Forced Contract Marriage To A Ruthless Tycoon

"We're sorry ma'am but you're not allowed to go into the party." The security guards eyed me curiously and sympathetically but their strong stance didn't shake.

I didn't think I heard right. I've just been denied access into a party hosted to celebrate the anniversary of my husband's and I joint company.

"Are you aware of who you've just denied access to?! The part owner of this company! You might lose your job for this insult!" I breathed out, shifting uncomfortably because the people gathered outside were already staring.

"We're sorry, ma'am. We were given strict orders to keep you out." They responded again and I bristled.

"By whom?! Wait till my husband hears of this ridiculous–" I was still speaking when the security guard responded.

"The order was from your husband, ma'am."

As soon as his response sank into my head, my mind began to spin while I struggled to make sense of what I had just heard. Tonight is the fifth anniversary of the company my husband and I co owned, and we're supposed to be celebrating together at the party... So why would he give this ridiculous order?

Anger shrugged through my veins and My hands shook as I walked to the side and whipped out my phone to dial my husband's number. He didn't pick up till the fifth ring.

"Can you explain why you ordered security to not let me into my own party?" I gritted angrily into the phone.

More people were starting to openly stare at me at this point.

Some were even pointing at me while clearly gossiping.

Since my life drastically changed three years ago, I've become a laughing stock, so the onlookers' reaction wasn't shocking as it was already a norm, but I wished I was already used to it, because I wasn't.

"Correction, Carla, it's my party. And I gave that order because I didn't want your presence to ruin the party for me and my family. You know ever since you returned from prison, your reputation has been completely damaged. Having you at this party tonight would just bring ridicule and embarrassment to me tonight and that's something I'm avoiding."

As my husband spoke, I couldn't believe my ears. The anger within me tripled. I was beyond furious and angry. Ever since I returned back from prison, my husband has completely changed. And it was making me so furious, because I went to prison instead of him, to protect him.

My reputation has indeed been ruined after I got imprisoned.

All my family members and friends deserted me, having been too humiliated to still be associated with me. Shortly after we began to run a joint company, My husband, Dave, stole government money and invested it into the company, then it massively boomed and we became big shots in the country.

He told me he did it for the benefit of us, to give us a brighter future. I didn't agree with his crime, but I was moved by his reason: he only wanted a better life for the two of us. So when he asked me to take the fall for him, I agreed. I was so in love with Dave that I wholeheartedly trusted him. In jail, after everyone abandoned me, my husband rarely visited.

Whenever I complained, he claimed it was because he was too busy running our company.

But after I was released, I realized that I had been nothing but a fool. My husband, whom I readily went to prison for, didn't love me anymore. He claims to still do, but it's so obvious in his actions that he doesn't- and tonight is another proof.

"You can't be serious. Order the security to let me through!" I seethed through the phone but Dave only snorted before responding.

"Go home, Carla."

He was dismissing me, and that hurt even more. Since I got released from prison, people don't take me seriously anymore, and my husband is a part of them.

"I'll do no such thing. The company is mine as well and I deserve to attend too!" I bit out, feeling extremely furious.

"The company is technically mine, Carla, so stop yapping. All the funds in it are mine, remember?" He sounded irritated at this point.

"After I agreed to go to prison for you, you agreed to give me fifty percent shares. We even signed a contract!" I reminded him.

"Well, I lied. That contract is useless. Now, go home before paparazzi take photos of you outside the party, I don't want your name being linked to mine at all tonight." He snapped and I bristled harder.

Before I could respond, I heard a familiar female voice in the background. "Is that Clara?"

Anger churned within me. That was Serena, my ex-best friend.

"Yes, she's whining as expected." Dave responded before kissing sounds filled my ear.

"She's such a loser and she'll really get it tonight." Serena bit out right before the call abruptly ended.

