Carla

      "You've been bailed, and now, you're free to leave." A warden informed me as he opened my waiting cell, three days after I was thrown in there. I was beyond shocked as I exited the haunting bars, unable to believe my ears. The bail was millions of dollars, and I never deluded myself into thinking anybody would be able to bail me out of this predicament.

"Who bailed m-" I was still speaking when I stepped upfront and set my eyes on the man standing at the direct opposite of me. As soon as our eyes locked, it was like I was hit with a sharp whiplash, one which had my heart instantly propelling into my stomach while my mouth fell open.

Zade Dalton Gomez.

His blue eyes stared me down from across the room and I was tempted to cower from how intense his look was. He was as good looking as an oil painting. His long hair was slicked back but a few curls escaped and framed his face, his jawline was so sharp, his nose perfectly pointed and altogether, he looked like a Greek god. 

Zade grew up to be extremely good looking than I could have ever anticipated. Presently, he ranks number one hottest man in the entire country, which was undeserving in my opinion. He was good looking as a kid and back then, all the girls had crushes on him... except me. As kids, I hated him. 

He was best friends with my elder brothers, but he never took me seriously and always tomented me. Everything suddenly changed when his father backstabbed mine and rendered my father penniless, then our families went their separate ways and I loathed him since then.

As he closed the distance between us, I began to sweat buckets. I was nervous, my heart was pounding but I refused to avert my gaze. When he stopped a few feet away, he let his eyes run over my entire body and I shivered, feeling the urge to protect myself from his condescending gaze.

I cleared my throat till our eyes locked. "Um... you bailed me, right?"

When he didn't respond, I began again. "Well, I don't know why you did that, but thank you..."

I was still speaking when he suddenly grabbed my wrist and began to pull me out of the police station. I struggled in his hold and demanded where he was taking me, but he didn't respond till I was in the backseat of a Mercedes.

"Drive." He gruffly said to his driver and I fidgeted nervously beside him, feeling like a fish out of water.

I knew Zade hated me, like I hated him. He has no tangible reason to waste millions of dollars on me, so what does he want?

"Where are you seriously taking me to?!" I demanded and he sighed, massaging his forehead like I suddenly gave him a headache.

