"Sign the papers," Peter Saint's personal assistant said. "Or lose the chance to save your parents' company and restore your family's reputation." Victoria stared at him, one eyebrow raised. A sense of unease settled in her chest as she wondered what she was about to get herself into. It was a five-year marriage contract with Peter Saint. And from the terms she had read, it would be far more difficult than she had imagined.

"Have you signed it yet or are you still thinking?" said Peter Saint. Victoria, holding the pen aggressively and deep down in her sober, her heart pounded violently, and she gritted her teeth.. She never imagined that someone as bold as she would find herself trapped in such an arrangement to sign a marriage contract with a man she never loved or had been in a relationship with all because she wanted to save her parents' company and bring back their wealth and reputation.

Peter Saint leaned back in his chair and fixed his gaze on her. "You have three days to become my wife." The pen trembled in Victoria's hand.

One signature. That was all it would take to sell five years of her life to a man she barely knew.

Yet she signed anyway. Victoria said, I know as I have read the agreement papers. A faint smile crossed Peter's lips.

"Your boldness won't help you in this marriage."

He snapped his fingers and his personal assistant opened the door as Victoria stepped out with her inner mind in deep thought.

.....

Lost in thought, Victoria barely noticed her mother entering the room.

"Victoria!". She tapped her and said, hope no problem....?

Victoria, out of thought, looked at her mum and tears almost dropped from her eyes, saying, "How can there be no problem?" with all that happening to our family, falling from wealth to ruin. This is not how the LANGFORD family has pictured themselves years back. The plan was to be well known across various countries, which they were on the verge of achieving, but a sudden mystery led to their downfall which was still unclear to them.

Dragging his feet, Victoria's father entered the room and sank into a chair. Saying, to every action there's a consequence. What could have happened to my family, despite how kind I was, what could we have done to deserve such misfortune?. Victoria's mother looked at him and said "why are you all doing this, how can you be saying such a word in the presence of our daughter's, you were supposed to be consoling her as well". The deed has been done, only a solution remains.

What about your boyfriend? Victoria's mum said. "Boyfriend?" Victoria echoed in disbelief. Have you forgotten how he squandered part of my assets and stole out of the family's company gold. Her father looked at them both and said "When did all this happen, Victoria, you once had a boyfriend!!!!". Back when they lived in luxury, then before all this happened, she had a secret boyfriend kept away from her father's knowledge but only to her mother's own. As both of them were about begging, Victoria's father kept coughing consistently and they both rushed (Victoria and her mum) getting him water to cool down.

Victoria said, "Dad, what have you eaten since morning?" Pretending not to hear, facing the ground and trying to cover it up with another topic ' where have you been? She faced her mum and said What have you both eaten. It happens to be that her facial expression said it all meaning 'nothing'. She broke down completely and tears finally dropped from her eyes. It happens that things have gotten even worse than she thought. She gets up to find them something to eat first even before thinking about hers...

While still together, her phone rang repeatedly. Her mum said 'who is that?'. She said, I don't know, maybe one of those random scammers again. Her mum said I don't think so. Victoria stood up to the side of the room to pick her call and a voice said "REMEMBER, YOU HAVE THREE DAYS TO MOVE INTO MY HOUSE AS MY NEW WIFE". She hung up the call and her facial expression changed simply because she knows where the call comes from. 'Of course who wouldn't know where it is from, Peter Saint the ruthless billionaire' but she didn't know who the real speaker was.

While her dad was observing, her mum said who was that?? She said you will soon discover as her lips trembled and her voice shook as she did not want it to be disclosed yet not even at the current situation. Victoria's mum's eye went straight to an envelope in her shelf inside the room. As she stands to pick it up to check, Victoria rushed forward and tried to stop her mother from opening it. But unfortunately, her mum already has the envelope at hand and slowly opens it to check what is inside.

This will finally answer the question of her father then when he said 'where have you been'. Disappointment washed over Victoria as her heart raced. It happens that her parents have no knowledge about the contract marriage she went to sign at Peter Saint's office.

The envelope was opened and a piece of paper brought out. Her mum's eye went straight to the largely signed authentic legal document. Without reading first, she looked up straight at Victoria's eye in her mind saying 'what have you done'. She looked back at the paper to discover that it's a contract marriage. Her heart skipped a beat and her facial expression said it all, her father said to her mum, what's the paper all about. It happens to be the photocopy of the contract marriage she had signed with Peter Saint.

Victoria's dad stood up to collect the paper from her mum and check what it's about. After reading it, Victoria's mother shouted "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, HOW DARE YOU, WHOSE OPINION DID YOU SEEK". Still in shock, the paper fell from Victoria dad's hand and he passed out. Looking at her, her mother rushed to her husband's side in panic. On

the floor shouting his name.