I remained rooted in the same spot, while regret swam through my veins and lodged itself in my throat. Intense regret and the wish to turn back time. If I had known all of this would happen, then I wouldn't have agreed to go to prison for Dave two years ago.

After I got released from prison a few months ago, I expected Dave to start going everywhere with me, to start attending functions and parties with me so that my reputation would gradually start getting repaired and the elites would gradually accept me into their circle again. But two days after my release, Dave told me he couldn't afford to be seen publicly with me for his reputation sake.

He went ahead to ask that we open our marriage because he needed someone permanent that he'd be taking along to functions and parties in my stead... and that person turned out to be Serena. After I checked the internet, I saw pictures of him and Serena, my ex-best friend, all over the internet in the two years I spent in jail. I called him out, accused him of cheating on me and using my reputation as an excuse to officially open our marriage. He got angry and beat me up, then he told me it was only logical that he bed someone in my absence since he couldn't stay celibate for two years. He also insisted that there was nothing else between him and Serena aside from her warming his bed and accompanying him to outings.

Of course, I called him out on his bullshit, but he shocked me further by informing me I could request for a divorce if I wanted. I had been so gobsmacked that I threatened to reveal the truth of my arrest to the public, hoping that would make him return to his senses. But he only laughed in my face, told me to try my worst because it would be pointless since he had completely wiped away all traces of his crimes.

I was so hurt. That had convinced me that he had zero love for me left, and that was when I realized that I made a mistake two years ago and had been so stupid to have done that.

But because I had nothing after my release: I had no family, no friends, no name, Dave was the only one I had left- even if he didn't love me anymore. I told myself I could learn to live with that. So, I decided to still stay instead of filing for a divorce.

But now I was realizing that I should have filed for divorce months back because this wasn't living, this was suffering and humiliation and I just couldn't take it anymore. I've had enough. Screw Dave and the company, he could have it all. He could even get married to Serena, I didn't care anymore.

Rage and regret churned in my stomach as I turned around and began to head towards my car. Rage because I went through so much for Dave to be repaid like this. And regret because I stupidly wasted two years of my life and traded my spotless reputation for him.

Onlookers gossiped harder as I got to my car, they were clearly wondering why I was leaving the party without entering. Some clearly already assumed it was because of Serena, since Dave publicly revealed that our marriage was open months ago, further humiliating me.

As I opened my car door and was about to slide in, the sound of a gun clicking behind me made me stiffened as confusion crashed over me.

"Hands in the air, Mrs Meadows, you're under arrest for the laundering of the sum of..."

The rest of the words got tuned out as my ears began to ring. I struggled as I was roughly cuffed and yanked into the police vehicle while onlookers quickly began to film. I tried explaining to the cops that this was clearly a mistake and that I didn't do a thing, but they didn't listen to me.

--

I was placed in the waiting cell till morning and that was when my husband finally arrived. Apparently, I was arrested this time for another money theft and I knew without doubt that it was my husband's crime.

"You bastard, why am I being accused? I know this is your handiwork! News flash, this time, I'm not going to jail for you. I'm no longer stupid, okay?" I bit out angrily through the cell I was in but Dave only laughed before leaning forward.

"But who'd believe you? Nobody." He crackled while I stiffened. "And let's not forget that you've once been imprisoned for this same crime. Trust me, everyone would believe you're guilty again."

I shook the cell bars as I screamed at him. "Get me out of here this instant! You fucking fraud!"

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "To be honest, Carla, it was really stupid of you to have gone to prison for me. But sadly, you'll have to spend two more years again in jail because no one is definitely gonna bail you out. And I'll be returning in a few days with divorce papers, because I'm getting married to Serena soon."

As my husband spoke and spoke, I kept seeing how stupid I was this whole time, stupid and in love with a heartless monster that promised me the world before we got married right after college. We were together for three years before my arrest, and now it is five years of us being married. But clearly none of the moments we shared ever meant anything to Dave.

In this situation, I was the only one who lost, because I was stupid and dumb. I have no one to blame but myself.

