My Sweet wife;The CEO’s contract bride

Chapter 1 - The Contract

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?