Hot  tears rolled down Bella's cheeks, her mouth completely shut out of shock. She stood for what felt like forever, her eyes fixed on her sister's unconscious body lying on the ground. 

"No no.... No nooooo!!!!" She screamed as she stumbled  through the crowd and grabbed her burned face. 

"How ... who did this" her mouth hung open, saliva spilling out. Her  eyes pure red, darting  through the crowd trying to look for who did this to her sister 

"Emily please wake up! Please you can't do this to me" she screamed more tears gushing out of her eyes 

BENSON POV 

Benson stared intently at how Bella jumped with joy, he had never seen her this excited and he was eager to find out what or who was making her this excited 

"Maybe her boyfriend" the thought of that made him sick 

Few minutes later he watched as a tired skinny average height lady hopped out of the bus she looked so much like Bella but a younger version 

"Haha it must be her sister" He chuckled to himself and was about tell the driver to move the car when it all happened 

Everything happened  within a blink of an eye he saw a dark shadow spill something really hot on Emily and he watched her face blister from the burn  he watched her fall to the ground his eyes widened in horror . 

He turned to Bella the shock,  confusion, pain,  sadness and anger in her eyes all at once he couldn't help it 

He pushed the car door open and ran out to meet Bella who was on the floor helplessly holding her sister shocked. 

"We need to get her to the hospital" he screamed as he approached the scene.

His eyes shot out on seeing how badly the acid burnt her face, if nothing was done immediately she was going to die. 

"Call an ambulance" Bella screamed her eyes popping out 

"No time for that they would arrive late, let's use my car" he screamed, as he hurriedly pulled Emily up in his arms and ran as fast as he could to the car, on seeing him his P.A opened the car and helped him put her inside. 

"Please help her" Bella kept screaming as tears poured down her eyes. Who could do this to her sister, knew Emily in this town and her heart kept wondering as they arrived at the hospital. Within minutes Emily was taken in. 

"Doctor would she be okay?" She kept asking 

"Calm down everything will be fine" she heard the thick voice of Benson 

He was behind her trying to help every way he could, his mind kept wandering, he looked at Bella and something in him hated how badly she looked. 

She looked pitiful and it was crazy he didn't want her to ever have to cry it was breaking him to pieces 

"But she's just a school mate, she's nothing more, not even a friend. Why do you care?" He heard that voice again in his head 

"Shut up!" He muttered under his breath, he looked at Emily and walked up to her 

"you need to calm down." 

"No, no I need to call my mom I can't take this" Bella screamed her whole world was trembling before her eyes. 

Bella with shaky hands stretched them into her brown pants pocket she brought out her phone and slowly dials her mom's number 

"Bella, has Emily gotten there? I've been trying her line. It's not connecting. Thank God you called. I am so happy she's with you now.... Hello Bella?" Her mom called out 

"Mom..... it's Emily....." her voice broke 

"What happened? Is Emily okay? Bella, what's going on?" 

"Mom Emily is ...." Bella couldn't speak; her heart was tearing apart.

She looked at Benson, he felt nothing but pity.  

"Bella please calm down, I will talk to your mom" he collected the phone from Bella  and decided to speak to her mom.

After a while Benson made few calls and ordered that  Bella's  mom be brought to the hospital in his private jet 

"She's on her way here" Benson tapped Bella as she sat lost in thoughts 

"Why are you here?" Bella looked at her watch as she sipped out the tears dropping from her eyes, it was past 1 a.m in the midnight already 

They had been there since 8pm the doctors going in and out of the theater no information yet 

"You needed my help? I don't like seeing you like this" Benson whispered 

"You barely know me Benson, I mean I hate you so much so why do you choose to be here? Why do you choose to bring my mother with your private jet ? Don't you have a family  ?" Bella's voice echoed as tears attempted to fall.

"Enough please, I want to be here till everything is fine Bella just let me ok" 

"You know it was my fault she came here" she cleaned her face stood up and started pacing around, opening and closing her eyes as she spoke 

"It's all my fault! My mom warned me to come home to take the stupid croaker fish but what did I do I stubbornly said no and insisted Emily comes to meet me here now look at where it landed me" Bella cried 

"You have to ....." 

