The rain poured heavily against the glass walls of the luxurious skyscraper, each drop tapping like a cruel reminder of her reality.
Lena Zhao sat at the edge of the leather chair, her hands clenched tightly around the worn envelope that held the hospital bills. Her mother's life was slipping away with every passing second, and the doctors refused to operate until payment was made.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain calm in the face of the man sitting across from her.
Adrian Li.
The cold and untouchable CEO of Li Corporation. His black suit fit him perfectly, highlighting his tall, lean frame. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes made him look like a man carved from ice—powerful, ruthless, and impossibly distant.
Lena had never felt smaller.
"You need money." His voice was low, steady, and terrifyingly calm. It wasn't a question. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping against the desk. "And I need a wife."
Her heart stopped. "A… wife?"
Adrian's gaze darkened, unreadable. "My grandfather is dying. His only wish before he leaves this world is to see me married. The board is pressing me as well. But marriage has never been in my plans."
He leaned forward, his presence suffocating. "So here's my offer, Miss Zhao. Marry me—for one year. In return, I'll pay for your mother's treatment and give you ten million yuan."
Lena's fingers trembled against the envelope. Ten million… it was enough to save her mother, enough to give them a new start. But…
"You want me to marry a stranger?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Not a stranger. Me."
Her chest tightened. She wanted to refuse. She wanted to walk out of his office and slam the door behind her. But when she pictured her mother lying weak in that hospital bed, the words refused to leave her mouth.
Adrian slid a thick document across the table. "The marriage contract. Sign it, and everything you need will be arranged immediately."
Lena's eyes darted over the papers. Clauses and conditions blurred before her vision—rules, restrictions, and obligations. She was not allowed to fall in love with him. She was not allowed to interfere with his business. She was not allowed to forget that, after one year, this marriage would end.
Her hand hovered over the pen.
"Why me?" she asked, voice trembling. "Out of all the women who would die to marry you, why choose me?"
For the first time, Adrian's expression shifted. His eyes glinted with something she couldn't read—pain? Bitterness? But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Because," he said flatly, "you're desperate enough to agree."
Silence stretched between them. Lena's breath shook. She hated him—his arrogance, his cruelty, the way he reduced her to nothing more than a pawn in his game.
And yet… wasn't he right?
With a shuddering breath, Lena picked up the pen. Her hand trembled as she scrawled her name at the bottom of the contract.
Adrian's lips curved into a cold smile. "Congratulations, Mrs. Li. From this moment forward, you belong to me."
The sound of thunder cracked across the night sky, sealing her fate.