"I don't want to marry you, Sir."
Hannah's voice was barely audible. Her head was lowered, her heart pounding rapidly, her eyes fixed on the marble floor of the VIP room of the nightclub where she worked. Both of her hands tightly gripped the hem of her shirt.
Aaron Stellan rose from the sofa he was sitting on. "Do you know the consequences if you refuse me, Miss?"
Slowly, he approached her. His gaze was sharp. "One phone call from me and your sibling's treatment will be stopped immediately," he threatened.
Hannah lifted her face. Her eyes widened. Her entire body froze. Hearing Aaron's threat, her chest roared with fear.
"No!" She shook her head. "You can't do that to my sibling. You are very cruel, Sir!"
Her eyes were glassy. "My sibling is sick and you…"
She grabbed both of Aaron's hands. "I beg you, don't do that, Sir."
Aaron did not budge, as if he did not have even the slightest sense of empathy. The corner of his lips lifted faintly. He leaned down, bringing his face close to Hannah's ear.
"The choice is in your hands, Hannah Brooks. Do you want your sibling to live or die because you refuse me?" he whispered.
He pulled his face away. "Marry me. One year. After that, you are free. And you will receive compensation from me."
For a moment Hannah was lost in thought, weighing her decision. At this moment she had no other choice. Hannah knew Aaron Stellan was the most powerful figure in New York City and he could do anything he wanted.
"Alright, Sir. I accept it, but only for one year."
Aaron grinned in satisfaction upon hearing Hannah's answer. "Good! Tomorrow my lawyer will pick you up. Sign the contract, then we will get married at the civil registry."
His hand lifted, his fingers caressing Hannah's pale cheek. "Never think of running away from me. Right now, your sibling's life is completely in my hands."
Feeling the softness of Aaron's fingers touching her cheek, Hannah turned away. "I-I will not run away, Sir."
"Good girl," Aaron said.
He withdrew his hand, slipped it into the pocket of his trousers, then walked out, leaving Hannah standing frozen, staring at his broad back.
"Why is this man so terrifying? And why does he want to enter a contract marriage with me?"
Hannah closed her eyes. "I'm forced to become his contract wife. If not…" she remembered her sibling lying weakly on a hospital bed.
Hannah could not imagine what would happen if Aaron truly carried out his threat.
Slowly her eyes opened, her body straightened. "Only for one year. Hold on, Hannah."
She stepped out of the VIP room with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile, at the bar table, Aaron sat with his three friends, looking at them with a thin, victorious smile.
"Have you conquered that waitress yet?" Victor asked curiously.
Aaron took a glass of wine, swirling it slowly. "In your opinion, is there any woman who can resist my charm and wealth?"
He leaned back casually in his chair. "Tomorrow I will marry Hannah Brooks. Prepare your gifts. As we agreed in this bet."
Aaron raised his glass. "Cheers."
Low, cynical laughter filled the table.
"I want to see whether you can really conquer her until she kneels before you," Julian said.
"Remember, one year. Don't you dare end your marriage without our knowledge, or you lose," Nathaniel added challengingly.
Victor smiled faintly. "We all know your taste in women, Aaron. So don't try to fool us with your little act."
Aaron did not respond. He sipped his wine in silence. His gaze locked onto Hannah in the distance, who was serving drinks at a customer's table with trembling hands.
The corner of his lips lifted slightly. "Just wait and see. That woman will become my wife within a year and…"
Aaron placed his wine glass on the table. "She will submit in my arms. Becoming an obedient wife and doing whatever I want without arguing."
The next day, after signing the contract and registering their marriage, Aaron took Hannah to his grand house.
Their footsteps echoed amid the silent luxury. As soon as they passed through the main door, Hannah was immediately greeted by several servants standing in a line, staring at her while whispering inquisitively.
"Naomi, take my wife to her room now," Aaron ordered.
Hannah stood frozen, staring at the middle-aged woman named Naomi. She snapped back to reality when Naomi approached and said gently, "Come, Madam, this way."
