A life filled with hatred,desire,chaos, but live changes everything

The rain poured heavily over the city as Ariana Carter hurried down the crowded street, clutching a worn-out folder against her chest. Her shoes were soaked, and her stomach growled from missing breakfast, but she couldn’t afford to stop. Today was her last chance to find a job. At twenty-three, Ariana had lost almost everything. After her father’s death, debts piled up, and the bank was about to seize the only house she and her sick mother had left. Every interview ended the same way: “We’ll call you.” They never did. She walked into another towering office building, hoping for a miracle. Meanwhile, on the top floor, Damian Blackwood, the youngest billionaire in the country, stared through the glass wall of his office. Feared in the business world for his cold heart and ruthless decisions, Damian had built an empire worth billions. His phone rang. “Grandfather has made his decision,” his assistant, Ethan, said carefully. “If you don’t marry before your twenty-ninth birthday next month, he’ll hand control of the family company to your cousin.” Damian’s jaw tightened. “I don’t have time for marriage.” “You may not have a choice.” He ended the call and clenched his fists. Love meant nothing to him. Marriage was simply another business arrangement. Downstairs, Ariana left another interview in tears after being rejected once again. Distracted, she stepped into the road without noticing the black luxury car speeding toward the building. Tyres screeched. She froze. The car stopped inches away from her. The rear door opened, and a tall man in a perfectly tailored black suit stepped out. His piercing grey eyes met hers. “You almost got yourself killed,” he said coldly. “I’m… I’m sorry.” Before she could walk away, Damian noticed the job application folder in her hands. An idea formed instantly. “Miss,” he called. She turned. “How would you like to earn more money than you’ve ever imagined?” Ariana frowned. “What do you mean?” Damian looked at her with a calm, unreadable expression. “I need a wife.” Ariana stared at him, convinced she had heard him wrong. “What?” “A contract marriage,” Damian replied. “One year. You’ll be paid handsomely. No love. No emotions. Just an agreement.” The rain continued to fall between them. Little did either of them know that this impossible deal would change both of their lives forever. The cold rain continued to pour over the busy streets, blurring the lights of the city into shimmering streaks of gold and white. Cars rushed past without slowing, their tyres sending sprays of water onto the pavement. Pedestrians hurried beneath umbrellas, each too concerned with their own destination to notice the young woman standing motionless in the middle of the road. Ariana Carter could barely breathe. Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she stared at the tall stranger before her. Only a few seconds earlier, she had been convinced she was about to die beneath the wheels of his luxury car. Now, he was calmly offering her something even more unbelievable. “I need a wife.” The words echoed in her mind. Surely she had misunderstood. She blinked several times before finally speaking. “I’m sorry… what did you just say?” The man remained completely composed, as though asking a stranger to marry him was the most ordinary thing in the world. “I need someone to marry me.” Ariana looked around, expecting hidden cameras or someone to jump out laughing. Nothing happened. The rain continued falling. People walked past without paying them any attention. She slowly looked back at him. “You’re serious.” “I don’t joke.” His deep voice carried authority. Every word sounded measured, as though he carefully chose what to say and never wasted a sentence. Ariana folded her arms tightly. “Well… I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” “I haven’t.” “I don’t even know you.” “You will.” She frowned. “This is ridiculous.” Without another word, the man turned towards the black limousine parked at the curb. One of the bodyguards immediately stepped forward and handed him a sleek leather folder. The stranger opened it before looking back at Ariana. “My name is Damian Blackwood.” The moment she heard his name, every colour drained from her face. Her eyes widened. Damian… Blackwood. It couldn’t be. The Damian Blackwood? The billionaire whose face appeared on magazine covers every month. The CEO whose companies owned hotels, airlines, shopping malls, technology firms, and real estate across the country. Even people who had never followed business news knew his name. Newspapers described him as brilliant. His competitors described him as ruthless. Social media called him the country’s most eligible bachelor. Ariana had never imagined meeting him. Certainly not in the middle of a rainstorm after almost being hit by his car. “You…” she whispered. He nodded once. “Yes.” “You own Blackwood International?” “I do.” She suddenly became aware of how untidy she looked. Her long dark hair clung to her face because of the rain. Her inexpensive blouse was soaked. Her shoes were worn from months of walking to job interviews she could barely afford to attend. Standing in front of Damian Blackwood made her feel painfully ordinary. “What… what could someone like you possibly want from someone