"Bella?" Her mother screamed from the hospital entrance on sighting Bella, her eyes were already red After Benson had explained the isolation she almost died of heart attack 

"Mom.... You're here" Bella broke down on seeing her mother and embraced her 

"I'm  sorry mom it's my fault she came here" Bella cried more 

"It's not your fault child it's not your fault let's just hope she'd be fine" Mrs Harper tapped her eldest daughter on the back 

"Thank you" she turned  to Benson "for getting me here as fast as you could" her voice trembling

Benson stared at her, still speechless; he nodded his head confused and tired. 

"Doctor?" Bella screamed upon seeing the doctor come out with a sad face 

"I'm sorry ..... we lost her" his voice sounded like fire pouring down on Bella's head she turned around looked at the doctor then her mother she pushed past the doctor and ran straight inside the theater 

It was true over there was her sister lying  lifeless her eyes closed her face decayed from the fire burn she looked horrible 

Bella looked around and begged the tears to fall but they didn't. She turned around and her vision became blurry and she gave way to the darkness that overshadowed her and she fainted.

Bella is sitting outside her hostel, her face fixed to one position, tears rolling down her cheeks, her brain flicking through everything that has happened within the last 48 hours. 

The decision had been made. Mrs. Harper carried Emily's still body and returned  to California, Bella on her own, cried violently nothing mattered anymore she wanted to go back home. 

But her mother had to stop her, she was to continue her schooling and come home a graduate. These were her mother's  words before leaving the hospital. 

Bella's memory flashed back:.

 "You need to eat something Bella" Charlotte lectured

"If you don't eat, you'll die." Allison added 

"Then let me die" Bella's dramatic voice filled the air.

"It was my fault she died I don't deserve to live" Bella screamed as if she were losing her mind and her friends worried. 

"It's not your fault, you need to calm down Bella please" Allison said frightened. 

"Well if you're looking for someone to blame, start with Queen Bee Angella she was the one that threatened you" Charlotte  added sarcastically.

"What? Charlotte! Don't say that,  Angella can't be that heartless........ Can she?" 

"You're right ?" The first words Bella had said confidently in two  days, she turned and looked at Allison. 

"She said she was going to make me pay. She did this!" Bella screamed as she stood up 

"Where are you going?" Charlotte glared at her with the do-not-do-something-stupid look.

"I am going to teach her a lesson." Bella responded as she whipped her tears, carried her hand bag and stormed off.

"Damn it, how could you!" Charlotte snapped at Angella 

"I didn't know she was going to take it to heart" 

"We have to look for her," Charlotte said, grabbing her phone and walking out of the house with Angella. 

THE VALE MANSION

"Well it seems like you were trying to help her out and flying her mother here in your private jet wow!" Leo sounded jealous. He stood up, walked to the wine cellar, picked up his favorite wine and poured himself a glass. 

"Do you think I would be that gullible, well I have a reason for doing everything I did" Benson defended 

If it was the last thing he'd do on earth, it was to keep his pride and arrogance; he wasn't trading it for any reason.

"And what's the reason Mr. Benson?" Leo mocked as he handed him the glass. 

"I am going to get her to marry me!" 

"What?!" Leo choked 

He looked at Benson he was dead serious he wasn't smiling one bit 

"Wait.... Are you serious?" He growled 

"Yes! What were you thinking? Did you forget our problem Leo? I have to get a girlfriend in less than a week! And today is Thursday" 

Leo stared at Benson with disbelief 

"So what are you going to do? How do you intend achieving this great master piece of yours" 

"I am going to find Bella and offer her a deal, she'd be my contracted wife for a year while I help her find who killed her sister" Benson gulped the drink down, picked up his suit and was about to walk away, he stops half away to the door and without turning 

"And yes Leo this is between the both of us you're taking it to your grave" he sounded dead serious and walked out of the door.