And as I watched him leave after promising to send me invites to his upcoming wedding even though I wouldn't be able to make it from behind the cell, all I felt within me was regret stamped over my broken heart in bleeding red, a constant reminder of my stupidness.

Carla

"You've been bailed, and now, you're free to leave." A warden informed me as he opened my waiting cell, three days after I was thrown in there. I was beyond shocked as I exited the haunting bars, unable to believe my ears. The bail was millions of dollars, and I never deluded myself into thinking anybody would be able to bail me out of this predicament.

"Who bailed m-" I was still speaking when I stepped upfront and set my eyes on the man standing at the direct opposite of me. As soon as our eyes locked, it was like I was hit with a sharp whiplash, one which had my heart instantly propelling into my stomach while my mouth fell open.

Zade Dalton Gomez.

His blue eyes stared me down from across the room and I was tempted to cower from how intense his look was. He was as good looking as an oil painting. His long hair was slicked back but a few curls escaped and framed his face, his jawline was so sharp, his nose perfectly pointed and altogether, he looked like a Greek god.

Zade grew up to be extremely good looking than I could have ever anticipated. Presently, he ranks number one hottest man in the entire country, which was undeserving in my opinion. He was good looking as a kid and back then, all the girls had crushes on him... except me. As kids, I hated him.

He was best friends with my elder brothers, but he never took me seriously and always tomented me. Everything suddenly changed when his father backstabbed mine and rendered my father penniless, then our families went their separate ways and I loathed him since then.

As he closed the distance between us, I began to sweat buckets. I was nervous, my heart was pounding but I refused to avert my gaze. When he stopped a few feet away, he let his eyes run over my entire body and I shivered, feeling the urge to protect myself from his condescending gaze.

I cleared my throat till our eyes locked. "Um... you bailed me, right?"

When he didn't respond, I began again. "Well, I don't know why you did that, but thank you..."

I was still speaking when he suddenly grabbed my wrist and began to pull me out of the police station. I struggled in his hold and demanded where he was taking me, but he didn't respond till I was in the backseat of a Mercedes.

"Drive." He gruffly said to his driver and I fidgeted nervously beside him, feeling like a fish out of water.

I knew Zade hated me, like I hated him. He has no tangible reason to waste millions of dollars on me, so what does he want?

"Where are you seriously taking me to?!" I demanded and he sighed, massaging his forehead like I suddenly gave him a headache.

