The Contract Wife's Five Years

Aunt Helen, you helped me pay for my mother's funeral back then, and I promised to take care of your sons for five years.

There are only five days left. I'll leave the Wright house right on schedule! Fiona Young pressed her lips together, her resolve edged with a hint of reluctance.

Mrs. Wright looked wistful. "What about your marriage to Liam..."

Fiona cut her off. "Aunt Helen, you know Liam has her back. Chloe Hamilton is back now. It's time for me to disappear."

"I'm very fond of you, Fiona, but feelings can't be forced. It's Liam's loss." Mrs. Wright patted her shoulder.

"The debt you owed me is paid. Go if you need to go."

Mrs. Wright shook her head and walked away.

As a Colonel, she was often away at the base, leaving the care of her two sons largely to Fiona's meticulous attention.

They hadn't been unkind to her. But since Chloe Hamilton returned, Fiona had become persona non grata.

...

Earlier that day, Chloe had been hit by a car while out and hospitalized.

Both brothers instantly blamed Fiona for kicking her out. No amount of explanation made a difference.

When Fiona rushed to the hospital and pushed open the ward door, Ethan Wright's slap sent her crashing into the wall.

Ethan was furious, glaring at her like she was the worst kind of criminal.

"Fiona Young, you scheming little witch!"

"How dare you kick Chloe out while Liam and I were gone? You got her hit by a car!"

Fiona swallowed the coppery taste in her mouth and looked at Liam Wright, seated by the bed.

"I didn't kick her out. She left on her own..."

Chloe, lying weakly in the hospital bed, feigned concern.

"Ethan, don't be so harsh with your sister-in-law. Liam might discipline you."

Ethan hurried back to Chloe's bedside, eager to prove his loyalty.

"Don't worry, Chloe, Liam only ever loved you. Fiona is just the housekeeper Mom hired for us, right, Liam?"

He shot Fiona a contemptuous glance. "Ditch weed pretending to be an orchid. How could she compare to you?"

Fiona looked at Liam.

That military-uniformed back remained silent, but the rigid line of his jaw betrayed his anger.

Fiona gave a bitter laugh at the sliver of hope she'd foolishly clung to.

She'd known from day one in the Wright house that Liam loved Chloe Hamilton.

It was just that later, Chloe had vanished without a trace on some government exchange program, leaving a heartbroken Liam waiting for her for three long years.

Then Mrs. Wright brought Fiona home. For five years, Fiona poured her heart into caring for the Wright brothers.

She raised Ethan from a kid to eighteen, and helped Liam gradually emerge from the shadow of Chloes leaving, advancing his ranks to Lieutenant.

In Fiona's fourth year with them, Liam proposed. They had a simple ceremony, though they never got around to the legal paperwork.

Whenever Fiona brought it up, Liam would brush her off, saying the paperwork was still pending approval.

But Fiona knew he'd never even submitted the application.

The night she accepted his proposal, Liam got blindingly drunk. He held her close and slurred, "Chloe... I'm sorry..."

Even Ethan had sobbed all night in the next room.

"I told you," Liam's voice cut through Fiona's memories, cold and sharp.

"If you just knew your place, you'd always be the Lieutenant's wife."

His eyes were stormy, thunderclouds brewing. "But why did you have to target Chloe? If anything serious had happened to her, your life wouldn't be enough to pay for it!"

"Damn right," Ethan chimed in nastily. "Who'd want your worthless life anyway?"

Fiona watched the two brothers, utterly devoted to the same woman, feeling nothing.

She'd signed a five-year contract to repay Mrs. Wright's kindness for her mother's burial, fulfilling their every need.

Now, with only five days left on the contract, and Chloe back...

It was time she obliged them one last time and made herself leave.

Seeing Fiona's indifference, Liam felt an inexplicable wave of irritation.

"Go home and clear out the master bedroom. Chloe will stay with us until she recovers."

Ethan's tone was even more imperious.

"You won't object, will you? Don't get ideas just because we had a party. Remember, that's my brother's house."

Liam had assigned quarters on base. The old Wright house only had two bedrooms and a tool shed.

They were putting Chloe in the master bedroom and Fiona would be relegated to the shed.

Fiona lowered her gaze, her heart strangely calm. Where she slept seemed irrelevant now.

"Fine by me. It's only for five more days anyway."

Five days? What five days?

Liam watched Fiona's retreating back, an odd emptiness opening in his chest. He raised his voice in warning.

"Don't try any tricks to hurt Chloe, or I'll withdraw our marriage application!"

He saw her step falter for a second and let out a snort.

Fiona was crazy about him. Now that she was finally getting her wish to marry him legally, there was no way she'd walk away.

Before dawn the next day, Ethan was banging on the master bedroom door.

"Fiona! Get up and make breakfast! Chloe's delicate. Make some chicken soup!"

