Page 34 of Dr. Billionaire's Fake Marriage

I begin to speak before he can, "I have thought about your proposal, and I would like to go ahead with it."

"I am not a bad person," he says. "I am not trying to hold you at ransom; we just have what we both badly want."

"Trust me, I have thought about it, and I am ready to be your wife for six months."

Troy nods at me and motions me to sit while he scrambles for a paper among the stack before him. He brings out a stapled document and motions for me to take it.

I grab the file from him and listen to him say, "Given the little history we have, I know you will be bothered as to how we will be a couple living in the same house."

I cut him off. “Will we live in the same house?” I ask, “I mean, together as husband and wife?”

Troy bites his lip and raises his eyebrows. "Yes," he says, "that is the only way we can convince the world that we are a true couple."

He stops talking while my eyes scan the contract.

?No physical contact

?Always appear happy in front of the world

?Strangers at work, but Camile must live with him until the contract ends.

?No falling in love with each other

I read through the contract again and nod when I look up. "I understand," I say, but Troy points to the end of the document, where I must put my signature.

"You know, just to be sure that neither of us breaks the contract." He dangles a pen in his left hand, and I take it. I signed the last page of the file and give the contract back to Troy.

“Our wedding is next week,” he says, “so get ready.”

My heart beats as he speaks about the date. It is all happening sooner than I thought…sooner than I expected.

"What is your mother saying about it?" I ask Troy, but from how he looks at me, I can only guess that he hasn't told his mother about his plans to marry me. "Let me guess; your mother doesn't know. What if she doesn't let the marriage take place?"

“She doesn’t have to know,” Troy insists.

"What?" I say. "You are doing this behind her back? She is going to hate me forever. Your mother loves me, and I like it that way."

“And that is why she won’t stay angry forever,” Troy concludes, clearly out of his mind. “This is not about Mother, remember? It is about yours, and my mother can think of you any way she likes.”

Standing tall, I ask, "When will Mother's treatment start?"

Troy looks back at his computer. “Tomorrow,” he says. “Your mother will come to the hospital tomorrow on an emergency basis.”

“I’d like to be on her medical team,” I say.

Troy scoffs, "You know that is not possible, right? It’s against the hospital's policy; it is also against America's medical laws. A doctor cannot be on a team treating a relative." Troy pauses and warns, "You should understand that."

“I am sorry, Camile, I can’t help you,” he continues. “The hospital can lose its license if the state’s supervisor finds out.”

I nod, knowing Troy will not risk losing his license to give in to my request. There is no way I can convince him otherwise. I sigh as I walk out of his office.

I will be Troy's wife in a few weeks, and in a few months, I will cease to be. Something about it all makes me nervous.

****

I cover Mother with a blanket as I leave the house for Amelia's proposal party. She opens her eyes when my hand touches her shoulder. "I am going to Amelia's party," I announce. "You should call me if you need anything, okay?"

Mother nods in response. "We are going to the hospital tomorrow," I tell her. "Your treatment is beginning."

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