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The Son-in-Law Contract
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The Son-in-Law Contract

Otherlast updateLast Updated : 2026-03-16

By:  HerGhostOngoing

Language: English
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Dark RomanceFast-Paced PlotThird-Person POVHidden IdentityIndependentContract MarriageHate to LoveTwist

They call me Julian Mercer and I keep my head down because I learned the hard way that a name can be a target. I answered an ad for a rental and signed a paper I promised myself I’d never sign: a marriage contract. The job was simple — be the son-in-law for thirty days, take the money, be gone. The family needs a “son” to secure a heritage grant and I need the cash to buy a clean slate. What I didn’t plan for was the way Lila Ardmore looked at me like she already knew what I was hiding. Another thing I didn’t plan for was the ledger in an old piano and the way a neighbor called my mother’s name, and the knot in my gut that felt like an alarm the night someone tried to burn the past into ash. I came to act. I stayed to fix what I broke, and the longer I stayed the more I realized the man I was taught to be will not survive who I have to become. If you want my story, read it from where the dark starts.

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Chapter 1

THE CONTRACT

Nathan was furious.

There were a lot of things that could cause a man's heart rate to increase rapidly; lots of dreadful things. Sadness clouded his features as his face went blank.

'We're sorry to inform you that…'

The rest of the lines on the phone's screen were redundant. They'd rejected his job offer. Again!

He glanced up to the ceiling and his eyes filled with hot tears. Shutting them tight, Nathan hoped the tears would stop. His lips pursed, pale blue eyes burning with hurtful rage.

He hasn't noticed Doris watching. Doris was his beautiful wife, blessed with all the amazing features that could ever make up a successful woman. She was rich, smart, gorgeous and kind hearted. But he? He was a disaster for a husband. So he thought, even though Doris had told him countless times that they were just going through a rough ride, and they would someday get over it. Nathan was poor, but hardworking. There was almost no company in New York that didn't know him, as he'd visited them all, submitting his CV for employment, but for some unfortunate reasons, they'd all declined him.

"Honey?" Doris' voice, calm and conforming, called as she made her way over to her husband. She sat beside him, hands caressing his jet black hair. "What is it?"

Nathan blinked fast, his eyes still red from his suppressed tears. He hoped Doris wouldn't notice. "Uh, love. Nothing." He lied, forcing on his lips a convincing smile.

Doris's brown eyes shone bright at him. "Are you sure?"

"Of course." He replied, a little loud. "Good morning to my beautiful wife." He grinned wildly, hoping she would let the topic slide.

"Morning to my handsome prince," Doris said in a cheery voice, then kissed her husband. They loved each other, and that was what mattered, right?

No.

Money mattered too. Doris was the breadwinner of the family, and he wasn't complaining. But for how long?

The smile on Nathan's face fitted him. His cheery eyes glinted brightly, revealing the youthfulness that resided inside of him, one that had been long hidden for a while now. That was how he was supposed to live. Happy, young, well elated and intoxicated with joy. "Doris?" He called.

"Huh?"

There was a short pause. "You do know that I love you, right?" He said, the corners of his mouth quirked up, and the compliment brought up a warm smile on Doris's face.

"Yes of course." She replied. Doris loved her husband, and it was in that moment that it struck her. She could offer a solution to their problem, even though she knew he might not like him. "Honey, I uh, I was thinking of something." Furrowed brows shot at her. "Why don't you ask my mother for a job?"

There it was.

The slight frown that hinted the right amount of disgust in his eyes.

"No, listen. She is the right person to help, don't you think? Mother is well established and I've asked her myself to support you, but it would be more respectful if you could bring yourself to meet her as well." She quickly defended herself. "Think about it, honey. Mother is well connected, and she can help you with it."

Nathan knew she was right, but it was a terrible idea. He couldn't tell her his side of the story, because it would only end up hurting her. He smiled instead, "okay. I will."

Doris's eyes livened with satisfaction. "Alright honey. Thank you for listening." She sighed in a breath of relief. Doris knew her mother so well. If Nathan didn't come up with a good job soon, her mother would force her to divorce him, and marry her off to some frightening but wealthy old man!

✩★✩

Doris had called him several times, but he seemed to have been in a hurry. She visited the hospital to get her check up results, and had arrived home to announce to her husband great news that she was with a child. But suddenly, outside had been more important for him to visit at that particular hour. Hopefully, all was alright with him.

✩★✩

The day had dimmed and night was drawing in. Nathan was terrified… terrified of a lot of things. He needed to clear his head, and so he dashed out, plodding into the silent street of their little town.

The view in Ettavile was always quite fascinating to him. The avenue was lined with oak trees, providing just enough oxygen to refresh the brain. That was the more reason he loved taking strolls whenever he was feeling down. It helped him think more clearly. He decided to take a slow walk, one that wouldn't lead him down the busy areas where shops and bars and restaurants dominated the surrounding, as well as the location that habited the crowds. He needed to think straight - alone.

The cool breeze pricked his skin, holding the scent of earthy fragrance around the surrounding.

Doris Castile was a lovely woman, the only problem was her family.