"My home, where we'll have an important discussion."

~~~

      "Dave Meadows is already working on dissolving his marriage with theft convict Carla Meadows, and he's currently engaged to Serena Carter." The newscaster on the television announced, and clips of my husband sharing a kiss with my ex-best friend was shown and a picture of the two of them posing with Serena's new diamond ring facing the camera. 

Dave really did it. He hadn't been bluffing. He really plans on marrying Serena.

I waited for pain to come, for hurt or jealousy to overcome me. But all I felt as I stared at the television was anger, and intense range.

"Bet you still cannot believe that the man you carry out joint crimes with has ditched you for someone else." Zade's deep voice filled the sitting room and I stiffened, but I refused to turn around. I watched from the side of my eyes as I sauntered into the room and took the seat opposite from me.

"I called it and I did tell you that I saw right through his bullshit, didn't I?" He drawled, eyes on me and I sat straighter, face an emotionless mask.

Zade indeed warned me. He called me a day before my wedding to say those words. But I thought he just didn't want me to be happy, especially since we were also technically enemies, so I didn't listen to him and had asked him to go fuck himself

I cleared my throat before speaking.  "Mind your business, Zade."

He chuckled this time while sipping his scotch, leaned back on his couch. He had rid of his suit jacket, but his inner shirt was still on and it was stretched tightly over his pecs and bulging biceps.

"Remember that I bailed you about thirty minutes ago. Show some gratitude, Carla." 

I bit my bottom lip and briefly glanced away. My name sounded so weird on his tongue because as kids, he never called me that. He called me something else, something that always infuriated me so much.

Kitten.

After a few seconds, I cleared my throat again and pushed my hair out of my face. "Thank you so much for bailing me, Zade. Seriously, I mean this from the bottom of my heart."

Zade waved me off almost immediately. "None of that now, since after all I freed you for a reason." 

I stiffened, instantly growing suspicious. My hunch was correct, he did bail me for a reason.

"What's that?" I demanded. This time, he leaned forward before speaking.

"I freed you because I want you and I to get into a contract marriage." He suddenly announced and I blinked a few times, waiting for him to burst into laughter or something but that never happened.

I laughed awkwardly, my heart starting to race. "You're not being serious, are you?"

His eyes narrowed at me and I stiffened again. "Do I look like someone joking? I bailed you because of that."

I let out a scoff, hands gesturing around. "But... I can't marry you! It doesn't sound normal. Why the hell would I do that?" 

"Well, as you might have guessed, you don't have a choice in this situation. You either agree to the contract marriage or I'll send you back to jail."

My heartbeat accelerated at that threat and I realized that I was basically trapped between two hells. Return back to jail or agree to this atrocity.

"Do not get the wrong idea, I don't particularly want this. You'll be my last option when it comes to marriage." He pointed out and I'd be lying if I claimed that didn't hurt.

"But be rest assured that the contract marriage would only last a year then it would be dissolved." He continued.

I let my eyes try to pick out the expression on his face, but I got nothing.

"Why do you even want a contract marriage? And I'm sure you'll find more willing women out there, except if there's something you're getting out of this." I demanded just as he got to his feet. 

"Of course there's something. I need you to become the mother to my selective mute child."

My eyes instantly flew open. "You have a child?!" I demanded, extremely shocked. The media never mentioned anything of him having a child.

He approached me and my heartbeat accelerated again. "It's my niece, but now I see her as my child since I'm her guardian."

My eyes widened. "Oh." I muttered. "But what about her parents...?"

"Dead." He revealed flatly and my mouth fell open. I hastily apologized for that but he didn't acknowledge that. I shifted awkwardly again.

"I feel moved that you think I fit this role, but I suck with kids and I'm terrible with them. You should find someone else." I breathed out.

"You'll treat my niece like an egg and you'll play a mother's role to her, else you'd be returned back to prison after I take my bail money back. And you're the perfect role for this because somehow... my niece thinks you're her mom."

My mouth fell open from shock and confusion. "What?" I whispered and he sighed while massaging his forehead. 

He was standing a few feet away from my couch, but I didn't like how he towered over me this way so I got to my feet, but it didn't make much difference because he was still a whole foot taller.

"She's a selective mute. She can speak but chose not to after a particular trauma. The only time she speaks is whenever your picture is shown, and she calls you 'mommy'." He revealed and I was shocked even more. I couldn't believe my ears. That made no sense to me.

How is that possible?

"So, the contract marriage would hold. If you don't agree to it, you'll be returned back to prison where you belong."

This time, I bristled as I glared up at him. "Where I belong? I didn't commit the crime I went to prison for, I only went for my husband. And this time, I was framed." 

He laughed right in my face. "Of course you'd deny it. One can't expect anything less from a criminal after all."

Zade

    "I'm serious, I really didn't do a thing. I'm not a criminal." She bit out but I snorted with an eyeroll then glanced at my wrist watch.

"But you are, and I honestly don't like the thought of a criminal being around my niece, I just don't have a choice. If you can get her to start speaking, I'll be able to get her the help she needs. The therapist suggested a family picture is drawn up for her to be around, that's why you're becoming my wife for the time being."

She frowned as she sighed this time. "But, I still don't understand how she thinks I'm her mother." She breathed out and that was something we agreed on. It had shocked me immensely when my niece who had refused to utter a word since the night she was rescued from a fire, had suddenly pointed at the television which displayed a picture of Carla. 

My niece, Ella, had literally bursted right into tears and had demanded for her mommy while pointing at a picture of Carla.

"It doesn't matter. The doctor said it's a traumatic reason. So, do you agree to the contract marriage or not?"

She rolled her eyes this time. "You're sounding like I have a choice in this situation.

My eyes briefly trailed over her face before I responded. "But you do. Agree or return back to jail."

She sighed and sat back on the couch.

"I agree." She mumbled, sounding extremely unenthusiastic that I might have taken offense if I didn't relate with that feeling.

When I turned to leave, anger began to churn in my chest once again. Anger towards Carla, anger towards her soon to be ex-husband, and anger at this entire situation.

I didn't tell Carla that I plan on using her to get revenge on Dave. I didn't tell her that I plan to teach her a lesson as well, and to make her pay, because she's an accomplice of Dave. 

Dave is the one responsible for the death of my sister and her loving husband. He's the reason my niece is now an orphan and scarred with the trauma of watching her parents burn in a fire. He's the reason my only sibling is dead. And Carla is undoubtedly an accomplice, so she was gonna pay, and I was gonna make it hurt so damn good.

