Chapter 1
"You've been sighing since morning, Juvia-chan."
Juvia flinched when she heard the voice. She looked up and saw Silver hovering over her desk, his face laced with worry.
"Silver-sama," she acknowledged. "Juvia's sorry, she was just thinking about something..." she purposely trailed off.
"You can tell me over a cup of coffee. Come on, you need a break."
Juvia agreed, albeit reluctantly, and followed him out of the office. They went to the nearest coffee shop, a few blocks away from the company's building. Silver told her to find them a seat while he went to the counter to order their usual drinks.
As she sat, her eyes wandered to her immediate boss. Despite being the head of a company, he usually liked to wear casual clothes over the fancy suit ones. He said he always felt stifled by them and he'd rather wear something more comfortable. He was a carefree man, and his employees all adored and respected him. Even her.
Juvia has been working for him for almost four years—as his secretary. She was kind of an awkward person and was initially intimidated by him, even with his occasional jokes and kind smile. The world hadn't been good to her, or so she believed, making her unable to get close to others easily.
But he had been patient with her since the very start, even if he didn't need to be. He treated her just how he treated everyone else. He wasn't even weirded out by her strange way of speaking. He had moved her heart and she had tried everything to impress him. She would give her best at her tasks, serve him enthusiastically, even giving him snacks and lunch boxes.
Eventually, they got really close. Juvia, who had never felt a parent's care, craved for his warmth. She had even wished once, on her birthday, to be born as his daughter in the next life. That was how important he was to her life.
It was the same for him.
It wasn't one time Silver had told her how good it'd be to have a daughter like her. He said, she was diligent, caring, and sweet—the traits he envisioned his daughter would have. He and his wife wanted one, but... never did. When he would mention this, he would always have this melancholic expression, tinge with heartache and regret. He really loved his wife but unfortunately, she had left this world.
As the two waited for their orders, Silver gave her the time to think. He wanted her to tell him when she was ready. He never forced her in this regard. He waited, and waited, until they got their drinks.
Juvia stared at her own cup, holding it with both her hands while it rested on the table. She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Juvia has mentioned before that her parents left her properties, right?"
Silver gave a nod. "Yes, and that you'll be able to inherit them in a month."
She bit her lip, trying to calm her nerves. "But the condition precedent from her parents' will was different from what her uncle told her. The condition states that she can only inherit it if she marries before twenty-three."
He stilled, then realized. "That's... in a month."
Juvia could only blame herself. The will was read when she was just a kid so she didn't really understand much back then. She was also suffering from the loss of her parents that she didn't pay attention to anything else.
A few years later, she never investigated or even asked about the will. Her uncle was the appointed executor and she had fully trusted him. She would have never thought he was a snake because he did a good job pretending he thinks about her interests
Before meeting Silver, Jose and Gajeel—her best friend, were the only people she believed. Although Jose had been absent most of her life, he never failed to call her and ask her how she was every now and then. He would always make sure to provide her with what she needed and even remind her about her parents'will. She was led to believe that her parents wanted her to graduate and get a job before twenty-three. Jose said that was the condition in order for her to inherit the assets left for her.
"So I'm guessing, you only found out recently. But how will that benefit him?"
"If Juvia fails to meet the condition, her assets will be inherited by the contingent beneficiary."
Silver put a hand on his forehead, as if getting a headache. "And it's your uncle."
She pressed her lips and nodded. "Juvia asked a probate attorney. She can sue him...but it may take time."
Juvia's grip on the cup tightened. Her heart clenched at her uncle's betrayal. Her parents must've never expected him to do this, too.
It was a coincidence that when she visited her uncle in his house a week ago, he was out. Deciding to wait for him, she entered his study. She was a frequent visitor there, and the maids treated her like the owner of the house.
The will and testament of her parents have always been in Jose's hand. Juvia never bothered to check it or ask for a copy. Maybe that was why he was so nonchalant to leave it on his table. When she saw it, she decided to skim it in boredom. What was written there had shocked her. She couldn't believe her parents would leave that kind of ridiculous condition and that her uncle would lie about it.
She was in a mess as she left the house. She had pretended to be fine in the maids' eyes as she requested for them to keep quiet about her visit. She explained that she planned to surprise her uncle next time and it would be ruined if her uncle found out about her visit. The maids excitedly agreed and commented how well their relationship was.
She cursed in her head in disgust.
"That is quite a problem." Silver commented before sipping his coffee. He frowned as he put the cup back on the saucer. "Have you confronted him about it?"
She shook her head. "No. Juvia was advised by the attorney that it's best to keep it from him."
"That's good. Then, all you need to do is find someone to marry within a month."
In spite of everything, Juvia smiled when she heard that. Silver had only heard a bit of what happened, but it was easy for him to point out what needed to be done.
He was correct, that was also the advice she had gotten. The condition in the will was not illegal, and most likely would be upheld by the court. They couldn't contest it. As for suing Jose, that was also possible since he didn't inform her about the true condition, but again it might take time. She has to produce proof and present it on trial.
It would be easier to just marry in a month. But that 'easier' may be harder on her. She never even had a boyfriend in her life.
"You can't just marry anyone in a month. Men these days are, well...I'm not one to say, but they're unreliable. You don't really know what might happen if you just marry blindly."
Juvia was teary-eyed as she watched him think of a solution. "Juvia apologizes, Silver-sama. She can't focus on her job and now she is even bothering you with her problem."
