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 it was different, colder, and more menacing.
"What's going on?" Emily asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"I'm sorry, Emily," Ethan said, stepping out of the shadows. "But I had no choice. You see, I have enemies, people who want to take me down, and they're always looking for ways to hurt me. When I came up with the idea of the contract marriage, I knew it was risky, but I thought I could control the situation. I never imagined it would come to this."
"What are you talking about?" Emily asked
"I made a deal with someone, someone who has a lot of power and influence," Ethan said, his voice low and serious. "They agreed to leave me alone if I gave them something they wanted. And that something was you, Emily. They wanted to use you as leverage against me, and I had no choice but to agree. I'm sorry, I never wanted it to come to this."
Emily's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. She had been used as a pawn in a dangerous game, and now she was trapped with no way out.
"What are you going to do to me?" Emily asked, her voice shaking.
"I don't know yet," Ethan said, his expression grim. "But I promise you, I won't let anyone hurt you. You're under my protection now."
Emily wasn't sure if she could trust Ethan anymore, but she had no choice. She was at his mercy, and she had to hope that he would keep his word.
Days turned into weeks, and Emily lost track of time in the small, windowless room where she was being held captive. Ethan brought her food and water, and he would occasionally visit her to talk, but she never felt safe around him anymore. He had become distant and cold, and she could see the guilt and pain in his eyes.
One day, when Ethan came to visit her, Emily noticed a small key dangling from his pocket. It was the key to the door that kept her trapped.
"Please, Ethan, let me go," Emily begged. "I won't tell anyone, I promise. Just let me leave, and I'll disappear. You'll never have to see me again."
Ethan hesitated, his eyes flickering with emotion. Emily could see the internal struggle he was going through, torn between his loyalty to his enemies and his growing feelings for her.
"I can't, Emily," Ethan said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. But I'll make sure you're safe. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."
Emily knew then that she had to take matters into her own hands. She waited until Ethan had left and then searched the room for anything she could use to escape. She found a rusty nail and started scratching at the lock, determined to break free.
It took her hours, but finally, the lock gave way, and the door creaked open. Emily stepped out into the hallway, her heart pounding with fear and excitement. She had no idea where she was or how to get out, but she knew she had to keep moving.
As she walked down the hallway, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Ethan, his face twisted with anger and betrayal.
"I trusted you, Emily," Ethan said, his voice shaking with emotion. "And you betrayed me. You'll never leave this place alive."
Emily ran, her heart racing with fear. She had no idea where she was going, but she knew she had to find a way out. She turned a corner and ran smack into a tall, muscular man.
"Where do you think you're going?" the man growled, grabbing Emily by the arm.
Emily struggled, but the man was too strong. She felt a prick in her arm and then everything went black.
When Emily woke up, she was in a different room, this one more luxurious than the one she had been in before. She was lying on a soft bed, and there were fresh flowers on the bedside table.
"Good morning, Emily," a voice said from the corner of the room.
Emily sat up, her head pounding. She recognized the voice immediately.
"Hello, Ethan," Emily said, her voice trembling with anger and fear. "What have you done to me?"
"I had to bring you here, Emily," Ethan said, his voice full of regret. "I had no other choice. But I promise you, I'll keep you safe. I won't let anyone hurt you."
Emily shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe that Ethan had done this to her, that he had lied to her, betrayed her, and then kidnapped her.
"Why are you doing this?" Emily demanded. "What do they want from me?"
Ethan hesitated, his eyes darting around the room.
"I can't tell you everything, Emily," Ethan said finally. "But there are powerful people who want to use you as leverage against me. And I can't let that happen."
Emily stared at Ethan, her mind racing. She had to find a way out, to escape this nightmare and get back to her life.
"I need to go home, Ethan," Emily said firmly. "I can't stay here. I have a family, a job, a life. Please, let me go."
Ethan's expression softened, and Emily could see the pain and guilt in his eyes.
"I wish I could, Emily," Ethan said, his voice full of regret. "But I can't risk it. I promise you, I'll make sure you're safe. I'll do everything in my power to protect you."
Emily knew then that she had to take matters into her own hands. She waited until Ethan had left the room and then searched for anything she could use to escape. She found a small, sharp object and started scratching at the ropes that bound her hands.