like me?” Damian closed the folder. “A conversation.” “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.” “You’ll be surprised.” She hesitated. Everything about this situation felt wrong. Every sensible instinct told her to walk away. Yet curiosity rooted her to the spot. Damian gestured towards the nearby café. “It’s warmer inside.” “I don’t have money for coffee.” “I wasn’t asking you to pay.” Ariana bit her lip. Her mother had always warned her not to trust strangers. Especially rich strangers. But this wasn’t exactly an ordinary stranger. This was Damian Blackwood. One of the wealthiest men in the country. If he intended to harm her, he certainly wouldn’t do it in broad daylight on one of the busiest streets in the city. After a long pause, she nodded. “Fine.” He motioned for her to walk beside him. The bodyguards remained outside while Damian opened the café door himself. Warm air rushed over Ariana’s freezing skin. The comforting aroma of fresh coffee and baked pastries filled the room. Customers glanced up briefly before returning to their conversations. No one recognised Damian. Or perhaps they simply didn’t expect someone like him to visit such a modest café. He chose a quiet table near the window. Ariana remained standing. “I’ll stay here.” “Sit.” “I’d rather stand.” He looked at her for several seconds before giving a small nod. “As you wish.” A waitress approached nervously. “What can I get for you, sir?” “Two hot chocolates.” Ariana interrupted quickly. “I don’t need anything.” Damian looked at the waitress. “Two.” She smiled awkwardly before hurrying away. Silence settled between them. Rain tapped softly against the glass. Ariana finally broke the silence. “Why me?” Damian rested his hands on the table. “Because you’re exactly the person I need.” “I don’t understand.” “You will.” His calmness irritated her. “Could you stop speaking in riddles?” For the first time, the corner of his lips lifted slightly. It wasn’t quite a smile. More like the hint of one. “I appreciate direct people.” “I’m being direct because you’re confusing me.” “Fair enough.” He opened the leather folder again. Inside were several documents. Photographs. Medical reports. Bank notices. Ariana’s heart nearly stopped. She recognised every single one. The overdue mortgage notice. The hospital invoice for her mother’s treatment. Copies of her unsuccessful job applications. Even her university graduation certificate. She stared at him in horror. “Where did you get these?” “I had them collected.” “You investigated me?” “Yes.” Her voice trembled. “That’s illegal.” “No.” “It’s creepy.” “It was necessary.” She felt anger rising inside her. “You invaded my privacy!” “I gathered publicly available information and verified the rest through legal investigators.” “You had investigators following me?” “Only long enough to confirm who you are.” Ariana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So while I was desperately trying to find work…” “My team was confirming that you are honest.” She blinked. “What?” “You’ve never committed fraud.” “You’ve never stolen.” “You’ve never been arrested.” “You’ve worked since you were sixteen.” “You paid your father’s medical bills until the day he died.” “You gave up your dream job to care for your mother.” “You’ve attended twenty-seven interviews in the last four months.” He paused. “And despite everything, no one has ever described you as dishonest.” Ariana’s anger slowly faded into confusion. “You know all that?” “I know enough.” She looked away. Her father’s death still hurt. Every hospital bill reminded her of the promises she couldn’t keep. After months of searching, every employer had rejected her because she lacked experience. Experience she couldn’t gain without someone hiring her first. The cycle never ended. The waitress returned with two steaming mugs. She placed them carefully on the table before leaving. Damian pushed one mug gently towards Ariana. “Drink.” She wrapped her cold hands around the warm cup but didn’t take a sip. “What exactly do you want from me?” Damian looked directly into her eyes. “I need a wife.” This time, his words landed with even greater weight. Ariana slowly placed the cup back onto the table. “You can’t be serious.” “I’ve never been more serious.” She shook her head. “No.” “I haven’t explained yet.” “I don’t care.” She picked up her bag. “I’m leaving.” Just as she turned towards the café door, Damian spoke calmly. “If you leave now… your mother’s surgery will never happen.” Ariana stopped walking. Her entire body stiffened. Slowly… Very slowly… She turned around. “What did you say?” Damian’s expression remained unreadable. “I know the hospital has given you ten days.” Her breathing became uneven. “They’ll cancel the operation if the remaining balance isn’t paid.” She stared at him in complete shock. No one outside her family knew that. No one. “How…?” Damian folded his hands. “I told you.” “I investigated.” Ariana felt tears threatening to form. For weeks she had hidden her fear behind forced smiles whenever she visited her mother. She pretended everything would be fine. Pretended she would somehow find the money. But every night she cried herself to sleep, wondering how she could save the only family she had left. Now this stranger knew her deepest struggle. And somehow… He also seemed to have the