Zerah

“I've already signed my part of the divorce agreement. Now it's your turn.”

With those words, the papers were stacked in front of me on the dining table. Looking down at the words, all I felt was numb.

“We've reached the end of our deal. Today's the last day and I don't want to spend any more time playing this farce,” Ryker said emotionlessly,

Indeed. Today was the end of our deal. Of this farce, he called it because that was what it was to him.

Tears stung my eyes, but I held them back trying to will them away. This was what I had asked for. I wouldn't cry. Not now.

“Why aren't you signing it? Do you need more incentive for your services? Ten million isn't enough?” His voice broke me out of my thoughts and I looked up at him, stunned.

His face grew into a mocking insulting smirk, like he had expected it.

“Don't worry, for playing along for so long I'll pay you an extra million. Happy?

This pisses her off and she tells him that

“Not everything is about money, Ryker.” I bit out, with gritted teeth. There were many other things I wanted to scream out, words I wanted to slay, but they remained choked in my lips.

If he hadn't listened or understood the whole time we were married, how would he do so now?

His gaze was skeptical as he raised his eyebrow.

“What, so you're saying that you came to me out of the goodness of your heart? Don't make me laugh. We both knew what this was from the start.” he said sardonically

“Let's divorce now and get this over with. We've both gotten what we wanted for this arrangement.”

Before I could think, a tear slipped out of my eye. I wiped it before it could fully show but like every other thing I did, it went unnoticed.

“Is that so?” I said brokenly, feeling my heart breaking with every passing second.

Had I truly gotten what I wanted?

No, not really.

It was ironic because a part of it was true. A huge reason why I accepted this arrangement was for money. Yes, I'd agreed to be his contract wife to relieve my mother’s hospital bills.

But the reason why I'd volunteered myself to this arrangement. Why I did everything I could to satisfy him and persevered for this entire year. Why I bore all his insults and the humiliation I suffered, was because of HIM.

It was ALL for him.

Clutching the pen I looked up to face him, meeting those grey eyes I loved and hated.

“Before I sign this, I want to ask a question, Ryker.” I said, bracing myself for what was to come

“In our one year of marriage, did you, even if it was a little, care about me?”

The silence was deafening. Ryker's expression was blank, like he hadn't expected those words to leave my mouth. I could easily see him trying to comprehend it with his furrowed brows. His lips parted and I tensed. He was about to speak -

A sharp trilling sound broke the silence and my heart fell. Instantly he turned away , retrieving his phone to answer the call.

“Hello? I'm busy right now… Alice? Are you okay? Is it a fever? Did the doctors say anything’s wrong?”

The moment I heard that name the remnants of my heart shattered.

I smiled ruefully at the sight. Ryker looked tense and concerned, ready to dart away at the slightest response. My presence was already forgotten.

There was no need to wait anymore. I'd already gotten my answer.

Turning back, I signed the papers and stood up from the chair. Ryker hadn't noticed, still preoccupied with Alice.

Like always, he'd immediately dropped everything for HER.

I left the living room and when I returned back, it was with my luggage, already fully packed and prepared. He was still on the call. With a final glance, I turned away and left the man and the home I had been in for.

It didn't take long to call a taxi. On the drive there, I looked out the window, reminiscing over my life.

A year of marriage and three years of yearning. I had wasted so much time. waiting on a man that would never love her.

It was all his fault for coming into my life. I could remember it like it was yesterday.

Two years ago, I watched a man nearly drown from an accident and in a burst of courage I saved his life. I took him in and helped him recover, and I had fallen for him. I thought it was the same thing for him.

When he left, it was with a promise that he would come back after sorting things out with his family. I had waited for so long but he never returned.

And then one year later, on this day exactly, I saw him again. Things had changed and with my mother's diagnosis I had moved closer to the city and worked multiple jobs to pay her hospital bills. It was during one of those jobs that I saw him again.

Ryker.

And he didn't RECOGNIZE me.

My heart broke at the realization. At first I thought he was pretending but the look on his face showed me the truth. I knew then that something must have happened between that year. How else would he have FORGOTTEN me?

Time was slipping by, and then by chance I overheard his call and his problem. His need for a wife to get his family's inheritance and I saw an opportunity. I rushed out without hesitation and volunteered myself with a brief hope in my heart.

Perhaps I stayed with him, perhaps I could help him remember. Maybe , just maybe I could win his heart.

That was the beginning of this arrangement. Now, looking back, I could see how foolish and idealistic I was.

Because while I was vying for his attention, he already had someone else in his heart.

Alice, his childhood friend and love. It didn't matter that he never said it. The way he treated her was alone to show me my place.

I was just a contract wife, holed up in his mansion and hidden from the public, my presence kept a secret from the rest of his family and friends, but she was the one he loved now.

I had fought my hardest, trying to earn his favor and close the distance between us, but it was all for nothing. In his eyes, I was just a golddigger who had taken advantage of him.

Still I persisted, but only faced humiliation. No matter how much effort I put in, he never cared and he ALWAYS chose Alice.

For the past three years since I met him, I held onto a dream. Now that dream was over.

There was no use trying to rehash the past. I was fighting for a lost cause. Now that everything was over, I could only look to the future.

I already had something else to live for.

Laying my hand flat on my belly, I closed my eyes. My pregnancy was the product of the one drunken night I had spent with him. A one time mistake, he had called it but it didn't matter to me. This baby was mine, and I was going to treasure them with everything in me.

