"I'm sorry," Alura said wiping off her messy face. "I didn't mean to impose. I can go."

"It's okay, sit." The old woman insisted gently. "Have tea first, then we'll talk."

The woman had led Alura into the temple's tea room.

Alura sat down with hesitation, she suddenly became aware of how disheveled she must look. Thoroughly soaked, with her mascara probably running, and shivering like a drowned rat. She wrapped her arms around herself.

The woman prepared two cups of tea and placed a cup in front of Alura, "Drink it dear. It'll warm you up."

Alura wrapped her hands around the cup and the heat seeped into her frozen fingers.

"Thank you," she whispered.

The woman sipped her own tea, studying Alura through the cup with sharp eyes.

"I'm Mabel," she said finally. "Though most people call me Grandma Mabel, you know due to old age. And you are?"

"I'm Alura Wayne."

"Alura Wayne. It's a pretty name. Would you like to tell me why you're praying for miracles in the rain?"

Alura panicked, her first instinct was to lie, to make up something that didn't sound so pathetic.

But looking into Grandma Mabel's warm eyes, she realized that she couldn't.

So she told her everything.

About the gambling, the debts, her father's latest catastrophe. And the marriage contract with Percy Miller.

Grandma Mabel listened without interrupting, her expression never changed from that calm look. When Alura finished, her throat felt raw with another batch of tears.

"That's quite a burden for someone so young," Grandma Mabel said quietly.

"I don't know what to do." Alura's voice cracked. "If I refuse, they'll kill my father. But if I agree..." She couldn't finish the sentence.

Grandma Mabel suddenly reached out to her across the table. Her hand was soft, wrinkled and warm, She touched Alura's cheek with tenderness.

"You're far too beautiful to belong to that monster, my dear."

Alura's throat tightened.

"Your face reminds me of lilies in spring," Grandma Mabel continued. "Pure, delicate, but resilient. Yes, I'll call you Lily."

Tears pricked in Alura's eyes. "Why are you being so kind to me? You don't even know me."

Grandma Mabel smiled sadly. "Because I see myself in you, child. A long time ago, I was also desperate. Also trapped. Also willing to do anything to escape, but things turned out well afterall."

Grandma Mabel stared at Alura for a while as if she was contemplating on her next words.

"You know I come to this temple every week," she said finally. "To pray for my grandson."

Alura listened.

"He's really brilliant, the youngest CEO in his company's history. He even schooled abroad. But..." Grandma Mabel's expression softened with something like grief. "He's completely alone. That silly boy is married to his work. No life outside the office. And now the board of directors is demanding he marry and produce an heir, or they'll vote him out."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Alura said, not sure why Grandma Mabel was telling her this.

"He once had a fiancée. They were engaged for two years. Then she betrayed him by selling the company secrets to competitors, and ran off with the money." Grandma Mabel's fingers tightened around her cup. "It broke something in him. Now he refuses to even consider marriage. I'm afraid he'll never trust anyone again."

Alura felt a pang of sympathy for this stranger.

Grandma Mabel suddenly looked up, "What if I told you there's a way to save you from Percy Miller AND at the same time help my grandson?"

Alura's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"

"A marriage contract." Grandma Mabel leaned forward. "You'll become his wife in name. We pay off your father's debts entirely, and my grandson satisfies the board's demands. Everyone gets what they need."

The words didn't make sense to Alura, she shook her head. "You want me to marry your grandson?....But I don't even know him."

"Neither does he know you. But it doesn't matter." Grandma Mabel's voice was calm but convincing. "The marriage would be completely secret and Registered through a court marriage. He gets the board off his back. You get your freedom. You're both helping each other in that way."

Alura's mind raced. "But would he agree to this? Marrying a complete stranger?"

"He trusts me." Grandma Mabel smiled sadly. "I'm the only person in the world he still trusts. And because he wants a wife in name only, someone who won't expect his heart, who won't try to change him or control him. Someone who would understand."

Grandma Mabel tilted her head. "Isn't it better than being forced to marry a loan shark? At least this way, you would be safe, protected and free to live your own life."

Alura's hands trembled.

"But how would this even work?"

"It's simple, if you agree. We would prepare a contract. The marriage is registered quietly in court. You'll attend a few family events in a year to maintain appearances as his wife. That's all. In exchange, we will help you clear your father's debts and provide you with a monthly living allowance so you never have to depend on anyone again."