answer. Part 2 Ariana remained rooted to the spot. The café suddenly felt too warm, too quiet, too small. Outside, the rain continued to fall steadily, but inside, all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat. She turned slowly to face Damian again. His expression hadn’t changed. He wasn’t smiling, nor did he look pleased with himself. He simply watched her with the calm confidence of a man who already knew the outcome of every conversation. “How do you know about my mother’s surgery?” she asked, her voice trembling. Damian leaned back slightly in his chair. “Your mother, Mrs. Evelyn Carter, has been admitted to St. Anne’s Medical Centre for the past three weeks. She requires heart surgery. The hospital has already postponed the operation twice because the balance hasn’t been paid.” Ariana’s fingers tightened around the strap of her handbag. “You even know the hospital…” “I know everything that concerns this arrangement.” She stared at him, unable to decide whether she should be grateful or frightened. “I’ve told no one.” “You didn’t have to.” Silence stretched between them. Ariana slowly sat down, no longer caring that her clothes were soaked. The warmth from the hot chocolate drifted towards her, but she couldn’t bring herself to drink it. She looked at Damian carefully. He wasn’t mocking her. He wasn’t pitying her. If anything, he looked… detached. Like this was another business meeting. “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Why would someone like you help me?” Damian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached into the folder again and removed a single sheet of paper. “This is why.” He slid it across the table. Ariana looked down. At the top was the logo of Blackwood International. Beneath it was a legal document titled: CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE AGREEMENT Her stomach tightened. “You already prepared this?” “Yes.” “You were certain I’d agree?” “I was confident you’d at least listen.” She looked through the first page. The language was formal. Professional. Nothing about it sounded romantic. Every sentence reminded her of a business contract. Her eyes widened as she reached one paragraph. “Your mother’s medical expenses will be paid in full within twenty-four hours of signing.” She looked up immediately. “You mean that?” “Yes.” “And my father’s debts?” “Settled.” “The mortgage?” “Paid.” She blinked several times. The words almost seemed unreal. For months she had been counting every coin she owned. Some nights she skipped dinner so she could buy medicine for her mother. She had sold her jewellery. Her laptop. Even the watch her father had given her before he died. Still, it wasn’t enough. Now one signature could erase everything. It sounded impossible. “There must be conditions,” she said quietly. “There are.” “I knew it.” Damian nodded once. “Nothing is free.” He opened another page. “The agreement lasts exactly one year.” Ariana read silently. “During that year, you’ll live in my residence.” She frowned. “With you?” “Obviously.” Her cheeks warmed. “I’ve never lived with a man.” “You’ll have your own room.” She relaxed slightly. “No one will force you into anything.” His calm tone made her feel a little less nervous. She continued reading. “You’ll attend public events as my wife.” She nodded. “Family gatherings.” “Business dinners.” “Charity galas.” “You’ll wear clothing provided by my staff.” She looked up again. “My own clothes aren’t good enough?” “They’re perfectly fine.” “Then why?” “Because the media watches everything I do.” He paused before adding, “If my wife appears in worn shoes and a faded coat, tomorrow’s headlines won’t be kind.” Ariana instinctively looked down at her shoes. The soles were beginning to separate. Embarrassment crept across her face. “I’m sorry.” “There is nothing to apologise for.” His reply surprised her. “You’ve done the best you could with what you had.” For the first time since meeting him, she noticed something unexpected. Behind the cold expression… There was honesty. He wasn’t insulting her. He was stating facts. She continued reading. Another sentence caught her attention. “Neither party shall interfere with the other’s private emotional life.” “What does that mean?” Damian folded his hands. “It means exactly what it says.” “I’m not sure it does.” He looked directly into her eyes. “It means you don’t fall in love with me.” She almost laughed. “That’s one of the rules?” “Yes.” She couldn’t help smiling. “You think that’s necessary?” “I do.” She shook her head. “Mr. Blackwood…” “Damian.” “I’m not calling you Damian.” “As you wish.” She smiled faintly. “I barely know you.” “You will.” “And from what I’ve seen so far…” She paused deliberately. “You aren’t exactly charming.” For a second… Absolute silence. Then… Something remarkable happened. Damian laughed. It wasn’t loud. Just a short, genuine laugh. Ariana stared in surprise. “I said something funny?” “No.” “Then why are you laughing?” “Because you’re probably the first person who’s spoken to me like that in years.” She raised an eyebrow. “Most people are afraid of you.” “They are.” “I’m not.” “I’ve noticed.” The atmosphere softened slightly. For the first time since entering the café, Ariana felt she was speaking to a person instead of a billionaire. She finally picked up the mug and took