Madeline's POV.
I didn't think twice before starting my scooter and speeding my way home, this couldn't behappening to me, I didn't know what was faster, my heartbeat or the speed at which I was driving.
I can't believe I signed contract papers before reading them, I thought Dad would have read through them like usual, what kind of father brings up a marriage contract for his daughter to sign?
Well, you have an answer now, mine, Benneton Harlow.
I see Dad sitting on the couch, ''Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at your company?''
Today I was receiving shock after shock, there was no way my dad was sitting here while his company was just starting to recover.
''Madeline, go to your room and check...never mind just go to your room and look around.''
I stare at my dad as if he ate something wrong, ''Don't you usually ask me to get out of the room and get some sun, like I am a plant or something?''
I could see his patience running out, but if it's not me, who else will poke at him?
He sighed leaning his head against the sofa, ''Just go, Maddie.''
Ok, this was definitely strange so I climbed the stairs from our hallway that led to my room.
My room has always been my safe haven, the one place that is truly mine. The walls were painted peach, warm and neutral.
Red lights strung above my bed, casting a sensual glow at night that I sometimes enjoyed. My bookshelf sat against the far wall, some books were stacked horizontally, some vertically, depending on my mood when I last rearranged them.
Most of them were romance books, with a little smut or a lot but nobody has to know that except me.
My attention turned towards my desk, though mostly tidy, which had a few scattered notes and open books from late-night study sessions and a brown envelope that wasn't there this morning.
I inched closer to it and I slowly opened the envelope.
A part of me wanted to know what it was and a part of me was scared how my life would turn out after reading this.
Marriage Contract
My fingers went ice-cold.
Marriage?
I forced my gaze lower, my breath hitching as I read the name typed next to Spouse:
Liam Fernandes.
The letters swam before my eyes, my grip on the paper tightening as my brain tried to process what I was seeing.
No. No, this had to be a mistake.
My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out every rational thought. My hands trembled as I frantically flipped through the pages, rereading sections.
''Party A and B will be legally married to each other for a year and will be living together.''
''WHO IS LIVING WITH WHO?'' I said that out loud before I could completely wrap my head around what was written, this had to be a joke, right?
''Party A and B can seek divorce only after a year if they wish so.''
For some reason, I was glad to see that clause but still, this was ridiculous, I was a clown for signing this.
''If any of the clauses are broken Party B will have to hand over Harlow's company to Party A's name.''
My blood drained out of my body reading that, the Harlow's company was my grandfather's dream, a company built on my father's blood, sweat and tears, a company built by my mother's sacrifice.
How did my dad not tear this contract before he handed it into my hand?
''If party A breaks any of the clauses, the consequences of the action are mentioned in the copy of party A's contract.''
I could feel anger coursing through my body as I completed reading all the terms and conditions, what could have prompted Liam to sign this?
Did he also sign without reading through anything?
But with the way he spoke to me today, it did not seem like he is unaware, I had no time to waste, I need answers.
------------------------
Madeline rushed through her stairs finding her dad in the same position he was in before she went into her room.
''Dad, whose marriage certificate is this, and why does it have my name on it!?''
Benneton sighed and calmly stated as a matter of fact, ''It's yours and Liam's.''
As if unable to accept what she had just heard, Madeline rushed to her dad, bringing the papers closer to him, ''Why did I even sign this!? And why him!?''
Madeline could feel her dad's gaze hardening, he snatched the contract from her hand, ''Madeline, you signed this on your own, without even trying to hear me out, so why are you throwing a tantrum now?''
Madeline swallowed a lump that formed in her throat, she knew her dad was right, she knew that this was all her fault, tears started clogging her sight.
Ben sighed his voice pained as he hugged his daughter closer, ''I am sorry sweetheart, I should have rejected the idea the moment I heard it, but they could clear up the company's name-
Madeline's sobs broke out, and she clutched her dad's t-shirt as she cried in his arms, Ben patted her head, ''I am so sorry my child, I am sorry-
Madeline shook her head, wiping her tears, ''It's ok, I-I-I will have to deal with it, and don't feel guilty dad, I signed without reading or listening to you, and as long as the company's doing well-
''Let that company go to hell! I can give it up Maddie, let's just cancel it-
Before Ben could continue Madeline shook her head objecting, ''No! Mum sacrificed her life for the company, we cannot give up, It's for a year anyways, I can do it, a year will go by so fast you won't even notice it.''
Soon Madeline started packing her bags, one of the clause in the contract was that she had to move into Liam's house the day she signed the contract.
Ben stood by the doorway, arms crossed, watching as Madeline zipped up the last of her suitcases. His chest felt unbearably tight, his heart warring between guilt and sorrow.
"Dad, don't look at me like that" she muttered, trying to sound exasperated, but her voice wavered.
Ben scoffed lightly, shaking his head.
"How else am I supposed to look at you, my only daughter got married today, and that too a false one, I wanted to walk you down the aisle, marrying you off to the love of your life with your favourite song, 'Can't help falling in love' playing in the background.''
She rolled her eyes, forcing a small smile. "You can later I suppose and It's not like I'm moving across the world."
"That's not the point." He sighed, stepping forward. "You're moving into a stranger's house, no, worse, you're moving in with Liam Fernandes."
Ben ran a hand down his face, the exhaustion clear in his posture. "I should've stopped this. I should've found another way." His voice was thick with regret.
Madeline softened, and she reached out, squeezing his hand. "Don't do that to yourself. What's done is done. We'll get through this. one year, and it'll be over."
Ben held onto her hand a moment longer before letting go with a heavy sigh. "I hate this," he admitted. "I hate that you have to do this, that you're walking into something you don't deserve."
She nodded, pressing her lips together. "I know."
"Alright," he said sighing. ''Let's get you to your new…place." He nearly choked on the last word, as if saying it out loud made it worse.
Madeline forced a small laugh, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah. Let's do this."
But as she followed her father out the door, the realisation truly sank in.
She wasn't just moving houses.
She was moving into Liam Fernandes' world.