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EXCERPT FROM THE STORY

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" Sign… ". One word. One command.

Her eyes furrowed in deep anger which was revealed on her face. It wasn't hidden, Ferdinand noticed it himself.

He picked up the pen and bent low while staring at the paper. This is so ridiculous to him.

" It's a contract. You will be my groom, just for sixty days… ", her loud but annoying voice echoed in his ear.

She sat at the edge of the table, " I will hire you to be my groom, and I'll pay you immediately after the contract is over. Don't ever refer to me as your wife, because nothing is binding the both of us together."

" No sex. No love. No kisses. No feelings. You are just a hired groom for sixty days. Live your life the way you want it, but not for these sixty days ", she narrated further.

Her voice was so commanding but filled with bitterness.

" It's a deal, and must be done ", Ferdinand acceded and signed the contract.

She nodded and let out a devilish smile.

Ferdinand began creating enticing events he would do within these sixty days. This is the only time left for him to relish all the good things in the world.

He shouldn't have signed the contract, but he acceded to doing it because he has few days to live.

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PROLOGUE

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" There should be another alternative, sir Juan. Getting married can't be the only way to get this accomplished ", Melita referred to her director.

She wasn't seeing anything wrong with owning her industry while single. There's nothing wrong with it.

Melita paced around the office room feeling shattered. She couldn't think upright anymore.

" Why not get married? There are so many handsome men flirting around you, wanting to unite with you. Melita, you need to have a rethink over this, unless you don't want to acquire an industry throughout your life ", Sir Juan stated to her hearing.

He wrapped up the file that bears all the documents that will aid her work on her aim.

Two possibilities left for her to choose from. Get married and own an industry, or remain unmarried and keep toiling as a manager in someone's enterprise.

Carmelita is her name. The damsel who never believed in love. She is gorgeous enough that every man admires her. But dammit! She doesn't need a man in her life.

She wants to be single because she believes that it's the easiest way to run away from the mockery of being a woman without a womb.

No need to love. No need to desire a man since she won't be able to produce offspring.

But everything has turned upside down for her. She needs to get a man that will be by her side to achieve her aim.

How will she ever cope to be with a man her heart doesn't strive for? This question kept running in her mind, but she couldn't give it a reply.

" My dream is not to be in Davao City for four months to come. I need to relocate to Louisiana and start a new life while running my industry. You need to do something about this sir. I beg of you please ", Melita pleaded politely.

Sir Juan got on his feet, " You understood me well Melita, it's left for you to select between the two options. Let me know when you conclude ".

She watched Sir Juan leave her office without taking a glance at her.

Her heart was filled with intense grief. She hates the masculine gender with passion, and nothing can ever stop her from that.

She broke out in tears, her cheeks were filled up already and her eyes were reddish. She walked into the restroom to relieve her bladder.

Her eyes snapped to the mirror opposite her. She stared at her image completely while sniffing in pain.

This lady has everything to be called a woman, but one thing is missing. She is a woman without a womb.

How and when it happened is just like a mystery to her. She can't tell what's awry with her body system.

But, she developed that deep hatred towards her opposite sex unintentionally, and that's how it's going to be throughout her lifetime.

She will never get married. Her other aim after owning an industry is to adopt a child, or rather children but not more than two.

As it stands, Sir Juan is dealing with her indirectly. But, she will never get married, and nor will she stay without owning the industry.

Other options must be raised. She needs to choose between another in exchange for getting married.

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The doctor stared into his eyes, he noticed the tears that were almost gushing down his cheek.

" If tears would solve this matter, then I wouldn't mind letting you go ahead with it ", the doctor declared.

He rolled on the bed facing the wall. This must not be true, it can't just be.

He has just seventy-five days to live on earth. Just seventy-five days. Yes, seventy-five days only.

Dammit! He might not make it until that day, because the tears alone will take his life before the seventy-fifth day.

Ferdinand lifted his face counting on the ceilings, " Don't tell me that nothing can be done to save my life from this mess that I'm into. Heart diseases are complicated but must surely have a cure doctor ", he spoke up in discomfort.

The doctor lowered his head, " It's a disease of life and death, only if you have the grace to live ".

He felt the only solution was to depart immediately without seeing the next day.

" Comport yourself, Ferdinand. I'm very sorry for the tragic news ", the doctor uttered and left the ward.

He broke out in tears filled with deep pain. This is the end of his life.

Seventy-five days only, for me to live under this earth. It's just a few days to come.

He sat on the bed studying every part of the room. " I'll make sure to do what I haven't done for thirty-one years now. And the first thing is to fall in love, I need to taste it even if it's with the wrong person before departing ".

Then he took a deep breath and laid down on the bed again.