Chapter 5 Marriage Contract

Kaitlyn POV

Everything around me screamed collapse, but my little baby Jake's voice stopped me. I looked at him and drew strength from his tiny presence. Even though my other child had died, I still had to be strong for the one who survived.

Tears fell hard, with Mrs. Harper by my side, who had helped me so much. She knew everything that had happened to me, the cruel plot that had been forged against me. I didn't know why yet, but I would find out the whole truth, eventually.

I kept staring at my baby. He was a miniature version of Martin.. the same Martin who had betrayed me, who threw the divorce papers without a second thought. Surely, everyone had been involved in taking my child before he even had a chance at life.

I breathed slowly, ready to make a life-changing decision. My child had to be kept away from me. Jake shouldn't grow up behind these prison walls, suffering.

Douglas was certainly seeking revenge on Martin, and he had chosen a partner like me to help him. He had chosen well. I had so many reasons to want revenge. Most importantly, my child would grow up with Douglas as his father in a place far better than behind bars.

I looked at Mrs. Harper, my voice catching in my throat, and said firmly, "You can help me. I want you to go to Mr. Douglas and tell him I want him to come visit me."

Mrs. Harper smiled immediately. "Well done, Kaitlyn. You have to be strong. Douglas is the best choice. He won't just be a good father; he'll be a strong partner to help you reclaim your rights."

Douglas had paid Mrs. Harper to take care of me. He had even assigned her to monitor my condition.

I knew the massive feud between Douglas and Martin. Marrying him wouldn't just be a shock.. it would be the final blow that would make Martin fall. But this was only the beginning.

It wasn't long before Douglas Carter entered my prison hospital room, his gray suit matching the sharpness in his eyes. Everything about him radiated power and authority. He smiled and walked slowly, flanked by a group of men and guards, with one man carrying papers.

I was about to speak, but before I could say a word, he nodded toward the man holding the papers and said, "This is our marriage contract, Kaitlyn. You have to sign it, and then we get married first, then we settle everything else."

What? I was truly shocked. He was prepared for everything, not even asking for my opinion, as if he already knew the reason he had been called here. He expected me to accept his offer to be his wife.

A storm of thoughts hit my head as I stared at Douglas. He was smarter than I had imagined. I finally understood why he always won any competition against Martin. Today, he had shown me why he was the best.

He motioned the man forward again, and I just stared. He hadn't asked me anything, but I drew in a breath and calmed myself. I handed my little baby to Mrs. Harper, picked up the pen, and signed.

Douglas did the same, taking the pen and signing, then smiled at me. "Congratulations, Mrs. Douglas Carter. From today, you are my wife."

Marriage didn't matter to me. This contract would only last for a while, then I would end it. An agreement to end once my revenge was complete.

Douglas stepped closer, sitting on the chair next to my bed. He pulled out a small velvet box and showed me a ring. Without giving me a chance to object, he slid it onto my finger.

The silence stretched between us until he spoke, his words firm and commanding: "Now you're my wife. I will take care of you, protect you. I know we have a long road ahead, but you must trust me, Kaitlyn."

He continued in a determined voice, "All I will do is make sure your prison time lasts no more than a year. You won't stay here long, and in the meantime, I will care for your child, register him under my name, and give you all the rights you need."

I nodded without saying a word. Meanwhile, Douglas motioned to a man, and a woman in her fifties entered. Douglas stood and said, "She will be your child's nanny. She will take care of him."

I looked at Mrs. Harper holding my baby. She was a good woman who had cared for my children over the past months. I knew what I had to do. "Mrs. Harper must be the nanny. You can take care of my baby."

Mrs. Harper protested, "But Kaitlyn, I'm about to retire. I don't think I'm at the right age to take care of him."

I looked at her with painful eyes, tears stinging. "Mrs. Harper, you witnessed every moment of my pregnancy. Please agree to work at Douglas's house as the nanny."

She hesitated, but Douglas solved it in two words: "If you accept to take care of the child, I will give you a lot of money, and I'll help your son work in one of my companies."

It wasn't Douglas's offer or my pleading that made her agree.. it was her love for my child. She looked at him in her arms, tears streaming, and said, "I'll agree only for him. I hope I can take good care of him."

Douglas stepped in, finalizing it. "There will be many people helping you, including Ceza, who is trained in childcare."

Douglas had been ready, as if he had arranged everything in advance. I felt a little relieved, knowing my child had a good mother to care for him. But the thought of my newborn being taken from my arms was painful, like someone had ripped my heart out.

Mrs. Harper placed Jake in my arms and left with Douglas and the others, giving me time to say goodbye. He had to be away to be safe.

I knew I would see him.. Douglas had promised he would always bring him for visits but it wasn't enough for a mother who had suffered years of infertility. One child had died, and now the other would be taken from me. I kept crying, holding him close to my chest, kissing him over and over. He was tiny and warm.