The message stared at me like a death sentence. My heart pounded and my vision clouded with tears. This was it. There was no going back. My fate had been sealed. I had been reduced to nothing but a commodity.
I broke into tears. I cried for my late father. I cried for my sick mother. I cried for Liam. And worst of all, I cried because I knew my free will was about to be taken away by an arrogant, heartless monster.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, and I fell asleep. When I woke, a nurse's gentle voice told me I was cleared to leave. Not wasting another moment, I changed out of the hospital gown, into my own clothes, and hurried home. Liam would be worried.
Walking into the tiny apartment I called home, I called out, "Liam, I'm back!"
Dropping the groceries I had picked up on my way, I hurried into the small room I shared with him. He was curled into a corner by the side of the bed.
"Hey, bud. How are you?" I asked softly.
"Yo…you promised you'd pick me up from school today." His voice cracked, and that was when I noticed the dried tears on his cheeks.
"Hey, hey. Don't cry, my little munchkin. I had to make a quick stop at the hospital to make sure you could see mum tomorrow," I lied, hoping to lift his spirits. I knew Mum was not in any state to have visitors, and this was all I could do for now.
His eyes lit up. "Really? I'll be able to see Mum?" He sat up immediately.
"Yes, bud. Yes, you will. We'll go to the hospital after school tomorrow." I pulled him into a hug, tears slipping down my cheeks. My resolve hardened. If it was going to take marrying Ethan for my family to survive, then I would do it.
"Come on. Let's go have dinner," I said, standing and carrying him on my back into the kitchen.
✿⋆★⋆✿✿⋆★⋆✿✿⋆★⋆✿✿⋆★⋆✿✿⋆★⋆✿✿⋆★⋆
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
My alarm jolted me awake. I quickly silenced it, my body tensing with dread. Today was the day. In exactly two hours, I had to meet Mr Arrogant and his lawyer.
I hurriedly got myself and Liam ready. By 7 a.m., we were out the door. Locking the apartment behind us, my phone buzzed. Another message from the same unknown number:
"I believe you're ready for today. Your presence is demanded at Lux Enterprises by 9 a.m. I implore your punctuality."
Swallowing the dread rising in my chest, I dropped Liam at school and took a taxi to Lux Enterprises.
Outside the window, the city shifted. Run-down buildings gave way to tidy houses, and finally, towering skyscrapers and immaculate glass structures stretched endlessly upward. The closer I got, the more I felt out of place, like a small, fragile bird approaching a predator's nest.
"Here we are, Miss," the driver said, pulling up in front of a building that seemed to scrape the sky.
"Thank you," I murmured, climbing out and handing him his payment. My heart hammered in my chest as I walked toward the entrance. My steps felt heavy, as though the ground itself was trying to warn me.
The lobby was breathtaking. Minimalist paintings adorned the walls, each one screaming wealth. I was sure each piece cost more than I earned in a month. Every detail from the polished floors to the marble reception desk reminded me that this was Ethan's world, not mine.
I approached the receptionist. "Hi. I'm…um…Amelia Rose Carter. I have an appointment with Sebastian at 9 a.m."
She didn't even look up at first, her fingers tapping across the keyboard as if I were invisible. When her eyes finally met mine, the glare was ice.
"I wonder what Sebastian wants with someone as disgusting as you. Take the elevator to floor twenty. I'm sure you can find his office from there."
I muttered a quick thanks and hurried toward the elevators. Every step made me feel smaller, more exposed. Saying a silent prayer, I pressed twenty and watched the doors slide closed.
The elevator hummed upward, carrying me deeper into Ethan Lux's world. The walls were sleek, cold, and impersonal. I gripped my bag like a lifeline.
After a few minutes and several turns through polished hallways, I finally reached Sebastian's office. I paused at the door, took a deep breath, and knocked softly.
"Enter," a voice called.
I stepped inside. My heart sank. Sebastian sat behind the desk as expected, but it was the man standing in the room that made the air feel heavy. Ethan Lux. Leaning casually against the far wall, eyes sharp, smile slow and confident.
"Fashionably late, I see," Ethan said, his voice smooth and dangerous. He stepped forward, each movement controlled and deliberate, like he owned the air I breathed.
I swallowed hard. "I… I am here," I said, trying to sound steady. My heart raced, and my hands were clammy.
Ethan's gaze swept over me, slow and deliberate, memorizing every inch of me. "Amelia Rose Carter," he said, amusement and authority mingling in his tone. "Do I look as intimidating as you imagined?"
I squared my shoulders as best I could. "I imagined worse. And I have no illusions about you, Mr Lux. I know exactly who you are."
He raised an eyebrow. "Do you now? And yet, here you are. Despite your convictions, you still walk willingly into my office."
"I am not willing," I said firmly. "I am here because I have no choice."
Sebastian cleared his throat. "Amelia, this is a professional discussion. Please focus on the matter at hand."
"Professional," I echoed. "Is that what we're calling it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like my life has been handed over on a silver platter, and I am nothing but an obligation waiting to be fulfilled."
Ethan's smile grew slow, predatory. "Ah, so you do understand. That pleases me." He stepped closer, the faint scent of his cologne filling the air. "I am under no illusion about your opinion of me. Good. Fear keeps you sharp."
"I am not afraid of you," I said, though even I could hear the tremor in my voice.
"Oh, I like that," he said. "Defiance. I like defiance. But defiance does not equal freedom. Remember that."
Sebastian shifted. "Shall we proceed with the contract discussion? Mr Lux wants to ensure everything is understood before we finalize the legal binding."
I nodded, trying to steady my racing thoughts. My hand brushed the strap of my bag, a small anchor in the storm of emotions swirling in the room.
We went through the contract again, clause by clause. When it came to clause seven, I forced myself to read it aloud. "I am to be available at all times to satisfy and cater to Mr Lux's needs?"
"Precisely," Ethan said smoothly. "That is the purpose of this contract."
"And if I refuse?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
"You do not have that option," Sebastian replied. "The contract is legally binding the moment you sign. Mr Lux has made it clear that all obligations begin immediately."
I swallowed hard. "And my brother? Liam. Can he… live with us?"
Ethan's smile widened. "Of course. Consider him collateral. If you fail to meet your obligations, you will not be able to see him."
The words hit me like a punch. My only anchor was tied to my compliance.
I nodded silently. My hands trembled as Sebastian slid the pen toward me.
I took a deep breath and signed. My life, my free will, my future bound to Ethan Lux.
Ethan stood, moving toward me with smooth authority. He bent slightly, bringing his face close to mine, his voice a dangerous whisper.
"Welcome to hell, Mrs Lux."