Time-limited Engagement Novels & Stories

"Mine. Exclusively, pending the six-month review." He looked at me. "That's full control." "That's appropriate for where we actually are." I held his gaze. "They don't know you yet. You've had three visits. I've been their parent for five years." I kept my voice even. "This isn't punishment. This is the reality of the situation." "I understand the reality of the situation," he said quietly. "I created it." Harrison cleared his throat. "The communication provision on page three – the forty-eight-hour response window – is somewhat restrictive for genuine emergencies."

" I can't wait for your exams to get over so that we can get engaged. And yeah My parents were thinking if we can do it on your birthday . So what's say? " An unsettling feeling caught me. He halted the car and came to my side to open the door. " But my birthday is in two months. " Giving my hands on his we stepped in the elevator. " I know, our engagement is also after two months. " How stupid I was. It was already the end of this month and only two months are left for our engagement. " So what do you think? " " Yeah. I will ask my parents about it. Its better if we leave this matter to our parents. "

Deliberation. The restructuring group reached out again—not with urgency, but with refinement. A short message. Thoughtful. They had discussed her conditions internally. They hadn’t agreed on everything, but they agreed on enough to keep talking. We’d like to explore a limited engagement, they wrote. Three months. Observation and advisory only. No obligation beyond that. Elara read the message twice. This time, she smiled. Not because the terms were perfect—but because they were considered. She drafted a response slowly. Not to negotiate, but to clarify. She asked questions about boundaries, decision rights, and exit language. She asked what success would look like if nothing visibly changed

--- He holds my hand over the table, releasing a smile in my direction. I don't know why, but I don't hear from his mouth a 'later we'll come back and get to know everything, together, more calmly.' I know it's not part of our contract, that we won't pass this way again, and so we have no way to go back, not together. Suddenly reality fell upon me, the fact that our days together are numbered. We have one month on the cruise together, one month or so that our engagement will last. It has already been almost a week, which means that we will only have a few weeks together.

It was a warning, not a threat, but it chilled me just the same. “I get it,” I said, my fingers tightening, likely leaving marks on my palms. Reece tapped her screen, confirming the clauses and safeguards. “It’s all written out. Once you sign, everything goes into motion. The engagement announcement will be made in forty-eight hours, and your official move-in will be within the week.” Forty-eight hours. I wanted to scream. But instead, I picked up the pen. This wasn’t forever, just six months. Six months to save my sister.

Just cold sentences that slapped straight at my dignity. The Second Party is required to appear whenever summoned, under any condition, without refusal. The Second Party is prohibited from forming personal, physical, or emotional relationships with any other individual during the term of this agreement. All physical interactions are exclusive and solely for the satisfaction of the First Party. This agreement remains in effect for a period of three years. I froze. “Three years?” My voice cracked. “You seriously expect me to last that long?” Aaron’s expression didn’t change. “No one forced you to come here, Angela.”

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest and letting the silence stretch. Amaya inhaled slowly, as though centering herself before a performance. “Here’s the deal,” she said at last, voice even but edged with steel. “The two of us announce an engagement—purely business. Six months, maybe less. We both get the optics. Vaughn Enterprises gains a polished ‘power couple’ image, I get the social capital to keep certain doors open. When it’s no longer useful, we break it off quietly. No drama. Clean.” My brow arched, but I said nothing.

"I want to start planning the engagement." His whole face lit up like a Christmas tree, "finally, I thought you'd never ask, I've been waiting for this." "Don't be dramatic." "I'm not being dramatic, I'm excited, my best friend is getting engaged, this is huge." "Yeah well, I need it done soon." "How soon are we talking?" "Like next week soon." "Next week? Bro that's not a lot of time, that's like no time at all." "I know but I need this done fast, as fast as possible."

His shoulder brushes mine occasionally, a steady presence that somehow makes the noise feel farther away. Across the table, my father hasn’t said much. He listens. He watches. Every now and then, his gaze shifts back to me, not questioning, not interrupting, just… there. Present in a way that makes it harder to ignore what this actually is. The weight of his quiet attention settles on my skin like the cool evening air drifting in from the open windows. One week. That’s what they agreed on. A private engagement. Family only. It sounds simple when they say it like that.

the principal raised a finger as to press on the matter. “But I must warn you, whatever happens out there is unexpected and not at all staged by the council. You may move individually or move in groups without any limits. Keep in mind that the time limit is 7 days, if you cannot complete your quest within that time, then you are labelled ineligible for the exam. I believe that is all for now. Good hunting, young Hunters!” The principal ended his speech with an energetic shout that was followed by the students. “UWOOOOHH!!”