THE DECISION

    CHAPTER 4

  

  Amara’s POV

  

  I want you to marry me.

  

  Those words kept ringing in my head.

  

  I heard them again and again.

  

  Even after I left Jude’s office.

  

  Even while Ethan drove me home.

  

  Even when I stared out of the car window and tried to think about anything else.

  

  Nothing worked.

  

  I want you to marry me.

  

  I looked down at the contract in my hands.

  

  One year.

  

  That was all Jude wanted.

  

  One year of being his wife.

  

  In return, he would pay my mother’s debt and help keep the restaurant open.

  

  It sounded simple.

  

  But it didn’t feel simple.

  

  Ethan stopped the car in front of my apartment.

  

  He turned off the engine and looked at me.

  

  “You haven’t said a word for ten minutes.”

  

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  

  “You don’t have to say anything.”

  

  I looked at the contract.

  

  “I can’t believe this is real.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  “He barely knows me.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  “And he wants to marry me.”

  

  Ethan gave a small smile.

  

  “You’ve mentioned that part a few times.”

  

  I sighed.

  

  “I’m serious.”

  

  “So am I.”

  

  I turned toward him.

  

  “Why did he choose me?”

  

  Ethan was quiet for a moment.

  

  “I told you. I believe you can be trusted.”

  

  “But Jude could choose anyone.”

  

  “He could.”

  

  “Then why me?”

  

  “I don’t know what answer you’re looking for.”

  

  “The truth.”

  

  Ethan looked at me.

  

  “The truth is that Jude needs this marriage, and you need the help.”

  

  I looked away.

  

  That was exactly what frightened me.

  

  Maybe this wasn’t about me at all.

  

  Maybe I was just the easiest solution to his problem.

  

  Ethan reached for the door.

  

  “Think about it before you decide.”

  

  “I will.”

  

  “And don’t let anyone pressure you.”

  

  I nodded.

  

  “Okay.”

  

  I opened the car door.

  

  “Goodnight, Ethan.”

  

  “Goodnight, Amara.”

  

  I stepped out.

  

  Before I closed the door, he called my name.

  

  “Amara.”

  

  I looked back.

  

  “You don’t have to be afraid of him.”

  

  I gave him a small smile.

  

  “I’m not afraid of him.”

  

  I looked at the contract.

  

  “I’m afraid of what saying yes could change.”

  

  Ethan didn’t answer.

  

  I closed the door and watched his car drive away.

  

  Then I stood outside my apartment for a moment.

  

  My heart felt heavy.

  

  I finally went inside.

  

  The apartment was quiet.

  

  My mother wasn’t home yet.

  

  I went straight to my room and placed the contract on my desk.

  

  I stared at it.

  

  Then I opened it.

  

  Again.

  

  I had already read it at Jude’s office.

  

  But now I wanted to understand every word.

  

  The first page explained the agreement.

  

  One year.

  

  The second page explained the financial arrangement.

  

  Jude would pay the debt connected to the restaurant.

  

  He would also provide money to help the business stay open.

  

  I turned the page.

  

  We would live together.

  

  We would attend important events together.

  

  We would appear as a real married couple.

  

  No one could know the marriage was based on a contract.

  

  I stopped reading.

  

  “Live together?”

  

  I leaned back in my chair.

  

  That part suddenly felt very real.

  

  I would have to leave my home.

  

  Leave my normal life.

  

  And move into Jude Monroe’s house.

  

  I shook my head.

  

  “This is crazy.”

  

  I closed the contract.

  

  Then I opened it again.

  

  Because no matter how crazy it was, there was one thing I couldn’t ignore.

  

  The restaurant.

  

  My mother’s restaurant.

  

  Without Jude’s help, we could lose it.

  

  I remembered the letter that had been delivered that morning.

  

  Four days.

  

  That was all we had.

  

  I looked at the contract again.

  

  Maybe this was the only way.

  

  But was saving the restaurant worth marrying a stranger?

  

  I didn’t know.

  

  And that was the worst part.