Darkness slowly faded from Mr. Langford's vision as he opened his eyes, waking up to find himself laying on the hospital bed. He looked at his side just to find out that Victoria was sitting next to him. In anger, he wanted to shout at her but his voice trembled, and weakness forced him back onto the bed.. Victoria said 'Dad, the doctor said you need to rest'.

Victoria's mum stepped in, her face more bitter than before, her expression far more worse than the previous struggles they have had. Victoria, based on her intention and mind, drags her mum out 'she did not want her dad to hear because her mum's expression said it all and said "what is the problem?, what did the doctor say?" It happens that after Victoria's dad has been stabilized, she went to see the doctor.

Victoria's mother lowered her gaze.

"Your father has been diagnosed with a stage-two peptic ulcer."

Shock flooded Victoria's face, 'No way!!', how could we not have known or at least some symptoms. They both turned inside and went straight to the place Victoria's dad was facing. Looking at those faces, he knew something was wrong. As he was about to speak, they both said at once since when.... Victoria's dad knew that his secret about his health status had been disclosed, but still about to pretend and Victoria with a broken situation said, you know about your health condition, you have been seeing symptoms yet, you kept it to yourself. Now you have entered stage two of peptic ulcer... and you know what that means. Victoria's dad looked at them both with tears in the lid of his eye begging for their forgiveness. The deed has been done.

The doctor handed over the prescription.

Victoria's mother stared at the paper.

Her hands trembled. The cost of the treatment was more money than they had seen in months.

"How are we supposed to pay for this?" she whispered. This seriously made Victoria's mum baffled.

On getting home, her eye sighted the contract paper that led her husband to the hospital. Then she read carefully and saw that her daughter 'Victoria' will be on a five year marriage contract and their long lost ruined company will have the chance to gain back their previous success. Not only that, Victoria will be given a sum of 500,000 dollars after her first five months.

Although anger still lingered in their hearts, after seeing the contract paper and reading it carefully this time, they had to calm down because this might really bring them out of the struggling stage they are in and back into their wealthy state. But still at that, not happy as their daughter Victoria will be married to a man by contract, not just any but to Peter Saint's, the ruthless and introspective billionaire.They had no further option because that is the only chance for them.

It happens that Victoria's parent didn't read the last part which indicates that she will move to his house in 3 days time.

The time limit to discuss isn't there again and all she needs to do now is to focus on how to cope during her stay as a contracted wife in Peter Saint's house.

Victoria's father came to realize that Victoria was trying her best to get the family back on track even as she is of a young adult age... Life had changed overnight, and none of them saw it coming.

While still in the setting, an anonymous message beeped through her phone saying 'hope your dad's health is in good condition'. Shock coursed through her body, and her phone slipped from her fingers and was surprised, saying, how could anyone have known that her father's health status is not in a good condition. Soonest she realized that this contract marriage could be more mysterious than she could imagine, trailing her family in such a way.

'Now let's talk about the plans,' Victoria's mum said.. Victoria said which plan. Her mum in eye contact with her, the contract marriage you would be in, in the next three days. Victoria said, no plans, just the price, getting our company back to the world and getting the money to build back after five months in the marriage.

Her mum exhaled... hmmm saying, all is well. Victoria said, the sacrifice would all be worth it and prays all goes well.

"Her father tried to jump into the conversation with gestures but he was unable due to his current situation."

Victoria said, dad have a little rest, all this will soon be over and your sickness will be gone in five months' time when I have gotten the money and the surgery could be done.

Victoria's mum said, ' In times of challenges, we know who the real friends and enemies are'. Not even a single soul to come to our rescue rather her daughter getting a contract marriage with a ruthless billionaire. She does not fully agree to this because it is also not the life she had wanted for her daughter but in this situation, a sacrifice has to be made for the LANGFORD family in which Victoria is willing to do. In which she knew it won't be easy, not even as of the age of her daughter. It looks like selling her out but not as she seems to be.

Victoria's dad said to Victoria 'what could have been the reason'. Victoria said to what ?. He said to him marrying you on a five year contract. What is his gain and what are his plans?

Victoria for a few minutes lost in thought saying 'what truly is Peter Saint's mission offering me a contract marriage' Victoria's mum in a tender voice saying let's have dinner as the time for Victoria's dad's medication has reached. Victoria, out of thought, helped her father to the dining and after some minutes had his medication.

