TAMING THE YOUNG TYCOON

CHAPTER 6:CONTRACTED MARRIAGE

Yiwen sighed in relief as the doctor’s words echoed in her mind: "Your health has improved." The tension in her shoulders eased, but it was quickly replaced by a different kind of anxiety. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the elegant yet impersonal design, her gaze finally landing on the clock. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was past 9 PM. She had no intention of spending another night here. She had too many pressing concerns, the most urgent being her mother’s mounting medical bills.Just as she was about to gather her things, a soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.“It’s open,” Yiwen called out, her voice slightly shaky as she moved away from the window. She watched as the door creaked open, revealing a woman she hadn’t seen before, her expression stern yet polite.“Ma’am, the young master would like to see you. Please follow me,” the woman said, her tone respectful but leaving no room for refusal.“Oh, okay. Please wait outside; I’ll join you in a minute,” Yiwen replied, trying to mask the nervous flutter in her stomach. As the woman left, Yiwen approached the mirror beside the bed. She studied her reflection, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and dread. Her oversized green silk top and black shorts were comfortable but far from the image of confidence she wished to project.She adjusted her hair, smoothing down the loose strands, and applied a touch of pink lipstick, hoping it would lend her the courage she desperately needed. Slipping on the soft slippers a maid had brought earlier, she took a deep breath, gathering her composure before opening the door and stepping into the dimly lit hallway.The air was thick with tension as Yiwen followed the woman down the winding staircase. Each step echoed through the grand, empty mansion, amplifying her unease. The woman led her through corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly until they finally stopped in front of a door, different from the others—larger, more imposing.“Why is my heart beating so fast?” Yiwen thought, placing a hand over her chest in an attempt to calm the rapid thumping. The maid knocked lightly on the door.“Let her in,” a deep voice commanded from inside, sending a jolt of adrenaline through Yiwen’s veins.“Ma’am, please go in,” the maid said, her voice gentler now, almost sympathetic.Yiwen hesitated for a brief moment before pushing the door open. The room was vast, yet it felt suffocating as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. For a few seconds, she forgot to breathe, her gaze scanning the luxurious space until it landed on him.Alexander.He was seated on a massive bed, his laptop resting on his lap, his head leaning back against the headboard. The sight of him took her breath away—he was, without a doubt, the most strikingly handsome man she had ever seen. His white mandarin-collared hoodie and matching pants only enhanced his ethereal appearance. His eyes, however, were what truly captivated her. They shone with an intensity that seemed to pierce right through her, as if he could see every secret she tried to hide.“Are you just going to stand there staring at me?” Alexander’s voice broke the silence, a hint of irritation creeping into his tone.“I’m sorry, I…” Yiwen stammered, suddenly embarrassed by her own reaction. She averted her gaze, unsure of what to say next.“Come here,” Alexander ordered, his voice neither harsh nor gentle, but firm enough that Yiwen knew it wasn’t a suggestion.She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and walked over to his side, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat down, the bed sinking slightly under her weight. Alexander’s eyes remained fixed on his laptop, his fingers tapping away as if her presence was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.“Why were you caught sleeping on the street? Did you forget to pay your rent?” he asked suddenly, his tone almost mocking.Yiwen stiffened. “Is that what you think?” she asked, incredulous at his assumption.“It’s the only reason I can imagine,” Alexander replied, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and disdain. “What else would a grown woman be doing on the streets at night? Don’t you fear being r***d or kidn*pped?”The words cut through her like a knife. Yiwen’s vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but the emotional toll of the past few days was too much to bear. She had been strong for so long, fighting to keep her mother alive, battling her own health issues, and now this—being reduced to nothing more than a pitiable creature in the eyes of this cold, arrogant man.“I don’t know how to comfort a grown woman like you, but I’m sorry if I spoke the truth out of turn,” Alexander said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.A small, bitter laugh escaped Yiwen’s lips. “Who told you that your so-called truth is the reason I’m crying?” she asked, wiping away her tears, a sad smile playing on her lips.Alexander frowned, genuinely confused for the first time. “Then why are you crying?” he asked, his voice softening, just a fraction.“Now you care?” Yiwen asked, a mix of irony and sadness in her tone as she looked at him. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Believe me, I don’t need your pity.”“I’m not offering pity. Just...curiosity,” Alexander replied, a small, almost reluctant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. For a brief moment, the cold mask he wore slipped, revealing something more human underneath. But just as quickly, he regained his composure, his expression hardening once more.“I know about your mother,” he blurted out, his tone serious.Yiwen’s heart skipped a beat. “H...how?” she stammered, her mind racing with possibilities.“I had my men investigate you,” Alexander replied bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat his actions.“But... but why?” Yiwen asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.“I needed to know your weakest point,” Alexander said, his eyes locking onto hers, his expression unreadable. “To strike a deal with you.”“A deal?” Yiwen repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.“I can take care of your mother’s bills,” Alexander said, his tone casual as if he were discussing the weather. “In exchange, you’ll do something for me. It’s a win-win situation.”Yiwen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I’m not sleeping with you,” she spat out, her voice filled with disgust and anger.Alexander laughed, a deep, rich sound that filled the room. “Me... sleep with you?” he said, still chuckling as if the idea was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard. “Do you know the gravity of your words? You aren’t even worth sleeping with my driver, let alone me.”The words hit Yiwen like a slap in the face. She stood up, her fists clenched, her body trembling with rage. “And who the hell do you think you are?” she yelled, her voice echoing through the room.Alexander didn’t flinch. Instead, he glanced at the clock beside his bed, his expression bored. “I don’t have much time to waste on you,” he muttered, his gaze returning to his laptop.Yiwen followed his gaze, her eyes landing on the clock. To her shock, she saw that it was counting down. “Did he really set a timer for this conversation?” she thought, her anger boiling over.“Like I said before,” Alexander continued, his tone dismissive, “I can settle the bills. I received a message from your mother’s doctor this morning—through your phone, by the way—that she’s dying. For your own good, it’s best to pay the money before tomorrow. But if you’re not interested, I can easily withdraw my offer.”“And what exactly is your offer?” Yiwen asked, her voice shaking with barely contained fury.“It’s here,” Alexander said, tossing a stack of documents onto the bed. “Go through it. If you agree, sign it.”Yiwen picked up the documents, her hands trembling as she flipped them open. Her eyes widened as she read the words “Contracted Marriage.”“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered, her voice laced with disbelief. “What do you mean by a contracted marriage? I can’t even stand the sight of you, let alone marry you.”“I’m not forcing you,” Alexander said, his voice icy. “But I’m also not going to lose a single dime. You’re the one who needs help. You’re the one with a dying mother. You’re the one who needs fame to survive in the entertainment industry. I’m offering you a way out. But if you’re not interested, there’s the door. It’s not a do-or-die affair.”Yiwen stared at him, her mind racing. She couldn’t believe she was in this situation—cornered, desperate, and faced with an impossible choice. She looked down at the contract, her vision blurring as tears threatened to spill once again.“You really came prepared,” she whispered, her voice tinged with both sarcasm and despair.“Trust me, I’m always prepared,” Alexander replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes