Sir Damien's Contracted Wife

Chapter One:

The door of an apartment opened and closed shut immediately. A small lady sneaked in and was making her way up the stairs when the lights suddenly came on.

"Father!" the lady shrieked, crashing on the stairs in surprise and fear.

A mid forties man, holding a belt was standing akimbo, down the stairs. "This is ten in the night!" He pointed at the clock. "What excuse do you have for me now, Arya? You have been partying again, haven't you?"

Arya glanced at the clock and then back at her father, she rushed up the stairs, trying to get away from him. "I am sorry, I lost track of time."

She watched her father's face redden and sprinted to her room quickly. She heard his heavy footsteps behind her and slammed her door shut, locking it.

He would get to her by tomorrow and that belt would land heavily on her, giving her more scars. If she's lucky, she could sneak out to school without him seeing her. So much for she being a nineteen year adult.

Breathing in and out, she took out her ringing phone and placed it on her ears. Her voice came out in whispers. "Yes, yes, Anna. I'm home but dad saw me, I'd have to face him tomorrow."

"Oh no, you could have just stayed at my place." Her sister, Anna, groaned.

"Forget it, it would be worse if I sleep out and you know it." Arya sighed. "Don't worry, I'm used to this, and we have plans so I'd be free from this hellhole soon."

There was a knock on the door just as her sister hung up the call. Arya inclined her ears to hear for the knock again.

The only person who could be knocking would be her father? Her body went cold and shivers ran down her spine. He usually let her off the hook till the next morning. Couldn't he wait or was he very mad?

"Arya, don't let me break this door! Open now, I have something important to tell you!"

The door opened. He walked in but couldn't find his daughter inside. He marched to the bathroom and found her standing besides it.

"Dad, I swear I lost track of time!" Her voice was broken. "This is just the first time, it won't happen again!" Arya pleaded.

Seeing her father without his belt, she inched closer. "You said you wanted to talk?"

"Yes, and if this happen again, Arya, you'd be sleeping outside my house!" Her father pointed, before sitting on her bed.

Her breathing normalized and she sighed in relief, she crawled to her bedside and stood there, waiting for her father to speak.

"I need $10,000 dollars asap."

Arya had a scowl on her face but she masked it off and asked. "From me?"

Her father glared at her and she looked down. "But I really don't know where to get such money now."

Her flower shop hadn't been doing very well lately. Even if it was in full bloom, to get $10,000 would take her months. Her published books were yet to make one sale, maybe science fiction really had no readers. And if she got another job at a café, she'd still need at least twelve months to get such amount. And why would he be purchasing expensive items when he had no money of his own?!

"Did you buy an item from a shop? Tell me where and I'd ask them to give me more time. I can't afford it now." She told her father.

The man exhaled, burying his head in her hands. "This is exactly the reason I want to find a man and sell you to. You're just a useless daughter feeding and eating in my house."

Arya's hands clenched. He was getting things all wrong, he was the one feeding and eating off her. And then emotionally, physically and mentally abuse her, but that's would be changing by tomorrow.

"Just forget it." Her father grumbled. "Why did I even expect from you? You only know how to cause trouble and sneak out at night."

"Dad, $10,000 is too much." She deadpanned. Her father narrowed his eyes at her.

"What do you need it for exactly?" she added.

His fists clenched. How dare she question him? He could ask and take whatever he wanted from her and not owe an explanation!

"None of your business. Just get it for me or else I'd arrange a man to be married off to a man and get the money myself." He threatened, then stomped out of her room.

She slowly closed her door he left open. Her jaw clenched as many thoughts ran through her mind. Could he marry off to an old man? She was due to attend a summit by the next day that would change her life, him asking for such unrealistic amount of money was a distraction.

She stomped her feet and fell on her bed. She needed her dad to give her a break this one time. She was very convinced he didn't need the money for anything serious than going to a bar.

Her phone rang while she was sprawled on the bed, she stretched her hands to reach it. "Yes?" She didn't check who called.

"Arya?"

She rose from her bed when she heard his voice, that was her sister's rich boyfriend calling her again.

