Chapter 4 Your Sister Is Suffering

• Amelia stared at it. When she didn’t move, he added. “Read it.”
• Amelia opened the file slowly. The first few rules were exactly what she expected.
• Boundaries. Privacy. Appearances. No interference in personal matters.
• The further she read, the more amused she became.
• “This sounds less like a marriage and more like employment.”
• “That’s because it practically is.”
• “Hm.” Amelia nodded thoughtfully. Then she reached the last page.
• Her brows furrowed. “This expires in six months?”
• Alexander nodded once. “Yes.”
• Amelia looked up at him carefully.“Why?”
• For the first time since she entered the room, something unreadable crossed his face.
• Not anger. Not irritation. It was something heavier. But it disappeared quickly.
• “You don’t need to know.”
• The answer should’ve annoyed her. Instead, she found herself oddly understanding it. Everyone had secrets. God knew she had hers too.
• Alexander folded his hands loosely on the desk. “You’ll have your freedom after six months. Until then, we cooperate. No drama. No games.”
• Amelia tilted her head slightly. “You say that like I’m the difficult one here.”
• “Are you not?”
• Amelia placed a hand against her chest in mock offense. “I am delightful.”
• “Mm.”
• “That sounded judgmental.”
• “It was.”
• She narrowed her eyes. “I was having a rough morning.”
• “A rough morning?”
• “My father forced me into a marriage.”
• “That’s fair.”
• She stared at him for a second before looking back down at the contract again. Her eyes landed on the monthly allowance section.
• She blinked. Then blinked again. “That’s a lot of money.”
• Alexander shrugged lazily. “You’re providing a service.”
• Amelia stared at him. Then at the number. Then back at him. “You say that so casually.”
• “It’s a contract.”
• “It’s enough money to buy a house.”
• “I already own houses.”
• Amelia pointed at the allowance section. “Just so we’re clear, I get paid this every month?”
• “Yes.”
• “And all I have to do is survive six months?”
• “Essentially.”
• She leaned back dramatically. “God.”
• Alexander watched her. “What now?”
• “I’m getting paid to suffer.”
• For the first time that evening, amusement actually reached his eyes. “That makes one of us.”
• Amelia laughed softly. The sound lingered in the room for a second. Then she looked back at the contract again.
• Six months.
• Six months of pretending. Six months of living with a stranger. Six months until she could walk away from the mess her father had thrown her into.
• Honestly?
• It could’ve been worse. A lot worse.
• She picked up the pen beside the file.
• Alexander’s eyes followed the movement. “You agree?”
• Amelia twirled the pen between her fingers. “No.”
• His eyebrow lifted. “No?”
• “No sane person agrees to any of this.” She mumbled as she signed anyway.
• The corner of Alexander’s mouth twitched.
• ****
• By the time Amelia returned to her room, her social battery was completely gone.
• The contract was signed. The wedding was over. The introductions were done. All she wanted now was a shower, her bed, and at least twelve hours of uninterrupted silence.
• She kicked off her slippers the second she entered the room and dropped onto the mattress with a groan.
• “God, what a day.” The words had barely left her mouth when her phone started ringing.
• Amelia frowned. Almost nobody called her.
• She reached for the phone on the bedside table. The moment she saw the caller ID, her expression flattened.
• Dad.
• For a second, she considered letting it ring out. Then she sighed and answered. “What?”
• There was a brief pause before Luke’s voice came through. “Is that how you answer your father?”
• Amelia rolled her eyes. “You didn’t call to discuss manners. What do you want?”
• Another pause followed. Immediately, she knew. Whenever her father hesitated, it meant money was involved.
• Always money.
• “Things are difficult right now,” he began.
• Amelia let out a dry laugh. “There it is.”
• “What does that mean?”
• “It means you called because you need something.”
• Luke ignored that. “Jolie’s condition is improving, but there are still hospital expenses.”
• Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose. She could already see where this was heading.“And?”
• “You need to speak to your husband.”
• Amelia sat up slowly. “What?”
• “Talk to him.”
• “Dad—”
• “He owns companies, Amelia. One loan from him wouldn’t affect him.”
• For a second, Amelia genuinely thought she’d misheard him. “You can’t be serious.”
• “I’m very serious.”
• “I got married six hours ago.”
• “So?”
• “So?” Amelia repeated incredulously. “You forced me into a marriage because you needed a loan.”
• Luke sighed dramatically. “Not this again.”
• “No. Let’s do this again.” She stood up from the bed and started pacing. “You borrowed money.”
• “Amelia—”
• “You offered me as collateral.”
• “Watch your mouth.”
• “And now you’re asking for another loan?”
• Luke’s voice hardened. “Lower your voice.”
• “No.” Her chest was rising and falling faster now. “No, because this is insane.”
• “You’re overreacting.”
• Amelia laughed again. A short, disbelieving laugh. “Overreactin
• “Your sister is suffering.”
• “And somehow that’s my responsibility?”
• “She’s family.”
• Family?
• They only remembered she was family when they wanted something.
• Interesting how that worked.
• “Was I family yesterday when you locked me in my room?”
• Silence.
• “Was I family when you threatened me with Mom’s heirloom?”
• More silence.
• Amelia’s jaw tightened. “Or am I only family when you need money?”
• ____