Contract Marriage with my ex

Chapter 6-Marry me

/Gray’s POV/

I was going straight to work right from Diego's. I didn’t mind that I have to repeat my previous clothes.

I just didn’t feel like going back home because seeing my apartment would probably remind me of everything that happened yesterday and right that moment, it was something I didn’t want to think about.

That was until her call came. It’s been five years but I still remember the sound of her voice when she’s troubled or depressed, her shaky breath she was trying to hide.

Fuck, I thought I was over it but before I knew it, I was speeding down to my apartment in Diego’s car with various thoughts racing through my mind.

Is she okay? Is she hurt? Why the f**k does she sound like that? Is it about the kid? I couldn’t think straight until I was standing in front of her.

And there she was, cleaning her eyes. ‘I must be crazy’ was the only thing I could say to myself after I finally regained my composure.

"Hey,” She called softly. Rising from the foot of my door with the kid in her arms. Why on earth is the great ‘Amelia Verde’ behaving like some homeless kid.

They both looked like lost kids. Hold it in. I pleaded to myself as I walked closer to her.

“What are you still doing here and why did you call?” I felt too embarrassed to confess that I came running because I felt like she was crying. I mean, she was since her eyes looked a little red but I don’t want to f*****g care.

“Can we talk, please?” She pleaded as my eyes fell on the sleeping kid she was holding. Do I even have a f*****g choice right now?

I can’t just leave her in front of the door with the kid.

Judging from her appearance, she didn’t go home last night, but that didn’t mean she slept here either since she’d be inside if she did.

I swiped up my digital lock and inputted my pin, after which I led her in.

Maybe it’s because of the many questions I had for her or because she looked so pitiful with the kid she was holding.

I found myself inviting her into the house again; I’ll probably regret it again.

“What on earth are you doing carrying the kid around?” I grumbled apprehensively as I watched her walk over to my leather sofa to lay her down, after which she covered her with her blazer, revealing the fitted dress the blazer was covering.

She’s grown even more... I turned away, unable to accommodate myself ogling at her.

“Do you think we can...find some other place to talk? I don’t want Chloe to wake up.” She probably meant, in case you decide to yell again, why don’t we take this somewhere else? I can’t blame her; I’ve got a fiery temper.

"Sure,” I agreed reluctantly, leading her to my home office but then she was silent, which makes it a whole awkward, I feel like I’m acting weird; I wish I never found out about her parent’s death. I thought, rubbing the back of my neck in discomfort.

“You really haven’t changed; you still rub your neck when you’re uncomfortable.” Her words had me lowering my hands. I didn’t expect her to remember that.

“Well, you also haven’t changed much; you still hyperventilate when you can’t get your emotions under control,” I stated, recalling how I’ve seen her gasp for breath a few times when she was extremely mad and scared, though it was the first time I’ve actually seen her faint.

“Yeah…I guess we both haven’t changed much,” She said under her breath. “Gray.” Then she glanced up and looked straight into my eyes. “Don’t you have questions for me; I'm sure you had plenty.” Where exactly am I supposed to start?

“Was it really because of your parents deaths... back then when you left?” My question caught her off-guard since her eyes widened in total surprise.

“I guess you did your findings. It’s fine” She assured since for a minute I thought maybe it was too much of a question.

“Yeah, I left back then because my parents died and I needed to head back home, but y’know, nut there was this group who didn't want that, so I had to leave quickly or I'd be caught,” she answered, and I frowned. Now I have even more questions.

“And who are these people?” I asked but this time she was quiet. I guess she didn’t want to talk about it. "Okay, but why didn’t you tell me anything? You could have at least dropped a hint or something; we dated for three years, Addy, and I didn’t even know your real name,” I complained.

“I didn’t see the need to at the time and I couldn’t trust anyone-

“Even me?” And now I’m pissed again.

“At first yes but later, it’s just got a lot harder to tell you the truth and since we were doing great, I just thought... maybe there was no need-

“But why didn’t you come back?” She remained silent again. What’s the point of her telling me she’s going to answer my questions if she’s going to just keep her mouth shut! I thought, feeling even more annoyed.