"Sir, Damien, how are you doing? I'm back from Anna's place, I didn't meet you there." Her voice was less bubbly than usual.

He noticed. "I wasn't at Anna's place. And are you alright? Did you have an issue with your dad again?"

"Apparently..." she thought on if she should rant about her father's wrong doings, but it won't be fair to spoil her father to her sister's boyfriend, that was his potential father in-law.

"...I'm good. Don't worry, Anna was talking about her roof leaking again." She continued.

"She should call a plumber. And are you sure you are alright, Arya? You don't sound good."

Arya lifted from her bed, the phone still on her eyes. What did he mean her sister should call a plumber? He was an engineer and could easily help his girlfriend out.

He never hesitated when she called him so why didn't he want to help his girlfriend? Was there something she was missing?

"Arya, are you worried about the summit you will be attending for young engineers? Don't worry, I am one of the speakers and it will be fun."

She came back from her thoughts and nodded. "Sure, Sir Damien. I'd look forward to it."

She hung up on him when her stomach growled, she needed to eat something as she didn't have lunch.

Sir. Damien's preferential treatment to her was beginning to worry her but she brushed it off as he was trying to win her over as he planned to propose to her elder sister soon.

Getting to the kitchen door, she heard familiar whispers in the living room. One belonged to her father and the other, her aunt Jenna. She rested on the door to hear what was being said.

"I don't still know where Anna is hiding but Arya is available." Her father said.

Arya furrowed her brows. Available for what? Her elder sister ran away from home and she planned to do the same the next day.

"Arya would do." Aunt Jenna said, "Lot's of older men prefer young girls, though they'd prefer if they were less ambitious."

Arya gasped. Where they really planning to marry her off? Her aunt always resented she and her sister, Arya wasn't surprised she had such terrible plans for her.

"If Arya is tied to marriage, she'd forget about those nonsense dreams. She has to pay the debt her mother couldn't pay, one of them have to." Her father scoffed.

Arya left the door, confusion written on her face? Her marriage was a debt her mother couldn't pay?

She rushed into her room when she heard her father coming to the kitchen. Was she going to be sold her to an old man?

Chapter Two:

The next morning, Arya tried to sneak out of the house early to catch the bus. She had to rush to university and get the details of the summit. She knew it'd be by evening.

She had been missing so many class at university because of her father's incessant calls to come home to meet one need or the other.

Her boots were in her hands as she tiptoed down the stairs. Hearing no movements in the sitting room, she rushed to the door but on closing it, she made a loud sound, jolting the sleeping father.

"Huh? Who's there... come back here." He grumbled and went back to sleep.

A sigh of relief left her lips, she put on her boots and arranged her hair while looking at the mirror. Memories of her father's talk with her aunt Jenna had tormented her sleep, much that she had eye bags.

Her mother, while she was alive, never burrowed huge amount of money. It could actually be a lie and her father was just looking for a way to use her to earn money.

As she finished with her hair, she returned back to the house. She wouldn't concentrate in class till she knew exactly what debt it was that needed to be paid.

She knew she could get hit on the face for waking him from sleep, but even if she had blood on her face, she needed to know.

His eyes opened, red and angry.

She went back, trying to keep a distance. "I want to talk. Yesterday, I overheard you and aunt Jenna's conversation and I have questions."

His eyes darted to her, boring hole in her body. "You heard us, huh? And you thought waking me from sleep is the best way to go?" He rose from his chair.

Arya held unto her bag. "If you keep hitting me, I would run away from here. And do you think a girl with wounds is desirable for a wife?" She stumbled and fell as she had been taking steps back.

Her father stood moving towards her and pursed his lips. "That makes sense, since you'd be married off soon, I guess I have to stop hitting you to see if you'd ever look pretty."

Arya sat on the cold ground, glaring at the floor because she'd get hit if she glared at him. She stood up, holding her fists to her sides. "What debt did my mother not pay that warranted $10,000?"

Her father chuckled. "Your mom isn't the one owing $10,000. I am."

Arya frowned. If he was why was the involving her mother, and he should handle his debts.