"Ok. But What's the condition?" Alura asked, because it all sounded too good to be true. Which meant it probably was.

Grandma Mabel's expression didn't change. "My dear Lily, my grandson doesn't believe in love anymore. So this marriage would be cold, distant and lonely in its own way. You would be bound to a man who would never give you affection or warmth. Just... emptiness. So will you willingly accept this arrangement, to escape Percy Miller?"

Alura didn't answer, she was completely lost in thought.

Grandma Mabel studied her for a long moment. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out a simple business card with a phone number written in black.

She slid it across the table.

"You have forty eight hours to decide," Grandma Mabel said quietly. "Call that number if you agree. We'll arrange everything. But Lily, once you make this choice, there's no going back. Marriage is marriage, even a loveless one. Do you understand?"

Alura picked up the card. The paper felt expensive even though it looked simple.

"Uhm, What's your grandson's name?" she asked in a whisper.

Grandma Mabel smiled. "Lou. We call him Lou. It's his childhood name."

"Lou," Alura repeated. She tried to imagine what he would look like. A young brilliant CEO, cold, broken by betrayal. But she couldn't form a clear picture of him in her mind.

"Forty eight hours dear Lily," Grandma Mabel said again. "After that, I'll assume you choose to become Mrs Miller."

Something smelled off the moment Alura opened her apartment door.

It smelled like cigar. Expensive, thick and choking cigar.

She pushed the door open quietly and her stomach immediately dropped.

Percy Miller sat on their couch like it was a throne. His legs were spread wide, and his expensive suit jacket was open, he had a fat cigar in between his fingers. And smoke curled around his balding head like a dirty halo.

In the corner, her father stood with his head down like a servant waiting for orders.

"There she is." Percy smirked. "My beautiful bride."

Alura froze in the doorway.

Percy's eyes crawled over her body slowly. Starting at her wet hair, sliding down to her soaked jacket, lingering on her chest, her hips and her legs.

"Even soaking wet, you're still gorgeous," he nodded with satisfaction. "I'm a lucky man."

Alura's skin crawled. "Get out of my house. Now."

Percy laughed. It sounded like a mocking laugh. "Your house? Alura, this apartment belongs to the bank. And the bank belongs to me. So technically, this is MY house. I'm just letting you stay here until the wedding."

He stood up, adjusting his suit jacket. Gold rings flashed on his thick fingers. He took a step toward her.

Alura stepped back.

"Don't be shy," Percy said. His smile showed his yellow teeth. "We're going to be husband and wife soon. We should get comfortable with each other, you know."

"I won't marry you."

"Yes, you will." He took another step closer. "Your father signed the contract. It's a legal binding and In thirty days, you'll be Mrs. Miller. I've already made all the arrangements."

He pulled out his phone and held it up. It was a photo of a wedding dress on a mannequin. It was a white lace, almost see-through wedding dress, the neckline was overly low and the skirt was slit right up to the hip.

Alura's stomach turned in disgust.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Percy's voice dropped lower. "I picked it myself. I wanted something that would give me a good preview of the goods before the wedding night."

"You ARE disgusting."

He scoffed and moved closer to her, too close that Alura could smell him now. Tobacco and a mix of expensive cologne. "I've waited five years for you, Alura. I've watched you grow from a pretty college girl into a stunning woman. Do you know how patient I've been?"

"I was Nineteen!" Alura's voice shook. "You've been planning this since I was Nineteen?"

"Planning is a strong word." Percy reached out. Alura moved away, but he was fast enough to touch her cheek. "Let's say I've been... hoping. Your father kept coming back, he kept borrowing more. I knew eventually he'd have nothing left to offer but you."

She slapped his hand away.

Percy's smile widened. "Feisty. I like that. Don't worry, I'll be gentle on our wedding night. By the end of the first week, you'll be begging for my attention."

Alura immediately gagged. She shoved past him running into her bedroom.

His laughter echoed behind her. "You can't run from me, Alura! You're mine now! MINE!"

She slammed her bedroom door and twisted the lock with shaking hands. Her heart hammered so hard she thought it might break through her ribs.

Outside, Percy yelled at her father now.

"You need to control your daughter better, Robert. I don't like disrespect."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Miller." Her father's voice was pathetic and groveling. "She's just scared. She'll come around."

