Suddenly, without a word to anyone else in the room, Harris stood up from his chair, picked up his small daughter in his arms, and left the office. The little girl waved goodbye to me with her tiny hand as they exited. Harris returned a few seconds later, looking very serious, and sat bac

"Sofia, here are the documents. They are the marriage contract," he said.

"Fine, let's sign them, and I'll leave. I can't waste any more time. As I've already mentioned, I also have work to do at m

"Not so fast, Sofia. Let my lawyer go over the contract clauses, and you can decide freely whether to accept them or not. Although, if you decide not to, the tabloids will know about you

"Excuse me, Mr. Harris, but this seems more like blackmail than a contr

"Take it as you want, but those

We stared at each other intently. I wasn't sure if it was his fiery gaze or his sweet face, but I felt a burning sensation inside that made me feel u

"Ms. Lopez, if you agree to marry my client," the lawyer spoke, "you will receive a certain amount of money. You will have to accompany your husband to various social events, but don't worry, because Mr. Harris will provide you with a card with generous funds to buy whatever you need. Additionally, all your needs will be covered by your soon-to-be husband, Mr. Harris," he finished saying.

I stood up from my chair, feeling deeply offended.

"Mr. Harris, I am perfectly capable of buying anything I desire. I don't need your money as I'm not going to beg from you. I have a good job and a good salary to buy all the luxuries I want," I responded.

"Sit down, Sofia. There is something you don't know. You no longer have a job. I have made sure that the firm fires you. Now what do you say?" he said, seeing a sarcastic smile on Harris's face.

"What? What did you do? That's impossible. The firm wouldn't fire me without notifying me first," I responded, very angry.

"It would be best if you sat down, Ms. Lopez, please," the lawyer said.

"Sofia, I can't waste any more time. I am offering you a very serious proposal, and it's in your interest to listen," Harris said, raising his voice.

I looked at him seriously and remained still. I realized he was not a man to be disobeyed. His gaze made my blood freeze in seconds, so I sat back down in the chair without being able to say anything else.

"I like that better, being somewhat obedient. Now, can we continue with the conditions I impose?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Well, Ms. Lopez, I'll continue reading," said the lawyer. "Acceptance of this contract has certain consequences that will come into effect once signed. The marriage will take place in two days in a discreet and private civil ceremony, obligating you to reside under the same roof as Mr. Harris and his young daughter, fulfilling the roles of wife and mother," he said.

"Wait a minute. I have no intention of sharing a bed with you. One thing is to marry you because you're blackmailing me, but I'm not going to be your personal whore in bed. Forget it; I'm not willing," I responded.

"Sofia, can't you keep your mouth shut for a moment? Or don't you understand that you're not in a position to do whatever you want? These are the conditions and they are imposed by me. So please shut up and listen," Harris said very seriously.

"You must ask your husband for permission to leave the house or for any activity you wish to do, always being at home when Mr. Harris returns from work and ensuring that his daughter Cintia is taken care of. When attending events and accompanying your husband, there must be displays of affection. You are not allowed to have relationships outside the marriage, as it would be a breach of the contract, and Mr. Harris could use statements about your past life against you in the tabloids."

When Harris's lawyer finished the sentence, I felt my cheeks burning. I was so angry that I would have left that office without looking back, knowing that the adorable little girl was my daughter and that Harris would expose my dirty laundry.

"Can I leave now? There are many conditions, and I need to think about it," I said, intimidated by Harris's piercing gaze.

"Can I continue, Ms. Lopez?" the lawyer asked.

"Yes, please, but Mr. Harris, all this is-"

"Sofia, SHUT UP, I can't waste any more time. I beg you to keep quiet," Harris shouted at me.

"Let's move on to the part that obliges a married woman to her husband," said the lawyer, seeing me react with a small gasp while he smiled, the men in the room looking at me.

"There are clauses obligating you to engage in marital relations with your future husband, Mr. Harris. You must respect the sexual activities your husband desires, without sexual limits, ranging from-" the lawyer started to say.

"Alright, stop, please. That will be dealt with later. This is just a contractual marriage. I don't know why he chose me, but those practices you mentioned will be of mutual agreement when both of us feel that need. I'm not going to let you delve into all my-"

"Ms. Lopez, I know this part makes you uncomfortable, but we want you to understand the implications this contract brings. Once you sign, it means you accept all the conditions Mr. Harris demands," the lawyer said.

I sat in silence, trying to absorb what the lawyer was saying. It was clear that Mark Harris was not playing around and had every angle covered. I knew I couldn't afford to reject this proposal without facing severe consequences. But the idea of having to give up so much of my personal and professional life made me feel sick.

"I understand," I replied, striving to keep my voice firm. "But I need time to think about all this. I can't make such an important decision right now."

Mark Harris looked at me with a mix of impatience and determination. He stood up from his chair and approached me, leaning slightly to look directly into my eyes.

"Sofia," he said in a low but firm tone, "you don't have time to think. The clauses are clear, and there is no room for negotiation. You sign the contract now, or you face the consequences."

I felt a lump in my throat and a heavy weight in my chest. I had no choice. I knew that, even though my pride and dignity were at stake, I had to protect my daughter. I couldn't let my life and career be destroyed by stubbornly standing up to this powerful man.

"Very well," I finally said, my voice trembling but resolute. "I'll sign the contract."

Harris's lawyer handed me a pen and the documents. My hands shook as I signed them, feeling like each stroke of the pen sealed my fate. When I finished, I looked at Harris with a mixture of defiance and resignation.

"Now that I've signed, can I go?" I asked.

Harris nodded, a satisfied smile crossing his face.

"Yes, you can go. We'll see each other in two days for the ceremony," he said, returning to his cold and distant tone.

I stood up from the chair and left the office, feeling like I had left a part of myself behind. As I walked toward the elevator, the reality of what I had just done hit me with full force. I had signed a contract that tied me to a man I barely knew, obligating me to fulfill conditions that seemed inhumane. But I did it for Cintia. I would protect her at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing my own freedom and happiness.

When I reached my car, I sat behind the wheel and let the tears flow freely. I knew I had to be strong, but in that moment, I allowed myself to be vulnerable. I knew the battle was just beginning and that I would face many challenges in the days and months ahead. But I also knew I wasn't alone. I had Cintia, and for her, I would fight with all my strength.

I started the car and drove back home, determined to find a way to overcome this situation and protect my daughter. I would not let Mark Harris dictate my life. I would find a way to regain my freedom and dignity, no matter what it took.