“A year,” Weston said after a moment’s pause, his tone steady. “All I need is a year with you. The only condition is that you stay by my side. That cannot be changed. As for everything else, I will suit your needs.”
Stella’s gaze shifted, her thoughts clouded with doubt. She knew all too well that his words weren’t set in stone, but what could she do? She had no power in this situation, no matter how much she distrusted him.
“You’ll suit me for the rest?” she asked cautiously, trying to gauge his sincerity.
Weston gently combed his fingers through her hair, his eyes softening. “If I can, I will.”
Stella took in a sharp breath, the weight of his words settling uneasily in her chest. She hesitated before speaking again, her voice tentative. “Would you agree if I said I want to become an actress?”
She saw him stiffen, the tension clear in his body. Just as she expected, a brief moment of discomfort flashed across his face. She closed her eyes and laid back down, unable to mask the mockery in her voice. “Don’t make promises you can’t fulfill. I will—”
“Sure.”
Before she could finish, he interrupted, his voice unwavering.
Stella blinked in surprise, barely able to process his quick agreement. He turned her to face him, their gazes locking. “Any other requests?”
Seizing the opportunity, Stella bit her lip, her mind racing with the chance to ask for more. “In this one year, you can’t force me…”
Weston’s laughter rang out suddenly, deep and genuine. “Which part do you mean?”
It was clear to Stella that he knew exactly what she meant, and he was only teasing her. She straightened, her voice growing firm. “You can’t force me to have sex with you.”
“What if you beg me?” he asked with a playful smirk.
“I won’t.”
“It’s too soon to judge.” He reached out, his hand brushing toward her. But Stella quickly grabbed his wrist, holding him in place before he could touch her.
“You haven’t promised me anything yet.”
Weston paused, his fingers lingering in the air before gently resting on her face. He traced her features lightly before tapping the corner of her lips. “The words you say aren’t what your heart truly wants.”
Stella remained quiet, knowing that there was no use arguing with him about this. He would only use logic to manipulate her into submission. She exhaled, moving the conversation forward. “And one more thing. No one can ever know about us. When the year is up, we’ll go our separate ways. You can never bother me again.”
The seriousness in her voice was clear, a final plea to sever their ties completely. Weston’s gaze darkened, and he reached out, gently covering her eyes with his hand.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured.
She wanted an answer, though, and continued, determined. “Do you agree to these terms?”
He chuckled softly, but there was no amusement in his expression. “Where did you get the confidence that, a year from now, I’ll still be interested in you—just like I am now?”
Stella fell silent, her thoughts running deep. She wasn’t sure what her future would hold, but she couldn’t stay trapped in a hopeless situation forever. Finally, she spoke, her voice quiet but firm. “Let’s sign a contract. When the deadline comes, our relationship will be over, regardless of whether you’re still interested in me.”
Weston raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her boldness. “If you lose interest in me before the deadline, you can terminate the contract at any time. But when that year is up, you have to let me go. This is protection for both of us, don’t you think?”
Her gaze was unwavering as she met his eyes. “You’re talking about conditions with me?” she asked, a hint of challenge in her voice. “In business, you always have the upper hand, but you never show it with me.”
Weston knew that she was right. But now, she was serious in a way that surprised him.
“If you want something from me,” she continued, “at least give me some hope. If you keep me trapped here for the rest of my life, I don’t think I can hold on anymore.”
Her words cut through the tension, exposing the raw vulnerability beneath her tough exterior. Stella’s desperation was clear: it was either stay by his side, emotionally drained and dying inside, or give her a year with the possibility of release.
Weston would get what he wanted, but Stella would gain the one thing that had eluded her for so long—hope.
Skip to content