a sip of the hot chocolate. It was rich and warm. Exactly what she needed. Damian watched her quietly before speaking again. “My grandfather is the reason for this arrangement.” She looked at him. “Your grandfather?” “He owns fifty-one percent of Blackwood International.” “I thought you owned the company.” “I run it.” “But legally…” “My grandfather remains the majority shareholder.” Ariana nodded slowly. “He wants you to get married.” “He insists.” “And if you don’t?” Damian’s expression hardened. “I lose everything.” She frowned. “You mean…” “My position as CEO.” She blinked in disbelief. “But you’re the one who built the company.” “I expanded it.” “So why would he remove you?” “My grandfather believes a man who refuses to build a family isn’t fit to lead a family empire.” Ariana looked at him with genuine sympathy. “So this isn’t about love.” “No.” “It’s about inheritance.” “Correct.” She looked back at the contract. “So… you’d rather marry a complete stranger than someone you actually love?” His answer came instantly. “I don’t love anyone.” The words hung heavily in the air. There was no hesitation. No sadness. Just certainty. For reasons she couldn’t explain, Ariana suddenly wondered what had happened in his life to make him believe that. She closed the contract gently. “I need time.” “You have until tomorrow evening.” “So soon?” “My grandfather arrives from London the day after.” She sighed deeply. Everything was happening too fast. Too much depended on one decision. Her future. Her mother’s life. Her home. She stood slowly. “I should go.” Damian rose as well. “My driver will take you home.” “No.” “It’s raining.” “I’ll take the bus.” He looked at her for a moment. “You don’t like accepting help.” “I’ve learned that help usually comes with a price.” “And this?” She looked at the contract in her hands. “This comes with a very big price.” Without another word, she turned and walked towards the café door. As she stepped outside, the rain had become lighter. She hugged her bag tightly against her chest and began walking towards the bus stop. She didn’t notice the black SUV parked across the street. Inside sat a young woman wearing designer sunglasses despite the cloudy weather. She lowered the window slightly and watched Ariana leave. “So…” she murmured with a cold smile. “That’s the girl Damian has chosen.” Her perfectly manicured nails tapped against the car door. “This should be interesting.” She picked up her phone. “Find out everything about Ariana Carter,” she ordered. “And don’t let her out of your sight.” The call ended. A dangerous smile spread across her face. “No one takes what’s mine.”The cold evening wind whipped against Ariana’s face as she stepped off the bus. The expensive contract remained tucked safely inside her bag, yet it felt as heavy as a stone. She couldn’t stop thinking about Damian Blackwood. Not because he was handsome. Not because he was rich. But because of the way he spoke. Every sentence that came out of his mouth sounded like an order. He never smiled unless it amused him. He never softened his words. It was as if he had forgotten what kindness was. “Arrogant jerk,” she muttered under her breath. She reached the old apartment building where she and her mother lived. The faded walls, broken lights and leaking roof reminded her just how different her world was from Damian’s. As she climbed the stairs, she heard coughing coming from inside their flat. Her heart sank. She hurried inside. “Mum!” Her mother, Evelyn Carter, forced a weak smile from the worn-out sofa. “I’m fine, sweetheart.” Ariana immediately knelt beside her. “You’re coughing again.” “It’s only a little.” “It isn’t.” She rushed into the kitchen, poured a glass of water and handed it to her mother. “You should have called me.” “I didn’t want you worrying.” Ariana looked away. She had been worrying every second of every day. The unpaid bills sat neatly on the dining table. Another reminder that time was running out. Evelyn noticed her daughter’s silence. “Did the interview go well?” Ariana forced a smile. “They said they’ll call.” Both women knew that was a lie. Neither of them spoke. There was no point. Every interview ended exactly the same way. Her mother reached for Ariana’s hand. “Don’t give up.” “I’m trying.” “I know.” “You deserve a better life than this.” Ariana swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll fix everything.” “You always say that.” “And one day it’ll be true.” Evelyn smiled sadly. “I believe you.” Those words pierced Ariana’s heart. She excused herself and walked into her bedroom. The moment the door closed, she leaned against it and covered her face. The tears she’d been holding back all day finally escaped. She hated lying to her mother. She hated pretending everything would be okay. Most of all… She hated feeling powerless. After several minutes, she opened her bag and removed the contract. She stared at Damian’s signature already printed on the last page. Everything about the document screamed business. There wasn’t a single mention of love. No promises. No happiness. Just terms. Conditions. Rules. She remembered his cold voice. “You’ll live in my house.” “You’ll act like my wife.” “Don’t fall in love with me.” She scoffed. “As if I’d ever fall for someone like you.” Her phone suddenly rang. The number was unknown. She hesitated before answering. “Hello?” “Miss Carter.” Her expression hardened immediately. “Mr Blackwood.” “I told you to call me Damian.” “I’ll pass.” There was silence. Then his cold voice returned. “I didn’t call for small talk.” “I figured.” “Have you made your decision?” She looked at the contract. “I said I needed until tomorrow.” “I changed my mind.” Her eyebrows knitted together. “What?” “I want your answer tonight.” