Contracted Heart Novels & Stories

She lived. April is ten now. Or rather, she will be ten soon…I think in three or four months' time. We were happy together but for the past year, one thing just couldn't complete our happiness. April had barely been able to live like a child. Hospitals became our second home. The smell of antiseptic replaced the warmth of laughter. Doctors’ voices replaced bedtime stories. They said it was dilated cardiomyopathy—a condition where her heart had grown weak and enlarged, struggling to pump blood the way it should. At first, it was just fatigue. Then breathlessness. Then nights where she couldn’t sleep because it felt like her own chest was working against her.

" I frowned at her while she shook her head in fear. "No sir, she is not feeling quite well so she won't be able to report today." She dropped the bombshell the same time my heart skipped a bit. "What the hell happened to her?" I hollered with eyes as wide as a saucepan. "She is suffering from a heart disease." She knotted her hands together. "What the hell are you talking about?" I slammed my fist on her table, making her panic. "Her boyfriend broke her heart so she is mentally unstable and she is nursing her heartache." She looked at the floor, fear evidently written on her.

I know that I had hurt him too much, but he could not be so heart less too right. “My cousin is dying. He has a genetic disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its at the end stage.” “His heart is failing too and he needs a heart as we ccspeak.”

"Nice pick, Dr. Clayton." "Please call me Noah." "Being a popular cardiologist at the age of 28.. pretty impressive. What makes you want to be a cardiologist?" I put down my wine glass and put my attention fully to him. "I lost my little sister to heart complications 20 years ago so that made me want to save people who have heart problems." He swirled his wine glass. "I bet she's happy to have a great brother like you. You're saving people now." "How about you? You have a passion for cars." He put down his wine glass and turned to me.

How could he be so heartless? Her mind wandered to the day Uncle Matt signed the deal and informed her. “Hey kiddo” uncle Matt said when she walked in that evening from work. “Come seat, I have something to tell you.” This was very unusual for uncle Matt. The only thing surprising about today was uncle Matt's unusual behavior; and didn’t expect him to be back home by this time.

“We can have this inside your place while we talk.” “What? No!” she exclaimed. “Why not? I am your boyfriend.” “In contract, Grant. Remember my rules? Rule number 2 to be precise.” “No invasion of privacy.” “How the hell did you find my place? I thought you don’t mind people’s personal matters. Besides, you could tell whatever you wanted to say on the phone.” He handed her a folder with some confidential papers that they both signed. “I also wanted to give you the legal copy of the contract.” He handed her the folder that contains the confidential papers that they both signed.

But instead, they seemed to mirror the thoughts within him, it's light reflecting his thoughts. He had spent years building walls around his heart, guarding it fiercely against any potential hurt or disappointment since the demise of his wife. Yet, Mitchell had effortlessly broken those barriers, leaving him exposed. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. It was a mix of fear, excitement, and a longing for something he couldn't quite define.

"What if Gael decides to neglect me and the child once the contract is over? What guarantee do I have that he won't walk away?" Chloe understood Elma's apprehension and the fear of being left alone to face the consequences of her decisions. She reached out, gently taking Elma's hands in hers, offering a reassuring smile. "Elma, I understand your concerns, and they're valid. But remember, life is full of uncertainties, contract or not," Chloe replied calmly. "While a contract marriage may have started as an arrangement, emotions and connections can evolve over time. We've seen it happen before, where contractual relationships become real marriages."

He answered with another smile. “You were talking about some tests,” I started and he nodded affirmatively, “what does the tests say?” I asked and he sighed before answering me. “The tests we carried out show that you’re a month and three weeks pregnant,” he answered and my chest tightened, “But…” he continued and my jaw dropped. “There’s a but?” I asked in shock and the doctor nodded as he looked through his file again as if to be sure of what he was about to say next. “Yes, you have what we call Cardiomyopathy, it’s a disease of the heart muscle.” He tried to explain but I was still in the dark.

he greets, ears turning bright red. I awkwardly shift my feet, “Hello” I say, and another guy enters the room with two drinks in hand. He stops momentarily at the sight of me and slightly bows, “Hello,” he greets. Are they Hiro’s bandmates? Seon too? Damn. I’m starting to think I might regret accepting Hiro’s proposal. Finally, Hiro emerges and there I could feel my lungs working fine again. His lips curved into a grin when he saw me and opened his arms for a hug from the door.