  

  My phone buzzed.

  

  I picked it up.

  

  It was Ivy.

  

  “Where have you been? You disappeared yesterday.”

  

  I smiled.

  

  Ivy always noticed when something was wrong.

  

  I typed back.

  

  “I need to tell you something”

  

  Her reply came almost immediately.

  

  “That sounds serious. What happened?”

  

  I stared at the screen.

  

  I didn’t know how to say it.

  

  So I typed the first thing that came to mind.

  

  “I’m getting married”

  

  The three dots appeared.

  

  Then disappeared.

  

  Then appeared again.

  

  “TO WHO???”

  

  I laughed quietly.

  

  “Jude Monroe”

  

  My phone started ringing.

  

  I answered.

  

  “Amara, what do you mean you’re marrying Jude Monroe?”

  

  “Keep your voice down.”

  

  “I’m trying, but you’re telling me you’re marrying a billionaire!”

  

  “It’s not a normal marriage.”

  

  “What does that mean?”

  

  I looked at the contract.

  

  “It’s only for one year.”

  

  There was silence.

  

  Then Ivy spoke.

  

  “Amara, what did you get yourself into?”

  

  “I know it sounds crazy.”

  

  “It doesn’t sound crazy. It sounds like a terrible idea.”

  

  I sighed.

  

  “Ivy, Mum needs the money.”

  

  Her voice became softer.

  

  “I know.”

  

  “I can’t just sit and watch her lose everything.”

  

  “I understand. But are you sure about this?”

  

  I looked at the contract again.

  

  “No.”

  

  Ivy went quiet.

  

  “But I’m thinking about saying yes.”

  

  “Because of the restaurant?”

  

  “Yes.”

  

  She sighed.

  

  “I know how much that place means to your mother.”

  

  “And to me.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  I rubbed my forehead.

  

  “Jude can pay the debt. He can keep the restaurant open.”

  

  “But he wants a marriage in return.”

  

  “One year.”

  

  “Amara, one year is still a long time.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  “What happens after the year?”

  

  “We go our separate ways.”

  

  “And you think it will be that easy?”

  

  “I don’t know.”

  

  Ivy was quiet.

  

  Then she asked,

  

  “Do you trust him?”

  

  I thought about Jude.

  

  His serious face.

  

  His calm voice.

  

  The way he had spoken about the agreement.

  

  “I don’t know him well enough to trust him.”

  

  “Then why are you considering it?”

  

  “Because I know what happens if I say no.”

  

  Ivy didn’t answer.

  

  I looked at the contract.

  

  “We lose the restaurant.”

  

  Her voice softened.

  

  “Just promise me you won’t forget yourself while trying to save your family.”

  

  I swallowed.

  

  “I promise.”

  

  We ended the call.

  

  I put my phone down.

  

  But her words stayed with me.

  

  Don’t forget yourself.

  

  It was almost evening when I heard the front door open.

  

  “Amara?”

  

  Mum.

  

  “I’m in my room.”

  

  She walked in.

  

  The moment she saw me, she knew something was wrong.

  

  “You’ve been quiet since you came home.”

  

  “I’m just tired.”

  

  She looked at the desk.

  

  The contract was still there.

  

  Her eyes moved to it.

  

  “Is that the agreement Jude gave you?”

  

  I nodded.

  

  She came closer.

  

  “Have you read it?”

  

  “Yes.”

  

  “And?”

  

  I didn’t answer.

  

  She sat beside me.

  

  “Amara, whatever you’re thinking, you can tell me.”

  

  I took a deep breath.

  

  “Mum, you already know Jude wants to help us with the restaurant.”

  

  “Yes.”

  

  “And you know Ethan introduced us.”

  

  “Yes.”

  

  “He really can help us.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  I looked down.

  

  “But there’s something you don’t know.”

  

  She waited.

  

  I picked up the contract.

  

  “His help comes with a condition.”

  

  Her face changed.

  

  “What condition?”

  

  I looked at her.

  

  “He wants me to marry him.”

  

  Silence.