Hannah nodded faintly, then followed Naomi to the room she would occupy during her time as Aaron Stellan's contract wife.
"This is your room, Madam. If you need anything, just call me or the other servants," Naomi said politely.
Hannah turned and offered a gentle smile. "Thank you very much."
Naomi bowed respectfully. "You're welcome, Madam. Please excuse me."
She bowed again before leaving the room.
After Naomi left, Hannah let out a heavy breath, glanced at the door for a moment, then swept her gaze across every corner of the spacious and luxurious room.
Slowly she walked toward the bed. "What should I do now? My life has completely changed," she muttered in frustration.
"In an instant, I became Mr. Stellan's wife. This is completely crazy!" Her hands clenched as she remembered Aaron's cruel threat yesterday.
"Damn annoying man! He thinks he can buy everything!"
Hannah stood up, her clenched fist punching the air in anger. She vented her pent-up fury on the image of Aaron.
"You think I will obey all your orders? Don't count on it!"
She stomped her foot on the floor, then walked toward the balcony. "For some reason, I feel there is something strange about this marriage. Too sudden."
Hannah remembered when Emily, one of her coworkers, said that Aaron Stellan wanted to speak with her privately.
"Hannah, Mr. Stellan wants to talk to you now. He's in VIP Room 27," Emily had said at the time.
"Mr. Stellan? Why is he looking for me?" Her brows furrowed, her mind filled with speculation. Why was Aaron Stellan calling her? Was he in need of a woman? Impossible! Hannah knew what kind of woman that rich man wanted.
Moreover, she had never been interested in selling herself to a man just because she was tempted by money. Hannah worked at the nightclub because she was forced to. She needed money for her sibling's medical treatment, who was seriously ill.
Hannah also knew Aaron Stellan was a handsome billionaire adored by many women. Not only rumors in newspapers and gossip magazines, but at the nightclub where she worked, women constantly competed for his attention. Even her coworkers often did so. They fought to deliver Aaron Stellan's orders just to attract his attention.
"I don't know what he wants. You'd better just go meet him," Emily replied.
She pondered. "During all the time I've worked here, this is the first time I've seen Mr. Stellan want to talk to a waitress. It seems strange because usually women are the ones begging to approach him."
And how shocked Hannah was when she learned Aaron's true intention in calling her. Without the slightest small talk or hesitation, the arrogant man directly asked her to enter a contract marriage.
Hannah let out a long sigh as she remembered it.
"There's no way he would marry me if there wasn't something behind it. Yes, even if it's just a contract marriage."
Hannah fell into thought again. "It seems I have to find out."
"Find out what, Hannah?" a deep voice suddenly asked.
Hannah was extremely startled. She turned around instinctively. Her eyes widened when she saw Aaron already standing at the balcony doorway with his arms crossed, staring at her sharply.
"S-Sir, what are you doing here? And since when?"
Aaron walked toward her. "This is my house. So no one can forbid me from being anywhere I want, including in my own wife's room."
"I mean… you startled me." Hannah lowered her head deeply, not daring to meet Aaron's eyes.
"Damn it, why does he make me afraid," she muttered inwardly.
"No need to curse and grumble. I can feel it," Aaron said coldly.
Hannah lifted her face quickly, their gazes meeting.
"How can he know? Can he read my mind?" she murmured inwardly.
Aaron's right hand lifted, tucking a thin strand of hair behind Hannah's ear.
"What are you going to do?" Hannah instinctively turned her face away. Both her hands gripped the iron railing of the balcony behind her.
"I'm going to do this," Aaron whispered lowly. He leaned down, slowly bringing his rigid face closer to Hannah's.
"S-Sir! Stop!" Hannah reflexively placed both her hands on Aaron's broad chest, pushing him away.
But her effort was futile. Aaron did not budge even slightly. His lips drew closer, ignoring Hannah's rejection.
Thump! Hannah's heart pounded rapidly. Her eyes stared at Aaron's lips drawing nearer.
"Y-you must not kiss me! Remember this well, we are only in a contract marriage!"