Adriana’s POV 

He was curt and blunt, but not necessarily rude. He just looked like he wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.

 “Fine, give me a minute.”

  My eyes scrolled through the document, with only my signature on it, I would become his wife–at least on paper. I came from a fairly wealthy background here, but compared to Mr Williams it was clear to all who had eyes that he was leagues ahead–he was a freaking billionaire.

 I spied him with the corner of my eye, and he quickly got onto it. 

 “Are you done, yet?” He seemed really impatient.

 “Do you mind if I ask a couple of questions?” I said, still gently holding out the papers.

 His eyebrows furrowed together, and his dark circles seemed to go deeper. 

“What kind of questions exactly?” he asked, his tone suspicious. 

 “This contract says that you want me to give you a child. That is all you need, because I don't–”

 “Yes,” he cut in sharply, as if he was on a timer, “If it is not already obvious enough to you, I have some health struggles.” The last words left his lips as if he was unsure of them, as though he needed to turn someone on and tap them to confirm.

 “Shouldn't you get treated first before trying for a child?” I stated the obvious. 

 “Don't worry, we will be using artificial insemination. "I'd already donated the sperm while I was in better health.” I knew that this wasn't a marriage of love, but rather the farthest thing from it. That still didn't mean that the whole technicality of this transaction didn't sting.

I've always been a romantic, so if someone had told me that one day I would be discussing my marriage and childbirth like I was trying to buy company bonds, I might have heard a seizure in the past.

 “Do you mind telling me what illness you're suffering from?” I asked. We were going to be living under the same roof. I felt like it was only natural that I should know.

 He gripped the arm of the chair. “It's not contagious so you don't have to worry about it,” he replied sharply, not meeting my eyes for some reason. 

 “What if there's an emergency?” I asked, “How will I–”

“You won't have to do anything,” he told me quickly, “You're not my doctor or my maid, so you don't owe me any obligations such as that…” 

 He sighed heavily, his voice growing hoarse.

 “Besides, there's nothing you can do, even if there is an emergency…” his voice became somewhat resigned. “I don't have much longer."" Maybe I'll be able to see the birth of the baby. "" Maybe I won't. "" All that matters to me is that there is someone carrying my blood and my legacy, and I'm fine with that,” he suddenly flashed his eyes at me, the look of irritation written all over his face. 

 “Why do you actually want to know so much about me? ""Are you going to take it to the press?” His fingers sunk into the cushioned chair, his back straightened up, and his eyes were cutting through me. 

 “Of course not. Why would you think–”

 “Well, because no matter how I look at it, all this works out in my favor. All I need from you is the conception of a child–nothing else. This relationship will not be exposed to the public. It will be a private affair, but you will inherit half of my property when I pass away without fail.” 

  My mouth fell open to make an argument and then closed back up. I finally managed to speak the second time. 

“What about the child? Who will take care of the child when you pass away?”

 Those words were cold, but they needed to be asked.

“Don't worry, just focus on your own responsibilities. I've already made plans for the baby.”

I gasped, just because I had come here mostly on impulse didn't mean that it was the same on his side as well. He had meticulously ironed out the details on his own end.

  After giving the document one more once over, I signed it and, just like that, became Mrs Adriana Williams.

  The room I occupied in the Williams mansion was large enough to cozily contain an entire family. There were diligent maids that waited at my hand and foot, catering to my every need with speed and precision. It was like I had finally taken that long vacation that I had been putting off forever, but gradually, ever so gradually, the four walls of the mansion grew so suffocating, I could hardly breathe.

 I’d gone to see Mr Williams for his studies. He had been reaching for a bottle of water while setting down another one filled with tablets as I stepped in.

“Mr Williams!” He nearly knocked the bottle off the table, then reflexively grabbed it and gulped down its contents before shooting me a glare.

 “I would appreciate it if you knocked next time, Adriana,” he slid the tablets off the table into his lap so quickly that it was out of my sight in a blur.

 I'd been in his mansion for almost a month and I still had no idea what he was struggling with, and he was not forthcoming with the details.

 “I'd like to go shopping tomorrow. I thought I ought to tell you–”

“Shopping?” He repeated after me, as though that was the first time he had ever come across the word.

“That's what the maids are for–better yet, just order it online,” he said, running his fingers through his hair.

 I gaped at him until my brain constructed my next words.

 “I'm sorry, did I miss a part of our contract that said I would be under house arrest?” I spoke bluntly, planting my hands on my hips.

 “There's no such thing,” he said, opening the book in front of him and trailing his fingers all over.

 “But I think there's something I didn't make clear,

so let me fix that mistake right now,”