Contract marriage: My billionaire’s cure

“You are hurting me mom. Why are you doing this? What did I do?” The poor boy wailed in distress as his frail body tried to balance himself again.

“You ruined my life. You don’t even deserve to live” she hissed through gritted teeth and slapped the boy hard.

He fell on the floor crying his heart out.

She gripped his throat and lifted him off the ground “I had a perfect life. Yet you had to come and destroy it” she yelled in anger as she squeezed his throat tight.

“Mom please-mom” his muffled cries brought her joy while he choked on his sobs. Tears were pooling out of his eyes blurring his vision. She slammed him on the cold hard ground and walked away slamming the metal door with a loud thud.

He walked towards the small hole in the wall and stared at the gigantic pool wishing someone would save him from this sorrowful nightmare.

He snapped his head as the door creased slightly. Barbara peaked through the door and looked around to see if anyone else was in there.

She signed in relief and walked inside while looking at the boy in pain. She brought a wet cloth and dabbed on the bruises forming around the boy’s neck.

“I wish I can take you with me. If I can you wouldn’t have been suffering all along. I hate myself for it young master” a tear trickled down her face while she tried to control the cries escaping her lips.

“You have done a lot to me. Your husband is sick and he needs money. Don’t worry about me. I’m stronger than that you think” he gave her a forced smile, trying to look better.

“You have a heart of angel young master. I’m surprised that someone as cruel as your mother gave birth to a beautiful flower like you”

He smiled at the compliment with his glossy eyes. He was still alive because of this woman. She encouraged him to keep going when all he wanted was to end all of this along with himself.

“Thank you for being here with me Barbara. But you have to leave. You are already pregnant with your second child. You can’t worry about me anymore”

She looked at him in pity before rummaging through her pockets for something. She pulled out a toffee wrapped in a red cover.

“Here”

“Who gave that?” He asked already knowing from who it was.

“Your sister” Barbara giggled softly as she handed him the toffee.

“I have no sister” he looked away stubbornly refusing to take the toffee.

“But she likes to call you that. She thinks wounds will disappear with a toffee”

“How naive”

She smiled at him and stroked his chin with her thumb. “I wish you were my boy”

…

I woke up angrily. I didn’t even sleep properly the entire night because Marcus had left me just like that. Every time he hides things from me I’m afraid to love him. I’m afraid of a relationship. I’m afraid of rejection. I just wanted to understand him, to know him better so that I can help him.

I know it must be hard for him to open up but why does he always shut me out? Why is communication so bad?

Marcus had to come to this room to change since his clothes were here. So I quickly took a shower and changed into black pants and a chiffon top before dashing to the deck where everyone would be waiting.

As I went there the cameras were already rolling. Our host was telling the contestants what they would be doing on the first day. The first part of the episode was shot at breakfast because the contestants were paired up for their today’s task in there. The tasks were decided by a team incharge of the event which consists of selected employees of all five companies.

I walked to Sarah and asked her what the first task would be because I was more into publicizing and investing, not organising.

Sarah jerked her chin up and I followed her gaze. A big white sofa was hanging from a crane, decorated with white silk clothing and colourful roses. My eyes widened in surprise because this looked extreme.

“Don’t worry. All the safety precautions are taken. Look” She showed me the air bags that were placed on the deck and the first aid was also here in case something happened.

The contestants were already lined up along the railing waiting for their chance. They look scared but determined.

I was talking to my contestants and through the corner of my eyes I saw Marcus coming to the deck. I gulped nervously and looked away. Just seeing him brought me down to my knees but since I didn’t want to humiliate myself anymore I decided to give him the cold shudder.

After talking with them I decided to go back to Sarah but someone else stopped me. I looked back to see who it was and it was the last person I wanted to see.

“Hey love” Brandon had a playful grin on his face. The wind ruffling his dirty blond hair covering his eyes and puffy cheeks.

“What Brandon?” I rolled my eyes uninterested.

“Want to have lunch?”

“Don’t you know that I’m married” I started walking past him but heard his footsteps following me close behind.

“C’mon we both know what it is”

I snapped my head and turned to him.

“What is it?”

“It’s a fake marriage”

“It’s not” Even though I was mad at Marcus I didn’t want anyone else to think like that about our marriage.

“So you are saying it’s true? Do you love each other? Did he say he loves you?”

That hit me harder than I thought. Marcus didn’t say he loved me. Till there was love this marriage will always be fake. And marriage does not work with one sided love. Me loving him is not enough to complete our marriage and that was the cold hard truth I’ve been trying to avoid all this time.

