Chapter 1

The sound of rain pounding against the window echoed in the small apartment. Lisa sat at the edge of her mother’s bed, gently squeezing her frail hand.

Her mother’s once vibrant face was pale and sunken, her breathing labored as the machines beside her hummed softly.

The medical bills were piling up, and Lisa’s part-time job at the local diner barely paid for their basic needs, let alone the mounting costs of her mother’s treatments.

She glanced at the crumpled bills spread across the tiny kitchen table. Rent was overdue. Utilities, too. And with her mother's condition worsening, Lisa was running out of time, and options.

“Lisa,” her mother’s voice was barely above a whisper. “You should be out there... living your life. Not trapped here with me.”

Lisa swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve got everything under control.”

But the truth was, she didn’t. Every day felt like a fight she was losing. And then there was Ethan Stone.

Dr. Ethan Stone. The billionaire. The one who could change everything.

Lisa had met Ethan at a charity gala last month. She hadn’t been invited, of course. But her friend Mia, who worked catering for the event, had snuck her in for a chance to network and maybe land a better job.

Little did she know, that night would mark the beginning of something far more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

Ethan had noticed her standing awkwardly in the corner, dressed in a borrowed gown that didn’t quite fit. He’d introduced himself with a cool, confident demeanor that made her feel instantly self-conscious.

Over the following weeks, they crossed paths more than once, though Lisa still wasn’t sure why someone like Ethan Stone would bother with a poor college girl like her. Then he came up with the proposition, as unexpected as it was tempting.

“Marry me. Three years. No strings attached. Just a contract,” Ethan had said one evening, over coffee in a quiet downtown cafe.

Lisa had nearly choked on her drink. “Excuse me?”

Ethan had leaned in, his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers. “I need a wife. Temporarily. It’s... a business matter.”

It was absurd. Unbelievable. But as he laid out the terms, a formal arrangement, no emotional involvement, and a $10 million payout for breaching the contract, Lisa realized he wasn’t joking.

“I’ll pay for your mother’s medical bills. You won’t have to worry about a thing,” he’d said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Lisa had sat there, stunned. Why would a billionaire need a fake wife? It didn’t make sense. But Ethan had his reasons, something about image, about business deals requiring stability in his personal life.

He hadn’t gone into much detail, and Lisa hadn’t pressed. The truth was, she didn’t care why he needed a wife. What mattered was that this could save her mother’s life.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone vibrating on the table. It was a text from Ethan.

“Are you in? Make do quickly and come see me. The papers are ready.”

Lisa’s stomach twisted as she stared at the message. Could she really do this? Marry a man she barely knew? Live with him for three years, pretending to be a happy couple, knowing it was all a lie?

She rose from the chair, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer. Her mother needed help now, and this was her only way out.

She slipped on her worn-out jacket and grabbed her keys, whispering a soft goodbye to her sleeping mother before heading out the door.

The drive to Ethan’s office felt surreal. Her hands trembled as she clutched the steering wheel, her mind racing with so much what ifs?

What if she regretted this decision? What if he was more controlling than she anticipated? What if she couldn’t hold up her end of the deal?

But the alternative, losing her mother, was something she couldn’t bear to think about. Ethan had said the contract was simple and she thought she could deal with it. Afterall there were no strings attached.

They would get married, present a united front in public, and live their lives separately behind closed doors. In three years, it would all be over, and she’d walk away with enough money to never worry again.

When she arrived at the sleek, glass building that housed Ethan’s office, Lisa hesitated at the entrance. The revolving doors seemed to mock her. Once she stepped inside, her life would change forever. But wasn’t that what she wanted? Change?

She pushed through the doors and made her way to the top floor, where Ethan’s office overlooked the city. His assistant greeted her with a polite smile and escorted her to a small conference room where Ethan and his lawyer were already seated.

“Lisa,” Ethan said as she entered, his expression unreadable. “You’re right on time.”

She forced a tight smile. “I guess I’m ready.”

The lawyer slid a stack of papers across the table. “This is the contract,” he said, his tone all business. “It outlines the terms of the marriage, the financial agreement, and the consequences of breach.”