Leo stared with ultimate disgust he gulped down his drink with anger, he hated the fact that Benson was going to treat Bella this way in her vulnerable state. 

He knew Benson was heartless but being selfish and wicked was never part of the plan. 

ANGELLA'S MANSION 

Bella consistently kept pressing the doorbell wanting to get inside she was already consumed with so much rage her entire life was a mess 

"Open this door!" She started screaming 

It didn't take her anything to locate Angella's house, since she was  Queen bee all she had to do was ask questions.

Standing from the outside Bella couldn't help but notice how magnificent Angella's house looked, yes she was a liar but honestly the girl came from so much wealth 

Her mouth watered from the beautiful view outside the estate gate 

"Whose that crazy thing that wants to destroy the gates that her entire generations can't afford" Angella's voice from the other end of the gate snapped Bella back to reality 

And within minutes the gates were opened 

Angella stood at the other extreme holding a glass of justice dressed in a beautiful ball gown. Maybe she wants to show off to Bella. 

On seeing her Bella charged with anger boiling through her veins she ran straight to Angella and attempted to push her down but two huge men dragged her back roughly and restrained her 

"Listen Bella we are not at school you can't just randomly slap Angella Browns twice I mean the first one was a mistake and I made sure you paid for it" Angella smiled her eyes directly at Bella's and that's when Bella realized 

"It was you!" She screamed tears pouring out from her eyes 

"You killed my sister!" She shouted again 

"How could you! I am going to expose you I will make sure of that" 

"Where's the proof" Angella scoffed as she looked at her new polished nails 

"Listen to me Bella if you don't want yourself getting killed by your pathetic sister you'd get the hell out of here and never return, there's no proof that I killed-what's her name again -Emily so if you don't want me making  your life miserable you'd stay shut" she screamed into her face and ordered the men throw her outside. 

Bella stood for what felt like hours her brain spinning in circles not just did Angella kill her sister she had no atom of empathy at all 

Was this how the rich were? Wicked, selfish and heartless she thought her eyes were already swollen. She turned and found her way and started walking. She got to a bar at the extreme end of the Estate and walked back inside. 

On seeing her the bar attendant walked up to her 

"Ma'am, uhm.... I'm so sorry I'm not sure you can afford anything in here" the lady was brutal, but she was right. She told the truth.

Bella glared at her angrily and this made the last asked 

"I'm sorry ma'm what would you like to drink?" 

"Whisky" Bella requested as she buried her head on the table 

"Alright ma" 

A few minutes later the drink was brought and she started to gulp it down. 

BENSON POV 

Benson walked into the bar he needed to strategize how he was going to bring the topic up to Bella and doing that over a drink was the perfect idea 

"Just say you want to get closer to her and you're using this as an excuse" his inner voice pricked him 

"Shut the fuck up!" He silenced it 

He caught sight with Bella and walked up to her 

"Let me make you a deal."

Benson walked into the bar. He needed to strategize how he was going to bring the topic up to Bella, and doing that over a drink was the perfect idea.

"Just say you want to get closer to her and you're using this as an excuse;" his inner voice pricked him.

"Shut the fuck up!" He silenced it.

He looked around the calm bar. It was getting quite late, and couples were already filling up the place.The background music played softly and filled the entire room. 

He sat down and signaled the waitress  to come. He was about bringing out his phone when he caught sight of Bella.

"Bella? What's she doing here?" He looked really  surprised.

For starters, judging from where she was coming from, she couldn't afford one single bottle in this bar.  

He looked around to see if she was with anyone, but non-she sat there drinking herself into a stupor. 

Benson had to take this opportunity, so he gradually stood up and walked over to Bella.

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked, disgusted at seeing him. 

She was already drunk and talking off point. 

"Let me make you a deal" All seriousness was written on Benson's face.

 He looked Bella straight in the eyes. He wasn't here to joke; he was running out of time.

"A deal? To bring my sister back to life" Bella scoffed mockingly. 

"I can help you catch your sister's killer on one condition."  