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You don’t get to do that.” “I do.” “No, you don’t.” “My schedule changed.” “That’s your problem.” “No.” “It just became yours.” Ariana gritted her teeth. “This is exactly why nobody likes you.” There was complete silence on the other end. She almost wondered if he had hung up. Then— “I don’t pay people to like me.” His voice was as cold as ice. “I pay them to do their jobs.” “You can’t control everyone.” “I don’t need everyone.” His reply only irritated her further. “I’m not one of your employees.” “No.” “Then stop giving me orders.” “You’ll answer my question.” “I won’t.” “You will.” “I said no!” For the first time, Damian’s tone became even colder. “If you refuse, I’ll consider the offer withdrawn.” Ariana froze. “You’d really do that?” “I don’t bluff.” Her grip tightened around the phone. “You know my mother needs that operation.” “I do.” “And you’re using it against me.” “I’m giving you an opportunity.” “No.” “You’re blackmailing me.” “I call it negotiation.” Ariana’s eyes burned with anger. “You’re heartless.” “I’ve been called worse.” She couldn’t believe someone could sound so emotionless. “Were you born this cruel?” “I learned it.” She frowned. “What does that mean?” “It means kindness doesn’t build billion-pound companies.” “I don’t care about your company!” “I know.” “I care about people!” “That’s your weakness.” “No.” “It’s called being human.” Damian didn’t respond for several seconds. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the same icy calm. “Think whatever you like.” “You really believe emotions make people weak?” “They make people predictable.” “You’ve never loved anyone, have you?” “No.” “Has anyone ever loved you?” Another silence. Longer this time. When he answered, his tone was sharper. “That’s none of your business.” Before Ariana could reply— The line went dead. She stared at the phone. “He hung up on me.” She let out an angry sigh and threw herself onto the bed. “What an insufferable man.” ⸻ Across the city… The top floor of Blackwood International overlooked the glittering skyline. Damian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, one hand in his pocket. His assistant, Ethan, entered cautiously. “Sir.” “What?” “Did Miss Carter accept?” “No.” Ethan wasn’t surprised. “She argued with you?” Damian turned. “She argues too much.” “Most people are terrified of you.” “I noticed.” Ethan hesitated. “Perhaps… you could try being a little nicer.” Damian’s icy stare settled on him. “Nicer?” “Just… less intimidating.” Damian walked back to his desk. “I didn’t hire her to enjoy my personality.” “No, sir.” “I hired her to fulfil a contract.” “Yes, sir.” “And if she expects kindness, she’s already disappointed.” Ethan nodded quietly. He had worked for Damian for six years. In all that time, he’d never seen his boss apologise. Never seen him comfort anyone. Never even seen him celebrate a victory. Business was everything. People were simply assets. As Ethan left the office, he couldn’t help feeling sorry for Ariana. Living with Damian Blackwood wouldn’t be easy. It would be a battle. And neither of them realised… The war hadn’t even begun.Ariana lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen. “What an impossible man,” she muttered. She tossed the contract onto her bed and buried her face in her hands. Every instinct told her to reject Damian’s offer. He was arrogant, controlling, and completely incapable of showing compassion. Yet every time she thought about saying no, she pictured her mother lying in the hospital bed, smiling through her pain and pretending everything would be all right. A soft knock came from the bedroom door. “Ariana?” her mother’s gentle voice called. “Are you all right?” She quickly wiped away the tears before opening the door. “I’m fine, Mum.” Evelyn studied her daughter’s face for a moment. “You’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Whatever is troubling you, remember you don’t have to face it alone.” Ariana forced a small smile. “I know.” She hugged her mother tightly, silently praying she was making the right choice. Outside the apartment building, a sleek black car remained parked across the street. Inside, one of Damian’s security officers spoke quietly into his phone. “Sir, she’s home.” On the other end of the line came Damian’s cold, emotionless reply. “Keep watching. Don’t interfere unless necessary.” “Yes, Mr Blackwood.” The call ended immediately. The guard glanced up at the apartment window where Ariana stood with her mother. He couldn’t understand why the billionaire CEO had chosen an ordinary woman for such an extraordinary arrangement. But he knew better than to question his employer. Damian Blackwood always had a reason. Whether anyone else understood it or notAriana lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen. “What an impossible man,” she muttered. She tossed the contract onto her a