When Nathan was only ten, the Castiles had taken him in and since then, adopted him. They did feed and clothe him, but they weren't nice people and often treated him poorly.

They loathed him to the very core, and it was all because he and their daughter had gone ahead and followed their hearts. The hatred grew double in size when he and Doris had secretly gotten married after they had hesitantly refused.

The marriage that had happened against their will, forced them to grow immeasurable hatred towards him. Nathan had been to his mother in law before for help, pleading that he truly loved their daughter and only wanted to work hard to take care of her. And what had she done in return? She laughed at him, mocking him before kicking him out. He just couldn't share that tale to his wife, thus, smiling innocently and agreeing to meet up with her even when he'd already done so before, seemed to have been the right next thing to do.

Telling Doris would only cause her heart to ache.

The phone in his pocket vibrated, and Nathan brought it out to see it ringing. There was no name on the screen, and Nathan wasn't familiar with the number.

So he declined it, and went on with his stroll.

✩★✩

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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    • Ria Rome

      10

      It’s giving system and romance…I’ve never seen this begire

      2025-12-11 03:20:41
      0
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    63 chapters
    THE CONTRACT
    “Julian Mercer?”The woman’s voice was clipped, British, and laced with suspicion. She stood by the porch, her white blouse too crisp for the heat, her eyes sharp like she could see straight through the lie I’d written on the form.“That’s me,” I said, keeping my tone calm and my hands buried in my pockets.Her gaze flicked over me once; the cheap duffel, the rolled sleeves, the way I avoided the gold band on her finger. She nodded toward the doorway. “You’re late.”I almost told her that people like me are born late, always running behind what they’re owed, but I bit my tongue. Instead, I stepped into the house that smelled of lemon polish and old money.The Ardmore estate wasn’t a home; it was a reminder that time and wealth could be passed down like blood. Portraits stared down at me — stern men in dark suits, women who probably never laughed in public.“This way,” the woman said. “Mr. Ardmore is waiting.”I followed her into a library that looked untouched by dust or affection. A
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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    THE SMOKE AND THE TRUTH
    “Someone tried to burn it?” Lila’s voice was tight, sharp with disbelief, though her eyes looked more afraid than surprised.“Yeah,” I said, staring at the scorched piano. “You wanna tell me why someone would torch a century-old instrument and a book that shouldn’t exist?”She crossed her arms, barefoot again, hair tangled from sleep. “Because some things aren’t meant to be remembered.”“Like my mother?” I asked before I could stop myself.Her head snapped up. “What did you say?”I rubbed my neck, trying to calm the edge in my tone. “That ledger had her initials. H.M. Helena Mercer. She used to play this piano, didn’t she?”Lila hesitated — and that silence told me more than any denial could. She looked like she was searching for the right lie but couldn’t find one. “You shouldn’t go digging into things that don’t belong to you, Julian.”“Maybe they always did,” I said quietly.The room felt smaller, the air too heavy. A broken string from the piano hung loose, faintly trembling as if
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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    THE DOOR THAT DOESN’T OPEN
    “Great,” I muttered, rattling the handle again. It didn’t budge. “He locked us in.”Lila’s voice was barely a whisper. “He doesn’t usually come down here.”“Yeah? Guess I’m an exception.”The air was colder below ground, thick with the scent of old stone and smoke. My flashlight beam trembled against the walls, catching faint shapes — boxes stacked along the edges, shelves lined with framed photos, and something that looked too much like an altar.Lila stood a few steps away, her arms wrapped around herself. “You shouldn’t have followed me.”I aimed the light at her face, and she flinched. “You knew this was here. You led me straight to it.”Her chin lifted in quiet defiance. “I didn’t lead you anywhere. You were already following the ghosts.”“Don’t twist it,” I said. “You knew my mother. You knew what happened to her.”Her eyes softened. “I only know what they let me know. The rest… they buried.”I stepped closer, the floor creaking under my boots. “Then help me dig.”She exhaled, s
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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    THE PLACE WHERE SHE FELL
    Everyone in the house was asleep, but the air felt awake — thick, heavy, almost watching. Every step Lila and I took down the staircase groaned beneath our weight, like the house was trying to warn us.“Are you sure about this?” she whispered.“No,” I said, flashing the light toward the east wing. “But that’s never stopped me before.”The piano room smelled faintly of char and varnish, the kind of scent that clung to memory long after it should’ve faded. We pushed the tarp aside again, exposing the blackened floorboards. Lila crouched near the corner, running her fingers along the cracks.“It’s here,” she murmured. “Look at the nails — these boards were replaced.”I knelt beside her, tracing the seam. “How do we open it?”She hesitated. “We don’t. If my father sealed it, there’s a reason.”“Yeah,” I said. “The truth.”I wedged the screwdriver between two planks and pried. The wood creaked, old nails giving way one by one until a hollow sound echoed beneath. Lila held the flashlight st
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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    THE WEIGHT OF ASHES
