MARCUS"Marcus, what is she doing here? I want her out of our sight. Fire her now!" The scene was chaotic, with Rihanna's anger boiling over at the sight of Kristen. But amidst the turmoil, one word stood out to me: crazy. Rihanna's reaction seemed over-the-top, especially considering what had transpired between her and Kristen."Why should I?" I asked, maintaining a façade of concern, though Rihanna's presence meant little to me.I observed Rihanna take a deep breath before shooting a quick glare at Kristen, who sat calmly in her office chair, unruffled by the confrontation.Damn, she looked effortlessly attractive."She's the reason my 'baby' got hurt," Rihanna spat, referring to her car. "And, I've been away for days. We were supposed to get married a day ago, remember?"Originally, Rihanna had been my pawn in a game to unsettle Ashton. But plans had shifted, and I found myself relieved by the change."Well, I think we should call it off now. I'm not going to marry you," I declared

KRISTENThe proposition hung heavy in the air, Marcus's gaze unwavering as he awaited my response. It was clear he wouldn't take no for an answer, and the weight of the contract I'd signed, binding me to him for a year, loomed large in my mind.Living with him meant relinquishing what little independence I had left, yet in light of recent events, it seemed like the only logical choice. Besides, I reasoned, if I'd agreed to be his for a year, then surely living with him was just part of the deal."Alright," I conceded, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.Marcus's expression softened, relief evident in his features. "Good choice."I offered him a tight-lipped smile, the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders. As we drove on into the night, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was stepping into the unknown – and that once again, my fate was no longer entirely my own.As we pulled up to Marcus's house, the weight of my decision bore down on me like a heavy burden.

KRISTENAs I stepped into the familiar hustle and bustle of the office, I braced myself for another day of navigating through some tasks. However, today seemed to have an extra layer of tension lingering in the air, and it didn't take long for me to realize the source of it.Rihanna, with her sharp tongue and relentless knack for finding fault in everything I did, wasted no time in making her presence known. Her cutting remarks and condescending tone grated on my nerves, leaving me feeling small and insignificant.But just when I thought I couldn't bear another minute of her relentless bullying, a familiar face appeared like a beacon of hope in the chaos. Mira, with her unwavering support, allowing me to vent my frustrations and gather my thoughts before diving back into the fray.As the day wore on, I found myself counting down the minutes until I could escape the suffocating atmosphere of the office and seek solace in the comfort of Marcus's arms. Little did I know that my evening w

MARCUSI felt someone's hand over mine, a fleeting touch that vanished as quickly as it came. Blinking open my eyes, I beheld the silhouette of a woman cradling a baby, a speeding car hurtling towards them. My instincts screamed to intervene, to swap places with them, yet my limbs weighed heavy, impeding any heroic dash.My heart thundered as the car drew closer, closer..."Marcus," a voice pierced through the chaos.Gasping for air, I found Kristen's worried gaze, her brow furrowed in concern."Kristen," I managed amidst ragged breaths."Are you okay? What's wrong--" Her words trailed off as I pulled her into a tight embrace, haunted by the specter of my dream."Don't leave me," I pleaded.I could feel her hands tapping my back as she say, "Are you having nightmares? Do you want to go home now?"What she said made me realize that we were still here in my parents' mansion, here inside my old room."It's nothing, just a bad dream," I uttered before moving slightly away from her. "We ne