"But then, your mother owed me and my family a debt of $100,000 and never repaid, making me unable to pay my own debts. So I decided, sell her daughter, pay my debt, everyone wins."

Arya hadn't heard a more despicable thing in her life. "How did she owe you such..."

"Well, from a contract marriage. Your mother and I had a contract agreement, if she doesn't give me a son within five years of marriage, she pays me $50,000. If our marriage doesn't last ten years, she gives me another $50,000."

Arya folded her arms. Her parents marriage had been a contract all along? Did her sister know this? And it wasn't her mother's fault she didn't bear a son! Her mother died of terminal illness when she was five, and their marriage was only nine years old. So she owed her husband $100,000 by that?

Her voice came out in mumbles. "Did you ever love my mother? And do you hate Anna and I because we aren't sons?"

"I bet you know the answer to that." Her father smirked. "Your mother's debt would be outstanding, but if you get me $10,000 within five hours, better. Or else, before you come home, they'd be a man waiting to take you away."

Her father sat back on his couch when he was done laying out the requirements. He didn't care that his daughter was sending death glares his way. At least, she knew what she was supposed to do, she should get on with it.

Arya finally left the house, keen on finding $10,000 within that day. Her eyes were stinging with the loaded tears but she dared not shed them.

She had always known her she wasn't important to her father but she didn't think she was this unimportant. If he had to kill her to get a bottle of beer, she was sure he won't hesitate to end her life.

She got to class twelve minutes late but her lecturer didn't mind. She sneaked behind her best friend, Winx, and plopped down besides her, taking out her notes.

"You're late, again." Her best friend told.

She only nodded. Her mind was beclouded by so many thoughts and emotions that she barely understand what was being thought.

That class finally came to an end and Arya quickly narrated every bit of her conversation with her father to Winx, who had a rather blank expression.

"Your mother did you guys dirty by marrying such a man." Winx sighed.

Arya wrinkled her forehead, shaking her head. Her mother wasn't at fault here. She may have been in love and agreed to everything.

"Do you think you can ask someone for the money? Do you know anyone that can pay such huge amount?" Winx asked.

Arya's mind went to Sir Damien, she had been thinking of him for a while but she didn't want to be indebted to him as he had been acting weirdly with her.

Her sister line hasn't been going or she could have asked her to meet her boyfriend instead.

"I don't want to ask him for money." She said.

"Then ask him to talk to your dad to give you time. You told me once that your father respected him, ask him to beg your dad not to sell you cos you're very not wife material." Winx ran her hands through her hair while saying.

"Is that the point?" Arya grunted. Even if she had time, where would she get such money? And her father seemed bent of selling her to clip her wings.

Just then, she got a call. Checking and seeing it was Damien made her mood change, it was as if he knew she was talking about him.

Winx peeked and saw the caller. "Tell him your problem and sees what he says."

Arya stared at the ringing phone, heavy and annoyed that she can't help herself.

She picked up. "Hello, Sir Damien. I just heard that the summit was canceled."

"Hello, Arya. How are you? And yes, some speakers and I had an impromptu call to Singapore recently. Don't be displeased, okay?"

Arya glanced at Winx, who was listening on their conversation. Winx gestured to her to chip in her issue to him.

"Um... yes. And Sir Damien. I have a problem. My father is planning to send me off to a man for marriage against my will. He needs it to pay his debt." She bit her lips as the words came out.

"Marry you to a man? Like he's arranging a marriage for you?" Sir Damien asked.

She nodded frantically. "Yes, I really need you to talk to him for me. I don't know how I can be a wife at nineteen and he is bent on this."

Sir Damien paused before clearing his throat. "Your father is a little bit too much. How did he accumulate such debts?"

"I really don't know." Arya pouted.

Winx gestured to her again to ask him for money. Arya shook her head, she didn't want to beg, the least he could help her in, was make sure she wasn't sold.

"Um... who's he trying to sell you too? Do you know him? Try to have an agreement with the man. He may not turn out bad."

Winx looked confused. Was he telling her to go ahead with the marriage? Arya immediately bought the idea. She could have a contract marriage with the man behind her father's back and work and pay the debts to the man later.

