His Paper Bride

conditioner. Ella stood by the door, waiting for his usu

lla

this time, but hesitation. His voice was calm, almost unce

aken aback by t

efully, her voice steady but

e was no arrogance in his expression but only something serio

fe....for two years," he said

emed to free

caught in

ice trembling. " I'm below your king of woman, I'm br

htened, his g

" Ella w

his hands into his pockets. He spoke, his tone

stepbrother if I don't introduce a woman I want to marry to the family. He wants someo

's voice echoed, sh

absurd, ridiculous even. A man lik

a step back. " This is something I can't

ully, then nodded onc

y two days,"

ur choice to set yourself up. Something you couldn't achie

g in the air

ight, she sat on her small bed, staring at the cracked ceiling of her room

very night she had cried herself to sleep wishing

ouse. A business.

he kind of miracle sh

her decisi

h dawn, her steps firm even though her heart still wa

ut only if a valid contract i

ly, a ghost of a smile t

," he sa

ine, pretending everything was normal b

ood. As soon as she walked in, she felt the weight of eye

er, the bo

e? She is marryi

'd do anything for

Her face remained ca

She wasn't angry. She was free bec

She smiled through it all, her lips curved wi

s going. And for once

g as she imagined what life might be like after two years. When th

didn't l

lla

from behind her. Ben

ve," he says, his tone seriou

plied with a calm smile, her confid

ng her face with that same

ain?" She a

came withou

know you can

as not just a deal. It was the beginning