Lisa’s eyes skimmed over the documents, though most of the legal jargon was lost on her. The only thing that stuck out was the number, $10 million. If either of them broke the agreement before three years, they would owe the other $10 million. It was a staggering amount of money, an amount that could change her life forever.

Her hands shook as she picked up the pen. Ethan watched her carefully, but he said nothing.

“You’ll be taken care of,” he said softly, almost reassuringly. “Your mother will be taken care of. All you have to do is sign.”

Lisa exhaled slowly and, without another word, signed her name on the dotted line.

As the ink dried, she realized there was no turning back. She was now officially bound to Ethan Stone, for better or worse.

Chapter 2

Lisa’s stomach twisted with anxiety as the town car pulled up to the gates of Ethan’s mansion.

The sprawling estate seemed like something out of a movie, an endless stretch of manicured lawns, grand pillars, and tall windows that gleamed in the sunlight.

Everything about it screamed wealth, power, and distance. The kind of life Lisa had never imagined for herself. Yet here she was, stepping out of the car, dressed in clothes that felt too formal, too uncomfortable for her.

She had agreed to this marriage for one reason: to save her mother. Ethan had offered her a way out of poverty, and though she didn’t know him well, she had convinced herself it was the right decision.

After all, he had kept his word. Her mother was now in a private hospital, receiving the best care money could buy. Lisa had reassured her mom, telling her she was “in good hands,” that she would be fine. But as she stood there, facing the mansion’s heavy doors, Lisa wasn’t sure she believed that herself.

The doors swung open, revealing a butler who greeted her with a formal nod. Inside, the house was just as imposing as the exterior, polished marble floors, high ceilings adorned with chandeliers, and an eerie, echoing silence.

Lisa hesitated, feeling out of place, as if she didn’t belong in such a grand space. It was a far cry from the cramped apartment she had shared with her mother, where everything had been worn but filled with warmth. Here, the luxury felt cold, detached.

Ethan’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. He had entered the room, dressed in a crisp suit, his expression as unreadable as ever. “The staff will take care of whatever you need,” he said without looking at her. “You’ll be comfortable here.”

Lisa nodded, though she wasn’t sure what “comfortable” really meant in this situation. “Thank you,” she replied softly, feeling the awkwardness between them like a heavy weight.

Ethan’s gaze finally shifted toward her, but there was no warmth in his eyes, only the same distant professionalism she had come to expect. “I’m heading to the office,” he said flatly. “If you need anything, ask the maids. They’ll be available.”

He turned to leave, but Lisa, desperate for some kind of connection in this strange, new world, spoke up. “Ethan... Do you want me to bring you lunch later? I could come by your office.”

He paused, his back still to her. For a moment, she thought he might say yes, that maybe this marriage wasn’t going to be as cold as it seemed. But when he turned around, his expression was as hard as stone. “No need. Your place is here, in the house.”

Her place? She hadn’t expected much from this arrangement, but the way he said it made her feel like a prisoner, confined to the mansion while he went about his life, free and unattached.

Ethan didn’t even bother to soften his tone. He just gave her a brief nod and walked out the door, leaving her standing there, feeling small and insignificant.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Lisa’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to hold them back, but the loneliness and confusion overwhelmed her.

How had her life come to this? Just months ago, she had been struggling, yes, but she had her freedom. Now, she was married to a man who didn’t care about her beyond the terms of their contract. She had never expected love, but the coldness was suffocating.

Lisa hurried to her room, shutting the door behind her before collapsing on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. She let the tears flow freely, sobbing quietly into the fabric.

She wasn’t just crying over Ethan’s words, but over everything, her mother’s illness, the life she had left behind, the uncertainty of her future.

She thought about leaving the mansion, going to see her mother, but the terms of the contract echoed in her mind. The marriage was confidential.

No one could know it was a business arrangement. If she went to her mother, if she let on that things weren’t perfect, it could raise suspicion. Lisa didn’t have the luxury of making mistakes. Ethan had made that clear when she signed the contract.

So, she stayed. There was nothing else she could do.

Hours passed in a blur, and eventually, Lisa dried her tears, trying to distract herself. One of the maids knocked on her door and suggested playing a game in the parlor.

The thought of sitting alone in her room, wallowing in sadness, seemed unbearable, so she agreed. She spent the next few hours with the maids, trying to lose herself in their company, playing cards and chatting lightly about meaningless things.

