Chapter 1 — The Contract
Ele stared at the envelope on the table.
She had been staring at it for almost ten minutes, but she still couldn’t bring herself to open it.
Her family’s company was struggling.
Not because of betrayal.
Not because of some hidden enemy.
Simply because business had become difficult, debts had accumulated, and one wrong decision could cost her family everything they had worked for.
Her father sat across from her, his expression tired.
“Ele, I’m sorry.”
She looked at him.
“Don’t apologize, Dad. We’ll find a way.”
He shook his head.
“I’ve already tried.”
Before Ele could respond, the office door opened.
A man walked inside.
Tall.
Elegant.
Composed.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his dark hair neatly styled, and his expression was calm enough to make the entire room feel quiet.
Ele recognized him immediately.
Alex Blackwood.
Twenty-nine years old.
The CEO of Blackwood Holdings.
A businessman known for his intelligence, discipline, and demanding personality.
Alex stopped in front of the desk.
“Mr. Marlowe.”
Ele’s father stood.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
Alex nodded before turning his attention toward Ele.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Ele had heard enough about Alex to know that he wasn’t an easy man to deal with.
But she hadn’t expected him to be so intimidating in person.
Alex placed a folder on the table.
“I have a proposal.”
Ele looked at the folder.
“What kind of proposal?”
“Marriage.”
Ele blinked.
“Marriage?”
Alex remained completely serious.
“A contractual marriage.”
Her father lowered his gaze.
Ele slowly opened the folder.
The first page contained a legal agreement.
Marriage Contract — One Year.
Her eyes moved down the page.
Alex continued.
“Your family’s company needs financial assistance. I can provide it.”
Ele looked up.
“And what do you want?”
“You become my wife for one year.”
She stared at him.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
“Because I need a wife, and you need help.”
His answer was straightforward.
Almost too straightforward.
Ele continued reading.
They would live together.
They would attend business and family events together.
They would present themselves as a married couple.
At the end of twelve months, the marriage could be legally dissolved.
No emotional obligations.
No financial demands from either side.
Ele reached the final page.
Then she saw one particular clause.
Neither party shall demand love or emotional commitment from the other.
She almost smiled.
“So you don’t believe in love?”
Alex’s expression remained unreadable.
“I believe love shouldn’t be forced.”
That answer surprised her.
He wasn’t mocking marriage.
He simply didn’t want it to control his life.
Ele closed the folder.
“And after one year?”
“You walk away.”
“No questions?”
“No questions.”
“No regrets?”
“No regrets.”
Ele looked at her father.
He didn’t say anything.
He didn’t need to.
She knew what this meant for her family.
If she accepted, their company would survive.
If she refused, they could lose everything.
Ele took a deep breath.
Then she looked at Alex.
“I have conditions too.”
Alex raised an eyebrow.
“I’m listening.”
“First, you will never control my life.”
“Agreed.”
“Second, I will continue working.”
“Fine.”
“Third, you will never humiliate me in front of other people.”
Alex’s eyes sharpened slightly.
“I wouldn’t.”
“And fourth…”
Ele hesitated.
“I want my freedom after the contract ends.”
Alex looked directly into her eyes.
“You’ll have it.”
His answer was immediate.
Ele slowly extended her hand.
“Then we have a deal.”
Alex looked at her hand for a moment before taking it.
His palm was warm.
Their handshake lasted only a few seconds.
But something about it made Ele’s heart beat faster.
She quickly pulled her hand away.
Alex noticed.
But he said nothing.
Instead, he opened the contract and placed a pen beside it.
“One year, Ele.”
She picked up the pen.
“One year, Alex.”
She signed.
Ele.
Alex signed beneath her name.
Alex Blackwood.
The contract was complete.
Neither of them knew what they had just started.
⸻
That Evening
Ele stood outside the Blackwood mansion with her suitcase.
She looked up at the enormous house.
“So this is where I’ll be living for a year.”
Alex stood beside her.
“Yes.”
Ele glanced at him.
“You really don’t smile much, do you?”
“No.”
She laughed softly.
“At least you’re honest.”
Alex looked at her.
“You’ll have your own room.”
“Good.”
He started walking toward the entrance.
Ele followed.
Then she suddenly stopped.
“Alex.”
He turned.
“What?”
She smiled.
“Since we’re married now…”
He waited.
“Shouldn’t we at least try to get along?”
Alex looked at her for several seconds.
Then, surprisingly, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“I’m willing to try.”
Ele smiled.
“Then I think we might survive the year.”
Alex turned toward the mansion.
“Maybe.”
Neither of them knew that the contract wouldn’t remain just a contract for long.
Because living under the same roof would change the rules they had written on paper.
Alex would discover that Ele wasn’t the quiet, fragile woman he had expected.
And Ele would discover that behind Alex’s cold exterior was a man who could be surprisingly gentle.
Their marriage would face family pressure, jealousy, misunderstandings, dangerous situations, and people who wanted to interfere with their happiness.
But there would be no betrayal between them.
Instead, every challenge would slowly push them closer.
And the greatest danger to their contract wouldn’t be their enemies.
It would be the one thing neither of them had included in the agreement:
love.
