In the bustling city of New York, Emily was on cloud nine. After years of hard work, she had finally landed her dream job at one of the most prestigious law firms in the city.
As she sat at her new desk, surrounded by towering stacks of legal papers, Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. She had made it.
But her elation was short-lived when she received a call from her parents, who were on her case about settling down and getting married.
"You're not getting any younger, Emily," her mother had said.
"We want grandchildren, you know."
Emily had always felt pressured by her parents to get married and start a family, but she wasn't interested in that kind of life.
She was focused on her career and had always felt like marriage would be a distraction.
But her parents didn't understand that. They wanted her to follow in their footsteps and become a successful lawyer and a devoted spouse and parent.
As Emily was mulling over her parents' phone call, her boss, Mr. Johnson, entered her office.
"Emily, I have a new case for you," he said, handing her a file.
"It's a high-profile divorce case between a billionaire businessman and his estranged wife. The catch is that the prenuptial agreement states that if he doesn't have a child within five years of the marriage, he'll lose half of his fortune to his wife. And guess what? They've been married for four and a half years."
Emily couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"So what do you want me to do?" she asked.
"I want you to negotiate a contract marriage between our client, Ethan, and a suitable candidate who can bear him a child within the next six months. The contract will last for five years, during which time the couple will live together, have a child, and then go their separate ways. Ethan will pay the candidate a handsome sum of money for her services, and in return, he'll get to keep his fortune."
Emily was taken aback by the proposal. She had never heard of such a thing before.
"So you want me to find a woman who will marry a complete stranger and have a child with him just for the money?" she asked.
"Think of it as a business arrangement," Mr. Johnson replied.
"Our client is a wealthy man who wants to protect his assets. He's not interested in love or romance. He just wants to secure his future. And as for the candidate, she'll be compensated handsomely for her time and effort. It's a win-win situation."
Emily wasn't sure what to make of the proposal.
On the one hand, it seemed like a crazy idea.
On the other hand, she was drowning in student loans and desperately needed the money. She didn't know what to do.
As she was pondering the offer, her best friend and colleague, Sarah, walked into her office.
"Hey, what's up?" Sarah asked, noticing the file in Emily's hand.
Emily hesitated before telling Sarah about the contract marriage proposal. Sarah's eyes widened as Emily explained the situation.
"That's insane," Sarah said.
"There's no way you should do that."
"But Sarah, I need the money," Emily said.
"I'm drowning in debt. And besides, it's just a business arrangement. It's not like I'm marrying for love or anything."
"But Emily, what about your morals?" Sarah asked.
"What about your dignity? You can't just sell yourself like that."
Emily didn't know what to say. She knew that Sarah was right, but she also knew that she needed the money. She was torn between her principles and her financial situation.
Emily spent the next few days mulling over the contract marriage proposal.
She couldn't shake the feeling that it was wrong, but at the same time, she desperately needed the money.
She decided to do some research on contract marriages and discovered that they were more common than she had thought.
She also learned that many women had entered into such marriages for financial reasons.
Some were struggling to make ends meet, while others were trying to pay off debts or save for their children's education.
Emily realized that she wasn't alone in her predicament and that there were many women out there who were in a similar situation.
She discussed the proposal with Sarah again, who remained skeptical. But Emily had made up her mind. She was going to find a suitable candidate for the contract marriage.
She began by scouring social media and online dating sites, looking for women who fit the criteria.
She contacted several candidates, explaining the proposal and offering them the opportunity to meet with Ethan and discuss the terms of the contract. But most of them were either skeptical or outright refused.
Emily was starting to lose hope when she received an email from a woman named Melissa.
Melissa was a single mother who was struggling to make ends meet. She had recently lost her job and was facing eviction from her apartment. She was desperate for money and was willing to consider the contract marriage proposal.
Emily arranged for Melissa to meet with Ethan, and they hit it off immediately. Ethan was a charming and handsome man who made Melissa feel comfortable and at ease. They discussed the terms of the contract, and Melissa agreed to the proposal.
Emily felt relieved that she had found a suitable candidate, but she couldn't help feeling guilty about what she had done.
She knew that she had exploited Melissa's desperation for financial gain, and it weighed heavily on her conscience.
Emily had been so embarrassed she had to beg that Sarah cover for her and pretend to be the lawyer.
At first, everything went smoothly. Melissa and Ethan got along well, and they seemed to have a genuine connection.