"Bella turned and looked at Benson with seriousness written in her eyes, if there was anything she wanted it was justice for Emily she would never be able to sleep knowing fully well that her sister's killers are alive and walking freely.

"How?" Her voice strong and deep. 

"You get married to me!" Benson was blunt-no emotions, nothing. He was dead serious.

"What? Excuse you?" Bella laughed. Was he trying to pull her leg or something.

"I am not joking Bella, get into a contract marriage with me so my dad can let go of my neck of getting married and also the company can be transferred to me and not my younger brother, if my dad tries to give even one percent of his company to my younger brother he'd destroy everything my father has built and my dad wants me to get married before the company can be transferred to my name" 

Benson was much more serious 

"Wait! You're not joking? You're serious" Bella laughed she has never seen the height of Arrogance  before 

Who was this man who thinks he can take an advantage of her because she was at her down moments was he serious or all these was a joke 

"Yes, I am not jok-" Benson was cut off by a hot slap that landed on his cheek. 

"What makes you think you can come in here and make stupid demands and I am just going to follow you because you think I am desperate, you rich people have no heart, no empathy you think you can get everything you want well guess what I am not that girl go find someone else" 

Bella stood up,  picked her jacket, and made an attempt to leave the bar. when she turned back to the waitress. 

"He's paying," and just like that she walks out with her head high. 

Benson didn't want to give up. He brought out his card, made the transfer and went after Bella in his car. He saw her running towards the road and chased her with his car. On getting there he stopped and walked out. 

"See this as a business transaction and nothing more" 

He sounded like someone who has been running. Bella didn't say a word and she just kept walking. 

"This is your only way of getting justice and if not for anything you owe Emily that. Whoever killed her you'd never find them. If you don't have money to put into this case" he was telling the truth Bella stopped not turning back just tears rolling down he continued 

"Listen to me, I don't know you from anywhere and if I have to help you get justice then you have to get married to me" 

"Why are you helping me?" Her voice was broken 

"Because I also need help in return" 

"Fine, for the sake of Emily, I will do it" Bella broke down. She had never gone back on her words ever but this time around she was ready to do anything just to make sure her sister gets justice. 

Benson smiled; he knew his plan would work.

"Have you had anything to eat?" Benson asked as he walked close to Bella 

"No," she shook her head, as her stomach growled, reminding her that she had nothing but water for the last two days.

"Fine come with me" Benson turned pulled the door open and waited for her to come in Bella obeyed as if she was controlled by some remote 

"You buying me dinner still doesn't remove you from my black list, you're still an ass to me" Bella said trying to be serious but the reaction Benson gave broke her and she started laughing. 

They arrived at one of the most amazing 5 star restaurants in the city Bella has never been in one of these, but she had to compose herself as she walked hand in hand with Benson. 

She looked pale and yet extremely pretty, Benson taught. 

"Waiter" Benson called as they sat down 

The young man walked up to their table and handed the menu to Bella, Bella smiled at him and he winked back 

"I would like ribeye steak, filet mignon, lobster Mack and cheese, creamed spinach, and chocolate lava cake for dessert." She giggled 

"What? You're going to have all that, you'd explode" 

"I guess my husband doesn't have a problem does he?" Bella smirked as she turned around and gently smiled at the waiter who blushed and walked away to prepare the Order.

"Don't tell me you're flirting with the waiter you crazy bad girl" Benson was amazed he had never seen a woman be so real and herself. All the women he brought to have lunch or breakfast they were no fun and always coded and this is him sitting directly opposite this crazy din lady 

"Well if you want him to put enough beef you have to flirt a little" Bella laughed for some reasons she was genuinely happy. The meal landed and she dug in. 

Half way through the meal she broke the silence Benson had been watching her eat all along and he was nothing but surprised and amazed 

"Why aren't you ordering anything?" She asked as she dragged the lobster 

"Well am not hungry" Benson was fast he wanted her to continue eating while he watched. 

Benson brought out a plain white document from inside the bag he has been walking around with 

Written on it was "DEAL," and underneath it was the "ONE YEAR CONTRACT MARRIAGE".