It took her hours, but finally, the ropes gave way, and Emily stood up, her heart pounding with fear and excitement. She walked over to the window and looked out, hoping to see a way out.
But all she saw was a vast, sprawling city, with no visible escape route. She was trapped, in a luxurious prison, with no way out.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and two large men entered the room, their faces grim and determined.
"Come with us, Emily," one of the men growled. "We have orders to take you somewhere safe."
Emily knew that she had no choice. She had to trust these men, whoever they were, and hope that they would help her escape this nightmare.
As she followed them out of the room, she heard Ethan's voice in the distance, calling out her name.
"Emily!" Ethan shouted. "Don't leave! I can explain everything!"
But Emily didn't stop. She kept walking, determined to escape this web of lies, deceit, and betrayal. She had no idea where she was going or who these men were, but she knew that she had to keep moving, to keep fighting, to stay alive.
The men led her through a maze of corridors, each one looking the same as the last. Emily had no idea where they were taking her or what they had planned for her. Her heart was racing, and her mind was filled with thoughts of escape and survival.
Suddenly, they stopped in front of a large metal door. One of the men punched in a code, and the door slid open with a hiss. Emily was ushered inside, and the door closed behind her.
The room was dimly lit, with a single chair in the center. Emily hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down. She knew that she was in the hands of dangerous people, and she had to be careful.
Suddenly, the door opened again, and a man walked in. He was tall, with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes. He walked over to Emily and looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"Who are you?" Emily demanded, her voice shaking slightly.
The man ignored her question and instead asked, "Do you know why you're here, Emily?"
Emily shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest.
"You're here because of Ethan," the man said. "He's involved in something big, something dangerous. And we need your help to bring him down."
Emily stared at the man, her mind racing. She didn't know what to believe anymore. Ethan had always been kind to her, caring and thoughtful. She couldn't believe that he could be involved in anything dangerous or illegal.
"What do you want from me?" Emily asked.
"We want you to help us bring Ethan down," the man said. "You're the key to our plan. Without you, we can't get to him."
Emily didn't know what to do. She was scared and confused. She didn't want to be involved in any of this. All she wanted was to go home and forget everything that had happened.
The man seemed to sense her fear and leaned in closer. "We can protect you, Emily," he said. "We can keep you safe. But you have to help us."
Emily hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She didn't have a choice. She had to do whatever it takes to stay alive.
The man smiled, then got up and walked to the door. "Good," he said. "We'll start training you tomorrow. Get some rest."
Emily watched as the door closed behind him, her mind racing. She had no idea what she had just agreed to, but she knew that it was going to be dangerous. She had to stay strong and focused if she wanted to survive.
The next few days were a blur of training and preparation. Emily learned how to fight, how to use a gun, and how to blend in with a crowd. She had never been so scared or so focused in her life. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she knew that she had to be ready for anything.
One day, as Emily was walking down the hall, she saw Ethan. He looked different, tired and scared. Emily ran up to him and hugged him tightly.
"Ethan, what's going on?" she whispered.
"I'm sorry, Emily," Ethan said, tears in his eyes. "I never wanted any of this to happen. I'll make it right, I promise."
Emily didn't know what to say. She was confused and scared, and she didn't know who to trust anymore.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and the man from before walked in.
"Time to go, Emily," he said.
Emily looked at Ethan, then back at the man. She didn't know what to do, but she knew that she had to stay strong.
As they walked out of the room, Emily could hear Ethan's voice behind her, shouting and pleading for them to let her go. But she knew that it was too late. She was already in too deep.
The man led her to a small plane, and they took off into the sky. Emily's heart was racing as she looked out the window. She had no idea where they were going or what was going to happen next.
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
The police quickly took control of the situation, handcuffing the men who had been chasing Emily, Ethan, and Lucas. Emily breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that they were finally safe.As they walked out of the alleyway, Emily saw her father being escorted into a police car. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with sorrow and regret."Emily, I'm sorry," he said.Emily didn't know what to say. She felt a mix of anger, sadness, and confusion. She wanted to believe that her father had done all of this to protect her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.As the police took her father away, Emily turned to Ethan and Lucas."What do we do now?" she asked."We need to find out more about what's going on," Ethan said. "We need to figure out why your father did this, and who else is involved."Over the next few days, Emily and Ethan worked with the police to uncover more information about the organization that had been targeting them. They discovered that it