“See! Even you seem to be lost. You like it or not I’m taking you to lunch dear” before I could deny Brandon tucked a loose strand behind my ear and walked away.

I looked to where Marcus was and he was looking at me with a hurt expression on his face. It hurts me lot to see him like this. I wish I could just run up to his arms and hug him like there was no tomorrow.

The photoshoot started and the first pairs were scared to even get on the sofa but they quickly recovered and started posing. Only few were capable of grabbing my attention. The rest didn’t give their best.

While the photoshoot was taking place I decided to go and sit on a bench at the corner. I leaned my head back and enjoyed the salty wind blowing on my face. I felt someone sitting beside me but did not turn because I already knew who it was.

“Are you angry with me?” Marcus asked hesitantly. I didn’t turn to him since I knew I would breakdown and forgive him instantly.

“Camilla”

I still didn’t turn and decided to look the other way. Marcus leaned down and pressed a kiss on my cheek. Then he buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent.

“I’m sorry” he mumbled a small apology in my shoulders. I slowly looked at him and saw that he was genuinely asking for my forgiveness.

“What’s with the scars? Who did it Marcus?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking the questions that had been bothering me since last night.

Marcus looked away, his fist clenching and unclenching in anger. We stayed like that for a while and Marcus still didn’t say anything.

“Aren’t you gonna tell me?”

“I can’t tell you”

“Marcus I just want to understand you”

“Don’t”

I scoffed and raised my hands up.

“Fine don’t tell me. And don’t even talk to me” I got up and stomped toward the photoshoot angrily.

“Mrs. Anderson” I looked to my left and saw Andrew walking with a huge smile on his face.

“Everything alright?”

I nodded my head to his question and looked away uninterested at the conversation he was going to start.

“I was wondering if you can have lunch with me” he said shyly and my eyes widened in amusement. Why does everyone wants to have lunch with me? Suddenly an idea popped in my head.

This was a perfect excuse to ditch Brandon.

“Sure”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Andrew’s grin widened and he hopped off happily, waving as his eyes twinkled in excitement.

I looked behind and saw Marcus staring at me angrily, gritting his teeth, trying to control himself.

I rolled my eyes and started walking towards Sarah but Marcus grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. But I kept my mouth shut since I didn’t want to talk to him.

“Oh so you are giving me the silent treatment?” Marcus asked mockingly noticing that I didn’t talk. I tried to yank my arm back and but his grip tightened, holding me firmly.

“Let me go” I yelled annoyingly and looked around to see if anyone had noticed me but thankfully they were all busy with the photoshoot. Marcus forcefully dragged me to the corner of the deck hidden from everyone’s sight.

“What are you doing?” I yelled angrily.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“What?”

“You must be happy since two men are already courting you” Marcus said mockingly and I gaped at him in shock. I was beyond mad at the moment. How dare he?

“What nonsense are you talking? And it doesn’t concern you” I started walking past him but he dragged me back.

“Do not use that tone with me” he said warningly, anger lacing his voice enough to send shivers down my spine.

“Or what? You go back to fucking Clara?”

Marcus clenched his jaw in anger, his eyes darkening blazing with a vicious anger. He took me by the shoulders and slammed me against wall. I gasped loudly and without my consent he started kissing me forcefully.

I tried pushing him away but his grip on me tightened holding me closely. He tried opening my lips but I didn’t let him. His kisses trailed down my jaw to my throat sucking on my neck harshly. I wriggled under his hold but he was too strong for me to fight back. His hands roamed around my body as he deepened the kiss leaving small bite marks along my neck.

Tears started falling down my eyes and I began crying loudly. Marcus stopped touching me and leaned back to look at my face. My vision was blurry but I could still see a flash of regret crossing his eyes. He quickly moved back and ran his hands through his hair.

I fell to the ground and brought my legs closer to my chest. I looked up to see Marcus and he had his face on his palm as he breathed heavily. He saw me looking and quickly knelt down in front of me.

“I’m sorry” he whispered with a broken voice.

“What Marcus? W-were you going to force me because I didn’t submit?” I choked on my own sobs as I tried to speak, my voice quavering with each word I tried to let out.

He brought his hands to cup my face but I shoved them away. “Don’t touch me”. Marcus looked at me in hurt, his hands shaking in fright.

“I’m sorry Camilla. I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I did it but please I didn’t mean it. I-”

“I want you gone” I cut him off before he could give excuses.

“Camilla” he called in desperation.

“Leave the ship. I can handle it. I don’t want to see you” my eyes brimmed with more tears and I looked away.

Marcus bent his head down and sighed. “Fine I’ll leave. If that’s what you want” without looking back he left leaving me to cry alone.

Have I made a mistake?