My Sweet wife;The CEO’s contract bride

The hospital bill in my hand was shaking more than I was. $47,500. Due in 7 days. Or they pull the plug on Mom. "I’m sorry Miss Carter," the nurse said softly. "We can’t wait any longer." I nodded and walked out, tears burning my eyes. Where was I supposed to get that kind of money? I was a waitress. My phone buzzed. Unknown number. "Miss Carter? This is Mr. Blake’s assistant. He wants to meet you. Today. 5PM. There’s a job offer. It pays very well." A job. Thank God. --- At 5PM I was standing in the tallest building in the city. The assistant led me to a glass office. And there he was. Ethan Blake. CEO of Blake Group. Cold eyes. Black suit. Worth billions. And he was looking at me like I was a problem to solve. "Sit," he said. I sat. My hands were sweating. "I’ll be blunt," he said. "My grandfather will disinherit me if I’m not married in 30 days. I need a wife. You need money. I’m offering you $50,000 for 6 months of marriage." I stared at him. "A fake marriage?" "Contract marriage," he corrected. "You live in my house. Attend events with me. Play the part. In return, I pay your mother’s hospital bill today. And you get $50,000 when the 6 months are over." My heart was pounding. This was crazy. Illegal maybe. But Mom’s face flashed in my mind. The tubes. The machines. "What’s the catch?" I whispered. "No dating. No falling in love. No telling anyone it’s fake," he said. "Can you do that, Miss Carter?" I thought of the hospital bill. Of Mom smiling again. I lifted my chin. "Where do I sign?" He slid the contract across the desk. 10 pages. And at the bottom, in bold: CLAUSE 7: NO EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT. I signed my name. Ava Carter. He signed below me. Ethan Blake. "Congratulations, Mrs. Blake," he said, no smile. "Pack your bags. You move in tonight." As I walked out with a copy of the contract, my phone buzzed again. Hospital: Payment received. Surgery scheduled for tomorrow. I should’ve felt relieved. So why did my chest feel tight when I thought of those cold eyes? And why did clause 7 scare me the most?