Chapter 3 AGREEMENT BOTH WILL BENEFIT

SILENCE HUNG HEAVY as Isabella stood glued to her spot inside the elevator with Spade and his secretary.

She stood behind Spade, who remained silent, while his secretary stood beside her, radiating an inexplicable sense of calm.

When the elevator doors opened, Isabella couldn't help but marvel at the sight of Spade's office.

"Take her to the visitor's area, Sandro."

"Ms., follow me." Sandro gave Isabella a polite smile, and she followed him to a part of Spade's office furnished with sofas.

After Isabella sat down, Sandro bowed to her before walking through a glass door deeper into the office.

"You came here for my offer, didn't you?" Spade's question made Isabella turn to him.

She watched him remove his coat before walking toward her and sitting down opposite her.

If God was handing out good looks, he must have been first in line, Isabella thought to herself.

"May I know your name?" Spade asked, prompting Isabella to straighten her posture.

"My name is Isabella Fuentes, and I came here to find out why you offered me marriage," Isabella introduced herself, while Spade sat casually across from her.

"Surely there are many other women you could offer marriage to, women who are your level, women you would actually like. We don't even know each other. How can you marry a woman you just saw at the hospital?" Isabella asked, confused.

"I offered you this because you need someone to help you, right? And I need help, and you're the one I saw who can accept my offer," Spade replied, causing Isabella to frown.

"What kind of help do you need?"

"As I said, I need you to marry me and introduce you to my parents. I just want to fulfill my promise to them before the five years of my life span end. Don't worry, you will be fully compensated in this offer, and I will find a heart that will save your child from the brink of death. All you need to do is marry me and spend five years being my wife, then we're done," Spade explained, but Isabella still didn't understand his agenda.

"Five years? Why so long?"

"Are you going to accept it or not?" Spade countered, not answering her question.

"What if, for example, I fall for you within those five years? What's the consequence if that happens? Just hypothetically," Isabella said.

"I don't care if you fall for me during the time we're married, but I suggest you don't, since you can't gain anything from me except money and some properties that you will have after five years," Spade said plainly, leaving Isabella speechless.

"Once you agree, I will make sure that your child will live for a long time. So what is your answer, Mrs. Fuentes?" Spade asked, and Isabella paused to consider.

Five years was no joke. Anything could happen, but Isabella still didn't understand Spade's reasons. She didn't know him well; they had only spoken briefly at the hospital. But if she didn't accept his offer, Alina would continue to suffer and might even be taken from her.

"If you still want to think about your answer, I will give you time to deci—"

"—I accept," Isabella interrupted, causing Spade to stare at her.

"Are you sure you can help me operate on my daughter?" Isabella asked, seeking reassurance.

"Yes, I can. I can guarantee that your child will have the heart transplant and live long," Spade replied confidently, prompting Isabella to stand and extend her hand to Spade.

"I accept your offer. I will marry you, just make sure my daughter gets operated on," Isabella said, and Spade stood and shook her hand.

"It's great doing business with you, Mrs. Fuentes."

"I'm doing this for my daughter. Wait, do I need to sign a contract about this?" Isabella asked before they broke their handshake.

"No need. A contract about this is not necessary, let's make this natural. And to remind you, this marriage will be legal," Spade said, and Isabella nodded, since she had no choice, especially since Alina's life was at stake.

"Okay. So when do I start?"

"Sandro," Spade called, and his secretary emerged, carrying a paper and placing it in front of Isabella.

"What is this?"

"Those are some details about me, and a script of our romance. You need to memorize that before I introduce you to my parents."

"You even made this? You seemed so sure I would accept your offer."

"I knew you would accept my offer since you need it, am I wrong?" Spade said, and Isabella didn't answer, because he was right.

"I will call you by your name from now on, and Sandro will give you my contact information. We need to familiarize ourselves with one another. My mom won't suspect us, but my dad will. We must practice the natural way of a common couple," Spade explained.

"In that case, why don't we become friends? If we're friends, our interactions will be natural," Isabella suggested, causing Spade to sigh slightly.

"Doing that is not necessary, just memorize what I gave you. And just call me Spade from now on."

"Wait, if you're going to introduce me to your parents as the woman you're going to marry, what about my daughter? Do we need to hide her?" Isabella asked.

"No. I can tell my parents that I fell in love with a single mom."

"Ha? They might get mad at you."

"They won't. What they want is to know that I have a woman I fell in love with and am ready to settle down," Spade replied, turning to Sandro.

"You can start to find a heart that she needs, the sooner the better," Spade ordered, and Isabella felt a weight lift from her heart when she heard Spade's instructions to his secretary.

"Yes, Mr. Vasile, I'll find the heart as soon as possible. Excuse me," Sandro said before walking to the elevator, leaving Isabella and Spade alone in the office.

"We're done talking, you can take your leave now," Spade said plainly, turning back to his desk, but Isabella stepped in front of him.

"Isabella Fuentes, I accepted your offer so I can be with my daughter for a long time. Nice to meet you," Isabella introduced herself again.

"Spade Cedric Vasile, I have my own reason, but you will help me make my parents happy," Spade said, and on that day, their pretense for their mutual benefit began.