The Marriage Contract

Chapter 2: 

The room exploded.

Voices crashed like waves, cameras flashed like lightning, and all of it—somehow—was aimed at Lena.

"Do you know him?!"

"Are you in a relationship?!"

"Was that an official proposal?!"

She froze, still half-hidden behind a tray of roses and daisies. Her breath caught. Reflexively, she yanked the black hoodie over her head, shielding her face from the blinding swarm of attention.

"This way."

A calm, low voice cut through the chaos. A hand gripped her arm—not rough, but firm enough to remind her this wasn't a request.

Jin.

He guided her swiftly toward the back exit as security flooded in, pushing back the reporters. The press conference dissolved into shouting and camera flashes.

Outside, the noise dulled to a faint hum. Lena stood beside her flower van, gripping the handle so tightly her knuckles ached.

"Are you okay?" Jin asked gently.

She nodded stiffly, her voice barely a whisper. "Now let me go, please."

"With everything that just happened," he said, "we can't just let you walk out like this."

"What does that mean?" Her heart pounded louder than her words.

Before he could answer, the air shifted.

Will Shade emerged from the building, his presence like a sudden drop in temperature.

"Next meeting," he said curtly, not even sparing Lena a glance.

"Sir, we need to—" Jin began.

"Later." Will's tone left no room for argument. He slid into the back of a sleek black car and was gone.

Jin exhaled, his sharp features softening. "Flower girl… I'll reach out to you soon."

"Can I leave?" she asked tightly.

He nodded to two security guards. "Make sure she gets out unseen."

Still reeling, Lena climbed into her van. The warm metal beneath her hands grounded her, but her mind spun like leaves in a storm.

He pointed at me. Me. And said he'd marry me.

The arrogance. The audacity. The absolute nonsense of it all.

That Night – Morisawa Flower Shop

Lena handed her mother the day's earnings and locked up the shop. As night crept in, she changed into her part-time uniform and headed to the convenience store.

"Hey," Aline called as she clocked in. "You okay? You look like someone ran over your flower cart."

"You wouldn't believe what happened today," Lena muttered.

"Save it. After this shift, we're going to Uncle Sam's. You need a drink, and I need the tea."

Lena smiled faintly. "Fair."

Later at Uncle Sam's Bar

Beer bottles clinked on the sticky wooden table. Greasy fries sat untouched between them.

"Will Shade?!" Aline gasped, her eyes wide as Lena recounted the incident. "The Will Shade?!"

"Is he a big deal?" Lena asked flatly, sipping her beer.

"Big deal? He is the deal! He probably owns this bar, the streetlights outside, and half the moon! Lena, this isn't just some rich guy—he's the bachelor."

"It wasn't a real proposal," Lena said. "He just… pointed at me. To prove a point."

"He used you as a public statement."

"Exactly," Lena muttered. "Just some poor florist he could throw in the spotlight to shut the press up."

"I'd still say yes," Aline whispered dreamily.

Lena rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."

"Is he as hot in person?"

"I don't know. I barely looked at him."

"You what?!"

"His assistant seemed nicer."

"Girl, no one cares about the assistant! You always fall for the side character. This is real-life drama!" Aline leaned in. "You could be Lena Shade. Do you know what that means?!"

"It means I get used and tossed aside," Lena said bitterly, pushing her beer away.

"Or it means you get your family out of debt. Help Kyle finish school. Give your mom the life she dreams about. This is the kind of plot where the poor girl signs a marriage contract and then—"

"Okay, okay!" Lena stood, her head spinning. "Enough fantasy. Back to reality."

Except reality was already tipping sideways.

A Tall Shadow

"What's this?"

The voice was deep, stern, and familiar.

Lena blinked. "Kyle…?"

Her younger brother stared her down, arms crossed.

"You drank too, didn't you?" he said flatly.

"I uh…"

He sighed. "You're embarrassing. Let's go."

Lena giggled as he helped her to stand. "You got tall, little bro. Should I start calling you big brother?"

"We are leaving," he muttered.

The Next Morning

"LENA!"

Her mother's voice rang through the house like a fire alarm.

Groaning, Lena dragged herself into the living room—and froze.

Jin was seated at the kitchen table, sipping tea beside her starry-eyed parents.

"Good morning, Miss Morisawa," he said smoothly. "May I have a word?"

Lena's heart stopped. "You're real?"

Her mother swatted her arm. "Don't be rude! Do you see how rich he looks?!"

Jin smiled politely. "Madame Morisawa, this is a private matter."

"Oh—of course! Take your time." Paige nearly floated out of the room.

Jin slid a folder across the table.

Inside: a marriage contract.

"One year," he said. "You may list your terms and name your price. You have three days to consider."

Lena shot to her feet, eyes blazing.

"A MARRIAGE CONTRACT?! With ME?! This is a joke, right?!"