Silver moved his chair to her side and pulled her against him. "Hey, don't say that. We're family."
In the arms of someone she relied upon, Juvia's tears finally fell like a dam. She was comforted with his words, and finally felt she wasn't alone. Gajeel was out of the country, and she hadn't contacted him yet. She didn't want to disturb his and his girlfriend's vacation. She only has Silver.
"It was the only thing Juvia's parents left for her. Uncle can't take it away," she sobbed on his chest.
Silver caressed her back. She was the daughter he never had and seeing her like this made him distressed. He couldn't just allow her to marry some random guy, too. He'd worry about her and he'd rather she marry that brat of his.
When he first saw Juvia, it was during an interview. She had just recently graduated and among the applicants, her credential was the worst. She was also the youngest and Silver didn't want someone inexperienced at his side. He'd rather promote someone. Still, he let the HR and his resigning secretary in charge of the hiring. He only took a glance at her before leaving.
He never thought she would be hired. Since she became his employee, he wouldn't treat her badly even if he had doubts. He never expected she would be that good. She was eloquent, organized, and she has a good memory. So even if she doesn't have any experience, it only took her a short amount of time to learn everything.
He was impressed and he suddenly took an interest in her. Not in that way, of course. It was because she reminded him of his own son. She seemed closed-off, like a wounded person. So he tried his best to get close to her. It was something he wished to do with Gray, but he was not as easy to coax as Juvia.
Speaking of it, it was his earlier intention to match Juvia with Gray. He didn't explicitly tell him to date her, but he mentioned her quite a lot of times, saying she was so sweet and thoughtful—that kind of stuff, so his droopy-eyed kid would take an interest in her. But well, it was a failure. If he didn't know any better, Silver would think his son was a stone.
It'd be great if Juvia could marry his son, but Silver knew all too well that it wouldn't be possible in this short time. Gray wouldn't agree to it, even if he explained. He never even met Juvia, he wouldn't have any sympathy for someone he wasn't even acquainted with.
There was another idea, but it would have greater consequences than Juvia marrying Gray. Still, the longer he thought about it, the more he liked this idea of his.
Silver lightly pushed Juvia to take a look at her. Look at his girl, crying her eyes out.
He coughed before telling her his idea. "Juvia-chan, why don't you marry me?"
She stared at him dumbfounded, trying to process what he said. She was flustered with the out-of-the-blue proposal. "S-silver-sama, t-t-that's..."
He chuckled at her reaction. "I'd rather you marry me instead of some random guy. I've known you long enough to know you don't have any romantic entanglements with someone. I bet you're thinking of hiring someone," Silver said as he wiped the tears on her face. "I want to help you. Marry me and we'll ruin your uncle's plans."
Juvia did have that kind of thought—to hire a pretend husband. But she didn't really have that many friends so she couldn't ask anyone. And her coworkers were afraid of her because of her solemnity, hence, she had no one to talk to.
"Juvia-chan, I've been widowed for years. No one would really mind if you marry me," Silver added.
"B-but you have a son, Silver-sama..." she stuttered.
Juvia didn't reject the idea, and honestly, it was plausible. Silver knew her circumstances and currently, he was the only one she could trust. It may have been the best option Juvia has. But if she remembers correctly, he has a son around her age. Wouldn't that be kind of awkward?
He waved a hand. "I would tell him the details, don't worry."
Silver patted her head when she didn't respond. "If you need more time to think, you can. But decide soon, you only have a few weeks left right? The sooner you tell me, the earlier I can arrange everything we need."
Juvia nodded, her mind in disarray.
It was two days later that Juvia had decided to accept her boss' proposal. Just like he said, it was the best option she has at the moment. Frankly, she was too exhausted to think of another solution so she was easily tempted by the offer.
Juvia blushed when she thought of Silver as her husband. She never thought about him like that, okay? He was her pillar of support, her guardian, and a father figure. But still, she was a bit embarrassed. It was like something out of a fairy tale. She had never imagined to be in this kind of situation, with her boss no less.
Thinking about his resolve to help her, Juvia smiled. If it was Silver, then everything would be okay.
When Juvia told him of her decision that day, he ruffled her hair and told her "good girl". He would arrange everything and she only had to sign some papers. There would be no ceremony as per their agreement but after the signing, they would eat out somewhere to celebrate.
Juvia could finally relax. Her predicament wasn't totally resolved yet, but she was sure it would. She only had to wait for a few more days and she could finally breathe in relief.
The thing she was worried about now was her friend, Gajeel. He was out of the country and if he found out she had married someone when he was away, he would be furious. Well, he loved her so, he would forgive her, especially if she told him about her Uncle Jose's bad deed. But that didn't make her any less worried.
Another thing was Silver's son. She heard many things about him and she knew she was only older than him by a year. Guessing his personality, it would be difficult for him to accept her as his step mother, even if it wasn't under normal circumstances.
She trusted Silver that he would tell him about what happened, but that wouldn't really change the fact that she would be legally Silver's wife, albeit only for a short period of time. He told her not to tell anyone, in case her uncle found out about it, but they would only be married for a few months. He said he has a way to annul their marriage, so she has nothing to worry about.
Juvia laid down on her bed, feeling sleepy. This might be the first time in days that sleep finds its way to her. She closed her eyes, hoping everything would go the way they planned.
Disclaimer: I'm not, in any way, a lawyer. I am not knowledgeable about inheritance/wills and there might be mistakes in what I've written.