Married To The Famous Devil

Chapter 1: Desperation and Deal

“Our family is crumbling,” my mother said, her voice thick with despair as she sat across from me at the kitchen table. The soft ticking of the clock on the wall felt like a countdown to the inevitable.

I looked at her, trying to find the strength to say something comforting, but nothing came. There were no more promises I could make, no more hopes to offer. The Bennett family company, the business my grandfather built from the ground up, was a shell of its former self. After a string of poor decisions and reckless investments, my father had driven it to the edge of financial ruin. The creditors were circling, threatening legal action, and we were out of options.

“Claire, please,” my mother added, her eyes pleading with me. “We need help. You’re our last hope.”

I nodded, but inside, panic churned. How had we gotten to this point? I had tried everything—reworked the marketing strategies, found new investors, cut costs wherever I could. But none of it worked. The company was collapsing, and we were too deep in debt for anyone to care.

Then, out of the blue, I found a lead. A name. Lucas Knight. The billionaire known for swooping in and saving failing companies, but only on his terms. And his terms were not generous.

I swallowed my fears and picked up the phone, dialing the number I found in a desperate search. It felt like a long shot, but at this point, I had no other choice.

---

Two days later, I found myself standing in the gleaming lobby of Lucas Knight’s empire, my heart pounding in my chest. The building was a testament to his success—sleek, modern, intimidating. I wasn’t ready for this world, but I had no choice.

“Miss Bennett, Mr. Knight will see you now,” the assistant said, barely looking up from her desk.

I followed her down a long hallway, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The nerves in my stomach twisted tighter with each step. This was it. My last chance to save my family’s future.

I entered his office, and the air seemed to shift. Lucas Knight stood by the window, tall and commanding, his sharp eyes scanning the city below. The moment he turned to face me, I felt the weight of his gaze—cold, calculating, and unreadable.

“You’re Claire Bennett,” he said, his voice deep and smooth, as though he were already bored with the meeting.

I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. “Yes, Mr. Knight. Thank you for meeting with me.”

He didn’t acknowledge the gratitude. Instead, he simply motioned for me to sit. I did, feeling small in the sleek, minimalist space.

I laid out the situation—how our family’s company was on the brink of bankruptcy, how we had no way out. “The creditors are closing in, and we don’t have enough capital to keep the business afloat. If we can’t make a deal soon, we’ll lose everything. My father… he’s too proud to ask for help, and I can’t let the company my grandfather built crumble.”

I paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, my voice wavering despite my best effort to stay composed. “I’m willing to sell a majority stake in the company if it means saving it. If you can help us, Mr. Knight, I’ll give you control. Just please… help us.”

Lucas didn’t flinch as I spoke. His gaze never wavered, his expression impossible to read. He didn’t ask for details, didn’t show any hint of sympathy. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his eyes locked on mine as if he were evaluating my every word, my every gesture.

When I finished, he leaned back in his chair, still silent for a moment. “You’re offering me your family’s legacy for a piece of paper,” he said, his voice smooth, almost bored. “You do realize, Miss Bennett, that I could have this company for a fraction of what it’s worth? I wouldn’t need to marry anyone for that.”

I swallowed, my stomach tightening. “I understand, but I don’t have another option. Please, I’m asking for your help.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, I thought he might actually feel something—sympathy, perhaps. But then, just as quickly, that flicker of emotion was gone, replaced by his usual detached calculation.

“I’m not interested in your company’s debts or your desperation,” he said coldly, his gaze never leaving mine. “What I’m interested in is a different deal.”

I blinked, unsure of what he meant. “A deal?”

He leaned forward, placing a contract in front of me. The sharp click of the paper against the glass desk sounded like a warning.

“I’ll save your company,” he said, his voice now colder than ever. “I’ll make sure your family’s legacy survives. But there’s one condition.” He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle in the air. “You’ll marry me.”

I froze, unable to believe what I’d just heard. “What?”

“Marry me,” Lucas repeated, his tone unwavering. “For one year. No questions asked. I don’t want affection or love—just a wife who can play the part and keep up appearances. In exchange, I save your family’s business. That’s the deal.”

I stared at him, unable to process the absurdity of what he was proposing. “I… I don’t understand. Why me?”

Lucas’s lips twitched into a faint, unreadable smile. “It’s simple. I need a wife to inherit the family estate and secure my business empire. And you need me to save your family’s company. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. Nothing more, nothing less.”

I looked at the contract, then back at him. My mind raced, but my throat felt dry. I didn’t know if I was supposed to feel relieved or insulted. This wasn’t a choice, not really. It was a lifeline thrown to me in the form of a cold, calculated deal.

“I… I can’t just—” I started, but he interrupted me with a sharp look.

“You can,” Lucas said flatly. “The question is, will you?”

“I’m not interested in a majority stake in your company,” he said flatly. “I’m interested in a different deal.”

I waited, holding my breath. The tension in the room was suffocating.

He set a contract down on the table between us. “I’ll save your company. I’ll make sure your family’s legacy survives,” he said. “But there’s a condition.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A condition?”

“You’ll marry me,” he said, his tone almost casual. “For one year.”

I blinked, certain I’d misheard him. “What?”

“A marriage. A contract. A year. You’ll be my wife for one year, and in exchange, I’ll save your company.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. This wasn’t what I’d come here for. I had been hoping for a loan or an investment, not an absurd offer like this. I was shaking, trying to make sense of the words coming out of his mouth.

“I... I don’t understand,” I stammered.

Lucas’s gaze didn’t soften, but there was a sharpness to it now, something colder than before. “It’s simple, Claire. I need a wife for a year in order to inherit the family estate and secure my business interests. I don’t want love or affection—just someone who can play the part and keep up appearances. And in return, I save your family’s company. Your father’s business. Your future.”

My mind raced. This wasn’t a choice. It wasn’t even a question. If I didn’t agree, I’d lose everything. My father’s health was deteriorating, and my mother... I couldn’t bear to watch her fall apart any more than she already had.

“Sign the contract, and it’s done,” Lucas said, sliding the document closer to me.

My hands trembled as I reached for it, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. This wasn’t a life I’d ever imagined, but if I didn’t take it, there would be no future at all.

The contract felt cold under my fingers, like it was already sealing my fate.

Cliffhanger: I stared at the contract, the ink staring back at me, daring me to make the choice. My heart pounded in my chest as Lucas’s gaze locked onto mine, his silent challenge clear. Could I really sign away my life—for a year, for my family’s future?