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"Contractually Bound" by LyricalKris
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When Edward and Bella were young all they wanted was to get married, go to Dartmouth together, find their dream jobs (in his case that meant opening a successfull business; in her case it meant becoming a scientist), buy a house, and live happily ever after with their 2.5 children and dogs. Alas, life is like a chocolate box and you never know what you get; Bella and Edward break up and their bubble bursts from one day to the next.
Now, eight years later, things are not at all the way they were supposed to be. Instead of sitting in a lab and working on getting the next Nobel prize, Bella stayed in Forks and works in a local diner as a cook. Her tiny apartment is on the floor above the restaurant and though she keeps it clean and neady, all furniture is covered with a slight grease film. Nevertheless, the young girl makes the best of her situation and works hard every day. After years, she finally managed to save enough money to allow her to enroll at a community college. Remember the chocolate box? Yes, it only takes one knock at the door to ruin all of Bella's plans in an instant. Again.
Because walking into her small apartment is no other than Edward; that is, an angry and cold version of the Edward she came to love as a teenager. Bella learns that Edward's mother Esme is terminally ill and only has a couple of months left. Esme has always been a defender of Bella and knows in her heart the she and her son are destined to be together. So instead of doing the things she enjoys, Edward's mother constantly worries about her son and the cold demeanor he put on after Bella left. She wants for nothing more than for him to forgive the young woman and getting back together with her. And that is why Edward hands Bella a contract he demands (!) her to sign - it's the least she can do after all the hurt she caused, isn't it? The contract defines that Bella has to marry Edward and to pretend to happily in love with him - at least for as long as Esme is still alive. Without hesitatition Bella signs, but she had no idea how difficult and painful her life with Edward would be...
Contractually Bound is immensely realistic! As LyricalKris says: "I believe in HEA, I just [also] believe in making my characters work for it!" And having to work for it, they do! Edward is horribly cruel to Bella throughout a good third of the story. All the frustration he has - the unhappiness with his job and current place of living (NYC), the fear of losing his mother, and the hatred he harbors for his ex-girlfriend - all of this he throws at Bella with a passion! It was not easy for me to read, but it occured to me numerous times while doing it anyway that this is what real life is like. So don't expect cute makeout sessions, at least not until the last five chapters. This story is not about lemons, and dirty talk, or tons of fluff. This story is about two people who love each other so much that they cannot let the other go, even though it hurts like hell. Contractually Bound is a dramatic story, but wonderfully written. Last but not least, I'd like to mention that LyricalKris picked up the plot from other authors (GinnyW 31 and sshg316 - they had already written the first four chapters) and for that all I can say is "Chapeau!"
COMPLETE
When Edward and Bella were young all they wanted was to get married, go to Dartmouth together, find their dream jobs (in his case that meant opening a successfull business; in her case it meant becoming a scientist), buy a house, and live happily ever after with their 2.5 children and dogs. Alas, life is like a chocolate box and you never know what you get; Bella and Edward break up and their bubble bursts from one day to the next.
Now, eight years later, things are not at all the way they were supposed to be. Instead of sitting in a lab and working on getting the next Nobel prize, Bella stayed in Forks and works in a local diner as a cook. Her tiny apartment is on the floor above the restaurant and though she keeps it clean and neady, all furniture is covered with a slight grease film. Nevertheless, the young girl makes the best of her situation and works hard every day. After years, she finally managed to save enough money to allow her to enroll at a community college. Remember the chocolate box? Yes, it only takes one knock at the door to ruin all of Bella's plans in an instant. Again.
Because walking into her small apartment is no other than Edward; that is, an angry and cold version of the Edward she came to love as a teenager. Bella learns that Edward's mother Esme is terminally ill and only has a couple of months left. Esme has always been a defender of Bella and knows in her heart the she and her son are destined to be together. So instead of doing the things she enjoys, Edward's mother constantly worries about her son and the cold demeanor he put on after Bella left. She wants for nothing more than for him to forgive the young woman and getting back together with her. And that is why Edward hands Bella a contract he demands (!) her to sign - it's the least she can do after all the hurt she caused, isn't it? The contract defines that Bella has to marry Edward and to pretend to happily in love with him - at least for as long as Esme is still alive. Without hesitatition Bella signs, but she had no idea how difficult and painful her life with Edward would be...
Contractually Bound is immensely realistic! As LyricalKris says: "I believe in HEA, I just [also] believe in making my characters work for it!" And having to work for it, they do! Edward is horribly cruel to Bella throughout a good third of the story. All the frustration he has - the unhappiness with his job and current place of living (NYC), the fear of losing his mother, and the hatred he harbors for his ex-girlfriend - all of this he throws at Bella with a passion! It was not easy for me to read, but it occured to me numerous times while doing it anyway that this is what real life is like. So don't expect cute makeout sessions, at least not until the last five chapters. This story is not about lemons, and dirty talk, or tons of fluff. This story is about two people who love each other so much that they cannot let the other go, even though it hurts like hell. Contractually Bound is a dramatic story, but wonderfully written. Last but not least, I'd like to mention that LyricalKris picked up the plot from other authors (GinnyW 31 and sshg316 - they had already written the first four chapters) and for that all I can say is "Chapeau!"
Contracutally Bound consists of 23 chapters and 82,259 words. The story is rated M for angst and reference to sexual activities.
COMPLETE
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