Married to My Cold-Hearted CEO

Episode 1: The Contract The flashing cameras blinded Aria Sinclair as she stepped out of the sleek black car. Her elegant silver gown hugged her curves perfectly, the same dress she had worn on the red carpet just two weeks ago. But tonight was not for promoting her latest drama. Tonight was for sealing her fate. "Miss Sinclair, is it true you're marrying Damian Blackwood?" "Aria! Look this way!" She kept her head high, red lips curved in the practiced smile that had made her a rising star. No one could see how fast her heart was racing. Inside the grand hall of the Blackwood Estate, the air felt colder than any stage set she had ever been on. Lawyers in sharp suits waited with thick documents. And at the head of the long table sat him. Damian Blackwood. The man the business world feared and women dreamed about. Tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp jawline and eyes as cold as winter steel. He didn’t even look at her when she entered. "Sign," he said, voice deep and commanding, sliding the contract toward her. Aria’s hand trembled slightly as she picked up the pen. The terms were clear: one year of marriage. Live together. Appear as a perfect couple in public. In return, he would pay off her family’s massive debt and save her father’s dying production company. "I still don’t understand why you chose me," she said, voice steady despite everything. Damian finally lifted his gaze. His dark eyes scanned her from head to toe — slow, assessing, almost predatory. "Because you’re an actress," he replied flatly. "You can pretend to love me convincingly. That’s all I need." A sharp pain twisted in Aria’s chest, but she refused to show it. She had played countless roles before. This would just be her most important performance yet. She signed her name with a flourish. As the pen left the paper, Damian stood up. He towered over her, his presence suffocating. "Welcome to your new life, Mrs. Blackwood." His lips curved into the slightest smirk — cold, dangerous, and unfairly attractive. Aria met his eyes without flinching. Let the show begin.