…..But underneath it all, the loneliness remained.

Evening fell, Lisa’s nerves began to tighten again. Ethan would be home soon, and though she dreaded seeing him after how cold he had been earlier, a part of her longed for some kind of interaction, some acknowledgment that she wasn’t invisible.

When Ethan finally returned, his presence filled the mansion like an oppressive weight. He walked in, as composed as ever, barely acknowledging her as he asked one of the maids to bring him dinner.

Lisa stood in the hallway, watching him as he sat down at the dining table, eating alone without even glancing in her direction.

It was only after he had finished his meal that he finally addressed her. “I’m heading to bed,” he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Lisa nodded, following him to the bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know what to expect, but the silence between them was unbearable.

As they entered the room, Ethan began to undress, his movements efficient and detached. Lisa stood awkwardly by the bed, unsure of what to do, but then Ethan turned to her, his gaze heavy and unreadable.

Without a word, he reached for her, pulling her gently toward him. His hands were cold against her skin, but his touch was firm, commanding.

Lisa’s breath caught in her throat as he led her to the bed. They were husband and wife, and this was part of the deal, part of the contract.

Ethan was gentle, his movements deliberate and controlled as he undressed her, and though there was no passion, no fire, Lisa didn’t resist. She let him take her, his body pressing against hers with a kind of quiet intensity.

It was not the first time she had been with a man, but this felt different, impersonal, almost clinical. Yet, there was a strange comfort in his gentleness, a relief in the fact that he wasn’t cruel, just distant.

Lisa lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. She turned to Ethan, hoping for some kind of conversation, some connection. “How was your day?” she whispered, her voice soft.

Ethan didn’t respond immediately. When he finally did, it was with the same casual indifference he had shown her earlier. “Fine,” he said, his tone flat. “Go to sleep.”

And just like that, the conversation was over. Lisa felt the weight of disappointment settle in her chest as she turned away from him, curling up under the covers.

She had hoped for something that would make this feel less empty, but Ethan had made it clear that this was all there was. This was their marriage. A cold, transactional arrangement, where emotions were irrelevant.

As she lay there, the reality of her situation hit her harder than ever. She was married to a man who would never love her, living in a house that wasn’t her home, surrounded by luxury that meant nothing.

And no matter how much she tried to convince herself that it was worth it, that she was doing the right thing for her mother, a part of her wondered how long she could keep going before the emptiness consumed her completely.

Chapter 3

"I’ll be taking you out this afternoon,” Ethan said as he walked into the living room, not looking up from his phone. His tone was flat, as usual, no warmth, no affection. “We’ll go shopping, and then we have a business event tonight.”

Lisa blinked, caught off guard by his sudden appearance and the mention of plans. She hadn’t expected to see him, let alone spend the day with him. “Shopping?” she asked, trying to mask her surprise.

Ethan finally glanced up, his eyes briefly meeting hers. “You’ll need something appropriate for the event. It’s a formal business party, and you don't seem to have anything appealing”

She nodded, though her mind raced. It was strange, the thought of shopping with him, of being out in public together.

Up until now, their interactions had been few and far between, cold exchanges that felt more like business than marriage. But this felt like a step outside that carefully constructed distance, even if it was still for the sake of appearances.

“Okay,” she replied softly, feeling unsure of what else to say.

“Be ready in an hour,” he said, turning to leave the room just as quickly as he had entered.

Lisa stood there for a moment, processing his words. Part of her was anxious, she didn’t know how to act around him when they were alone, especially after last night, but another part of her was curious. Maybe today would be different. Maybe they could break through the icy wall that seemed to separate them.

An hour later, Lisa was dressed and waiting by the front door when Ethan appeared again. He didn’t offer her a compliment or even acknowledge the effort she had put into looking nice. Instead, he simply gestured toward the door. “Let’s go.”

They drove into the city in silence, the atmosphere between them tense and awkward. Lisa stared out the window, watching the streets pass by as they made their way to one of the most upscale shopping districts in town.

When they arrived, Ethan led her into a boutique filled with designer gowns, luxurious fabrics, and sparkling accessories. The staff immediately greeted them with the kind of deference that only came with recognizing extreme wealth.

