Chapter One: A Desperate Bargain

Chapter 1: A Desperate Bargain

“I’ll marry you… but only if you save my mother.”

Melinda Jason’s voice shook as she stood in the big fancy office. She was looking straight at Stanley Stewart, the powerful billionaire everyone feared.

Stanley leaned back in his chair and stared at her with cold eyes. “You’re offering to marry me just like that?” he asked. “What makes you think I would help your mother?”

Melinda took a deep breath. “Because I can give you what you want. You need a child, right? An heir. I’ll be your wife and give you that child. Just please… save my mom.”

Stanley studied her for a long moment. She looked tired and scared, but there was something strong in her eyes. At twenty-two, she was pretty, with long dark hair and a face that showed she hadn’t had an easy life.

“You know what this means?” he said flatly. “This won’t be a love marriage because I don’t do love. You’ll live in my house, sleep in my bed when I want, and give me a child. After that, we can talk about divorce but until then, you follow my rules.”

Melinda’s heart was beating fast. She thought about her mother lying weak in the hospital. The doctors said she only had a few weeks left without the special treatment. This was her only hope.

“I understand,” she said quietly. “As long as you help her first.”

Stanley stood up and walked over to her. He was tall and looked even more intimidating up close. “Good, now, we have a deal.”

***

Two weeks later, Melinda stood in front of the mirror in a beautiful white wedding dress. It was her wedding day, but she didn’t feel happy. She felt trapped.

She had hardly seen Stanley since they signed the papers. He had kept his promise, her mother was now getting the best treatment in a private hospital. But tonight…

A knock came at the door. “It’s time, Miss Jason.”

The wedding ceremony was quick and cold. Stanley looked handsome in his black suit, but his face showed no emotion, no sweet words and smiles. They were married in minutes.

That night, in his huge mansion, Stanley closed the bedroom door behind them. The room was big and expensive, but Melinda felt scared.

“Take off your dress,” he said in a deep voice.

Melinda’s hands were shaking as she slowly unzipped the gown. It fell to the floor, leaving her in just her white underwear. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“Stanley… Can we please be gentle?” she whispered.

He stepped closer and lifted her chin. “This isn’t about being gentle, I need an heir. Do not start expecting romance or love from me.”

He kissed her hard, almost in an angry manner. Then he picked her up and laid her on the big bed.

Melinda was a virgin, and she was terrified, when he pushed into her without warning, sharp pain tore through her body.

She cried out and grabbed the sheets tightly. Tears ran down her face as he moved roughly, like he was just doing a job.

“You’re nothing but a vessel,” he said coldly in her ear. “A body to carry my child, that’s all I want.”

Melinda bit her lip to stop herself from sobbing. The pain in her body was bad, but the pain in her heart was worse. Stanley didn’t care about her at all.

When he finally finished, Stanley got up and went to the bathroom without saying a word. He didn’t even look back at her.

Melinda curled up on the bed, pulling the blanket over her naked body. She felt dirty and used, she watched her blood stained the expensive sheet.

“What have I gotten myself into?” She asked herself with teary eyes.

Later that night, while Stanley slept, Melinda stood by the large window looking at the city lights. Her mother was safe now and that was the most important thing to her.

But as she looked back at the man sleeping in the bed, the man who had just treated her so coldly, a heavy feeling settled in her chest.

‘This marriage was going to be much harder than she thought.’

And deep down, she had a bad feeling that Stanley Stewart was hiding even darker secrets.