Emily (Sarah) visited them regularly to make sure that everything was going according to plan. She was relieved to see that Melissa was happy and content.
But as time went on, Emily began to notice cracks in the relationship.
Melissa started to feel like she was just a means to an end for Ethan, and she began to resent him for it.
Ethan, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly distant and aloof, as if he didn't really care about Melissa at all.
Emily tried to intervene, but it was clear that the contract marriage was clearly not going to work out for both parties.
Melissa was struggling to come to terms with the fact that she was essentially being paid to be a surrogate mother, while Ethan was beginning to feel trapped by the arrangement.
Ethan and Melissa decided to put an end to everything and not go on with it anymore.
Ethan changed the terms and decided he would marry whoever was brought to him next.
"I am just done trying, just give me whoever" Ethan had said.
A few days went by, and Emily couldn't stop thinking about the proposal.
She had never been one to take risks, but she couldn't shake the idea of the large sum of money that would be coming her way if she agreed to the contract marriage.
The more she thought about it, the more she convinced herself that it was just a business transaction, and she wouldn't be compromising her morals.
Eventually, Emily made up her mind. She called Mr. Johnson and told him she was in. He was thrilled and said he would send over the details of the contract to her office.
When Emily received the contract, she was taken aback by the legal jargon and the numerous clauses.
She read through it carefully, making sure she understood every word, but it all seemed too good to be true.
Ethan was offering her a huge sum of money, a luxurious apartment in the city, and even a brand new car.
Emily signed the contract, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation.
She didn't know what the future held, but she was hopeful that everything would work out.
The next day, Emily met Ethan for the first time.
He was tall, dark, and handsome, with piercing blue eyes and a chiseled jawline.
Emily couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by him, but she tried to put on a brave face.
"Emily, it's nice to finally meet you," Ethan said, extending his hand.
"Likewise," Emily replied, shaking his hand.
Ethan was charming and charismatic, and he had a way of putting Emily at ease.
They chatted for a while, discussing the details of the contract and what was expected of both of them.
"You seem like a smart woman, Emily," Ethan said.
"I'm sure we'll be able to make this work."
Emily nodded, still a little nervous. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this, but it was too late to back out now.
Over the next few weeks, Emily and Ethan spent a lot of time together, getting to know each other and preparing for their new life together.
They went to doctor's appointments, talked to lawyers, and even took a birthing class.Emily was surprised at how well they got along. Ethan was funny and charming, and he made her feel special. They even went on a few dates, something that wasn't required in the contract but that Ethan insisted on.But just as Emily was starting to feel comfortable in her new life, things took a dark turn. One night, as she was walking home from the office, she noticed a car following her. She quickened her pace, but the car kept getting closer. Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind, and she felt a sharp pain in her neck.The next thing Emily knew, she was lying on the ground, dazed and confused. She tried to get up, but her body felt heavy, and her head was pounding. As she looked around, she realized she was in an unfamiliar place, a dark and dingy room with no windows."Welcome to your new home, Emily," a voice said from the shadows.Emily recognized the voice immediately. It was Ethan's. But
Emily glared at Ethan, her hands shaking with anger. She couldn't believe what he had done to her. She had trusted him, and he had betrayed her in the worst way possible."You promised to protect me," Emily said, her voice low and menacing. "But instead, you locked me up like an animal. Why did you do it, Ethan? Why did you put me through this?"Ethan looked at Emily, his eyes filled with sadness and regret. "I didn't have a choice, Emily," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I made a deal with someone, and they wanted you. They threatened to hurt me if I didn't give them what they wanted. I had to do it, Emily. I had to keep you safe."Emily scoffed. "Keep me safe? You call this safe? You've put my life in danger, Ethan. You've ruined everything."Ethan walked over to Emily and took her hand. "I know, Emily. I know I've made a terrible mistake, but I'm trying to make it right. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you, Emily. Please, you have to believe m
