TTM #1: Devoted to a Contract

Chapter XIII || I'm not a gold digger

Jasmine's P.O.V

"Why me?"

This question had been lingering in my mind since morning. I figured it was the right time to ask, seeing that I signed my life to the man in front of me.

Mr Valencian looked at me with a look I couldn't quite comprehend.

"What?"

"Why me? Out of so many other women in this world why would your grandmother possibly want for me to marry you? Is it because I helped her the other day?" I hissed bitterly.

"You are in no place to be asking questions Ms Winters. But since your so curious, let's just say you charmed my grandmother pretty well. Isn't that what you gold diggers do." he spoke with bitterness in his voice.

How dare he call me a gold digger!

"I'm not a gold digger. I left my wealthy parents when I was teen. Does that sound like someone who is after money."

"How convincing? You were ready to marry a guy the minute he flashed money in front of your face. Isn't that the reason why you were going to marry Anthony Jackson?"

I lowered my gaze and looked at the floor. I can't tell him why I was marrying Anthony. I don't need his pity or his approval.

Taking my silence as a sign, he continued.

"Now that you've signed our agreement, we can proceed with the arrangements for the wedding. The wedding will take place on the same day you had planned to marry Mr Jackson. The wedding will be as per your liking. Xander and the boys will accompany you to plan everything out. But the venue shall remain according to my wish. Oh, and before I forget, I think this belongs to you, and you know what to do now." he handed me the engagement ring that Anthony had given.

I sighed. I feel bad for him. He did love me even when he knew the feelings weren't mutual. I'm not really sure how he's going to take this.

"Yes I do", I grumbled.

"Well, it's settled then. I've called my men off your sister and friends, and they won't be harmed as long as you don't try anything foolish. You can leave now, but I'll always have Xavier or one of the boys keep an eye on you."

At that moment I realised what my future holds.

I'm marrying Nathanial Valencian.

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I opened the door to my house as quietly as possible, making sure that I don't wake the girls up. It was pretty late, so I was hoping I could slip inside without getting noticed. If they saw me like this, it's only a matter of time before they find out this whole marriage thing was a lie from the beginning.

The lights were turned off, which meant they weren't awake. Thank god!

I reached my room and turned on the lights-

"Where were you?"

Startled, I let out a squeal. Scarlett was sitting on my bed and glaring at me.

"What the hell, Scarlet? You freaked me out."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I freak you out? We have been calling you for hours, Jas. Where on earth were you? Don't tell me you were with Anthony. I called him to check up on you since you didn't pick up. SO please enlighten me on where.you.were.all.this.time?"

"I...uh...I."

"I'm waiting Jas."

There's no point in lying to her now. At some point in time, the truth is going to have to come out. At least I'll have someone to share my pain with.

So I let my tears fall and brought out the emotions I had tried to keep tucked away.

As soon as Scarlett saw the tears in my eyes, her whole demeanour changed. Her eyes softened as she crouched down next to me with a serene expression.

"What happened?" Scarlett asked.

"It was a hoax — everything the marriage, the engagement. Everything was a lie from the beginning."

I told Scarlett the entire story, from my parent's condition to the contract I had just signed. She listened calmly without uttering a single word. By the time I was done, my eyes had become swollen from the uncontrollable tears. As soon as I was done, Scarlett engulfed me in a hug.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. I should have known that's why you agreed to marry that jerk. Oh my poor Jas, you had to go through all of this alone. Why didn't you tell me we could have fought for Kirsten's custody?"

"I...I was Scared. I was scared Kristen would have to know the fact that her parents are cruel. As of now, they at least were nice to her every time she visited. Even if they weren't the ideal parents, Kirsten didn't feel like her parents hated her." I cried as I felt my heart clench, remembering how my parent's used to treat me when I was younger. No child deserves to grow up feeling unwanted.

I heard someone sob and turned my head towards the door to see Kristen sobbing and Vivian holding her.

Kristen ran towards me and engulfed me in a tight hug as she wept into my shoulder.

Taking this as their cue, Scarlett and Vivian left the room, leaving us alone.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know you did all this for me. I knew you hated mom and dad, but I always thought you were being irrational. Now I see why you didn't want to come with me every time I visited them. Mom used to tell me you were acting like an ungrateful bitch and that you had separated me from her. She tried convincing me to come back to her. But I never wanted to leave you, and I never will."

"I know Kristy...I know you love me as much as I love you. Now stop being a cry baby and go back to sleep."

"I am not a cry baby." she chocked.

"Yes, you are. Now sleep you have school tomorrow."

"Can I sleep with you today? I don't feel like leaving you alone."

I nodded my head, and we both got into my bed. Kristy snuggled closer to me as she closed her eyes and finally went to sleep.

I replayed today's events as I tried to think of a way to escape this reality, but sadly I realised that I could do nothing.

I've signed my life away to the devil himself.

Total No of words: 1098