TITLE:BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND

Chapter 2: THE CONTRACT

The envelope was black. Thick. Expensive. It smelled like money and power.

Ava stared at it for 10 minutes in the staff room before her shaking hands opened it.

Inside was a single black card and a contract.

"Mrs. Carter," the card read in gold letters. "Carter Tower. 8PM. Penthouse."

It was signed: E.C

Her heart stopped. Ethan Carter. The billionaire from room 8801. The man she saved.

That night she stood in front of the tallest building in the city. Rain hit her face.

The doorman didn’t even ask her name. "Miss Bennett. Mr. Carter is waiting."

The elevator went straight to the 100th floor.

The doors opened to glass walls, city lights, and him.

Ethan Carter stood by the window in a black suit. No tie.

He looked sober now. Cold. Dangerous. Nothing like the broken man from 3 weeks ago.

"You came," he said without turning.

"I got your letter," Ava whispered. Her voice barely worked.

He turned. His eyes scanned her hotel uniform like it offended him.

"Sit."

She sat on the edge of a white couch. Her hands shook.

"Why did you call me Mrs. Carter?"

Ethan walked to a desk and picked up papers.

"Three weeks ago, you saved my life. I was drugged. If you hadn't stayed, I would be dead."

He placed the contract on the table in front of her with a soft thud.

"My family is forcing me to marry. To take over the company.

I need a wife. For 6 months. On paper only."

Ava blinked. "What?"

"$5,000,000," he said flatly.

"For 6 months of marriage. You play the role. Attend events. No touching. No love.

At the end, we divorce. You walk away rich."

The room went silent.

$5,000,000. That was 80 times grandma’s surgery bill.

"Why me?" Ava asked. Her voice cracked.

"Because you were there. Because you didn't ask for anything that night.

And because no one will believe I’d marry a waitress."

He slid a pen across the table. Black. Expensive.

"Sign it. Or walk out. Your choice."

Ava looked at the contract. Clause 1: No feelings.

Clause 4: Public appearances required.

Clause 9: Divorce after 6 months.

Her phone buzzed. Hospital reminder: Grandma’s surgery in 6 days.

Deposit needed: $60,000.

Her hands were shaking so bad she could barely hold the pen.

This was insane. This was wrong.

But grandma was all she had left.

She signed.

Ava Bennett.

Ethan took the paper. For a second, something flickered in his cold eyes. Regret? Need?

"Good," he said. "Wedding is Saturday. Press will be there."

"Wait, Saturday? That's in 3 days!"

"You wanted $5,000,000. This is how billionaires move."

He walked to the door and opened it.

"A car will pick you up at 10AM tomorrow. You need a new wardrobe.

You are Mrs. Carter now. Act like it."

Ava stood up, legs weak.

"What if I can't do this?"

Ethan looked at her. For the first time, his voice softened. Just a little.

"Then don't. But remember... you signed."

The elevator doors closed behind her.

She was officially married to the coldest billionaire in the city.

And she had no idea the contract would ruin her... or save her.

"Fine," Ava whispered. "I'll sign."

Ethan nodded once. "Good. Come with me first."

"Where?"

"Hospital."

---

30 MINUTES LATER

St. Mary's Hospital. Room 204.

The smell of medicine. Beeping machines.

Ava's mom was asleep. Thin. Tired.

But she smiled when she saw Ava.

"Baby," she whispered. "Who's this?"

Ava froze. "Mom, this is... Ethan."

Ethan. In a 10,000 dollar suit.

Standing in a hospital room.

Looking completely out of place.

He cleared his throat. "Ma. I'm... a friend of Ava's."

Ava's mom looked between them. She was smart.

She saw the way Ethan looked at her daughter.

"Friend?" she said. "Okay."

Ethan stepped forward. Put an envelope on the table.

"For her treatment. No strings."

Ava stared at him. "What are you doing?"

"Helping," Ethan said. Low. Only for her.

"Like I promised."

Her mom squeezed Ava's hand. "He seems like a good man, baby."

Ava almost laughed. Good man? The man who just bought her?

On the way out, Ava stopped him in the hallway.

"Why did you do that?"

Ethan looked at the floor. "Because you looked scared in there.

And I don't like seeing you scared."

Ava's heart did something stupid.

Back in the car, Ethan handed her the contract.

"Last chance to walk away."

Ava signed her name. Hard.

Ethan took the contract. Slipped it into his jacket.

No smile. No celebration.

"From now on," he said, "we’re married. In public."

Ava stared out the window. "And in private?"

"In private, we follow the rules."

He handed her a paper. "Clause 4."

Ava read it.

`1. No dating other people.

2. No telling anyone this is fake.

3. No falling in love.

4. Separate bedrooms.`

Separate bedrooms.

Ava exhaled. At least that.

The car stopped in front of Carter Tower.

40 floors. Glass. Cold.

Ethan opened his door. "Come."

Ava followed him inside.

The staff bowed. "Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter."

Mrs. Carter.

The words hit her like rain.

They got in the elevator. 40th floor.

Silence. Just the sound of their breathing.

The doors opened to a penthouse.

Big. Empty. White everything.

"This is your side," Ethan said. Pointed left.

"That’s mine." Pointed right.

Ava dropped her small bag on the floor.

It looked pathetic next to his mansion.

Ethan looked at her. For a second, something soft.

Then it was gone.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Carter," he said.

"Our 6 months starts now."

The elevator doors closed behind her.

She was officially married to the coldest billionaire in the city.

And she had no idea the contract would ruin her... or save her.