Just as his impatience peaked, Fiona emerged from the adjacent tool shed.

Ethan blinked, surprised. Seeing the dark shed with only a thin blanket on the floor, his lips tightened.

"Why didn't you move a bed in? Trying to play the victim so Liam feels sorry for you? Cut the crap! You could never measure up to Chloe, not even close!"

Fiona gave him a flat look. "You're right. Tell your brother to marry Chloe. Make her your sister-in-law."

Ethan choked, glaring. "Are you gloating that he married you? I'll tell Liam exactly how smug you are! He'll divorce you!"

"Please do." Fiona tossed the words over her shoulder and walked straight into the kitchen.

Four days left on the contract. No matter how angry she was, she had to endure.

It was nearly noon when Liam finally drove Chloe home.

Chloe was unsteady. Liam carefully carried her from the car while Ethan fussed over her luggage.

Passing Fiona, Liam paused. "Lunch ready?"

Before Fiona could answer, Ethan jumped in.

"All set! Chloe's favorites, and chicken soup to help her heal."

Liam looked satisfied. Chloe nestled happily against his chest. They looked like a blissful young couple.

At the table, both brothers were attentive, piling food onto Chloe's plate.

"Chloe, this shrimp is fresh. Let me peel it for you."

"Chloe, you need your strength. Have more meat."

Fiona ate her meal quietly. Suddenly, a piece of carrot landed in her bowl.

Chloe looked at her with feigned gratitude.

"Fiona, thank you for cooking for me. I'll be relying on your care from now on."

Fiona frowned. "What do you mean?"

Liam cleared his throat.

"Chloe's mobility is limited. You'll need to look after her for a while. Just cook, change her dressings. Simple stuff."

Fiona turned to Liam. "Am I the housekeeper?"

Ethan slammed his hand on the table.

"What's that supposed to mean? Can't you even be bothered to care for a patient? If Mom hadn't taken you in, God knows what old loser you'd be married to now!"

"Ethan!" Liam's voice was icy.

Ethan reluctantly shut up.

Liam turned back to Fiona. "I'm not asking. I'm telling you. Understand?"

Used to giving orders, Liam's first reaction to her challenge was irritation.

Seeing both Wright brothers firmly on her side, Chloe couldn't hide her smugness.

"Oh, Liam, Ethan, don't give Fiona a hard time. I can manage."

Liam rushed to reassure her.

"It's fine. She's experienced at caregiving. Don't feel awkward about it. Fiona, get Chloe a bowl of soup."

Fiona twisted her lips into a semblance of a smile and turned to the kitchen. She returned with a steaming bowl of soup, kept warm on the stove.

"Thank you, Fiona." Chloe reached out to take it.

"Ah!"

In an instant, a gasp was followed by the shattering of porcelain. Hot, golden broth splashed onto Chloe's hand, making her eyes instantly well with tears.

"Fiona, what did I do wrong? Why did you throw soup at me?"

Liam and Ethan instantly crowded around Chloe, heartsick at the red mark on her hand.

"Liam, maybe I shouldn't stay at your house. First it's hot soup, next it'll be poison! I'm scared..."

Chloe wept copiously, her blatant lies fueling the brothers' rage.

Fiona watched the clumsy performance, finding it darkly amusing.

She didn't plan to explain. Whatever she said, the Wright brothers wouldn't believe her. The woman they loved and revered had always been Chloe Hamilton.

Ethan grabbed Fiona's arm. Though he was eighteen, his strength already matched a grown man's, his fingers digging into her bone.

"Fiona, you've always hated Chloe, always scheming against her! I'm taking you to the police! You vicious bitch!"

Liam looked at Fiona coldly. "I never thought you'd stoop so low for jealousy. I misjudged you."

He dragged her to the floor. "Apologize to Chloe now, on your knees. Or even I won't be able to protect you."

"I won't apologize for something I didn't do." Fiona met his gaze defiantly, her knees screaming in pain.

"You!" Ethan was livid. He kicked Fiona hard in the knee.

"Stubborn bitch! If anything happens to Chloe, I swear I'll make you pay!"

Fiona's knees slammed onto the broken shards.

Sharp fragments pierced through her pants into her flesh. The pain drained all color from her face.

Liam watched Fiona tremble violently, unmoved.

"Still not apologizing? Or do you want to kneel outside the front door? Let the whole housing complex see your poisonous heart?"

The pain had surpassed her threshold. Fiona's vision blurred. She knew they wouldn't let her go unless she bowed her head.

But after five years of submission, she could no longer force herself to comply.

"I won't apologize." Her eyes were red, tears dripping onto the floor.

Ethan raised his hand to hit her, but Liam stopped him.

"If she won't apologize, she stays kneeling until she admits her mistake."

With that, he picked up Chloe, and he and Ethan rushed back to the hospital.