As they ran through the dark alleyways, Emily could hear the sound of their pursuers gaining on them. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She had never been so scared in her life."Quick, this way!" Jack shouted, grabbing Emily's hand and pulling her down a narrow alley.As they ran, Emily could see the glint of metal from the guns of their pursuers. She could hear their heavy footsteps pounding the pavement behind them, getting closer and closer.Just when Emily thought they were done for, Jack led them into a small, abandoned building. They ran up a flight of stairs and burst into a small room."Lock the door!" Jack shouted, pushing a rickety old table against the door.Emily looked around the room, her eyes darting back and forth in panic. There was no way out."What are we going to do?" Emily whispered, her voice trembling."We'll wait here until they give up," Ethan said, his voice surprisingly calm. "They won't be
Emily's heart raced as she watched Ethan fight off their captor. She had never seen him so angry before, and it was both frightening and exhilarating.Jack pulled Emily away from the scene, urging her to run. They had to get away before more people showed up.As they ran through the deserted streets, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see their pursuers hot on their heels."Ethan, we can't keep running like this," Emily gasped, her lungs burning from the exertion. "We have to do something."Ethan looked at Emily, his eyes full of determination. "I know. We need to find a safe place to regroup."They turned a corner and saw a small convenience store up ahead. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing."Let's go in there," Ethan said, pointing to the store.Emily nodded, following Ethan into the store. As they looked around, they saw a man behind the counter, reading a magazine."Excuse me, sir," E
"Stay here," Ethan said to Emily. "What? No, I can't stay here, what happens to me? Where are you going?" A confused Emily had asked. "I have to go get Jack's murderer" Ethan replied and left with that. Then, the men in suits were approaching Emily, and this time she was all alone. "Oh shit, I am going to die too this time, I guess" Emily groaned. Suddenly, a stranger appeared from nowhere and began attacking them, he was in a black suit too. Emily watched in shock as the man took down his comrades. She could hardly believe what she was seeing. The man turned to her and beckoned her to follow him."Come on, we need to get out of here," he said, his voice urgent.Emily hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to trust him or not. But there was no time to waste. They had to move quickly if they wanted to escape.She took a deep breath and followed the man as he led her down a narrow alleyway. As they ran, Emily could hear the sound of footsteps behind them. She turned and saw the r
The boat reached its destination in the dead of the night. Lucas led Emily to a safe house where Jack was waiting for them. Jack had a plan, but he needed Emily and Ethan's help. Jack told them that he was closing in on the mastermind behind the attack on Ethan and the murder of Jack's father, but he needed them to go undercover.Emily and Ethan would have to pretend to be engaged in a fake marriage and infiltrate the organization that was responsible for the attack. Jack had a friend who was a lawyer who could help them create fake identities and documentation to back up their story."Are you kidding me?!" Emily exclaimed, "You want us to do what? You know that's illegal, right?""Emily, I know this is a huge risk, but we need to catch these guys. We need to bring them to justice. This is our best chance," Jack explained.Ethan was more than willing to do whatever it took to avenge his father's death. Emily hesitated but ultimately agreed to go along with the plan.Over the next few
A few days had passed since Emily and Ethan were rescued by Lucas. The group had moved to another safe house in a remote location, far away from their pursuers.Emily was sitting on the couch, staring into space when Ethan walked in with a grim expression on his face."Emily, we have a problem," Ethan said, his voice low."What is it?" Emily asked, already feeling a sense of foreboding."It seems like the CEO we caught was just a pawn. There's someone higher up the chain who's been pulling the strings. Someone who's not afraid to get their hands dirty," Ethan said.Emily felt her stomach drop. "So, what do we do now?""We need to find out who this person is and bring them to justice," Ethan said firmly.Lucas nodded in agreement. "I'm with you. Let's do this."But as they began to make their plans, they realized that they were running out of time. Their enemies were closing in, and they needed to act fast.Emily knew that they had to be careful. They couldn't just rush into this blind
Emily woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. She rubbed her eyes and reached for her phone, seeing a message from Ethan."We got him. Meet us at the station."Emily jumped out of bed, adrenaline coursing through her veins. They had finally caught the mastermind behind everything. She quickly got dressed and drove to the police station, her heart pounding with excitement and nervousness.As she arrived, she saw Ethan and Lucas standing outside, both with grim expressions on their faces."What's wrong?" Emily asked, feeling a sense of dread.Ethan took a deep breath. "We caught the mastermind, but it's not who we expected."Emily felt her heart drop. "Who is it?""It's your father," Ethan said, his voice heavy.Emily felt like the world was spinning around her. Her father? The man who had raised her, loved her, and protected her whole life?"That's impossible," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper. "My father would never do something like this.""I'm sorry, Emily," Ethan sai