"Sir Damien, that's a good idea actually." She smiled. Winx shrugged, as long as she wasn't sold to complete slavery.

"Yes, because right now, my family is looking for an arranged wife for me, I also hope to just sign a contract with her and break up later. If you can find a man who would do that, then you're good to go." Sir Damien assured.

Winx snapped her fingers and Arya caught on her message quickly and asked. "Sir Damien, can I be your arranged wife?"

There was a five seconds pause before he replied. "Arya, I didn't ask you to."

"I know but I'd feel better if it's you and..." she trailed off, she just remembered that the man she was asking to be her arranged husband was her sister's boyfriend. And why was he looking for an arranged wife when he had her sister?

"Fine. I'd arrange it." He hung up before she could take back what she said.

Winx looked at her and she looked back at her.

"Wait, is this guy still dating your sister?" Realization hit Winx and she asked.

The both of them stared glued to the ground, surprised at how fast he agreed. Arya didn't want to annoy her sister. She tried calling back but Sir Damien didn't he didn't pick up. What did she just do?

Chapter Three:

(At the Wade Mansion)

A young man in his mid-twenties, sat, leg crossed on a leather couch, staring at the ceiling, where a massive chandelier hung.

A glass of red wine was wrapped in his long fingers, his eyes were dark like he had a smoky makeup on.

As he rested on the headrest, his dark curly hair spread on the couch, his eyes were a shade of gray and green.

The door of the room opened and a middle aged man sauntered in, closing the door behind him. He walked nimbly and with high head to where the young man sat.

"Sir Damien Wade, I had made the arrangements, everything is going as planned. Arya's father, Mr. Stark, has bitten on the fish hook, he'd be dragged to the surface now."

The young man, Sir Damien, raised his eyes to the middle aged man. "Butler Jim, you speak like my plan is to marry her father and not Arya." He placed his wine glass on the silver stool besides him.

"Since everything is going as planned, start with the wedding preparations."

Butler Jim frowned, his hands, that had been behind his back, suddenly releasing. "Wedding? Is Arya ready for that?"

"She is. Her father wants her to wed a man who'd pay his debts. The contract will be signed by her on the wedding ceremony." Sir Damien left the couch.

The Butler nodded understandably, moving backwards as his young master made to leave. "But sir, do you think you and Arya can be... married couples? She still doesn't know who you are."

Sir Damien stopped in front of the door, his hands already on the door knob. "But I know who she is. My first love. Stop the questions. She's not home now. Go yourself, get your young master a wife."

As he walked out, his driver, standing outside the Lamborghini pushed the honk button then bowed. "Sir Damien, where do you want to be?"

"At Northern Eclipse university." He sighed, getting in.

He saw the Butler leave the room and wave, as his Lamborghini dashed out of the compound.

"Where are we going, Sir Damien? Should I call that you're coming in?" His driver asked.

A ghost of smile spread across the pink lips of Sir Damien, he looked at mirror in front of the driver. "No need, Kane. This person I'm seeing, have no clue who I am."

---

It was the last class for the day, then she'd have to face her father. Arya cursed herself for not packing up the other night so she could easily run away.

Winx tapped her on many occasions to bring her back to the land of the conscious. When Arya was finally concentrating, two late comers entered the class and totally all the students concentration.

'Whoas' and 'Awwws' filled the air as the campus couple, Seth and Edna walked into the class hand in hand with stunning fitting outfits. Their hair colors matched as Edna's hair was a light shade of pink while Seth had a streak of pink on both sides of his head.

The lecturer ignored the students and kept on scribbling the notes on the board. He was due to leave in five minutes and it was quite obvious the campus couple didn't come to class for him.

Along with the lecturer, another one not pleased with the campus couple was Arya but she didn't show it, she was great at masking her emotions, no thanks to her abusive father.

Arya knew Edna Romanoff was a high class call girl who claimed to have changed and was 'faithful' to Seth. She realized Seth liked her and was using his affection to gain way into his family's wealth.

