to set boundaries for you. As long as you’re my wife, you’ll be under my control. Got it?”

Angie’s jaw tightened, returning Mike’s gaze without blinking. If provoked by Mike’s dominance, she might have easily complied. But no, though in the end, Angie did nothing to resist.

“Just two years. I can do it.” Angie smirked. But instead of retaliating against her challenge, the opposite happened. Mike returned the same smirk.

“You think it’s just two years, huh?” Mike snorted. “Playing with you has been quite enjoyable. So, I intend to extend the contract’s duration. Hmm... how long do you think? Three? Four? Or... for life? What do you think, Little Bunny?”