"My home, where we'll have an important discussion."

~~~

"Dave Meadows is already working on dissolving his marriage with theft convict Carla Meadows, and he's currently engaged to Serena Carter." The newscaster on the television announced, and clips of my husband sharing a kiss with my ex-best friend was shown and a picture of the two of them posing with Serena's new diamond ring facing the camera.

Dave really did it. He hadn't been bluffing. He really plans on marrying Serena.

I waited for pain to come, for hurt or jealousy to overcome me. But all I felt as I stared at the television was anger, and intense range.

"Bet you still cannot believe that the man you carry out joint crimes with has ditched you for someone else." Zade's deep voice filled the sitting room and I stiffened, but I refused to turn around. I watched from the side of my eyes as I sauntered into the room and took the seat opposite from me.

"I called it and I did tell you that I saw right through his bullshit, didn't I?" He drawled, eyes on me and I sat straighter, face an emotionless mask.

Zade indeed warned me. He called me a day before my wedding to say those words. But I thought he just didn't want me to be happy, especially since we were also technically enemies, so I didn't listen to him and had asked him to go fuck himself

I cleared my throat before speaking. "Mind your business, Zade."

He chuckled this time while sipping his scotch, leaned back on his couch. He had rid of his suit jacket, but his inner shirt was still on and it was stretched tightly over his pecs and bulging biceps.

"Remember that I bailed you about thirty minutes ago. Show some gratitude, Carla."

I bit my bottom lip and briefly glanced away. My name sounded so weird on his tongue because as kids, he never called me that. He called me something else, something that always infuriated me so much.

Kitten.

After a few seconds, I cleared my throat again and pushed my hair out of my face. "Thank you so much for bailing me, Zade. Seriously, I mean this from the bottom of my heart."

Zade waved me off almost immediately. "None of that now, since after all I freed you for a reason."

I stiffened, instantly growing suspicious. My hunch was correct, he did bail me for a reason.

"What's that?" I demanded. This time, he leaned forward before speaking.

"I freed you because I want you and I to get into a contract marriage." He suddenly announced and I blinked a few times, waiting for him to burst into laughter or something but that never happened.

I laughed awkwardly, my heart starting to race. "You're not being serious, are you?"

His eyes narrowed at me and I stiffened again. "Do I look like someone joking? I bailed you because of that."

I let out a scoff, hands gesturing around. "But... I can't marry you! It doesn't sound normal. Why the hell would I do that?"

"Well, as you might have guessed, you don't have a choice in this situation. You either agree to the contract marriage or I'll send you back to jail."

My heartbeat accelerated at that threat and I realized that I was basically trapped between two hells. Return back to jail or agree to this atrocity.

"Do not get the wrong idea, I don't particularly want this. You'll be my last option when it comes to marriage." He pointed out and I'd be lying if I claimed that didn't hurt.

"But be rest assured that the contract marriage would only last a year then it would be dissolved." He continued.

I let my eyes try to pick out the expression on his face, but I got nothing.

"Why do you even want a contract marriage? And I'm sure you'll find more willing women out there, except if there's something you're getting out of this." I demanded just as he got to his feet.

"Of course there's something. I need you to become the mother to my selective mute child."

My eyes instantly flew open. "You have a child?!" I demanded, extremely shocked. The media never mentioned anything of him having a child.

He approached me and my heartbeat accelerated again. "It's my niece, but now I see her as my child since I'm her guardian."

My eyes widened. "Oh." I muttered. "But what about her parents...?"

"Dead." He revealed flatly and my mouth fell open. I hastily apologized for that but he didn't acknowledge that. I shifted awkwardly again.

"I feel moved that you think I fit this role, but I suck with kids and I'm terrible with them. You should find someone else." I breathed out.

"You'll treat my niece like an egg and you'll play a mother's role to her, else you'd be returned back to prison after I take my bail money back. And you're the perfect role for this because somehow... my niece thinks you're her mom."

My mouth fell open from shock and confusion. "What?" I whispered and he sighed while massaging his forehead.

He was standing a few feet away from my couch, but I didn't like how he towered over me this way so I got to my feet, but it didn't make much difference because he was still a whole foot taller.

"She's a selective mute. She can speak but chose not to after a particular trauma. The only time she speaks is whenever your picture is shown, and she calls you 'mommy'." He revealed and I was shocked even more. I couldn't believe my ears. That made no sense to me.

How is that possible?

"So, the contract marriage would hold. If you don't agree to it, you'll be returned back to prison where you belong."

This time, I bristled as I glared up at him. "Where I belong? I didn't commit the crime I went to prison for, I only went for my husband. And this time, I was framed."

