Beyond The Contract

Chapter5

Laura Lambert gave Nathan a cold stare as they exited the town hall. The marriage certificate they had just signed felt more like a business document than a symbol of the union of two souls.

"Don't expect to touch me," Laura said firmly, interrupting the silence. "Until I'm truly in love with you, I won't allow physical contact."

Nathan looked at Laura with a faint smile, shrugging. "That doesn't matter to me. I never had any intention of crossing the line."

Yet, for some reason, Nathan's comment made Laura feel frustrated. She didn't know why, but there was something in Nathan's calmness that made her chest tighten. She averted her eyes and said, "All right. We agree on that."

After discussing some crucial aspects, such as the schedule for pretending to be a happy couple and the meeting location if needed, the two agreed to live their respective lives. Laura walked away gracefully, leaving Nathan staring at her with an unreadable expression.

***

When Nathan arrived at his home in Queens, he found someone he didn't expect. The woman, Cassie, had left yesterday, threatening him and saying rude things, but now she was standing at his door with a big smile and some gifts.

Nathan thought that Cassie had two troublesome personalities.

"Nathan!" Cassie exclaimed cheerfully. She was about to hug Nathan, but Nathan dodged her before it could happen. "I was passing by and thought I'd drop by. Here's some food and gifts for your family."

Nathan put on a polite smile. "Oh, Cassie. Thank you. Come on in." Nathan very reluctantly did so.

However, before Cassie could enter, her gaze fell on a familiar red ribbon. It was wrapped around the expensive gift box Laura had given Nathan yesterday, now lying on the living room table. Cassie's expression changed instantly.

"Where are all the expensive gift boxes from that woman?" Cassie looked panicked. She searched for it like it was her own.

"I gave them back.”

“You returned such an expensive gift?" she asked, her voice rising. "Don't you know how much it's worth?"

Nathan let out a long breath. "I can't accept something I don't need. It's just a matter of principle."

Cassie snorted, the smile on her face disappearing. "Principle? Do you think the principality can pay your bills? You're weird, Nathan."

Rosalind walked up to them, surprised to see Cassie. But she quickly changed her expression so that Cassie wouldn't feel strange. After all, the relationship between her and Cassie's mother was still on good terms.

"Cassie, welcome! I'm preparing dinner. Join us."

Cassie gave a fake smile and nodded, but her attitude turned more cynical as they all sat down for dinner.

"I heard that being a nurse pays quite well," she said sarcastically. "But it looks like you still don't have much money. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so foolish as to refuse such an expensive gift.”

Rosalind tried to calm things down. "Nathan has always had his way of thinking, Cassie. He doesn't care about material things."

Nathan remained calm, undisturbed by Cassie's comment. After a few minutes, he put down his fork and said quietly, "Cassie, thank you for coming, but I think there's something I need to tell you."

Cassie tilted her head, looking at him suspiciously. "What?"

Nathan took a deep breath. "I'm married."

The room was instantly silent. Cassie dropped her spoon while Rosalind stared at Nathan, her mouth slightly open.

"What?!" shouted Cassie, her tone full of anger. "You're married? To whom?"

Nathan took the marriage certificate out of his pocket and showed it to his mother. Laura's elegant photo was visible on the document.

Rosalind stared at the photo with a mixture of confusion and admiration. "She's... she's lovely, Nathan. This is the woman from yesterday. And when did this happen?"

Nathan knew he had to come up with a plausible story. "Yes, she's Laura Lambert. We met when I was in the military. We've been in love for a long time, but it's only now that we can get married. We had a falling out, but I was able to win her back. I'm sorry, but I can only tell you now."

Rosalind looked sentimental. "Oh, Nathan... I'm so happy for you. But why didn't you tell me before?"

"I wanted to do it right," Nathan said gently. "She's swamped. She's a senior executive in a big company and hardly has time for herself."

Although his mother seemed happy with the news, she still had many questions. "Where does she live? Will she come here? I want to meet her."

Nathan smiled slightly, hiding his anxiety. "She lives in Manhattan. Laura is very busy, so she can't come anytime soon. But I'll make sure we have time to meet."

While Rosalind seemed satisfied with his answer, Nathan knew this situation would get even more complicated. Their relationship was only a formal marriage, and he knew Laura wouldn't like attending family events or meeting her in-laws.

After Cassie left with an annoyed face and a final scathing comment, Nathan sat in the living room alone, thinking about his next move. He knew the decision to accept this marriage had brought him into a much more complex world than he had ever imagined.

While Nathan tried to calm his thoughts, his phone rang. Laura's name appeared on the screen.

He picked up the phone with a slight hesitation. "Yes?"

Laura's voice sounded uncharacteristically cold. "Nathan, I've just received a report that you've told your family about our marriage."

"How did you know?”

“I saw footage of that woman angrily walking out of your house."

"Oh, apparently, you're so obsessed with my life. To the point of having people watch me."

"Stop it, I'm just making sure."

Nathan chuckled. He nodded even though he knew Laura couldn't see it. "Of course, I told my mom and Cassie. What else did you expect?"

Laura was silent momentarily before saying sharply, "We need to talk. Tomorrow night. Don't be late."

Nathan hung up and stared at his phone screen. He knew that his next meeting with Laura would be significant, and he had to prepare himself for whatever would happen.

In his head, questions began to arise. Would this marriage lead to something greater? Or would it be a burden that would further destroy his life?