Mira sat in the front seat of Zack’s car, dressed in a dark green suit. She glanced out the window as the rain pattered softly against the glass, offering her a montary distraction from the growing tension in her mind. "Thanks for the ride, Zack," she said, flashing him a warm smile, trying to shake off her unease.
Zack grinned, his hands still on the steering wheel. "No worries. That’s what apartnt neighbors are for, right?"
Mira nodded, appreciating his laid-back attitude. The drive was quiet, with only the sound of raindrops hitting the windshield filling the silence. Eventually, Zack pulled into a small café along the way to grab so coffee. He handed a cup to Mira with a friendly smile.
"Here you go, sothing to keep you going," Zack said, passing her the cup.
"Thanks," Mira replied, taking a slow sip. The warmth of the coffee helped ease so of the nervousness that had been bubbling inside her since the morning.
As they continued driving,the rain had already died down, the atmosphere between them shifted. The once friendly silence began to feel a bit heavy, awkward even. Mira glanced at Zack out of the corner of her eye, wondering if he could sense it too.
When they finally pulled up in front of the company building, Zack parked the car and both stepped out. Mira imdiately noticed the stares from her co-workers. Whispers floated through the air, and she felt eyes lingering on her longer than usual.
Zack chuckled under his breath, leaning close to Mira. "Looks like they think we’re dating," he said in a low voice, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Mira’s eyes widened in surprise. She glanced at their matching dark green suits and the fact that they had arrived together. It didn’t take long for her to understand the misunderstanding. She bit her lip, unsure how to react. "Let them think what they want," she muttered, shaking her head.
Zack just laughed, patting her on the back before heading into the building.
Once at her desk, Mira tried to focus on her work. She pulled out a chocolate bar from her bag, the one she had bought last night on her way ho. Slowly unwrapping it, she took a small bite, letting the sweet taste linger on her tongue as she turned her attention to the tasks in front of her.
Ti passed, and soon enough, she was lost in her work, oblivious to the world around her. That was until she heard a soft knock on her office door. She looked up to see Zack standing there, a familiar, easy smile on his face.
"Hey, Mira, lunch ti," he said, stepping inside.
Mira smiled, grateful for the break. She stood up, ready to leave, but her phone buzzed on the desk. The unexpected call made her hesitate. She checked the screen—her grandfather’s na flashed across it.
Curious, she answered. "Hello?"
"Mira, co to your apartnt now. I’m waiting," her grandfather’s voice was tense, almost urgent.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Grandpa? What’s going on? I’m still at work. Can it wait until I finish?"
"No, Mira. Now."
The firmness in his voice unsettled her. He had never spoken to her like this before. Sothing was wrong. "Okay, I’ll be there soon," she said, hanging up the phone with a knot forming in her stomach.
She quickly inford the receptionist that she had to leave and booked a cab. As she rode ho, her mind raced. Why was he at her apartnt? He had ntioned visiting next week, so why was he here so early? And why the sudden urgency?
Arriving at her apartnt, Mira punched in her code and pushed the door open. The sight of her grandfather sitting calmly on the sofa sent another wave of unease through her. He looked up as she walked in, his expression unreadable.
"Grandpa, what’s going on?" she asked, stepping forward, trying to read his mood.
He gestured for her to sit down, ignoring her question for now. "Tea or coffee?" Mira offered, hoping to ease the tension in the room.
He shook his head. "No need."
Mira sat across from him, her nerves on edge. Sothing was definitely wrong.
Her grandfather cleared his throat, his voice serious. "Mira, when you moved to Country Nick, it was under certain conditions. You agreed to them without knowing the full extent."
Mira’s brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you an?"
His eyes t hers, and she saw a hardness there she hadn’t seen before. "You’re going to get married."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. "What?" Her voice barely a whisper.
He continued, unflinching. "You’re going to marry the CEO of ZAN Company Limited. The arrangent is set. You will be his wife, and you will bear him a child. A contract has been signed."
Mira’s mind went blank for a mont.Getting Married? To a man she didn’t even know? She stared at her grandfather, waiting for him to say sothing—anything—that would make sense of this. But he remained calm, serious.
"Grandpa... I can’t just get married like that. I don’t even know him," she finally stamred, her heart racing.
"This isn’t about what you want, Mira. It’s about what has to be done," he said firmly. "There’s no room for negotiation. The deal is already made. The car will be here in two days to take you to his mansion."
Tears stung Mira’s eyes, and she blinked them away, feeling helpless. "But why? Why are you doing this?"
Her grandfather looked down at the floor, the weight of his next words heavy in the air. "Your father owed a large debt to the CEO. He couldn’t repay it. This marriage is part of the repaynt."
Mira’s breath caught in her throat. "What? But Dad—he never told about any of this."
"He didn’t want to burden you," her grandfather said softly. "But now, it falls to you."
Mira felt as though the ground had fallen out from beneath her. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run away. But there was nowhere to go. No escape from the reality she now faced.
Before she could say anything more, her grandfather’s phone rang. He answered quickly, speaking in a low voice. When he hung up, he turned back to her. "Pack your things, Mira. You’re leaving today."
"What?" Mira’s voice shook. "Why today? You said I had two days!"
"They’re worried you might try to run," he said bluntly. "It’s better to go now and avoid any complications."
Mira’s tears finally spilled over, and she sobbed, feeling the crushing weight of her grandfather’s words. "I don’t want this. I don’t want to marry him."
Her grandfather’s face softened, but his voice remained steady. "I’m sorry, Mira. But this is the only way."
With that, he stood up, leaving her alone in the cold, suffocating silence of the apartnt.
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