"She'd better. I'm not a patient man anymore. I've waited long enough."

His footsteps approached her door.

Alura backed away immediately.

The doorknob rattled twice.

"Alura." Percy's voice was right outside, it sounded sweet yet poisonous. "Don't make me break down this door. Come out and say goodbye properly."

"Leave her alone!" Her father finally spoke up. "You got what you came for. The contract is signed, just go. Please."

Suddenly there was a pause. Then a thud, then a grunt of pain.

Alura pressed her ear to the door. Her father was coughing and gasping.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do," Percy said coldly. "Remember who owns you."

There were more footsteps, then the apartment door opened.

"Thirty days, Robert. Make sure she's ready. Pretty dress, nice makeup, and a big smile. I want a perfect wedding. Understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Miller. I understand."Robert grunted In Pain.

"Good. And tell your daughter that if she tries to run, I'll find her. I have people everywhere. She can't hide from me."

The door slammed shut.

Alura waited for a while, counting her heartbeats. One minute, Two, Three.

Finally, she unlocked her door and came out.

Her father sat on the floor, holding his ribs. A fresh bruise was on his cheek.

"Dad..."

"Don't come close." He didn't look at her. "Just don't."

"But he hit you."She said worriedly.

Her father laughed bitterly. "I sold my daughter to a monster. I think I deserve worse than a slap."

Alura wanted to comfort him. But looking at him now, how pathetic and broken he looked, she felt nothing. Just cold and empty.

She bit her lips and turned back to her room.

"Where are you going?" her father asked.

"To bed."

"Alura, we need to talk about this. About the wedding. Mr. Miller has expectations."

"I don't care."

"But you have to care! If you embarrass him, he'll take it out on both of us! Please, just cooperate. Wear the dress. Smile. Say the vows. It'll be over quickly."

Alura stopped in her doorway. "It won't be over, Dad. It'll be the beginning of him owning me for the rest of my life."

"It's not that bad. He's rich. He'll take care of you."

"He's going to rape me."

"Don't say that!"

"Why not? It's true. Marriage doesn't make it consensual if I don't want it."

Her father's face crumpled. "But what choice do we have?"

Alura looked at him, at his bruises, the shame, the weakness that had taken over him for fifteen years.

"Goodnight, Dad."

She closed her door, locked it and leaned against it until her legs stopped shaking.

Then she pulled out Grandma Mabel's card.

The business card was still slightly damp from the rain.

She sat on her bed and stared at her phone.

Forty-eight hours, Grandmother Mabel had said. But Alura didn't need forty-eight hours, all she needed was five minutes. The moment Percy had touched her face, she had already made her choice.

Anything was better than this.

Even a loveless marriage to a stranger named Lou.

She dialed the number with trembling fingers.

"I was wondering when you would call, Lily." Grandma Mabel said across the speaker almost immediately.

She sounded unsurprised. Like she had been sitting by the phone waiting.

Alura exhaled. "I'll do it."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'll marry him. I just..." Her voice cracked. "I can't marry Percy Miller. I can't. Please."

There was silence on the other end.

"You're very brave, Lily," Grandma Mabel finally said.

"I'm not brave, I'm desperate." Alura insisted.

"It takes even braveness to be desperate, child. Anyways, can you meet me tomorrow morning? Eight AM at the temple. Bring your ID and family registry."

"You can arrange everything that fast?" Alura asked with surprise.

"When you have money and connections, child, anything is fast. I'll bring the cash for your father's debts. Four million dollars. Also the marriage contract and rings."

Alura's head spun. "Rings?"

"A marriage needs rings, even a fake one. Don't worry, they're simple, not too flashy. But it's real gold. My grandson insists on quality even in business arrangements."

Alura exhaled. "This is really happening."

"Only if you want it to."

"I want it to." Her words came out firmly. "I'll be there at eight AM, Grandma Mabel."

"Hmm. Get some sleep, my dear Lily." Grandma Mabel said softly.

They hung up.

Alura sat in the dark with her phone clutched in her hands.

Tomorrow. At eight AM, she would marry a stranger named Lou just to be free from Percy Miller. It might be another wrong choice, but at least she gets to decide.

..............

By dawn the next day, she left a paper on the kitchen table.

"I'm saving myself since you won't. Don't look for me."