Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 54: The Contract

Chapter 54: The Contract

Rain heard Alexander cough, prompting her to quickly pull away from Clifford’s hug. She had thought Clifford would be arriving in three days, but his early return was a pleasant surprise.

"Oh, you have a guest," Clifford remarked with a casual hum, his eyes briefly flicking to Alexander.

Rain nodded and turned to Alexander, gesturing towards Clifford. "Yes, this is Alexander Lancaster," she introduced, her tone slightly hesitant as she gauged Alexander’s reaction.

Clifford extended his hand to Alexander with a friendly smile. "Hi, I’m Clifford White."

Rain gulped as she noticed Alexander simply staring at Clifford’s outstretched hand, an awkward tension settling over the room. "Alexander," she called softly, and he finally turned to look at her.

His expression was dark, and Rain couldn’t understand why he seemed so upset. Frowning, she gently scolded, "Be nice to my best friend."

Reluctantly, Alexander shook Clifford’s hand.

"Nice to meet you," Clifford said, though his smile faltered slightly at the cold reception.

"I’m Alexander, Rain’s husband," Alexander suddenly announced.

Rain’s eyes widened, caught off guard by his bold statement. ’What’s with him?!’

Clifford’s expression darkened as he turned to Rain. "Husband? What’s going on, Rain?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

Rain gulped, feeling the tension rise. "I’ll explain everything to you later," she assured him, trying to keep her voice calm.

Clifford looked back at Alexander, who seemed to be gripping his hand a bit too firmly. "I think that’s enough of a handshake," Clifford said, clearly uncomfortable.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Rain quickly intervened. "Your room is over there," she said, pointing toward one of the doors. "Go ahead and settle in. I’ll finish up here with Alexander and then catch up with you."

Clifford nodded, giving her a concerned glance before heading to his room with his luggage. Rain turned back to Alexander, her heart pounding with a mix of frustration and confusion.

"He’s going to live here too?" Alexander asked with a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Rain blinked at him, a bit surprised by his tone. Raising an eyebrow, she directly answered, "Yes."

Sanya and Clifford were both very close to her. They have been friends since she was a kid. She wouldn’t be where she is today without their support, along with Brandon and her aunt Melanie.

Ignoring Alexander’s grumpiness, Rain returned to her seat and began reviewing the contract. Everything seemed to be in order, so she signed and stamped it, even getting it notarized.

"Here’s your copy," she said, handing the signed document to Alexander.

He took the contract without a word, his mood still visibly sour. Rain could sense something was bothering him, but she chose to let it go for now, hoping they could move past the awkwardness.

He looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You seem very close to him," he remarked.

Rain frowned, surprised by his tone. "Of course, we’ve been friends for years. Clifford and Sanya are practically family to me."

Rain felt a strange tension in the air, sensing that Alexander’s seemingly simple question held something deeper. "Is there a problem?" she asked, her forehead creasing with concern. She wasn’t comfortable with the way things were escalating.

"Pack up your things because you’ll be living with me from now on," he stated firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Rain blinked in surprise, taken aback by his sudden demand. "But why? Is that even necessary?" she retorted.

"Didn’t you properly read the contract?" Alexander asked, his deep-set eyes practically boring holes into her.

"Of course, I read it," she replied, her voice steady but wary.

"Good, then. It’s part of the agreement. We’re married, and for the next four months, we’re living together. It’s as simple as that," Alexander responded, his voice cold and matter-of-fact.

Rain felt her temper rising, but she forced herself to stay calm. "This wasn’t what I expected when I signed the contract," she muttered.

"You wanted this marriage to serve a purpose for you, and now it will. But let me remind you that we’re doing it my way," Alexander countered, his gaze unwavering. "My father likes you, and his doctor told me I shouldn’t give him a headache," Alexander continued, his fingers fiddling with the wedding band on his finger.

Rain couldn’t help but notice the ring, surprised that Alexander actually wore it. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat. Was he jealous of Clifford? Was he considering whether their marriage could work?

But then, reality set in. He wasn’t thinking about their future—he was just trying to keep his father happy for the next four months until his childhood love, Carla Cartier, arrived. The thought made Rain’s face contort with bitterness. She was just a temporary wife, a convenient escape from his father’s nagging.

But who was she to feel hurt? Wasn’t she using Alexander and this marriage to escape her own father’s plans to marry her off to Michael Astor? She had her own reasons for entering into this sham of a marriage, just like he did.

"Still, I don’t see the point of us living under the same roof," she contested, trying to maintain her composure.

"How can you perform your wifely duties if you don’t live with me?" Alexander countered, his tone firm. Rain parted her lips in disbelief, stunned by his audacity.

"You can’t be serious," she finally managed, her voice low and incredulous.

Alexander’s expression hardened as he opened the contract and read aloud, "Clause 1.1: Spouse A agrees to fulfill all wifely duties for the agreed-upon four-month marriage term. Clause 1.2: Notwithstanding Clause 1.1, the parties mutually agree that the consummation of the marriage shall be expressly excluded from the obligations of Spouse A during this period."

Rain’s eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. "Are you kidding me?" she murmured.

"Do I look like I’m joking, Rain?" Alexander replied, his tone firm.

This man was just messing with her! She clenched her jaw and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "You started this, so don’t regret it later and dare to kick me out of your house during the period of our contract!" she hissed.

Alexander simply shrugged his shoulders at her.

"Also, I won’t be coming to you right now. Didn’t you see that my friend just arrived from abroad? I’ll pack up my things and come to you after two days," she firmly stated, not breaking eye contact with him.

At this rate, the two were like participants in a battle, each determined not to blink or surrender first.