Our Marriage Contract

Chapter 2: Our Marriage Contract

Eira stood outside the grand old building, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat as she stared up at the entrance.

The courthouse, where she was about to register her marriage. She took a deep breath, feeling how every nerve was about to come out from her body system.

Inside, waiting for her, was the man she had chosen to marry. A man she hardly knew but needed more than anyone else right now. Her father's biggest enemy.

Callian Reed.

He was everything her father hated—tall, handsome, filthy rich, and not afraid to speak his mind.

Callian was known for his sharp wit, sarcastic comments, and playful attitude. But behind that charm, there was a powerful man who had been fighting Eira's father for years.

And today, he was about to become her husband.

Not out of love, of course. This was just business.

Eira pushed open the doors and walked inside.

Callian was standing at the far end of the room, leaning casually against a desk, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

At 6'3", he was like a mountain, looking at everyone in the room with his short black hair neatly styled.

His dark eyes blinked when he saw her finally enter.

"Well, well, look who decided to show up," Callian said with a teasing smile on his face. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

Eira rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "As if I have a choice."

Callian pushed off the desk and walked over to her, so confidently and smoothly, almost in slow motion.

"You always have a choice, sweetheart. But let me remind you—this isn't a fairy tale. Don't go falling in love with me, okay? This is just business."

Eira snorted. "Trust me, Callian, I won't."

He grinned. "Good. Because I'm not the settling-down type. I'm only doing this to get under your father's skin."

"That makes two of us," Eira replied.

They stood in silence for a moment, both thinking of what they were about to do.

Eira hadn't chosen Callian lightly. She needed someone strong, powerful, someone her father feared.

And Callian was the perfect candidate.

She had found him through her own research, learning about his long-standing feud with her father. It was personal—Callian had lost a lot because of him.

So when she approached him with the idea of a marriage, a way to unite their forces and bring her father down, Callian hadn't hesitated.

He agreed on the spot.

Of course, he made it clear it wasn't out of kindness. Callian was in this for himself, to destroy her father, just like she was. There were no romantic illusions here.

"Are you ready for this?" Callian asked, looking down at her with a raised eyebrow.

Eira nodded. "I've been ready for years."

He gave a slow nod. "Alright, then. Let's get this over with."

They walked to the registrar's desk together, standing side by side as the official paperwork was laid out in front of them. Eira glanced at Callian, who gave her a smirk.

"You know," he said quietly, "we could just go to Vegas and get this done in style."

"Very funny," Eira muttered, picking up the pen.

"I'm serious," Callian said in a lighter tone. "You, me, a tacky chapel, a celebrity impersonator—it'd be unforgettable."

She shook her head, trying not to laugh. "Just sign the papers, Callian."

He chuckled softly and signed his name with a flourish. "You're no fun."

As Eira signed her own name, she felt strange.

This was it.

The first real step in her plan. Marrying Callian gave her a powerful ally—someone who could help her take her father down.

But it also tied her to a man who was unpredictable, sarcastic, and clearly enjoyed pushing her buttons.

Callian leaned closer. "Last chance to back out, Eira. Are you sure you can handle being Mrs. Reed?"

Eira looked up at him. "I can handle anything, Callian. Especially you."

He grinned again, that same playful, almost cunning smile. "I like you, Eira. You've got guts."

The registrar cleared his throat, pulling their attention back to the paperwork. "Congratulations, you are now legally married."

Callian straightened up, offering his arm with exaggerated politeness. "Shall we, Mrs. Reed?"

Eira took his arm, feeling the cool confidence coming from him. "Don't push your luck, Callian."

He laughed, guiding her toward the exit. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it. Remember, this is just the beginning. I still need to inform my family about my marriage, you know. They always thought I would just impregnate some random gold-diggers and make our family's business collapse."

"You didn't inform them?!"

"Why would I?" Callian shrugged. "I'm twenty-five years old. I'm not a child, having to report everything back to my parents."

"I can't believe you…"

"Neither will my parents. So you're not the only one. We should wait for the shock in my parents' eyes when they find out whose daughter you are."

Eira let out a long sigh, but she walked beside Callian, her new husband, as if they were childhood friends and nothing more.

"You know, about the nights together. What do you think if we—"

"Not happening," Eira cut his ideas immediately. "The contract is for one year… and one year only, Callian."

"Yes. But what if I have my needs?"

"So hire someone for that. Why should I suffer because you have needs?"

"You're my wife now, so it's basically our problem, starting from today."

"Your problem, Callian. And anyway, I'd like to start plotting everything from today."

Callian smiled. "Do you have anything in mind?"

"Yes. The auction. I want my father to meet the ghost."

The corners of his lips lifted even more. "Straight to action… Henry Blackwood's daughter is the one to bring him down. The irony." He shook his head.

"Just shut up and follow my words."