Claire stood by her apartment window, watching the busy city below. It felt like everyone was moving on. But inside, she was stuck. Ethan's proposal kept echoing in her head.
All night, she tossed and turned. A marriage contract? It sounded so strange and distant, but it also seemed necessary. Her heart was torn. She wanted to help her family with their huge debts. But marrying a guy she barely knew felt wrong.
She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Her finger paused over her mom's name. What would she even say? Hey, Mom, a businessman wants to marry me to help our family. It just felt off.
"Is this the only way?" Claire whispered, breaking the silence. She sat at the kitchen table, her hands shaking. "Think about it. You can keep struggling, or you can take this chance."
The temptation was strong. If she said yes to Ethan, her family's debts would be gone. She could start her event planning business without fear. No more calling creditors and worrying about losing their homes. The freedom sounded amazing.
But there was a part of her that couldn't accept marrying for anything less than love. She always dreamed of a future built on respect and feelings. Marriage was supposed to mean something special. It shouldn't be a deal.
Claire walked to her bedroom and looked at the family photos on the wall. There was her little sister beaming, her mom proud at her graduation, and a picture of her dad, who worked hard until his business fell apart. The weight of their hopes pressed down on her. Was she making the right choice?
What if she couldn't handle this alone? Claire had always been the one fixing things for her family. But this felt different. She couldn't carry everything anymore.
Yet, every time she thought of saying yes to Ethan, it felt like she was losing part of herself. Was it worth it? Could she marry a guy she didn't love to have the life she wanted?
Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. It was a message from her best friend, Mia.
"Hey, girl, how's it going? I'm here if you need to talk."
Claire looked at the message. She could tell Mia everything. But she felt ashamed. She didn't want to burden her friend, especially with something so personal.
She slid back to the living room and flopped onto the couch. The pressure of the decision made it hard to think. She had to figure this out by herself.
The future was unclear. Saying yes could give her the life she always wanted, but it might lead to regret too. What did Ethan want? Did he want to help her, or was this a trick? If she agreed, what would her life be like? Would she feel okay knowing her success came from a deal?
The room felt smaller. Claire's mind raced with questions. What did she truly want? A business built on a compromise, or a chance to find love and success her way?
As the day went on, Claire felt pulled in two directions. The choice felt huge. Should she accept the deal or trust herself to find another way?
The silence in her apartment was heavy as she waited for an answer. But no answer came.
Suddenly, Claire understood something. There might never be a perfect choice. Life sometimes gave you tough options, and you had to choose, even if it meant losing a part of yourself.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Ethan.
"Have you made a decision?" it said.
Claire stared at the screen, unsure how to reply. Should she say yes? Trust Ethan's offer? Or walk away and find her way?
Taking a deep breath, she put her phone down. She wasn't ready to decide yet. Not today.
But tomorrow? Tomorrow, she would have to choose.
As she sank back into the couch, her mind filled with thoughts. Each idea pulled her into a future that was still unclear.