Seth Darwin had been Arya's high school crush even if he schooled elsewhere.

She always came for his basketball practices and cheered him, but her love had been generally low-key, her father would strangle her if she knew she liked boys, like it wasn't a natural thing to do.

Seeing Edna clinging on Seth like jam and bread, made her sick, since she knew Edna was cheating on Seth with her neighbor. But she didn't let it bother her too much. It's not like she had a chance with Seth anyway and he was too dumb to fight for.

She was friends with him and that's enough for her but Winx pulled her towards the couple after their last class was over. She knew her Arya liked Seth but she didn't know that she was also not interested in doing anything about her feelings.

"Hey!" Winx greeted the two as they were taking selfies. Edna released Seth and rushed to give Winx a hug, the two were distant relatives.

Arya rolled her eyes, she noticed Seth's gaze on her and looked up at him. "Congratulations to your dad for being elected deputy governor. That was a lot of work, I hope he takes care."

Seth smiled, "Thanks. Everyone I met congratulated me like I was the one who won."

Arya smirked. Of course they would, it was a way to gain favor from him. She went back as Edna tried to give her a friendly hug as well.

Winx chuckled nervously. "Arya isn't a hugger."

Edna frowned but went on with it.

"Meet you guys tomorrow then?" Winx asked.

"Yeah, we'd come at our own time." Edna winked, before pulling Seth with her away.

"You know I hate her." Arya turned to a Winx with a scowl.

"But you like her boyfriend so just put up with her till you can snatch him." Winx laughed. Arya smiled but said nothing.

There was no need trying to snatch Seth, she had a complicated life, she didn't know how to be in a non-toxic, non-abusive relationship, she didn't need him in her wretched life.

Her phone rang as she walked out of the university with Winx, she expected to see Sir Damien, she had been calling him but no avail.

Seeing her sister on the caller ID, Arya's heart skipped a beat. Was her sister calling because she heard she asked her boyfriend to marry her? She had to explain.

"Arya! Damien told me everything! I had no idea dad wanted you to do that!"

Arya exhaled, did Sir Damien not tell her of the marriage?

"Oh, um... I am thinking of how to avoid the marriage..."

"Thinking? Damien told me he agreed to marry you for the time being, don't you agree?"

Was she agreeing for her boyfriend to marry her sister?

"But he is your boyfriend, Anna? Isn't it weird?"

"Boyfriend? Who?"

Arya frowned. Wasn't he her boyfriend? For the last one year she had assumed they were dating.

She had never seen Sir Damien in real life, apart from the calls he gave from time to time, she engaged all as she deemed him as her sister's boyfriend.

"Anna, you mean you and Damien aren't dating?" she needed to be sure.

"What? He's younger than me and I don't do younger men, please. And I have a boyfriend already. I think you and Damien will be a cute fit." Anna chuckled.

Arya's eyes rolled. So that what Sir Damien answered her rather coldly whenever she spoke of her sister.

"Please Anna, it's just for the time being. We are not getting married for real. I am just nineteen."

"What? Mom married dad at nineteen and even if their marriage wasn't the best, it created two princesses." Anna chuckled again.

Arya's heart fell? Her mother's marriage wasn't even close to the best. It was just a contract marriage that she was trying so hard to make a real marriage because she fell in love with the man.

And two princesses? Maybe to their mother but they were nothing to their father. She had to make sure not to fall in love in her contact marriage with Sir Damien. Who knows, he could turn to a wolf and she wants to be able to leave with no regrets.

"I hear you, Anna. I'd be heading home now."

"Oh, okay, take care. Bye." Her sister hung up.

Winx returned to her with an ice cream cone. "Does Anna know of the contract marriage between your parents?"

"I can't tell her. At least, not yet." She took the ice-cream. "Thank you. I'd head home first."

Winx nodded, waving. Arya smiled at her before walking down the stairs.

With the corner of her eyes, she noticed the piercing gaze of a figure resting on a Lamborghini she had noticed drive in, the gaze made her feel fear.

She met the young man's gaze, her brown eyes diving into his gray ones. She didn't know the man but did she know her somewhere?