I honestly didn't like the thought of Carla around my niece. Apart from her being a criminal, she's partly the reason Ella is in this situation, and I didn't trust her one bit. At this point, I genuinely detest Carla.

I did find her adorable when we were kids. She got angry easily so it was fun to constantly tease her and make fun of her. Which is why it was still sometimes hard to believe someone so kind spirited could turn into a criminal like this.

Our families used to be close till my father took back what initially belonged to him after uncovering so many truths, then we all separated. I even had to stop being friends with her elder brothers. But I didn't grow to hate them, including Carla, even though our parents undoubtedly hated each other, because I believed they were innocent in their father's schemes. 

Which was why I called Carla to warn her a day before her wedding.

My genuine hatred for Carla came after I lost my sister. Now, I genuinely despise her.

I made my way through the hallways of my large house, up the stairs till I was stepping into my bedroom. Right in my bed was Lena, lounging and waiting for me.

Lena was the closest thing I've ever had to a girlfriend. We've been constantly sleeping together for years, and presently, she hadn't liked my decision to get into this contract marriage. She made that obvious by pouting and folding her arms as I approached the bed.

I flopped down into the spot beside her and let out a loud sigh, suddenly feeling drained. Lena glanced at me and I spoke.

"You still mad at me? I already told you it's nothing but a contract marriage. You know I have no other choice, Ella needs urgent help." I explained softly. Lena remained unmoving before she signed and wiggled close to press herself against my body.

"I understand, but it doesn't mean I can be okay with it." She whined and I sighed as I stroked her back.

"You don't need to be, just always remember that it's a contract marriage and nothing more." I assured her. "Remember that I also have to use her to get revenge for my sister. After all of this, I'll discard her."

"And get married to me next, right?" She asked as she kissed my jaw. I huffed and leaned down to gently kiss her lips before responding.

"Let that time come, hm?"

She pouted but snuggled into my side again. I absentmindedly stroked down her back while briefly wondering how it feels to genuinely want to get married to someone. Is that supposed to feel exciting? I've never felt love or affection for anyone so I wasn't sure. 

I guess I can see myself getting married to Lena in the future, because she's the one I've been the longest with and it's just so easy and convenient with her. I can see myself marrying her in a few years so she'd bear me a child, cause my family have begun to disturb me for an heir, and no other reason.

I was deep in thoughts when Lena began to kiss my throat, her hands sliding down my stomach to my pants. She began to moan softly and grind against me. Before lust could begin to cool within me, a hesitant knock echoed off the door and I instantly stiffened.

"Yes?" I called out, thinking it might be Carla... But the voice of my butler rang out instead.

"Sir, Miss Van Grande is missing. I've searched everywhere and she's not in the house. I think she... she ran away."

Carla 

      My heart was pounding hard as I walked fast, while gripping the watch tightly in my grip- a wristwatch which belonged to Zade, which I had stolen before taking off.

This was actually my first time taking something that doesn't belong to me, and it was solely out of desperation, because I had a feeling that Dave would have cleaned out the money left in my account, and It was confirmed when I stopped at a bank to check. That's why I took this watch while fleeing, because I planned to sell it and use the money to leave the country.

I stepped into a watch store and informed them I had a watch to sell, then I presented the watch to them, while guilt churned within me. As soon as I successfully leave this country, I planned to instantly call Zade and apologize, then I'd start working towards paying him back for the watch. I wasn't sure of how I'd repay him for the bail, but I was gonna try to repay that as well. 

I just couldn't imagine marrying Zade, not as a contract marriage. I refuse to leave a monster and get trapped by another, that just wasn't fair to me. Zade was worse than a monster, he was a demon. He was ruthless and cunning that even Dave feared him and had always hated him. I never knew there was ever a beef between them, but I knew Dave detested him.

I also couldn't imagine myself playing the role of a mother. I lied when I said I sucked with kids. It was the complete opposite. Being forced to play out that role was just gonna remind me of a pain of mine, one which I've learnt to hide. 

Years ago, I had a child, but the child died at birth. 

Since then, I've been unable to take in. I knew that bothered Dave, because he sometimes complained about it. That was another reason why I readily agreed to go to jail for him, because I convinced myself that after doing something like that for him, he'll feel too indebted to me that he'd never consider leaving me for another woman If I didn't get to conceive again.

But clearly, I shouldn't even have bothered.

"Ma'am, can we have the receipt for this watch?" A woman approached this time. I instantly stiffened before awkwardly laughing and making a show of patting my pockets.

"Ah- I think I dropped the receipt while on my way here." I explained and the woman nodded before leaving and heaved a relieved sigh.

As I glanced around, I noticed a few people were staring at me and I rolled my eyes. I was certain everyone staring at me sees me as a criminal and nothing more, that's why moving to a different country sounded very appealing. I don't have anyone here, my family and friends deserted me, and now Zade would clearly not let me roam scot free. So basically, it was the only option I had. 

"Ma'am?"

I was pulled out of my thoughts and I stiffened. Standing before me was the woman who previously approached me and two different men.

"We can't buy this watch without proof of you being the owner, we're so sorry but we'd like proof that you're the owner first." The man standing in the middle spoke and I stiffened.

Yikes! 

"But I'm the owner." I insisted but they shook their heads. The onlookers weren't trying to hide that they were clearly staring at this point.

When I realized that they weren't gonna change their minds, I sighed and held my hand out for the watch, but they refused to return it, and that's when the panic started.

"Ma'am, are you really the owner of this watch?" The man asked this time and I inched backward, eyed darting around for a means of escape because now I realized that security was now blocking the doorway.

"Don't think of trying to run, ma'am, else we'd call the cops." The man warned, not sounding respectful at this point and I bit at the inside of my mouth while wishing I could just die right now. The onlookers were currently murmuring to each other while pointing at me. Some tried to film but we stopped by the store owners and I was grateful for a little mercy today.

"Ma'am, we'll only let you go if you reveal the actual owner of the watch, and said owner comes to get it. Or we'll call the cops."

I let out a long groan and wished I could disappear into thin air.

Fuck my life.

