The Predatory Marriage Novels & Stories

"Maxton followed me to my workplace. He grabbed me in the parking garage and tried to hit me. Kyle intervened. He offered me protection because Maxton has been his business rival for years. The marriage was a strategic arrangement that benefited both of us." The words sounded hollow even to me. Strategic arrangement. Like I was describing a corporate merger instead of the most desperate decision of my life. "You married a wealthy man weeks after leaving his brother," Dr. Morrison repeated, leaning forward slightly in her chair. "You receive significant financial compensation as part of this marriage. Can you understand how that appears to an outside observer?"

“What is this?” “A proposal,” he said. “A solution. My father’s will contains a clause that requires me to be married within the year to maintain certain corporate protections. I need a wife—under terms that protect my interests. You need payment for your brother’s surgery. I provide funds, you provide marriage for one year. No emotional entanglement. A formal, legal arrangement.” The room tilted in on itself. Elena felt disoriented as if the carpet had moved. “Are you—are you offering me money for marriage?” Her laugh sounded broken and incredulous. “That’s—cruel.”

Traps. I stood stiff, glaring at him like a cornered animal, refusing to step deeper inside. He crossed the room with unhurried confidence, then turned to face me. “You don’t understand yet. But you will. This marriage isn’t about romance or comfort. It is survival. My name shields you, my ring chains you to protection. Without it…” His eyes darkened, voice dropping to something that crawled under my skin. “…you are nothing more than prey.” My heart thundered, a frantic bird beating its wings against a locked cage.

Unfortunately, she had kept her face tense, as if she was dissatisfied with the engagement. I was afraid she would refuse it. So I immediately prepared a divorce agreement set three years later. I told her that both families had decided on the marriage. Even if she wasn’t satisfied, she had to accept it for now. After three years, we would separate. That was why I handed it to her in advance. Nevertheless, I played a small trick. I deliberately made the safe damp, blurring the text on the agreement. Three years later, she would still be mine. Elena said she wanted to treat me to dinner. I deliberately chose the same restaurant Clara had mentioned yesterday, planning to pack her favorite dish

“I can be entertaining, Eve. I can be good company. I can make you laugh while getting everything I want. I will make sure your sexual expectations are met and exceeded. Beyond that, you can take responsibility for your own happiness.” “Why marriage?” she asks, finally. “Can’t you put him on some kind of… payment plan?” “Repayment without consequence invites more theft,” I say. “If I don’t punish him, I’ll breed chaos in my organization.” Then, because the truth is a luxury I can afford, I add, “And because I saw you, and I decided I wanted you. I don’t attach poetry to appetite. You’re simply an easy conquest.” Fury brightens her like she’s being back-lit. She’s even more gorgeous when she’

“He needs to be married for his inheritance. I need a visa to stay in the country. He suggested we get married to solve both problems.” Mrs. Mary was quiet for a long moment. A pigeon landed near her feet and she shooed it away absently. “A marriage of convenience,” she said finally. “Like in the old days.” “It’s fraud.” “Is it? You’d be legally married. You’d live together, yes?” “He has a penthouse with four bedrooms. We’d have separate rooms.” “Ah.” Mrs. Mary smiled slightly. “Separate rooms. Very proper. Very sensible.” She paused. “Very lonely.”

“Why would you want to do that?” “Why would I not? This whole marriage is a scam. It was all orchestrated by my mom, for her selfish ambitions and desires. She was the one that hired the con man to make it seem that we lost all that money after our biggest company had merged with your family’s. She was the one that brought up the whole marriage idea,” I explained. “Oh,” Sterling mumbled under his breath. “But shouldn’t we wait until your mom’s behind bars first? She had shown that she can be dangerous if she wants to be. She literally hired an assassin to take out Patty because she wanted you and me together.”

I was silent the whole time so he followed me to my room so we can talk privately. “Do you want to marry me, Peyton? I am pregnant with another man’s child. I don’t have a talent for business. In short, I’m a good-for-nothing who is immature and has a lot of issues. You won’t be happy with me. We’ll just end up caged in a marriage we both don’t want. Between us, you are more capable of refusing this union. If you’d just talk to your dad-“

But I need your cooperation. I shook my head in confusion. "What kind of cooperation?" He was a little hesitant, like he was measured in the way he chose to say it. "A contract marriage." The room fell silent. I blinked, sure I must have misheard him. "A… what?" "A contract marriage," he repeated in a flat tone. "It's simple: You marry me, and in return, I give you the power and resources to destroy Adrian. I will make sure he feels the pain he's inflicted on you a hundredfold."

"You've been playing for over ten years, what happened?" Trisha chuckled. What had happened to her life? More than she'd ever thought, that was for sure. She was married to a werewolf and had relationships with other men. Her, she'd never thought about marriage to one guy before, and now look at her. "Trisha?"