    We didn’t stop driving until the estate disappeared completely from the rearview mirror. The road stretched ahead like an open wound, empty and endless, and the only sound was the hum of the engine and Lila’s uneven breathing beside me.She stared out the window, her reflection ghosted in the glass. “He’s not going to let us walk away.”“I know.” My voice was low, controlled, the way it used to get when things fell apart. “That’s why we don’t walk. We run.”I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. The night was thick, the headlights cutting through it like a blade. Somewhere behind us, the Ardmore estate stood — a nest of lies, fire, and blood. Somewhere behind us, Thomas Ardmore was already planning his next move.Lila turned to me. “Where are we going?”“Somewhere quiet. I know a place.”She didn’t ask how. She didn’t have to. The way I said it made her understand that men like me always have a place to disappear.We stopped at a rundown inn near the coast, where the walls smelled
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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     THE PRICE OF SURVIVAL
    The first thing I felt was pain. Not sharp — deep. The kind that crawled through bone and memory, dragging everything dark with it.The second thing was sound. Beeping. A slow, stubborn rhythm, the kind hospitals use to measure how alive you still are.I opened my eyes to a ceiling the color of paper and air that tasted like disinfectant. My head throbbed, my ribs felt wrapped in knives. When I turned, light seared the edge of my vision.“Don’t move.”Her voice came from the corner — low, shaking, but unmistakable. Lila.She stepped into view, her hair messy, eyes rimmed red. “You’ve been out for almost two days.”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Where…?”“An old clinic outside the city,” she said quickly. “A friend of mine from university — she owes me. No records, no questions.”I tried to sit up, but pain clawed through my side. “The car?”“Gone. Burned. Whoever hit you wanted to make sure there was nothing left.”I looked at her. “You saw them?”She hesitated, then shook her head
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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     THE ECHO OF HER NAME
    The sea was restless that morning, gray waves folding into each other, dragging the past out with every pull. The old car rattled along the coastal road, the horizon nothing but salt and wind. Julian’s hand was still wrapped in gauze, his knuckles stiff, his ribs bruised from the crash, but his eyes were clear now — too clear, like someone who’d finally stepped out of the fire only to find there was no smoke left to hide in.Lila hadn’t spoken in hours. She sat curled against the window, watching the water shift colors as dawn rose over it. Her reflection trembled in the glass, pale and tired, hair tangled from the wind. The silence between them had changed; it wasn’t sharp anymore, just hollow, like both of them had said too much already.Julian stopped the car at a deserted stretch of beach. The sand was coarse and cold, the tide coming in slow. He stepped out first, his boots sinking into the damp ground, the wind tugging at his coat. Lila followed without a word, her bare feet tra
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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    THE WEIGHT OF QUIET THINGS
    The air had the chill of places that never really forget winter. The road cut through a narrow valley lined with bare trees, the kind that bent slightly in the wind as though bowing to everything that had already passed. The world was quiet now — too quiet. Lila sat with her knees pulled up, the radio humming static, her gaze fixed on the map that no longer mattered. Julian drove like a man chasing direction through memory, his eyes trained on the horizon but his mind somewhere else entirely.They had been running for months. Not from the law, not exactly — though headlines still called them missing — but from what survival demanded. Freedom had its own kind of captivity; it made you realize what you’d lost just to stay alive.When they stopped that night, it was at a motel that looked like a bruise against the sky — one flickering neon sign, one tired clerk, one room that smelled faintly of rain and old smoke. Lila dropped her bag near the bed and sat, her hair spilling loose as she
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-10-21
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    THE WOMAN IN THE SHADOWS
    The sound came again closer this time soft and measured, the rhythm of someone who had every right to be there. Lila’s breath caught, and Julian’s hand moved instinctively to the small gun holstered beneath his coat. The firelight from the half-collapsed room flickered weakly against the wet walls, painting ghosts that moved when they didn’t.Then a shape appeared at the far end of the corridor, framed by what was left of the doorway. For a heartbeat the world forgot how to breathe.The woman stepped into the light. Her hair was streaked with silver, her coat heavy and worn, her face both familiar and strange older, thinner, but unmistakable. The lines around her mouth were carved by years of silence, and her eyes, though dimmer, still carried the same deliberate calm that once could stop a room.Julian froze. “Mom?”Her voice trembled but didn’t break. “You shouldn’t have come back, Julian.”Lila turned, her hand tightening around his sleeve. “Helena?”The woman’s gaze flicked to her
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-11-16
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    THE GHOSTS THAT FOLLOW
    The wind blew hard across the cliffs that morning, dragging the mist inland and swallowing what was left of the old Ardmore estate. It had been days since they found Helena, and yet Julian couldn’t shake the feeling that the house itself still breathed beneath the rubble. There were whispers in the stone, the kind that didn’t fade just because you wanted them to.They set up camp in what used to be the gardener’s cottage a small structure that somehow survived the fire. Lila stood at the window, arms folded, her reflection fractured in the cracked glass. The sea roared below them, and with it came the faint metallic groan of the ruined gate swinging in the wind.“She’s not sleeping,” Helena said quietly from the corner, voice soft as a prayer. “She listens for ghosts.”Julian didn’t turn. “There are plenty to listen to.”The old woman’s eyes, still sharp under their wear, drifted toward the piano keys she’d salvaged just a handful of them, scattered on the table like relics. “You do
    last updateLast Updated : 2025-11-16
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