~~~

     I wished the ground would open up and swallow me. I was dying from humiliation when Zade arrived after I revealed that I got it from him. The look in his eyes made my heart lurch into my throat, and I awkwardly shifted my weight around till he came to stand before me.

"If you're a little smart, you'd have instantly realized that this watch is a costume made type. It's not available in the market so you could have tried harder if you wanted to steal something. At least put your criminal experience to actual use." His low voice filled my entire body with hot embarrassment and was too humiliated to respond.

Zade apologized for the troubles on my behalf, then he was tugging me out and into his car. I sat awkwardly beside him, feeling like the biggest fool ever.

"I'm sorry," I whispered but he only hummed.

"Do I drive you to the station?" He asked and I stiffened before shaking my head.

I guess this was goodbye to my hopes of escaping the devil himself.

"No. I- I agreed to the contract marriage."

"But you ran away... and stole my watch. Are you gonna try claiming you're not a criminal after this theft?"

I swallowed emptily, knowing how the watch situation definitely looked. 

"This is actually my first time stealing anything, and I apologize for those two things, and I also still want the contract marriage." I mumbled and Zade hummed.

"Wise choice. But, if you try running away again, our deal is over. Got it?"

I swallowed again and nodded, staring down at my folded hands. 

"Yes."

"We'll sign the contract tonight, right after you meet my niece."

I turned towards him, taking in his striking side profile.

"What if your niece doesn't recognize me? She might also not want to be around me..." I was still speaking when he waved me off.

"You already know what my answer is." He responded easily and I glanced out the window, losing myself to my worried thoughts.

~~~

     When we arrived back at his home, as soon as we were being let in, a woman clad in a short dress walked right towards Zade, wrapped around his shoulders and kissed him right on the lips.