Lisa's eyes scanned the paper, and as the words sank in, tears began to roll down her face. It was the contract papers, outlining the terms of their marriage. The document stated that their union would last for exactly 9 months, a carefully calculated duration designed to avoid any potential controversy surrounding the upcoming election. According to the contract, anyone who broke the marriage before the agreed-upon time would be required to compensate the other.

Lisa's gaze lingered on the clauses, each one a harsh reminder of the artificial nature of their relationship. She was expected to follow certain terms, adhere to specific rules, and maintain the facade of a happy marriage. As she read, a mix of emotions swirled inside her - anger, sadness, and a deep sense of betrayal.

As she looked up from the paper, a wry smile spread across her face. "Who would have thought that Monalisa would one day be in a loveless marriage?" she said to herself, the words laced with mockery. She laughed, a bitter sound, and wiped away her tears, her eyes flashing with a determination that seemed to burn brighter with each passing moment.

Just as Lisa was collecting her thoughts, her phone rang, shrill in the silence of the room. She glanced at the screen and saw Luke's name flashing. "My mom and I will be home in the next minute, come downstairs," he said, his voice curt.

Without responding, Lisa hung up the call,She took a deep breath in and out, her chest rising and falling with the motion. Standing up, she smoothed her clothes and made her way downstairs, her head bowed in a mixture of resignation and reluctance.

Moments later, Luke and his mother walked into the house, their arrival marked by a chorus of greetings from the household staff. Luke's mother was greeted with particular warmth, but she didn't acknowledge Lisa's greeting, instead heading straight to the sitting room where she took a seat.

Luke followed suit, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he sat down beside his mother. Lisa hesitated for a moment, then took a seat, her eyes fixed on the floor. The atmosphere in the room was tense, with an undercurrent of unease that seemed to emanate from Luke's mother.

Luke's mother dropped her designer bag gently onto the floor, her eyes fixed intently on Lisa and Luke as she began to speak. "You both have had your honeymoon, and now it's time to make your first public appearance together," she said, her voice firm and commanding. "You'll be attending Mr. Jackson's induction as the Oil and Gas Minister, and I expect you both to make a good impression. There will be journalists and channels from all over, and I want you to come out looking really, really good."

As she spoke, she seemed to remember something else, and her expression turned thoughtful. "Also, I'll get your wardrobe changed," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "I'll arrange for Timnah's people to get you clothes that are fitting for our class. And your phone - we'll get that changed too. I don't want you associating with your old friends, the kind of people who would drag our family name through the mud in the headlines."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she continued. "Lastly, I've enrolled you in a golf course with the wives and daughters of the elite. You'll be playing with them, but not just yet. That can wait until after your appearance with Luke. I want that to go perfectly, without a hitch." Her words hung in the air, a clear directive that was not to be disobeyed.

After delivering her instructions, Mrs. Wilson stood up and picked up her bag, ready to leave. Just as she was about to exit, Lisa's voice cut through the air, "Ma," she said, her tone laced with anger and objectivity. But Mrs. Wilson didn't let her finish, interrupting her with a calculated precision.

"Lisa dear, your family is quite... vulnerable, isn't it?" Mrs. Wilson said, her voice dripping with menace. "I can let the tax people have a claim over your aunt's shop, or perhaps the Minister of Works might be interested in that location. It's a prime spot for infrastructure development, after all. Or maybe I'll just buy out the marketing company Tina is working with. I've heard it's pushing through growth quite nicely. What do you think, Lisa? All you have to do is be married into a wealthy family. Is that too much to ask?" She smiled wickedly, her eyes glinting with triumph, leaving Lisa seething in silence.

With her point made, Mrs. Wilson turned to Luke, embracing him warmly and pecking him on the cheek. Luke stood up, courteous as ever, and escorted her to her car, the picture of filial devotion.