Contract Marriage

Because of that, my entire face ripened like rotten tomato caused by too much embarrassment. Tears also began flooding my cheeks, but I was trying to control them as much as possible.

I could not believe that instead of covering everyone's secret, Uncle Robin would go that far only to get what he wants.

I've been hiding the other side of my story for four years sealed with confidentiality. Yet, in just a matter of seconds, he unfolds it right in front of everyone, especially gramps. But how did he know that? Did he have me followed all these years?

"She's been lying to us this whole time, dad. And her parents did not even say a word to you. Wanna know why? Because they believed their daughter could have the position someday. Is that how you supposed to run this family, huh?"

I was about to clarify my side of the story but was cut off when one of the security guards whispered something to gramps. Then, he nodded shortly with his eyes showing a bothered expression.

After that, he delivered the words to Mr. Emilio and moved out of his seat, and exited the meeting room right away without any further information.

"Gentlemen, I highly suggest exiting the building as soon as possible." Mr. Emilio announced, somehow worried. He nodded at me and led me to the doorway.

Everyone, excluding Uncle Robin and his men, voluntarily moved out of their seats and exited the meeting room as well. What matters to them is that the agenda of the urgent meeting has been addressed even if it was against my will. So was Uncle Robin.

"What's going on?" I asked Mr. Emilio the second we stepped foot into the elevator.

"There were groups of protesters currently blocking the driveway. Most of them were purportedly affected by your dad's passing. Some of the companies he managed and administered filed for bankruptcy."

"So, you mean, they were dad's employees? But bankruptcy? Never in history would the family will file bankruptcy, Mr. Emilio." I insisted, knowing it was completely unrighteous to tell them a lie.

"I'll explain everything as soon as we arrived at the safe house, Ms. President." Mr. Emilio removed his tuxedo and covered it on my face to make sure no one could see me coming out of the building.

Ms. President. Yes, that was what Mr. Emilio addressed me three seconds ago. It sounded satisfying and music to my ears. However, I don't know if I deserved the credit since everyone was already disappointed in me.

Meanwhile, twenty of our security guards immediately surrounded us while rushing to the parking lot. I don't know what was going on, but I could hear a few screams and chants from the distance, seeking justice.

"There they are! STOP!" Someone from the crowd shouted at us. Because his voice sounded familiar to my ears, I removed Mr. Emilio's tuxedo from my face and took a peek at where the source of the voice come from.

To my surprise, ten of our security guards pointed the tip of their guns at the young man confidently standing in front of me while the rest of them were already lying on the ground, moaning in pain.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone. But, please, hear me out, young Stevenson. You were their last hope. Give them their jobs back. I'm begging you.", he asserted with the tears in his eyes flooding his cheeks like an open faucet.

I'm not sure if he remembers my face but I certainly remembered everything about him. But what is he doing at the mansion? His name is John Mcwell - the man I married four years ago.

Four years ago.

John was a year younger than me. We were supposed to be in the same school, taking the same course, and had to graduate college in the same year.

However, it was still fresh in my memory that John quit school because of my wrongdoings. He was accused by the school of bringing illegal anesthetics to the campus when it was I who paid someone to fetch the backpack.

Because he cannot prove who and where those illegal drugs come from, he got expelled from the school and was included among the blacklisted students in the city.

"Everything you need about him was in that envelope including his contact information, my lady.", says the cop whom I paid to keep an eye on John. "What are you gonna do about it?"

"I still don't know yet, Mr. Officer." I asked, "how is he doing these days?"

The cop's expression abruptly changed. Even without telling me yet, I already imagined what John's life turned into after getting expelled.

Inside the envelope were photos of John lifting a few 50kg sacks of rice in a public market. He also worked part-time in a restaurant and joined those sailors to catch fish.

Hopelessness can be seen through his eyes which were supposed to be expressive before it happened. He was a smart student and probably had a huge dream in life. However, I was the reason he could not make his dream come true.

"Mr. Stevenson has been working day and night to survive, my lady. Even his family despised him and shooed him out of their house."

"That would be all, Mr. Officer. I'll keep you posted if I have a new job for you." I retorted before I tossed him a white envelope filled with cash.

Since then, I kept tailing John in his tiny apartment and even in his workplaces. Guilt always hunts me every time I could see his exhausted body.

He sometimes misses his meal and every time he reached his apartment, he immediately plummeted to bed. Because of that, I secretly leave food and drinks in front of his door so he can go to work with a full stomach.

It was the least I could do to help him survive the cruelty of life. However, everything I did was not enough. So, one night, I visited him in his apartment carrying a new offer.

"Excuse me? How may I help you?" John asked as soon as he opened the door.

Before I let out a word, I pulled a business card from my purse and gave it to him. "Yes. My name is Malia, president of the iNeed Foundation. Our company is looking for gifted individuals to help them study and pursue their dreams. What do you think?"

John studied my business card for a few seconds before he gave it back and said, "I'm so sorry, Miss. But, I think you got the wrong person."

He was about to shut the door but I blocked it with my bare hand. Though it was a bit painful, I simply endured it, knowing John's life has been more painful compared to my mine.

"Why? Is it because you got expelled from school? Or was it because your entire family rejected you for a crime you did not commit?"

"Excuse me?" John curved the tip of his brows downward with his eyes blazing in flame. "How did you know about...?"

I pushed the door open wider and stepped foot into his apartment. "Allow me to make your dreams come true, Mr. Stevenson. You cannot get the justice you deserve if you keep yourself this way."

At first, John insisted on declining my offer since he was already blacklisted in all schools within New York. However, I did not visit him in his apartment empty-handed. I offered him to study in Europe without paying anything.

Aside from that, I secretly married him and executed an agreement contract that will expire one year after he graduated. And for him to be allowed to stay in Europe for four years.

The moment John studied in Europe with his course chosen, I stopped communicating with him. Money was not also a problem for him when I wired his account every month more than enough.

Present time.

"Please...," he added.

When he was about to reach out for my hands, a swift sound of gunshots suddenly startled all the security guards around me, and immediately took precautionary measures. Blood was also scattered amongst their uniforms.

The last image that captures my helpless eyes before the security guards dragged me into the car by force was John's body lying on the ground. None of the security guards help him. Neither are those protesters who came along with him.

"What the hell is going on?" Could not help but ask as we took off from the mansion.

"I'm not sure yet, Ms. President, but I suppose it has something to do with you being appointed." Mr. Emilio assumed.

Mr. Emilio's statements somehow confused me. If the bullet was aimed at me, then John saved my ass. If he did not move closer to me, perhaps it was my body that was lying on the ground.

"But, how? It's just us who knows the announcement. Aside from that, the meeting has been canceled, right? Whatever we talked and decided from the meeting was void." I insisted.

"I'm afraid that's not the case, Ms. President." Mr. Emilio suddenly groped something from his left pocket and handed it over to me. It was a small black rectangular box. "Don Lucas handed that to me before he went out of the meeting room."

"Isn't this the ring I think it is?"

"Yes, Ms. President. It's your dad's gold ring during his term. That signifies that his position was passed to no one but you. Wear it. Protect it by all means as we will do to you." Mr. Emilio snatched the ring and put it on my finger. It perfectly fits into my ring finger.

A bridge of silence immediately emerged between us in the car. I was left out of words either. Instead, I locked my eyes on the ring on my finger. This is supposed to be the ring I'm trying to avoid this whole time.