"Let’s get marrried, Owen." Serena murmured as she stared at the man sitting beside her as he did his work.
Owen looked up in surprise and excitement," Married? But we aren’t even dating yet, Rena? How can we get married? Just know that I am not refusing you, just asking relevant quesitons. You know I love you so much and would like to be with you..."
Serena rolled her eyes and cut him off coldly," Keep that nonsense to yourself. I need to get married to handle some family things and the only reason I am keen on choosing you is because you listen to me."
She saw the anger in his eyes then and the way he suppressed it quickly," Of course I can do anything for you. I really do love..."
"I told you to stop talking nonsense. Owen. This will be a business marriage. I will pay you handsomely to marry me while you will pretend to be a doting fiance."
"But I am in love with you." Owen tried to claim, only for her to give him a schathing look again.
Serena scoffed, pulling her hand away from him. She gave him a sharp look. "Do you really take me for a fool? This isn’t a romance novel. I know what this is."
Owen frowned, hurt by her dismissal. "Rena, I’m serious."
"Good. Then you’ll sign a prenuptial agreement. No misunderstandings. You don’t get to play hero or think this is something more." Her tone was firm, almost warning him. "Don’t get any ideas."
The scene shifted then, as Owen followed her out of the office trying to explain
" Rena! You have to listen to me! I am doing everything you ask of me and but to make it look more authentic, you have to pretend that you are in love with me too! And that means supporting me and compromising for my family. Otherwise, no one will believe this to be the truth!"
"Making them believe is my problem, you understand? Just do as I say! Also, you better warn your parents! That I’ve paid them to pretend as well! I’ve promised to pay for their debts to that they can start anew. So, I will not tolerate any mistakes...
***
"What is the meanign of this? You’ve prepared my will? Your mother actually tried to get me will? Do you think that by having this document, you will be able to override the pre nuptial agreement? Or were you going to make me sign something to nullify that too?" Serena almost screamed as Owen tried to make her explain.
As she hurried away, he caught her trying to forcefully stop her but she was not about to have it! She’d fed these crazy bastards enough! Forcefully, she pushed him back and slapped him across the face," I am going to divorce you right this instant!"
Owen’s mask slipped then as he caught her hand and twisted it, snarling, "You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Acting like you’re in control. But we both know that without me, you’re nothing. The prenup was a mistake. You’ll sign this, Serena."
She pulled her hand away from his grasp, as she glared at him," Ahh! So now you are giving up on pretending? But do not take me for a fool, Owen Thompson! If I can protect myself from the vultures who are my so called family, then I can definitely protect myself from hungry scavengers like you!"
"I won’t let you ruin this for me!" he growled, shoving the pen into her hand. "Sign it!"
"I’m not signing anything!" she shouted, as Owen tried to pull her towards the table.
In the next moment, as the man tried to pull her towards the table, she picked up her bag and threw it at his face, hitting him square on the nose.
Owen’s eyes burned with anger, but before he could react, Serena ran toward the door. She fumbled with the lock, throwing it open and raced outside into the pouring rain as she sprinted to her car. Dam* if she was going to let him use her anymore! He’d even taken money from those people and from her! And he’d planned to get her to sign the will. This meant that Owen had probably already sold himself to her enemies.
Shivering, she started the car and raced out of the driveway before he could catch up with her.
Her vision blurred with tears, but she forced herself to focus on the road. She would not let them win. There was no way they were going to get hands on her grandmother’s legacy!
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She pressed the gas harder, desperate to get away from him, from everything to thing and regroup.
Suddenly, headlights appeared from the opposite lane. The car swerved wildly, sliding on the wet road. Serena gasped, jerking the wheel to avoid it, but it was too late. The car smashed into her side with a deafening crash.
Her body jolted against the seatbelt, her head slamming into the side window. Pain shot through her, but before she could register it, another impact hit her from the other side. The car spun out of control, tires screeching as she careened into the vehicle in front of her. Serena’s vision blurred as darkness crept in at the edges, her body going numb. She tried to move, to speak, but everything was fading.
Serena jolted awake, gasping for air. The remnants of the dream clung to her like a heavy fog. Her heart raced, and she sat up in bed, eyes wide with the realisation of everythign she had just witnessed in her dream. She knew without a question that it was her memory and nothing else. But even so, it startled her... She’d entered into a contract marriage arrangement? With Owen Thompson? So, it had not been a love match...
Even as she felt relief that she’d not been in love with that man, she felt a trickle of fear from the remnant of the dream. In those last moments, she’d felt so helpless, hating herself for still being vulnerable despite taking so many precautions...