The Billionaire’s Secret Wife

The rain had been falling for nearly two hours. Maya Carter pulled her thin jacket tighter around her body as she hurried down the nearly empty street. Her shoes were soaked, her hair was sticking to her face, and her phone battery had dropped to three percent. She didn’t care. All she could think about was the hospital. Her mother’s hospital bill was due tomorrow. And Maya had no idea how she was going to pay it. She stopped beneath a broken streetlight and looked at her phone. Mom: Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I’ll be fine. Maya stared at the message for several seconds. A bitter smile touched her lips. Her mother always said that. Even when she was in pain. Even when she could barely breathe. Maya wiped the rain from her eyes. “You’re not going anywhere,” she whispered. “I’ll find the money. I promise.” She put her phone into her pocket and continued walking. Then she heard a sound. A car engine. Maya turned around. A black luxury car had stopped at the end of the street. The driver’s door opened. A man stepped out. He was tall, dressed in a black suit, and looked completely out of place in the dark, empty street. Maya slowed down. Something felt wrong. The man looked around before walking toward a nearby alley. Then another car appeared. This one was moving quickly. Too quickly. Maya’s heart began to pound. The second car stopped. Three men jumped out. One of them shouted. “Get him!” The man in the suit turned. He tried to run, but one of the attackers grabbed him. Maya froze. She should leave. She knew she should. This wasn’t her business. But then she saw the knife. The attacker raised it. Maya didn’t think. She grabbed a heavy metal pipe lying beside a trash bin and ran toward them. “HEY!” Everyone turned. Maya swung the pipe as hard as she could. It struck the attacker’s arm. He screamed and dropped the knife. “What the—” Maya grabbed the man’s hand. “Run!” The stranger looked at her as if she had completely lost her mind. “Are you crazy?” “RUN!” This time, he listened. They ran through the alley as the attackers shouted behind them. Maya’s heart hammered against her chest. She had no idea who this man was. She only knew that she had probably just made the worst decision of her life. They finally reached a locked gate. Maya stopped. “We’re trapped.” The man looked at her. For the first time, she noticed his face properly. Sharp jaw. Cold eyes. Perfect features. He looked like the kind of man who never had to worry about money. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. “Who are you?” Maya stared at him. “What?” “Your name.” “Maya.” “Maya what?” “Carter.” His expression changed. Only for a second. But Maya noticed. “Carter?” he repeated. “Yes.” He stared at her strangely. Before she could ask why, headlights appeared at the end of the alley. The attackers had found them. The man stepped in front of Maya. “Stay behind me.” Maya frowned. “Who are you?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he made a phone call. “Come to the east entrance. Now.” Within seconds, several black vehicles appeared. Men in suits rushed out. The attackers immediately turned and ran. Maya stood there, completely confused. One of the men approached the stranger. “Mr. Cole, are you hurt?” Maya’s eyes widened. Mr. Cole. She had heard that name before. Everyone had. Adrian Cole. The billionaire CEO of Cole International. One of the youngest and most powerful businessmen in the country. Maya slowly looked at the man beside her. “You…” Adrian looked at her. “Yes.” “You are Adrian Cole?” “Unfortunately.” Despite everything that had happened, Maya almost laughed. “You were almost stabbed.” “I noticed.” “And you say that like it’s normal.” His lips moved slightly. It wasn’t quite a smile. “Things like this happen.” Maya stared at him. What kind of life did this man live? Then Adrian’s eyes moved to her. “You saved my life.” Maya shook her head. “I just did what anyone would do.” “No.” His voice was calm. “Most people would have run.” Maya looked away. “I almost did.” Adrian studied her for a moment. Then he asked, “What do you want?” “Nothing.” “Money?” “No.” “A job?” “No.” “Then why did you help me?” Maya hesitated. “Because you needed help.” Adrian was silent. Then his assistant approached him and whispered something. Adrian’s expression became serious. He looked back at Maya. “Your mother is Sarah Carter?” Maya’s blood ran cold. “How do you know my mother’s name?” Adrian didn’t answer. Instead, he said quietly, “How much is her hospital bill?” Maya took a step back. “Why are you asking?” “Answer me.” She clenched her fists. “One million dollars.” Adrian’s eyes remained on her. “Then I have a proposition for you.” Maya laughed nervously. “A proposition?” “Yes.” “What kind?” Adrian stepped closer. His voice dropped. “Marry me.” Maya stared at him. For a moment, she thought she had misunderstood. “Excuse me?” “Marry me.” “You just met me.” “I know.” “You’re insane.” “Probably.” Adrian took a small envelope from his assistant and handed it to her. Maya opened it. Her eyes widened. Inside was a contract. And one number immediately caught her attention. $1,000,000. Her hands began to shake. Adrian watched her carefully. “One year,” he said. “One year of marriage.” Maya looked up. “And after one year?” “We walk away.” She stared at him. “Why me?” For the first time that night, Adrian’s cold expression changed. There was something in his eyes. Something Maya couldn’t understand. “Because,” he said quietly, “you are the only woman I can trust.” Maya looked down at the contract again. She didn’t know it yet… But accepting that contract would change her life forever. And the biggest secret was one Adrian had no intention of telling her. He had known Maya Carter long before they met that night.