The Contract

“Ashley, sign this.”

Ashley blinked in confusion, staring at the thick stack of papers Demitri placed in her lap.

The ink on her wedding certificate hadn’t even dried, and here her new husband was, holding a pen out to her like this was some sort of corporate deal.

Even though she knew the marriage wasn’t a love match, she was hoping for something at least.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Demitri sighed, leaning back in the plush leather chair across from her. The grand bridal suite of the hotel was supposed to be their honeymoon haven, but it felt more like a boardroom.

“Sign the contract,” he repeated, his tone flat and detached as if they hadn’t just exchanged vows in front of a hundred guests an hour ago. “You’re my wife now, and this is part of the arrangement.”

Ashley’s stomach churned. She thought back to her father’s desperate plea for her to agree to this marriage.

“It’s for the family,” her father had said. “Demitri’s generous. He’ll take care of you.”

Generous? She hadn’t even unpinned her veil, and here she was, signing a mystery document.

“What is this about?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Demitri’s dark gaze met hers, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something—regret, hesitation, perhaps? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

“It’s a marriage contract,” he said simply. “It outlines the terms of our agreement.”

Ashley frowned. “Terms? I thought this was a marriage, not a business deal.”

His lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “It’s both.”

She stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate, but he said nothing. Just handed her the pen.

“You can’t be serious,” she said, her voice rising.

“Ashley,” he said, his voice low and sharp, “if you don’t sign it now, I’ll call to ask for an annulment right away. You and your family will lose everything. Is that what you want?”

Her breath hitched. Demitri wasn’t just rich—he was powerful. If he wanted to ruin her family, he could do it with a snap of his fingers.

Her hand shook as she took the pen. “At least tell me what’s in it,” she whispered.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he replied, standing and adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.

Her stomach twisted. She should have insisted. She should have demanded to read it. But the weight of her family’s expectations pressed down on her like a boulder, crushing her resolve. Without another word, she signed her name at the bottom of the last page.

Demitri took the papers without so much as a thank you and turned toward the door.

“Wait,” Ashley called after him. “Where are you going? Aren’t we supposed to… I don’t know, celebrate? It’s our wedding night.”

He paused in the doorway, one hand resting on the frame. “Get some rest,” he said without looking at her. “We have an early appointment tomorrow.”

“Appointment? For what?”

“We’re going to the hospital.”

Her eyes widened. “Hospital? Why?”

He turned back and adjusted his tie, his expression unreadable. “To extract your eggs.”

Silence filled the room. Ashley sat up, her heart pounding. “Excuse me?”

Demitri looked at her as if she were slow to catch on. “It’s in the contract. Your role as my wife is to provide eggs for fertilization. Elena can’t conceive naturally, and that’s where you come in.”

Ashley’s mouth opened and closed, no words forming. She felt like the ground had shifted beneath her.

“Elena? Who’s Elena?”

He sighed impatiently. “My first love. The woman I intend to spend my life with once this arrangement is over.”

Ashley’s head spun. “You married me… so I could be some sort of egg donor for your mistress?”

“She’s not my mistress,” Demitri corrected coolly. “She’s my fiancée. You’re my wife in name only.”

Ashley’s chest tightened. “How could you do this to me?”

He only stared at her with boredom.

She stood, her fists clenched. “I’m a person, not some breeding tool for you and your fiancée!”

Demitri’s gaze darkened. “You signed the contract. You agreed to this.”

Tears welled in her eyes as the reality of her situation set in. She had walked into this marriage thinking it was a lifeline for her family, only to realize it was a cage for her soul.

“And if I refuse?” she challenged, her voice trembling.

“You won’t,” he said confidently. “Your family depends on you, and I always get what I want.”

Ashley’s legs felt like they might give out, but she stood tall, refusing to let him see her break.

He turned back and took the exit out.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Ashley sank onto the bed, tears streaming down her face. Her dream wedding had turned into a nightmare, and she had no idea how to wake up from it.