Contract Marriage with my ex

/Amelia’s POV/ Sitting across the same person I had laughed and giggled to as a child, I felt my breath hitched as hot air filled my lungs with the rage ready to combust through them. “Are you out of your damn mind?” I screamed to his face as his smirk reached the corners of his mouth. “You want me to marry him!?” I pointed to the picture of a middle-aged man my uncle brought with him to show me. “He’s a Russian who runs a local company in his hometown; he doesn’t even live here... do you seriously think I’ll agree to this? You don’t think I know you’re planning to remove me from the line of succession after hearing what the lawyer said- “Amelia” His hardened tone echoed through the walls of the small room we were given to talk in, and my teeth clenched down so hard I feared they’d c***k. “Uncle!” I snapped back, unable to restrain myself. In my hand were the squeezed papers stating that I would be transferring my shares. Which I refused to sign because there’s no way I’m signing it. A paper load with bullshit they’d never dared to bring to my face if my grandfather hadn’t collapsed all of a sudden and now while he’s fighting for his life, they want to tear apart everything he owned before he wakes. These selfish and greedy bastards I called family but seriously, what choice do I have? I can barely protect myself right now. “I’m not asking Amelia; you either do this the easy way or you can take the hard way out. Andrija is a friend of mine and honestly, you should be thanking me; after the infidelity you committed, you’re barely worth anything.” I gritted my teeth as my eyes widened in their sockets, his words no different from slap to my face. This discussion wouldn’t even be happening in the first place if I’d protected her well. I’ve managed to keep her existence a secret for five years thanks to my grandfather, but the moment he collapsed, they rushed at me like a bunch of ants to a lump of sugar, like they were waiting for it. Just when did they find out about my daughter? When did they know about Chloe? If they didn’t find out about her, I could have put up a little more resistance, but what’s done is done. I slumped back into my seat and stared blankly at my uncle. I can’t believe I let this same man piggy-ride me when I was young; it all felt like a lie, the affection and care he showed me. “I’m not marrying him,” I declared with a newly found resolve. “Amelia!” He yelled at me, his face distorted with obvious annoyance. “I don’t care what you do or what you’ll do. I won’t marry him. I can’t believe you’d even ask me to do this when grandfather is right next door; do you seriously think he’d agree to this, marrying me off before he wakes up?” This is unbelievable. I’ve been staying over at the hospital ever since grandfather’s collapse and they all just couldn’t wait for me to get back home before they made their intentions known. “Amelia, you will regret this.” He said through clenched teeth but my face remained calm, my resolve unwavering. Maybe he’s right, maybe I’ll regret it but right now, destroying the smug look on his ugly, annoying face was my priority. Even though the whole world knows me as the heiress of Jade Co. because Grandpa favoured me quite a bit, the truth is, I’m nothing without my grandfather. He was my shield and when he collapsed, I was prepared to be faced with many arrows, though I thought they’d all be external. Unfortunately, the first attack I received was from the people I once called family. These fuckers! I thought to myself as I stared stalkingly at him as he rose from the chair the VIP hospital staff had provided us. Now, I’m a flower who’s lost its cage, and right now, my uncle’s trying to sell me out to the highest bidder before my grandfather wakes up. I strangely anticipated that he would move this way; I just didn’t think he’d be able to pressure me at all but I’m tempted to accept his proposal because that’ll protect Chloe. I shook my head, trying to harden my resolve; I mustn’t let my guard down. “Can you really bear attention on that kid right now? Don’t you already have your hands full dealing with the plummeting stock prices after father’s collapse?” He’s threatening me again. If you were doing your damn job, none of this would have happened, you moron! I thought to myself. He’s kinda right though; since I decided to keep Chloe’s existence a secret, my value in the face of the public was enormous and because of grandpa’s favour, a lot of people looked up to me. If the whole world whose attention’s on me right now after grandpa’s collapse realizes I have a child hidden away, my value will hit rock bottom and I’m just going to be another rabbit thrown in the midst of predators ready to be devoured. “You’re talking like he’s never going to get well again.” His soft chuckle to my insinuation and suspicion made shivers travel down my spine. Because of people like him, I had to increase grandpa’s security because I can’t afford for him to die now. Even my aunts aren’t helping matters; they probably joined hands with him, hoping to eliminate me since they knew they wouldn’t stand a chance to own anything as long as I’m in the picture. “I’ll give you a week to think about it, Amelia- “Nothing will change my