“Pick whatever you want,” Ethan said, his tone businesslike as he sat down on a plush couch, scrolling through his phone again.

Lisa hesitated, unsure of what to choose. She had never shopped in places like this before, and the thought of spending thousands of dollars on a dress felt surreal. She wandered through the racks, her fingers brushing over the delicate materials, still trying to adjust to this new reality.

As she tried on different gowns, the staff buzzed around her, offering suggestions and adjustments, while Ethan remained completely disengaged, barely looking up from his phone to offer an opinion.

Every now and then, Lisa would catch a glimpse of him in the mirror, sitting there, detached, as if he couldn’t care less about the fact that she was trying to make an effort.

Eventually, she chose a sleek black evening gown, simple but elegant. She stepped out of the fitting room, feeling nervous, hoping for some kind of reaction from him. Ethan glanced up briefly, his expression was neutral.

“That’ll do,” he said, standing up and nodding to the sales associate to wrap it up.

His lack of enthusiasm stung, but Lisa didn’t let it show. She had learned by now that expecting anything more from Ethan was a mistake. This was who he was, cool, distant, and impossible to read.

Once they had left the store, the drive to the business party was just as quiet. The event was being held at a grand hotel downtown, and as they pulled up, Lisa could already see the well-dressed guests arriving, stepping out of luxury cars and walking up the red-carpeted steps. Ethan parked the car and turned to her before they got out.

“Remember, tonight is important for my business. We need to play the part of a married couple. Don’t draw attention to anything… unusual.”

Lisa nodded, feeling the pressure of his words settle over her. This was just another performance, another day of pretending. She had agreed to this when she signed the contract, but it didn’t make it any easier. “I understand,” she said quietly.

They stepped out of the car, and the flash of cameras immediately greeted them as they entered the party.

Lisa felt out of place among the glamorous guests, but she did her best to smile and stay by Ethan’s side, though he barely acknowledged her throughout the evening.

He introduced her to a few of his business partners, exchanged polite pleasantries, and then drifted into conversations that didn’t involve her.

Feeling increasingly invisible, Lisa excused herself to get some air. She slipped out of the ballroom and found her way to the hotel’s terrace, hoping for a moment of peace. She stepped outside, the cool night air hit her, and for the first time all evening, she felt like she could breathe.

But her brief moment of calm was shattered when she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Well, well, if it isn’t the charity case.”

Lisa froze, turning slowly to see Jade, one of her old classmates from college. Jade had always been cruel to her, mocking her for her background, for the fact that she didn’t come from wealth like the rest of them. And now, seeing Jade here, in the midst of Ethan’s world, made Lisa’s stomach churn.

Jade sauntered over, her eyes gleaming with malice. “I heard you married rich,” she sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. “Who’d you have to beg for that?”

Lisa tried to stay calm, reminding herself that she couldn’t let anyone know the truth about her marriage. “It’s none of your business, Jade,” she said, keeping her voice steady.

But Jade wasn’t finished. “You think just because you married a billionaire, you belong here? You don’t. You’ll always be that poor, pathetic girl who didn’t have anything.”

Lisa clenched her fists, trying to hold back the anger rising in her chest. She knew she couldn’t afford to get into a confrontation, not here, not now. But Jade was relentless.

Before Lisa could walk away, Jade raised her hand, as if preparing to slap her. “You don’t even deserve….”

Suddenly, a hand caught Jade’s wrist mid-air. Lisa gasped, her heart racing as she turned to see Ethan standing behind her, his expression dark and unreadable.

“That’s enough!” Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. His grip on Jade’s wrist tightened just enough to make her wince before he let go.

Jade stumbled back, shocked and embarrassed. “Ethan, I didn’t….”

“Go inside,” Ethan interrupted, his voice cold. “Now.”

Jade hesitated, her face flushed with humiliation, before she turned and stormed back into the ballroom.

Ethan turned to Lisa, his expression softening just slightly. “Are you alright?”

Lisa nodded, though her heart was still pounding from the encounter. “I’m fine.”

For a brief moment, Ethan’s gaze lingered on her, as if he wanted to say something more. But then, just as quickly, the wall came back up, and he straightened, his voice returning to its usual indifferent tone.

“Let’s go back inside.”