CHAPTER FIVE

"Mmmm, Ash I didn't expect you to call me so soon" Alan replied in a gruff voice.

"Yes, I thought about it and I discovered that there is no point wasting time." She glanced up at the ceiling fighting back her tears.

"Okay, when do we get started?" He asked almost immediately.

"As soon as possible" She echoed.

"Alright, I will contact my lawyer, Bye" He replied and hung up the call.

Ashely fell to the ground clutching her phone tightly while bawling her eyes out. The thought of her getting married to a stranger to save her Mom and how her Mom would live with the guilt if she figured out what she did to save her kept invading her mind.

"Ash your Mom is requesting for you, she just woke up" Drea called out interrupting her thoughts.

"She's awake?" She asked while rushing to the ward her Mom was in.

"Careful" Drea half screamed while shaking her head.

"Mom!!!" She screamed, running to her bedside.

'I almost thought I lost you, please don't do this to me again my heart can't handle it" She exclaimed as she wailed.

"I am fine Ashely, what did the doctor say?" She asked in a weak voice while she rubbed Ashely's back.

"You will be fine Mom, the doctor will start the treatment soon" She replied wiping her tears off.

"What do you mean Ashely, what have you done?" Her Mom asked, wrinkling her nose.

"Auntie, why don't you rest while I and Ashely will go get you something to eat? '' Andrea interrupted while grabbing Ashely's hand out of the hospital ward.

"What have you done?" Andrea half whispered immediately they reached the hospital balcony.

"I did what I had to do," Ashely replied, rubbing her hand on her head.

Andrea stared seriously at her asking her to continue with what she wanted to say.

"I might have accepted to get married to a stranger man I met today in exchange for my Mom's treatment" Ashely replied as reality dawned on her face.

"What!!" Andrea screamed while staring around to check if people were watching them.

"Yes, I didn't have a choice, you heard what the doctor said, I don't have much time. I am getting married tomorrow or next as it seems" She said in a finite tone.

"What will you tell your Mom?" Andrea queried.

"I don't know, anything" She replied, raising her hands.

"Come on, let's go get your Mom something to eat, we will figure it out later" Drea motioned to her.

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Alan paced around his living room after the call he had with Ashely, he was surprised that she called so soon and it kept him wondering if something had happened to her mom because he was almost sure that she wouldn't accept the proposal.

"Rex, I need you to find out what happened to Ashley's mom today," He said to the person on the other call and hung up the call.

He immediately placed a call to his lawyer.

"Mr.Anderson" The person on the other line called out immediately the call went through.

"Please be at my place first thing tomorrow, I need you to prepare a marriage contract for me, so bring all the necessary documents you would be needing" Alan replied in a stern voice.

After he had hung up the call, he strolled to his wine bar pouring himself a glass of wine.

"Finally, I am getting married to you Ash" He chuckled dryly.

Ashely walked into the hospital premises after her mom and Andrea had persuaded her to go home and freshen up that morning because she was still in her interview outfit. She strolled quietly into her Mom's hospital ward to not disturb her if she were to be sleeping but the sight in front of her left her flabbergasted.

"Ashely, this young man is here to see you and he got me gifts" Her Mom called out to her immediately she entered while pointing at the gift bag and fruit basket on the table beside her.

"You didn't even bother to tell your Mom that you had a man in your life, how cruel" Her Mom continued while whining.

"Man!!, who said I had one?" Ash asked, looking surprised.

"Who is this young man then?" Her Mom asked, pointing at the young man sitting prettily beside her.

"No one Mom, stop being dramatic and get some rest I will be back shortly" Ashely exclaimed while dragging the young man out of the hospital ward with her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked while staring at him.

"I heard your mom was admitted here so I came to see her" He replied nonchalantly.

"It's not like she knows who you are, so you didn't have to bother yourself" She fumed at him.

"You are hurting my feelings by saying all these, she will soon be my mother-in-law so it's good we get acquainted immediately" He replied holding his heart like someone who is suffering from heartbreak while Ashely scoffed at him for trying to be funny.

"You are taking this marriage thing too far, it's not even going to be a real one" Ashely complained regretting why she had accepted this in the first place.

"It would be better if you make it real in front of her because what excuses do you have to make?" He asked with seriousness written on his face.

Ashely thought about it realizing that she had to make it real or else her mom would suspect something.

"Yes right, why are you here anyways?" She asked again.

"To finalize the marriage of course because it looks like she needs the treatment immediately" He replied reminding Ashely of the main reason she was accepting this marriage.

"Okay, where is the contract?" She asked, scanning him because he wasn't holding any files.

"We would have to sign it at my place so let's go," He said, motioning her to the exit.

"I can't leave my Mom and you know that" She raised her brows at him.

"Okay, it seems your Mom's treatment would be delayed" His jaw tightened.

"Let's go," She said walking off to the exit.

At his place

Ashely stared at the whole house taking in how huge the place was from the entrance to the inside. His living room was top-notch, the aesthetics of the living room exuded a dangerously cool aura and it looked like he loved places that weren't too bright because the painting of the living room lacked life.

"You could stare at it the whole day but we need to get to business" He called out to her.

"Cough cough I wasn't staring" She defended.

"Yes sure," He said, motioning her to the three-seater sofa behind her while placing the documents on the center table.

"You can read through it," He said pointing at it.

Ashely picked up the file while flipping through the content reading it slowly so she could grasp the full context.

After a while, she placed the documents on the table while she chuckled.

"Your conditions are hilarious," She said, staring horrendously at him.

I can't date anyone till it is over, I am allowed to share intimacy with you if I agree and I have to move in with you" Ashely bulged out her eyes while scoffing at his hilarious contract.

Alan studied her intently while walking slowly towards her, he bent to her level brushing the fallen hairs off her face while he stared at the insanely breathtaking woman in front of him as Ashely flushed losslessly at his little actions.

"You won't be able to resist me Ash" He hushed above her lips.

Ashely shut her eyes tightly while she squeezed her hands on the sofa as shivers ran through her spine, her stomach dancing pleasantly to the rhythm of his voice.