“It was too dangerous and I thought, maybe you were doing well on your own-

“What? Addy we were about to move in together! You can’t just assume I was okay with you disappearing like that.” My frown deepened but she remained silent.

“Fine, why now? Why are you here now, That meeting, you definitely set it up because you knew we were going to meet, didn’t you? If you could easily find and come back to me all these years, just why did you choose now to do it?” My rage was rising again and it was getting harder and harder to keep my emotions in check.

“Because I have a lot of things to protect and I need your help to do that-

“My help? How can I possibly help the great Amelia Verde. What can I possibly give you?” I chuckled in disbelief.

“Marry me.” I think I misheard what she said.

“Sorry?” I blurted almost immediately because I’m sure she didn’t just say what I heard her say.

“Marry me, Gray. It’ll only be for a short while. I promise I won’t get in your way. It’s just gonna be for public appearance, but I really need this marriage!"! She meant exactly what I heard her say.

‘Marry her?’ I staggered back to the shock, unsure of how to think or act to her shocking words.

“I don’t have much time. This has to be done before the end of the week-

“No, I’m not doing it.” Her face paled to my words, like I just shattered her hope or something.

“There’s no way I can do what you’re asking me, Amelia. This is insane. You want us to get married for public appearance only? What on earth makes you think I’d even agree to something like that?” I demanded and she sighed.

“I really need this-

“Why? Why’d you need this so badly?” I demanded but then she was silent again.

I scoffed in total disbelief. She won’t even come clean to me and she expect me to entertain her whims.

“Can’t you just think about it? I’ll give you anything; if you want something, I can give it to you.” She sounded desperate, but all I could feel at that moment was anger.

“I guess you already made up your mind.” She sounded disappointed. “You see, I really wanted it to be you.” She forced a sad smile and sighed softly.

“Can I at least leave Chloe with you for a few days? As you already figured, her existence was kept hidden because it’s the only way I know to keep her safe, and right now she’s not safe, and right now, all attention is on me; she can’t handle that type of attention. She’s still just a kid, so please... can you just help me out this once?” She pleaded, and damn, I want to turn her down so bad, but the kid did nothing wrong.

"Okay, fine,” but I ended up agreeing to her crazy idea.

“Thanks. I’ll drop off a few of her stuff,” she assured, and I nodded. “I’ll see you in a bit,” she promised before leaving, but by the time I followed her to the sitting room. The kid was already awake.

“Hey honey,” she rushed over to her side.

"Mommy.” She looked like she was just about to cry. God, I’ve never taken care of any kid in my life. How on earth am I supposed to handle one? Even if it’s just for a couple of days, I have no idea what to do.

“So, you have to make sure to be nice to Daddy, okay?” I guess she already told her she’d be staying here for a while. I sighed softly as I met the kid's eyes.

Those glossy brown orbs made her look like a pitiful puppy. s**t! I’m screwed, aren’t I?

“But Daddy doesn’t like me,” I flinched to her words.

“When the fuc…I mean, when did I say that?” I immediately corrected my language.

“You ran away yesterday.” I guess she still had trouble pronouncing yesterday since she sounded like she had a lisp.

“I didn’t run... I just-” I’m not sure how I’m supposed to explain to a five-year-old that I was pretty overwhelmed by the fact that she even existed in the first place.

“Don’t worry, Daddy just had to go get some stuff. He didn’t run away,” Amelia lied while patting her head.

“Since I’ll probably be trailed by paparazzi all day, I won’t be able to come back early; it’s best not to have any attention on you. So, it might take a while before I come back; are you sure you’d be able to handle it?” Amelia looked at me in expectation.

"Sure, I can handle it.” And I lied. I don’t even have the faintest clue about how to take care of a kid, but I’m sure it can’t be that hard.

“Okay…I’ll see you later then,” She said and left. Leaving me staring at Chloe in uncomfortable awkwardness.

This is hard. I thought before my doorbell sounded. Did she forget something? I thought immediately walking over to the door to open up but right in front of my door was Diego.

“Hey, you alright? You suddenly left like that; you had me worried sick. What’s going….on?” He drawled his last words as his eyes landed on Chloe, who peeped from right behind me.

“Holy f**k!”

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