mind, uncle. I will not... marry that man,” I made clear but he just smiled and stalked towards the entrance. “I’ll contact you in a week,” He insisted before leaving through the door. My whole body, which had tensed up from the pressure of his overwhelming presence, immediately relaxed in his absence. I finally felt like I could breathe again, but my heart won’t calm down. Maybe uncle’s right, I’m just an immature flower, a flower with diminished value. Even though I did everything I could to rise up in the company on my own, proving to everyone that I’m not just another flower cultivated to look good for the family and be sold off when the time’s right, it didn’t take me long to realise I can’t do anything without my grandfather. I flinched to the sound of my blaring ringtone. “Mommy” The childlike voice that boomed from the other end of the phone revealed my five-year-old daughter, whom I have managed to keep hidden until now. Chloe’s birth was a mistake; at least that’s what everyone, including my grandfather, thought, but to me, her existence was a gift; she gave me purpose and made me realise I’m more than just another flower in the greenhouse. "Mommy, it’s time for fairytale,” Chloe requested. I haven’t had the leisure to spend any time with Chloe since grandpa collapsed and her existence was leaked to my uncle. I turned towards the documents my uncle brought with him, together with the share transfer document and pictures of Chloe, taken from outside the window of the house. Knowing about Chloe’s existence gives him the upper hand in this negotiation. “Not tonight, Chloe. Rani,” I called out to the other voice I heard in the background. The nanny I hired to take care of Chloe in my absence. She’s a professional who understands the situation I was in. The call was also from her phone; I’m guessing Chloe took her phone without her knowledge again. This has happened a few times before. “I’m so sorry, ma'am; I thought she was already asleep,” Rani apologized, probably after she took the phone from Chloe. “Take her to bed, please,” I instructed her before I ended the call. I knew my uncle’s been up to something, and because of that, I’ve had my eyes on him for quite some time, but to think he found out about Chloe... I sighed softly while texting my best friend and secretary. After today’s conversation with my uncle, I’m convinced to think that he found out about Chloe’s existence way before today; he was probably just waiting for the opportunity to use it, and grandfather’s collapse gave him that chance. I stood from my seat and slowly walked up to my grandfather in the intensive care unit in the VIP section. “What should I do, grandpa? I can’t do anything without you,” I mumbled aloud as I raised my hands to my face, sniffling as I stared blankly at his sickly form, hooked up to a ventilator. Then my phone dinged as a notification dropped. It was Layla, my best friend and secretary; I guess she’s downstairs already. “Are you okay?” Layla asked the moment I reached the parking lot and slipped into her car parked at the darkest corner of the hospital underground parking lot. “How did you get here so fast?” I asked with a shaky breath, ignoring her question because, honestly, I’m not sure I’m fine. “I’ve been here for over an hour but had to wait until you asked me to come up... kinda saw him walk in.” Right, it’s best not to have my uncle suspect I’m up to something too. “I guess he moved the way you predicted,” Layla stated as she handed me a brown envelope full of documents I had her compile for me. “Yeah, after he made me dance with Andrija in the company’s last dinner party, I had a feeling he was scheming something, and then grandpa collapsed. I think the timing’s too convenient, but now’s not the time to think of that." I furrowed tightly. "Grandpa was my shield, and now that it’s broken, I need a new shield,” I thought aloud, staring at one of the four compiled documents in the envelope. “Is there any particular reason why you chose him out of the four candidates? The rest of them wouldn’t mind agreeing to the contract marriage with you either. there are also desperate individuals looking for a way out, but Grayson... I don’t think he has anything to gain from this deal. If anything, he’d be at a disadvantage, so I’m certain he wouldn’t look at this very favourably,” Layla pinpointed. She’s right, the rest of the candidates I had compiled are people who I can offer something bigger and they’ll bite, and with their strong background, they’re more suitable to play my fake husband. “Grayson’s a bit special,” I chuckled softly. “You kept saying that but I see nothing special about him. He’s just the CEO of a security company, and while he has many connections that could be helpful, him alone isn’t worth much if you ask me. Why do you make him the main objective and the other options... I don’t get it.” Layla frowned. “He’s…Chloe’s father” My declaration had Layla going pale in shock. Yeah, it’s a secret I haven’t told anyone since I returned home when my parents died. The father of my child was my ex-boyfriend, which no one really knows about. Oh right? we didn’t really break up, did we? I thought, staring at his picture plastered on the background research on him. -----------