Ava arrived home from work, dragging her feet like someone had attached weights to her shoes. Her parents were already in the living room, sitting on the couch with the kind of smiles that could crush a person's sanity. Jason, her little brother, was practically bouncing in his chair.
"Mom! Dad! Jason!" Ava called out, throwing her bag onto the floor. "We need to talk. Now."
Her mother, Mrs. Scott, looked up with the same excitement she always had, but today it seemed magnified. "Darling! Did you meet him again?"
"Yes, Mom, I met him," Ava replied, rubbing her temples. "But sit down, I need to explain everything. And it's… complicated."
"Complicated?" her dad asked, standing from the armchair. "Oh no, is this about your fiancée?"
Ava groaned. "Yes, Dad. About… Ethan. My boss. The billionaire. The one you think I'm going to marry someday. He's… not really my fiancée. Not really."
Jason gasped. "Wait… what do you mean not really? You told me she's engaged!"
"Yes, you little chatterbox," Ava snapped, covering her face. "That's what everyone thinks. But the truth is…" She paused dramatically, hoping the gravity of her words would sink in. "I agreed to be his… contract wife."
The living room went silent.
Her mom blinked several times, trying to process what she just heard. "Contract… wife?" she finally asked. "What… what does that even mean?"
"It's like… pretend marriage," Ava explained, struggling to find words. "I'm not actually married to him. I'm just… playing the role of his fiancée for a while. Because of a… typo."
Her dad stared at her for a moment, then rubbed his forehead. "A typo… led to a contract marriage? You're telling me a piece of paper made you… pretend to be married to your boss?"
"Yes!" Ava threw her hands up. "It's ridiculous, I know! I didn't want this. I didn't ask for this. But he… he said it would be entertaining, and I… I agreed to make him stop bothering me."
Her mother's jaw dropped, but then a small smile appeared. "Entertaining?" she said. "Ava, this is wonderful!"
"What?" Ava almost screamed. "Wonderful? Mom, I'm trapped in a lie! I met his family, pretend to like him, eat fancy dinners, smile all the time! Wonderful is not the word!"
"Oh, darling," her mother said, walking over and hugging her. "You are finally important to someone like Ethan Blackwood. We've always wanted you to marry someone good, smart, rich, and… and now it's happening. And it's a contract! That's even better you can take your time, and nothing is permanent. Oh, Ava, I'm so proud of you."
Ava's face turned red. "Proud? Mom, this isn't real!"
Her dad chuckled. "Doesn't matter if it's real or not, sweetie. You're going to be with a man who actually notices you. That's all we wanted for you. And if it's a contract, even better you get to protect yourself while learning about him. Smart move."
Jason, who had been bouncing all this time, jumped up. "So… can I meet him now? Can he buy me a car already?"
"Jason!" Ava groaned. "He's not even my real fiancé. And no, he's not buying you a car!"
"But sis!" Jason whined. "You're a contract wife now! That means he's basically family!"
Ava threw a pillow at him. "Stop calling me that!"
Her mother laughed. "Ava, my darling, this is a blessing. A contract or not, this is your chance to be happy. Look at how calm your father is. He approves. And Jason is already imagining his toys."
Ava collapsed on the couch next to her mother. "I'm not calm. I'm terrified. I met his family already, and they are… terrifyingly nice. His mother actually hugged me. His grandfather called me the future Blackwood. And his sister… oh God, his sister grilled me with questions. I almost fainted!"
Her mother giggled. "See, darling, they already like you. That's a good sign."
"But they think we're engaged!" Ava exclaimed. "And the truth is… we're just pretending. I don't know if I can keep this up. Every question, every smile, every time Ethan touches my hand, it feels like… like a lie!"
Her dad put a hand on her shoulder. "Sweetheart, sometimes life gives you opportunities in the strangest ways. This is one of them. Think of it as a stepping stone. You learn about him, you get to understand his family, and you're safe because it's a contract. Nothing is permanent."
Ava blinked. "Stepping stone? Dad, I think I'm already drowning in a sea of lies."
Her mother laughed and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, Ava. We're proud of you anyway. You're brave. You went into a billionaire's house, pretended to be his fiancée, and survived! That's courage!"
Jason clapped his hands. "And I'm proud too! Big sis is a contract wife now! Can I tell my friends?"
Ava groaned and threw another pillow at him. "No! You cannot tell anyone!"
Her dad laughed. "It's fine, Ava. Your little brother is harmless. He's excited because you are finally being noticed. That's all. And as for the contract thing… it's smart. Very smart. You didn't rush, you protected yourself, and now you have insight into a powerful family. You're learning."
Ava sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Learning… sure. If surviving a family dinner while pretending to be happy counts as learning."
Her mom giggled. "It counts, darling. And I can already tell, your life is going to be very interesting from now on. You're going to meet more of his relatives, attend events, and maybe… maybe you'll start enjoying yourself."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Enjoying myself? Mom, I barely survived one dinner! And it was terrifying. Terrifying!"
"Yes, yes," her mother said, nodding eagerly. "But it's a good terrifying. You're stepping into a new world. This is opportunity."
Ava groaned again. "Opportunity… I think I need a vacation first."
Her father smiled. "No vacation, Ava. You need to face reality. But don't worry, we support you. We're happy you're making a decision that keeps you safe and yet opens doors."
Her mom added, "And if Ethan Blackwood treats you well… oh, I can't wait to see my daughter happy. You deserve this, Ava. You're clever, strong, and beautiful. Any man would be lucky to have you. Even if it's a contract, the luck is yours."
Ava swallowed hard, feeling a strange mix of panic and warmth. She had been so focused on the chaos, the pretending, the fake engagement, that she had forgotten one thing: her family was happy. They were proud. They believed in her.
"I guess… maybe it's not all bad," Ava admitted quietly. "Maybe it's just… terrifying in a good way."
Her mom smiled brightly. "Exactly! That's my girl. Brave and smart. And now, you have the chance to learn about love… slowly. Carefully. And safely."
Jason jumped up again. "Yes! My contract wife sister! I can't wait to see Ethan again!"
"Jason!" Ava yelled, throwing yet another pillow at him.
Her mother laughed, shaking her head. "Ignore him, darling. He's just excited. But you… you are going to be fine. Just remember, it's a contract. You are in control."
Ava nodded slowly, feeling a small sense of relief. She was still nervous, still worried about keeping up the act with Ethan and his family, but maybe… just maybe… she could do this.
After all, if she survived the dinner with Ethan's family, she could survive anything.
And her family was overjoyed, supportive, and proud of her, even if it was all because of a contract and a typo.
For the first time in a long while, Ava smiled, despite the chaos in her life.
She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing: she wasn't alone.
And somehow, that made the fake engagement… feel a little less terrifying.