But still in Victoria's mind was a question that kept coming and still yet unable to answer 'what is Peter Saint's mission to marry her as a contract wife for five years'. It truly should have been in the legal agreement on the paper for the contract

Marriage but somehow not clear.

Peter Saint leaned back in his leather chair. "Coffee," he ordered.. What are your new intentions towards her, his personal assistant said. He looked up at him and said what's the concern all about. His assistant said, "The plan was to make her suffer," his assistant said.

"So why are you changing course now?". Your character towards her seems to be cooling off.

Peter Saint said 'When is the meeting to be scheduled'. Peter Saint's personal assistant in confusion knowing he didn't want to talk about his new motive towards her. Meeting!! You say. Peter Saint said again, get me a cup of coffee.

Peter Saint's personal assistant on a phone call with a deep voice saying to him, 'What's the plan and where's it heading to'. Things are turning, not going as planned. I believe he is hiding something even away from me, Peter Saint's personal assistant said. The dial tone sounds signaling the end of the call.

Sitting amidst her parents, Victoria's phone beeped, an anonymous message saying 'Two days left to be my wife'. Wanting to reply but it was a no reply message and seriously wondering who would have sent it because Peter Saint has little time to be sending that even though he is ruthless and cold in behavior.

Mr. Langford reached for his medication.

His trembling hand fell short. Dad... let me help you, Victoria said. Later, Victoria's mum came inside with her heart heavy as it has usually been with her family but not at the start.

She said how would you have pictured yourself in marriage with this so -called husband who is so ruthless and devastated as we all know.

Victoria said "It's a sacrifice worth making."Mum, no need to stress yourself, I will be leaving in two days time.... Victoria's dad cut in two days .....?, she said yes, it's indicated in the agreement I signed to move into his house three days after it's been signed.

"Victoria's dad" worrying and shivering as if the coldness in a fridge has been brought upon him. Never for once imagining that his own daughter will be in a marriage where she never feels to be but situation warrants and to save their family once again.

'Remember the doctor said you need enough rest' Victoria said... All I am doing is to bring back the fortune of the LANGFORD'S family.

Dressed with an intention, going out as usual to bring something back into the home that will benefit the family. All her life, she is used to working. She unexpectedly ran into her ex-boyfriend and remembered all he had done, she walked past him and his friends laughed as she walked past.

Across her way to a cool pub bar, she went to ease off the stress by drinking some glasses of beer. 'the bill is 60$', the waitress said. Putting her hands in her small purse but was unable to bring out an amount. Bitterness settled deep in her chest as she was unable to afford that small amount of money, "I that have been controlling millions of dollars, now was unable to afford this". It shows the level of how the suffering stage has reached. Without hesitation, the waitress handed over the mop to her and she began to mop in place of the beer she was unable to avoid.

"Looking exhausted and at the edge of giving up," Victoria entered the living room and met her parents sitting down. How did your day go? said Victoria's mum. It was hectic, she replied, not wanting to go deep about how her ex boyfriend humiliated her and how she was unable to afford a small amount of bills. Is there anything you would like to discuss?Victoria's mum said... Victoria, without any intention to reply to her, went straight into her bedroom to gather some of her stuff as she prepared for her contract marriage that will begin in two days' time.

She laid on her bed, in deep thought still wondering why Peter Saint offered her a five years contract marriage that her father had asked her before... while in thought, she slept off.

Music clattering... 'Peter Saint,' drinking.. It happens to be that he is in one of the most expensive clubs in the city. Drank to stupor. When getting back to his mansion, Peter Saint's personal assistant tried to lure words from him. What are your hidden motives towards Victoria Langford, as this is not what we planned towards us earlier.

Peter Saint said 'My hidden motion towards her is......' he started feeling dizzy and slept off with words cutting off his mouth. Peter Saint's personal assistant was so curious and thought he would speak, wanting to give a report to an unidentified being he had been talking to.

The door slammed as Victoria's mum and dad went to see the doctor for his recent health status checkup, "it happens that a huge amount of money is seriously needed for surgeries to gain back his health status.." Victoria stretches forth her arms to support her mum in helping her dad to sit saying what's his health condition now. We need a huge amount of money for surgeries to help stabilize your fathers health condition, Victoria's mum said. The news shattered what little hope Victoria had left and nothing is stopping her from entering into the marriage contract she has signed and that will begin in a day time.

A message beeped through her phone again, saying 'In a day time, a driver will come to pick you up'. This clearly shows that the message was coming from Peter Saint's personal assistant as it was seen in the text best regards...

Her phone beeped again with some images. Victoria opened the first photo. The color drained from her face. "No..." she whispered. Her trembling fingers moved to the next image. Wh

at she saw made her blood run cold.