Leaving my great love behind, I could finally start anew.

FIVE YEARS LATER

Zerah

“Miss Grayson, Please come to my office.”

Standing up, I kept my face neutral as I stepped into his office.

“Did you need something, Mr Hail?” I asked, not giving any emotion away while I closed the door behind me. In an instant, his stern look melted into a mischievous smile.

“Come on Zerah, you know you can call me Nathan in private,” He teased, pushing me to smile.

“Watch yourself boss, others may think you're showing favoritism,” I teased, unbothered. It was normal between us considering that I'd been working as his secretary for the past several years.

He chuckled, but his expression suddenly grew serious,

“But on that note, I did have something to tell you. It's very important.”

Sitting down, I looked up at him, worried. What was he going to say?

“When I became the head of this branch several years ago, I hadn't expected to be here this long. However there's been a change of plans.”

“You're leaving?” I asked. He nodded in affirmation before he spoke.

“I am being recalled back to the company headquarters. In City A.”

I stopped short at his words,

“And I want you to come with me.”

I looked up completely shocked. My jaw nearly dropped as I stared at him processing everything.

“I know what I'm asking you for is a reach. It's crazy to ask someone to move their life to an entirely new place. But I'm asking you because I trust you. You're the best secretary I have here and your talents will be wasted at this branch. There's still enough time to prepare, so, what do you say?” He asked, a shaky smile

My gut clenched as his words swirled in my mind. It wasn't a bad offer and there was nothing wrong with it.

But City A…

A hollow ache wracked my chest at the reminder of years ago. That place that was once my home, l filled with so many memories.

Shutting those thoughts out, I offered a small, forced smile.

“I'll think about it,” I said, fighting my anxiety

On my way home, the thoughts never stopped swirling in my mind. It had been five long years since I left that city and excused the pain and heartbreak I got. Five years since, I left HIM.

After moving out, I had rented an apartment and continued putting money in the hospital.

And then a miracle happened.

The Doctor's treatments had worked and thanks to the money from the contract marriage to my surprise and gratefulness, my mother’s treatment was successful. She was finally cured of ovarian cancer.

I was overjoyed and near tears when the news got to me.

A month after her recovery, I made the decision to leave the city to start afresh. Even if my mother didn’t know why, she agreed. We were both eager to start over in a different place, free from painful memories.

And so using the money, we moved to City Z. There we lived together until my pregnancy grew. There, I gave birth to twin boys, Micah and Ryan.

A year after moving to the city, I found work in Geronimo Cooperation, where I began working as a secretary for Nathan while my mother took care of the children. With the rest of the money saved up for emergencies, there was nothing to worry about when it came to our finances.

For the past five years, life was good. I was content, even if sometimes things were difficult. No matter how much I tried to forget Ryker, sometimes I would look into my sons’ faces that were too much like him and the heartbreak would return, but it was easier to manage with time. They were happy. I was happy.

Could I really go back?

Entering the house I was met with immediate hugs from both my sons before my mother shooed them away to continue doing their homework.

It wasn't until the night fell that I made my decision. After dinner and putting the children to sleep I finally approached her.

“Mom, what do you think about moving back to City A?” I asked after we cleaned the dishes. She stopped to look at me, her face lit up in surprise and confusion.

After explaining Nathan's offer to her, she was silent for a moment before she held my hand.

“Dear girl,” she smiled, “You know me and the boys will follow you wherever you go. We aren't short of resources either. If this is what you want, then let's do it.”

My heart ached at her support. I reached out to embrace her, savoring her love.

“Thank you mom.” I whispered,

With those words, all the doubts and anxiety cleared away.

I was going to take the chance.

There was nothing to worry about. It was a big city and there were little to no chances of us crossing paths. Me coming back wouldn't make a difference.

I never had to bother with facing Ryker again.

….

After telling Nathan my decision to follow him, he looked ecstatic, even agreeing to pay for my and my family's tickets. No matter how much I refused, he insisted and I eventually gave in.

In the meantime I told the children the news. They were surprisingly calm and eager about it. I spent my time planning the move, buying a new house in the city, dealing with their school amongst others. After preparing everything, in less than two weeks than a week, we had moved our lives into City A.

Despite this being our first night in our new home, I still couldn't rest. Shortly after we had moved most of our things inside I left the home in the evening with Nathan..

Nathan had informed me that there was going to be a party to celebrate with the head company and I was going as his plus one.

Despite being exhausted, I was now with him.

Together we walked around socializing, which mostly included me nodding along to whatever he said while he spoke to others.

“Excuse me for a moment Zerah, I need to meet someone really quickly.” Nathan said, passing me an apologetic look. I nodded in response watching him go.

Looking around at the lavish party, the calm fancy music and the luxurious people around made me tense. I didn't belong here.

It was ironic, considering who I was married to in the past. But I never needed to go out with him to any functions. My role was clear that I was just a fake wife, meant to ensure he got his family inheritance.

Perhaps it was a blessing that I never did. At least my humiliation and heartbreak was always private.

Pushing away the memories , I moved towards the corner of the room. Whenever Nathan came back, surely he'd be able to notice me there.

As I turned around I accidentally bumped into someone, stumbling back for a moment.

“I'm sorry, I-” my apology trailed off and I felt my heart sink at the sight.

Because standing in front of me was the one person I thought I'd never see.

Ryker.