Chapter 5 Solidifying Our Agreement

• Grace’s P.O.V.
• I sit in front of the mirror in a white wedding gown, getting ready for my marriage. The hairstylist finishes my hair, and the makeup artist puts the final touches on my face, and through a gesture of my hand, I ask them to leave.
• As they exit, my childhood best friend, Elsa, steps inside. She lives in London and came to New York this morning after I informed her yesterday about my marriage contract with Steve Grey.
• “Grace, why are you coming into this marriage contract?” She asks, marching towards me.
• I explain, “You know, Elsa, I can’t spend my entire life with one man, and I don’t believe in forever and love. So I came with this plan for Dad’s sake.”
• She shakes her head in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable, Grace.”
• “And you know why did I choose Steve for this?” As I ask her with a smirk on my face, her eyes glint with curiosity.
• “Is there any story behind this?”
• I nod. “Yes, babes. Steve is my enemy. He insulted me in front of many people in the cafe. When I learned Dad chose him for me, I knew he would never agree to this marriage. So, I impressed his father with my kindness to win him over. Poor Steve had to agree to the deal in the end.” I chuckle before adding, “I’ll make his three months of marriage miserable. He messed up with the wrong girl.”
• Elsa looks at me with concern, her brows furrowing. “Grace, this is a dangerous game you’re playing. What if things go too far?”
• I shrug and adjust the veil on my head. “Elsa, I’m not worried. I know how to handle myself. Besides, Steve deserves to feel the consequences of his actions. He thought he could humiliate me and get away with it.”
• She looks at me with disappointment. “Grace, you’re better than this. You don’t have to stoop to this level.”
• I scoff at her words, not wanting to admit that deep down, I know she’s right. “Elsa, I don’t care about anything. I just want to teach him a lesson for insulting me.”
• She sighs, clearly unconvinced. “I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Grace. This contract marriage might end up hurting you more than you realize.”
• I wave her concerns away. “Elsa, I’ve made up my mind. This contract marriage is necessary.”
• As she watches me with worry, I take a deep breath and stand up from the makeup chair.
• My father enters the room, and he becomes emotional, seeing me in wedding attire.
• He walks over to me, tears welling up in his eyes.
• “I can’t believe my daughter is finally getting married. I know you’re doing this for me, so thank you so much for giving your life a chance for my sake.” As he expresses his feelings, cupping my face, I feel guilty for hurting his feelings.
• However, I don’t have any choice. I can never fulfil his wish by settling with a man through marriage because I don’t believe in love and all the nonsense.
• “Good bless you.” He presses his lips on my forehead.
• “I love you, dad.” I hug him.
• I take a moment to compose myself before stepping away from his embrace.
• As I turn to face the mirror once again, I feel a pang of guilt deep within me. I know my decision to enter this contract marriage is not what my father truly wants for me, but it’s the only way I can fulfil his wish of seeing his daughter get married.
• For me, this is just a business arrangement. There will be no emotions involved, no love, and certainly no forever. I am simply fulfilling my duty as a daughter.
• Steve’s P.O.V.
• I stand in front of the vast mirror in a black tuxedo, determined to marry Grace and teach her a lesson.
• Today is the day I will marry her, but it’s not out of love or happiness. It’s a contract marriage, a means to an end.
• I glance at myself in the mirror, adjusting my tie and straightening my jacket. I look composed on the outside, but inside, I am seething with determination to make Grace regret messing up with me.
• Jace, who is seated in the room with Mike, stands and asks me to rethink my decision. “Steve, you still have time to think about your decision about this contract marriage.”
• I give Jace a stern look, my eyes filled with a sense of purpose. “No, Jace, I’ve made up my mind. Grace needs to learn a lesson, and I’m the one to teach it to her.”
• Mike chuckles, shaking his head. “Well, Steve, I hope Grace is prepared for the storm that’s about to hit her.”
• I smirk, a dangerous glint in my eyes. “Oh, she has no idea what’s coming for her.”
• “You weren’t like this, Steve.” Jace pauses, a hint of concern in his voice. “You always wanted to marry a girl whom you fell in love with, and now marrying someone just to teach her a lesson. What happened to you?”
• I take a deep breath, my gaze fixed on the reflection in the mirror. “People change, circumstances change. Grace changed everything. She takes out my worst side.”
• He walks over to me and places his hand on my shoulder. “But is this marriage really necessary? Is this the person you want to become?”
• I meet his gaze in the mirror. “I just want her to stop spoiling anybody’s life in the future.”
• He sighs, his voice filled with concern. “Steve, I understand your anger, but don’t let it consume you. Remember who you are.”
• I can understand Jace’s concerns because he knows very well when someone makes Steve Grey angry, that person is gone.
• “Don’t worry, Jace, I know my limits.” I reassure him, blinking my eyes.
• “Jace, chill. Let Steve have some fun in his life, and that girl deserves Steve’s anger. Didn’t you see how he treated that waiter a few days back in the cafe, and how she manipulated uncle?” Mike answers Jace, taking my side, but raising my anger by reminding me of Grace’s evil deeds.
• I clench my hands, trying to calm my anger.
• After a few minutes, my assistant comes with contract papers, which Grace has sent.
• She handovers me the papers and leaves.
• I lock the door and settle down on the sofa to read it. I don’t trust that girl to sign the contract without reading it thoroughly.
• Jace watches me silently, concern etched on his face. He knows that I’m not the type to enter a contract marriage. But he also knows that I am a man of my word, and once I’ve decided, there’s no turning back.
• I read the clauses.
• 1. No right to touch each other.
• 2. No sharing of bed.
• 3. No emotional attachment or sexual relationship.
• 4. No interference in each other’s life.
• I scoff as I read through the contract. It’s clear that Grace wants nothing to do with me beyond the terms of our agreement. Well, that’s fine by me. I have no intention of getting emotionally involved, either. This marriage is simply a means to an end, a way to teach her a lesson she won’t soon forget.
• I sign the contract without hesitation, knowing that this is the first step towards my plan. The ink dries on the paper, solidifying our agreement.
• From this day forward, Grace and I will be bound by a contract, a marriage that holds no love or happiness.
• I stand up from the sofa and walk towards the mirror once again, my reflection staring back at me. I no longer see the person I used to be. Grace has awakened a side of me I never knew existed, a side that is dying to make her pay for her actions.
• I straighten my jacket one last time, my eyes burning with resolve. Grace may have changed me, but I will not let her destroy me. This contract marriage is just the beginning of my plan, and I will make sure that she learns her lesson.
• With one last look in the mirror, I turn away and head towards the door.
• Jace stops me one last time. “Steve, promise me one thing. Promise me you won’t lose yourself in this process.”
• I look back at him with honesty in my eyes. “Jace, I won’t. I’ll stay true to who I am, no matter what.”
• With that, I step out of the room to marry Grace.