Ethan's hands trembled as he walked toward Cassandra Paige's office. The salary deduction notice had arrived that morning—another blow he couldn't afford. Missing the monthly quota meant his already meager paycheck would shrink further, and with his mounting debts, he had no idea how he'd make it through the month.He knocked on the heavy oak door, his heart pounding. A cold "Enter" was all he got in response.Cassandra Paige sat behind her massive desk, not bothering to look up from her tablet as he entered. The morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast her in sharp relief—expensive suit, perfect posture, an air of dismissive authority that made the spacious office feel suffocating."Ms. Paige, about the salary deduction—" Ethan began, fighting to keep his voice steady."You failed to meet your quota," she cut him off, still not looking up. "The deduction stands.""Please, I can explain—""Your explanation won't change the numbers, Mr. Moore." She finall

The house felt suffocated but the idea of him living in the Paige’s family house was more than suffocating for Ethan. He couldn’t move freely in the house without the servants taking down at him. He felt more like a slave in his own house. But it was comforting with the contract he had signed. Ethan knew it was just a year, and it was only a matter of time before it lapsed. He didn’t understand why Cassandra had orchestrated the marriage anyway. All he knew was that he was picked out of many men who were in the company. Ethan was given a post in the organization just to make him look good. Everyone knows that the list meant nothing as Ethan would just sit down ideally without doing anything. He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. He has had a long day, and he needed all the rest. The door to his room opened gently. He looked at the time and looked back at Cassandra, who was putting on a beautiful velvet gown. He watched her as she took off her clothes. His eyes darted towards

Everything happened so fast. Both lay on the bed, breathing heavily. Ethan looked beside him to see that Cassandra was fast asleep. He gently got up with a white bedspread around him and walked into the bathroom to have his bath. He looked at her once and again before he drifted into a long sleep. [THE NEXT DAY] The loud noise of Cassandra woke him up. “What did you do to me?” She asked with anger. Ethan yawned; he felt so tired, but the lash he received on his back sent an electric jolt to his brain. He opened his eyes in a hurry. “What is it, Cassandra?” Ethan looked at her. “Are you seriously asking me that?” Cassandra said, fuming in anger. She opened the bedspread again and saw she was naked. “Did we?” She looked at him anxiously.“Are you asking if we had sex?” Ethan asked, not sure of what to tell her. “You know what I mean, Ethan, and don't you play dumb with me!” “You got home yesterday and you were drunk. You asked for this,“ Ethan said immediately trying to defend hims

Meanwhile, back at Paige's family, they were all glad. “It's a good thing you got rid of him.” Tiffany said with a wide grin. “Why now?” Cassandra’s father asked, staring at her in the face. “I got what I wanted. I see no reason why I should keep him around.” Cassandra said with a smirk etched on her face. “And what is that?” Frank Paige asked. Cassandra was about to talk when her phone rang. “Is that Williams?” Tiffany asked. Cassandra nodded, getting out of her sofa chair. She walked briskly into the other room, where her parents could hear her giggle with laughter. “Mom, what do you think about planning the biggest wedding in town?” Cassandra asked, staring at her mother. “Did he pop the question? Did he ask you out?” Tiffany looked at her. “Yes, Williams would like to marry me, but of course I need to divorce Ethan.” “Why didn't you think of getting him a divorce letter before you decided to end things with him?” Frank looked at her. “Because the marriage was a scam. I see no

A day was picked for Cassandra and William’s wedding. It was the talk of the town with many in anticipation about it. “ Are you ready?” Miranda asked, looking at Ethan in the face. “ I don’t know why but I feel a little bit anxious.” Ethan replied. “ You are not tied to the Paige anymore. You are with me now.” Miranda Said with a smile on his face. “ What do you have on Williams Hargrove?” Ethan looked at her. “ Why don’t we make this more interesting?” Miranda said sharply. “ Interesting? How?” “ Why don’t we get married?” Miranda asked, looking at him. “ Married? Why would you want to marry a man with nothing? Look at me.” Ethan said pitifully “ I don’t think I am ready to get married again. Not after what happened to me the last time.” “ I am not, Cassandra and I will never do anything to hurt you.” She said slowly. Before Ethan could move away any further, She planted a kiss on Ethan’s lips. Miranda’s bold move left Ethan stunned, his mind racing with conflicting emotions