  

  Mum stared at me.

  

  “What?”

  

  “For one year.”

  

  She stood up.

  

  “No.”

  

  “Mum…”

  

  “No, Amara.”

  

  “He’ll pay the debt.”

  

  “I don’t care.”

  

  “He’ll keep the restaurant open.”

  

  “I said no.”

  

  “But Mum…”

  

  She turned to me.

  

  “Why didn’t you tell me this when you came home?”

  

  “Because I didn’t know what to do.”

  

  “And now?”

  

  “I still don’t know.”

  

  She sat down again.

  

  “Amara, I thought Jude was helping us because he wanted to.”

  

  “He does want to help.”

  

  “Then why does he need you as payment?”

  

  “It’s not like that.”

  

  “Then what is it?”

  

  I explained everything.

  

  His grandmother was sick.

  

  She wanted to see him married.

  

  Jude wanted a one-year arrangement.

  

  He would help our family financially.

  

  When I finished, Mum stared at the floor.

  

  “He barely knows you.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  “You barely know him.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  “You would have to live with him.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  “You would have to pretend to be his wife.”

  

  “I know.”

  

  Mum shook her head.

  

  “I don’t like this.”

  

  “I don’t either.”

  

  “Then don’t do it.”

  

  I looked at her.

  

  “And what happens to the restaurant?”

  

  She went quiet.

  

  I continued.

  

  “What happens when Friday comes?”

  

  “Amara…”

  

  “We don’t have the money.”

  

  “We will find another way.”

  

  “What way?”

  

  She didn’t answer.

  

  I moved closer.

  

  “Mum, I know you don’t want me to do this.”

  

  “I don’t.”

  

  “But I can’t watch you lose everything.”

  

  Her eyes filled with tears.

  

  “You are not responsible for saving me.”

  

  “You’re my mother.”

  

  “And that is exactly why I don’t want you doing this.”

  

  I held her hand.

  

  “You worked for years to build the restaurant.”

  

  “I can build something else.”

  

  “But you shouldn’t have to.”

  

  She squeezed my hand.

  

  “Amara, money can be replaced.”

  

  I looked at her.

  

  “Can it?”

  

  She nodded.

  

  “Yes.”

  

  “Then why does it hurt so much when we think about losing the restaurant?”

  

  She looked away.

  

  Because she knew the answer.

  

  It wasn’t just a building.

  

  It was her dream.

  

  Her years of work.

  

  Her way of taking care of us.

  

  I looked at the contract.

  

  “I can save it.”

  

  Mum shook her head.

  

  “Not at the cost of your happiness.”

  

  I didn’t answer.

  

  She stood and kissed my forehead.

  

  “Think carefully.”

  

  Then she left my room.

  

  I sat there alone.

  

  Her words hurt.

  

  But so did the thought of watching her dream disappear.

  

  That night, I barely slept.

  

  I kept turning from one side of the bed to the other.

  

  Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the restaurant.

  

  My mother behind the counter.

  

  My brother sitting at one of the tables doing his schoolwork.

  

  The old sign outside.

  

  Then I saw Jude.

  

  One year.

  

  I sat up.

  

  Maybe one year wasn’t forever.

  

  Maybe I could do it.

  

  Maybe I could survive one year.

  

  I reached for the contract.

  

  I opened it to the last page.

  

  There was a space for my signature.

  

  I stared at it for a long time.

  

  Then I picked up the pen.

  

  My hand shook.

  

  I thought about my mother’s warning.

  

  I thought about Ivy’s question.

  

  Do you trust him?

  

  No.

  

  Not yet.

  

  But I trusted what the money could do for my family.

  

  I took a deep breath.

  

  Then I signed my name.

  

  Amara Quinet.

  

  I stared at it.

  

  My decision was made.

  

  I was going to marry Jude Monroe.

  

  Not because I loved him.

  

  Not because I knew him.

  

  But because my family needed me.

  

  I closed the contract.

  

  Tomorrow, I would return it to Jude.

  

  And once I did, my life would never be the same again.