The front door slammed shut. Fiona's strength gave out, and she collapsed. Shards cut her wrist. Amidst the crimson, she lost consciousness.

The sharp smell of antiseptic hit her nostrils. Fiona opened her eyes to sterile white.

"Am I... dead?"

A nurse bandaging her wounds spoke.

"You're awake? You lost a lot of blood. Another hour, and you wouldn't have made it."

Fiona's mind was foggy. "Who... who brought me in?"

"Who else but my brother?" Ethan's sarcastic voice came from the doorway.

Fiona looked over. Liam stood there, his expression thunderous, radiating an aura so dark even Ethan made an excuse and fled.

As Liam approached, Fiona's heart tightened. She eyed him warily.

"What do you want now?"

Liam gripped her chin, his voice icy.

"Fiona Young, you'd rather fake a suicide attempt than admit you were wrong?"

Fiona frowned, pulling her face away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't know?" Liam lifted her bandaged hand. "The living room was flooded with your blood! Chloe was terrified! And..."

He swallowed the rest. He wouldn't tell her how terrified he'd been, seeing her lifeless.

Fiona finally understood. She subtly pulled her hand back.

"After you're discharged tomorrow, you'll come stay with me at the base housing. So you wont get any more ugly ideas once you see Chloe."

"No, thank you." Fionas refusal was flat.

"I won't go to base housing with you. I won't disturb you. Tell Chloe to stay away from me for three more days."

Liam froze. "How did you know our marriage application clears in three days?"

Fiona couldn't fight Liam and was taken to base housing.

This apartment was Liam's private space. Bookshelves held medals, commendations, and a meticulously polished photograph.

It was a picture of Chloe and Liam before she went abroad.

They stood close. Liam's usually icy eyes held a warmth like spring sunshine.

Anyone would call them a perfect match. If Chloe hadn't left, they'd probably have kids by now.

"Fiona, what are you looking at?"

Liam approached. Seeing the photo, he frowned slightly, took it out, and locked it in a drawer.

Fiona knew better than to look further. "I'll take the spare room."

"Why the spare room? My bed's big enough for both of us."

Fiona gave a genuine, humorless smile. "Chloe's back. It wouldn't be appropriate."

Liam looked annoyed. "Fiona, can't you be reasonable? Must you always drag Chloe into it? Don't make me regret marrying you."

Fiona fell silent and sat on the sofa.

Since Chloe's return, Fiona had grown gaunt, her profile almost paper-thin.

An inexplicable unease washed over Liam.

He remembered taking her to the hospital C her knees studded with shards, her thigh blistered from the soup, her wrist bleeding steadily.

A sharp, stinging pain shot through his heart.

When Fiona first came to the Wrights, she was just a sixteen-year-old girl.

Had he been too neglectful during these five years of her tireless service, fueling her jealousy toward Chloe?

He sighed and sat beside her.

"Fiona, Liam and I are good to Chloe because months ago, she risked her life to save us from a fire."

"We owe her a debt. As my partner, you should treat Chloe with respect."

Fiona's eyelashes trembled violently. The scene of the fire flashed before her eyes.

Liam had been on leave, taking Ethan to a restaurant to welcome Chloe back, but a kitchen fire trapped them in a private room.

Fiona arrived to find flames raging. Firefighters only managed to rescue Chloe.

Liam and Ethan were still trapped inside, their lives in peril.

Fiona was frantic. Clenching her teeth, she doused herself with a bucket of cold water in the freezing weather and charged into the fire. She dragged both unconscious men out.

She collapsed from severe back burns and smoke inhalation, lying unconscious in the hospital for three days.

But when she got home, Liam and Ethan remembered nothing of her saving them.

They were solely grateful to Chloe.

She tried to explain, but the brothers accused her of stealing credit, calling her shameless.

Later, Chloe somehow found reporters to interview her about her "heroic rescue."

That cemented Liam and Ethan's belief that Fiona was a scheming, ruthless woman.

It was then she finally understood that no matter how much she sacrificed, they wouldn't remember. They felt nothing for her.

So why subject herself to their scorn?

Her saving them was just part of the contract anyway.

Fiona twisted her lips into a flat smile. "Okay."

Her docility surprised Liam. His heart softened. He took Fiona's hand.

"Fiona, once the marriage certificate comes through in two days, let's get our wedding photo taken."

"You always liked white wedding gowns, right? I'll take you to pick one out."

Fiona looked at his rare show of affection, feeling only revulsion. "Whatever you say."

Let him plan whatever he wanted. In two days, she wouldn't be at that photo studio.

Neither noticed the figure of Chloe Hamilton slipping past the base housing door, her eyes boiling with jealous malice.

She walked to the police station and filed paperwork to purchase sulfuric acid.

As the small bottle of colorless liquid landed in her hand, Chloe smiled viciously.

"Fiona Young, let's see how you seduce Liam once your face is ruined."