The Marvelous Elijah's Return

Marriage Contract

As Peach and Elijah sat in the backseat of the vehicle with Matt behind the steering wheel, the atmosphere was awkward as the two tried not to look at each other. Even Matt was concerned about how quiet they both were and glanced in the rearview mirror, noticing that Peach’s lips were puckered together as if she was deep in thought. With his gaze on the windshield, Elijah’s index finger slowly rubbed against his bottom lips, and then finally darted his eyes towards Peach. 

“A penny for your thoughts,” He quietly remarked, his voice low. With her eyes fixed on the file of her grandfather’s will, Peach hesitated for a while before deciding to open her mouth and speak, “It’s nothing.” “It’s nothing,” Elijah commented as he shifted his gaze to glance at her. She sighed heavily, and stared out the window, her heart sinking, “I don’t know what to do… There’s a dilemma, and it has my thoughts spinning. And my mind is telling me something, but my heart is screaming at me not to do it.” Hearing what she said, Elijah frowned slightly and then turned sideways to face her, “What do you mean?” “My grandfather will… What he wants. I…” Peach trailed off, lowering her eyes as she played with her hands. “If I inherit that company then mother and I won’t have to worry about our next meal or how we would pay the bills… This gift… This burden from grandpa could help my mother and me greatly. But…” “But you need someone to marry,” Elijah casually blurted out, making Peach turn her head sharply to stare at him, her mouth opened slightly, unsure of what else to say, so she settled for staring straight ahead at the window once again. 

The car grew silent as Peach watched the night lights pass by, her thoughts racing and the questions running rampant in her mind like a hurricane. Finally, when she decided that she couldn’t think anymore, she looked up and gazed at Elijah. “Yeah, marriage is the only thing standing between me and that company, and I…” she paused for a brief moment, taking in a deep breath, “I don’t want to take this risk and marry the wrong person… It’s just … A big decision.” “Let me see the will,” Elijah asked softly, holding out his hand. 

His request left her puzzled for a brief second before she took the folder off her lap and handed him it. 

Taking the file, Elijah flipped through the pages, until his eyes found the one he was looking for. 

With careful fingers, he held the paper over his lap and began reading. His brows furrowed as he focused on the contents of the document, and Peach couldn’t help but notice his facial expression change, almost imperceptibly at times. 

After several minutes, he closed the file and placed it down beside him on the seat, and she silently waited for an explanation. 

seconds, Elijah looked up and locked eyes with Peach, his expression serious as he spoke, “Marry me then.”

– what?” 

request, and his head whipped around to give his

said, his eyes never leaving

between them was becoming deafening and she wanted

to anyone again… you told my mother that recently…” Peach muttered

hear from him. But she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or if reality was already playing a joke on her. And yet here he was… offering himself to her without any hesitation. “Yeah, but there is

and the warmth spreading throughout her body and the tingling sensation that came from his touch. “Oh…

there’s no clause about you staying married.” ‘Oh, boss…

stared at Elijah in disbelief as she choked

wheel and shook his head slightly as he mouthed silently, “Boss, you are making this even worse.” “I see,” Peach whispered in an unamused tone, placing her palms on her thighs and closing her eyes, inhaling deeply. A dull ache settled in her

that she was irritated and hurt as she tried to mask it with a small smile, as though

through, and he didn’t want to think of this as anything else but a deal to help her and himself get what they wanted, by playing Madam Jewel at her own game. “It’s a contract marriage, Peach… Of course, there’s more to it. But if you are interested in my offer, then we can talk about it further.” Elijah calmly replied, his voice laced with seriousness as he stared straight into the eye. For the longest second, there was complete silence, and then, a slight hint of uncertainty crept onto Peach’s features. Her eyebrows scrunched together as a frown appeared on her face and then she let out a sigh. “You want me to use you..? But what’s in this for you, Elijah?” Peach