Chapter 2: Agreement

• Mateo was silent for a moment, his cold gaze fixed on the file in Miracle’s hand. “Open it, read the document, and study its contents.”
• Miracle’s brow furrowed, her confusion growing. Her eyes drifted to Mateo’s dark brown irises. “Can you explain what this means?”
• “I’ll explain if you read it,” Mateo said firmly, his arrogant gaze fixed on Miracle.
• She remained silent, still confused. There was no way she could force him to explain. Slowly, she opened the file. Suddenly, her expression changed as she read the first page of the agreement. Her blue eyes sharpened, filled with anger and confusion.
• First Party: Mateo De Luca
• Second Party: Miracle Geovan
• 1. The first party will support the second party and fulfill all of her needs.
• 2. In front of the public and family, both parties are obliged to show intimacy and appear happy.
• 3. The second party is prohibited from going against the first party’s words and must obey every instruction from the first party.
• 4. The first and second parties will sleep separately. However, in the future, the second party must be ready if the first party asks the second party to conceive.
• Miracle closed the file, her sharp eyes flicking to Mateo, who stood before her. “Can you explain what this agreement is, Mateo?” she demanded.
• “The one in your hand is our marriage contract. From the beginning, I was forced to marry your twin sister because of this arranged marriage. I was already glad your sister ran away, but you stepped into her place. Now, you have no choice but to do as I say.”
• Mateo’s words took Miracle by surprise. She could hardly believe what he had said. An agreement? She had never even imagined it.
• “Y-You made this agreement?” Miracle asked, gripping the file firmly. Her blue eyes sharpened as she stared at him, trying to contain her anger.
• “You said it yourself, didn’t you? You took your twin sister’s place because you didn’t want to embarrass your family. You and I never wanted this marriage. We’re both trapped in a marriage we never wanted. The agreement I made, of course, benefits us. I won’t interfere with your life, and you don’t interfere with mine. Everything written in the agreement is fair,” Mateo said firmly, his sharp, arrogant eyes fixed on Miracle.
• “You’re crazy! Which part did you say was fair? Explain it to me! You’re asking me to take your word for it and saying I should be ready to be pregnant with your child? You’ve lost your mind! We’d better get a divorce! Tell our parents there’s no compatibility between us!” Miracle shouted vehemently, opposing the agreement. She didn’t want this man, but clauses three and four incriminated her.
• Mateo smiled sarcastically, then pulled her chin and stared into her blue eyes. “Divorce? That’s just your dream! You stepped in to replace your runaway sister, so don’t even think about backing out. Hurry up and sign the agreement—don’t argue with me!”
• Miracle brushed his hand off her chin, her eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not signing that agreement! And if you keep forcing me, you’ll have to remove clauses three and four!”
• Mateo let out a rough breath, clearly fed up with the stubborn woman in front of him. “I’m not going to erase anything in the agreement! You have to do what I say because I’m your husband. And in the future, my family will demand a child. Whether you like it or not, you must be prepared when the time comes.”
• “You have a lot of money! If you need a child, just pay another woman to carry your baby! I don’t want to!” Miracle exclaimed, glaring at him. She refused to accept the agreement Mateo had made. Conceive? She couldn’t even imagine it.
• Suddenly, Mateo pushed her against the wall. Miracle struggled, punching his chest to break free, but her strength was like cotton against him. Mateo pressed his body against hers, pinning her movements.
• “Let go of me, d*mn it!” she shouted, struggling harder. The more she fought, the tighter Mateo held her, until it felt like she could hardly breathe.
• Mateo cupped her cheeks roughly, his dark brown eyes sharp. “Will you shut up?” he hissed warningly.
• “I’ll never shut up if you don’t let me go!” Miracle shot back, her blue eyes flashing with anger.
• Mateo growled as she continued to struggle. He pulled her chin and whispered sharply, “Hurry up and sign the agreement, or you’ll face the consequences. Whether you want to or not, you have to do what I say.”
• Tears streamed down Miracle’s cheeks. She wanted to run from all of this, but there was nothing she could do. How could he make such a deal? It was completely unfair!
• “If you never wanted this marriage, we should split up! You can marry the woman you love, and I’ll marry who I want!” Miracle said, her reddened eyes locked on him. Her voice was softer now.
• Miracle decided she would rather end the marriage than sign the agreement. She couldn’t imagine living like that. No, she was not foolish enough to accept a life of misery.
• “Split up?” Mateo flashed a sardonic smile. He gently wiped her tears and hissed, “When you delivered yourself, there was no turning back. We will never be separated. If you wanted to escape, it should have been before we got married.”
• He stepped away, releasing his grip with a cold glare. “Hurry up and sign the agreement!” he said again, urgently.
• “I won’t! I will never sign that agreement!” Miracle refused firmly, her eyes red from anger.
• Mateo growled and cupped her cheek roughly again, this time making her whimper in pain. “If you don’t sign the agreement, you’re a hypocrite! You deliberately became your twin sister’s replacement because you wanted this marriage,” he whispered sharply.
• Miracle’s face changed. The flash of anger in her eyes could no longer be contained. Ignited by her emotions, she snatched a pen and signed the agreement without a word.
• “Take this! Don’t you ever try to humiliate me!” she shouted, throwing the agreement at him.
• Mateo smiled triumphantly as he took it. “You’ve signed it. That means you are bound by what’s written here.”
• He stepped out of the room. Miracle collapsed to the floor, pale and dazed.
• “What did I do? Why did I sign that agreement?” she whispered, clutching her hair, cursing her own foolishness. Tears streamed down her cheeks.