The Contracted Hearts Novels & Stories

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.

Yet sitting here, I couldn’t deny the pull of history and lingering love. Dr. Patel arrived shortly after with a cardiologist, Dr. Ramirez, a sharp-eyed man in his fifties carrying a tablet loaded with scans. They pulled up chairs, their expressions professional but serious. “Mr. Voss,” Dr. Ramirez began, “your collapse yesterday was a significant warning. The full diagnosis confirms what we suspected: Stage 2 hypertensive heart disease with early signs of dilated cardiomyopathy. Your heart muscle has weakened under prolonged stress. We’re seeing reduced ejection fraction—meaning your heart isn’t pumping as efficiently as it should.”

with is the inability to contract or be a carrier for sexual diseases. I’m so screwed. I thought I had it all figured out. I didn’t. I felt the magic course through the cuffs and collar, “Please… Hep.. please don’t do this…” my heart threatened to beat out of my chest. He was forcing me to give in to the whims of any psychopath out there. My face twisted in horror.

he said, his voice low and mysterious. Betty's heart pounded in her chest as she felt a sense of trepidation. She knew it was going to be a very long night.

Beverly's lashes trembled. When Heather saw that Beverly was listening intently, she pulled a medical report from her bag and placed it in the latter's hand. "Harry inherited your heart condition," Heather said very softly, as if afraid of startling her. Beverly flipped through the report. The diagnosis written on it was "dilated cardiomyopathy". It was a type of heart disease that, in severe cases, could lead to heart failure. Her hands shook slightly, exuding a quiet sadness.

Something that couldn't be undone by contracts or rules or the careful distance they'd tried to maintain. This was real. And for the first time in a very long time, Mira wasn't afraid. --- Later—much later—they lay tangled together in the ruined sheets, the storm still raging outside, the broken mirror still glittering on the floor. Kieran traced lazy patterns on her bare hip, his chest warm against her back. She could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, a rhythm she wanted to memorize. "The contract," she said quietly. "The contract is void." She turned her head to look at him. "What?"

I whispered. “What?” His gaze was intent, waiting. “I’m starting to believe… that this treehouse is more real than every sweet promise I’ve ever heard in my life.” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, Hugo took my hand and placed it over his chest. His heartbeat was steady and strong, like the beat of a drum that could never be faked. “Then let this heartbeat be a contract that can never be revoked. Never negotiated.” I drew a long breath and lowered my gaze so he wouldn’t see the tears brimming in my eyes. “This is the most absurd contract I’ve ever signed,” I said softly. “So do I,” he murmured. “But it’s the only one I will never regret.”

He nodded slowly. “Contract marriage,” I corrected him. And we laughed together. It was a rare moment. Laughing together. The world I live in is dark. The things in normal life are special to us or atleast to me. I never told anyone. Or maybe I never will. But I liked these ordinary moments. Irene's POV: ‘5 am, at KC productions at 7 th floor. Your contract will be ready for you to sign.’ was the text that made a very strange tingling in my stomach.

She cut in sharply. “Yes, that’s why we are going over the terms now. I understand that your families arranged your marriage so you two could be together. But in reality, between the two of you, it is just a contract marriage, one with a fixed term and conditions.” I saw her stiffen, her jaw going tight. She looked at me, then back to Jared. “I don’t understand what you mean. What contract?” She asked. “That’s what Mark wants. Since you two don’t want each other and only agreeing because of your families, I think it’s just wise that you get it binded in a contract. This will benefit you the most so you have nothing to fear.” Jared continued.

I asked, dropping all the formalities. “He’s stable for now Joanne”Steve said as he took a deep long breath before continuing, “his heart went into acute decompensation and he lost consciousness due to poor cardiac output.” My pulse quickened and my heart thudded. I tried to calm down and not tilt towards the negative side. “I don't know how to tell you this, we've started him on inotropes but his response is so far minimal. We might be talking of a heart transplant” Steve dropped the news with a calm voice.