He laughed right in my face. "Of course you'd deny it. One can't expect anything less from a criminal after all."

Zade

"I'm serious, I really didn't do a thing. I'm not a criminal." She bit out but I snorted with an eyeroll then glanced at my wrist watch.

"But you are, and I honestly don't like the thought of a criminal being around my niece, I just don't have a choice. If you can get her to start speaking, I'll be able to get her the help she needs. The therapist suggested a family picture is drawn up for her to be around, that's why you're becoming my wife for the time being."

She frowned as she sighed this time. "But, I still don't understand how she thinks I'm her mother." She breathed out and that was something we agreed on. It had shocked me immensely when my niece who had refused to utter a word since the night she was rescued from a fire, had suddenly pointed at the television which displayed a picture of Carla.

My niece, Ella, had literally bursted right into tears and had demanded for her mommy while pointing at a picture of Carla.

"It doesn't matter. The doctor said it's a traumatic reason. So, do you agree to the contract marriage or not?"

She rolled her eyes this time. "You're sounding like I have a choice in this situation.

My eyes briefly trailed over her face before I responded. "But you do. Agree or return back to jail."

She sighed and sat back on the couch.

"I agree." She mumbled, sounding extremely unenthusiastic that I might have taken offense if I didn't relate with that feeling.

When I turned to leave, anger began to churn in my chest once again. Anger towards Carla, anger towards her soon to be ex-husband, and anger at this entire situation.

I didn't tell Carla that I plan on using her to get revenge on Dave. I didn't tell her that I plan to teach her a lesson as well, and to make her pay, because she's an accomplice of Dave.

Dave is the one responsible for the death of my sister and her loving husband. He's the reason my niece is now an orphan and scarred with the trauma of watching her parents burn in a fire. He's the reason my only sibling is dead. And Carla is undoubtedly an accomplice, so she was gonna pay, and I was gonna make it hurt so damn good.

I honestly didn't like the thought of Carla around my niece. Apart from her being a criminal, she's partly the reason Ella is in this situation, and I didn't trust her one bit. At this point, I genuinely detest Carla.

I did find her adorable when we were kids. She got angry easily so it was fun to constantly tease her and make fun of her. Which is why it was still sometimes hard to believe someone so kind spirited could turn into a criminal like this.

Our families used to be close till my father took back what initially belonged to him after uncovering so many truths, then we all separated. I even had to stop being friends with her elder brothers. But I didn't grow to hate them, including Carla, even though our parents undoubtedly hated each other, because I believed they were innocent in their father's schemes.

Which was why I called Carla to warn her a day before her wedding.

My genuine hatred for Carla came after I lost my sister. Now, I genuinely despise her.

I made my way through the hallways of my large house, up the stairs till I was stepping into my bedroom. Right in my bed was Lena, lounging and waiting for me.

Lena was the closest thing I've ever had to a girlfriend. We've been constantly sleeping together for years, and presently, she hadn't liked my decision to get into this contract marriage. She made that obvious by pouting and folding her arms as I approached the bed.

I flopped down into the spot beside her and let out a loud sigh, suddenly feeling drained. Lena glanced at me and I spoke.

"You still mad at me? I already told you it's nothing but a contract marriage. You know I have no other choice, Ella needs urgent help." I explained softly. Lena remained unmoving before she signed and wiggled close to press herself against my body.

"I understand, but it doesn't mean I can be okay with it." She whined and I sighed as I stroked her back.

"You don't need to be, just always remember that it's a contract marriage and nothing more." I assured her. "Remember that I also have to use her to get revenge for my sister. After all of this, I'll discard her."

"And get married to me next, right?" She asked as she kissed my jaw. I huffed and leaned down to gently kiss her lips before responding.

"Let that time come, hm?"

She pouted but snuggled into my side again. I absentmindedly stroked down her back while briefly wondering how it feels to genuinely want to get married to someone. Is that supposed to feel exciting? I've never felt love or affection for anyone so I wasn't sure.

I guess I can see myself getting married to Lena in the future, because she's the one I've been the longest with and it's just so easy and convenient with her. I can see myself marrying her in a few years so she'd bear me a child, cause my family have begun to disturb me for an heir, and no other reason.

I was deep in thoughts when Lena began to kiss my throat, her hands sliding down my stomach to my pants. She began to moan softly and grind against me. Before lust could begin to cool within me, a hesitant knock echoed off the door and I instantly stiffened.

"Yes?" I called out, thinking it might be Carla... But the voice of my butler rang out instead.

"Sir, Miss Van Grande is missing. I've searched everywhere and she's not in the house. I think she... she ran away."