A Contract Marriage To The Ruthless Billionaire

Jaden Blackwell strode into the sleek conference room of Blackwell Enterprises, his tailored suit a testament to power and precision. The room fell silent as he entered, his sharp gaze sweeping over the board members who awaited him. But it wasn’t the quarterly reports or the pending merger that had summoned him here today. It was his parents. His father, Richard Blackwell, sat at the head of the table, his expression as stern as ever. Beside him, Jaden’s mother, Eleanor, offered a tight-lipped smile that held no warmth. “Jaden,” his father began, his voice a deep rumble that demanded attention. “We need to discuss your future.” Jaden folded his arms. “I thought my future was already clear; expanding Blackwell Enterprises and making it the most powerful conglomerate in the country.” “That’s only part of it,” Eleanor interjected, her tone soft but firm. “You’re thirty two years old, and your personal life is nonexistent. A man in your position needs stability, a family. Investors and partners value a man they can trust not just in business but in life.” Jaden’s jaw tightened. “This again? I’ve told you, I’m not interested in marriage right now.” Richard leaned forward, his steely eyes locking on Jaden’s. “You don’t have a choice. If you want to take over the company, you’ll marry within six months. No marriage, no Blackwell Enterprises.” The room fell silent, the weight of the ultimatum pressing down on Jaden. He glanced around at the board members, who carefully avoided his gaze, then back at his parents. “This is ridiculous,” he snapped. “My ability to run the company has nothing to do with my marital status.” “It has everything to do with it,” Eleanor said, her voice cutting through his protest. “Your father and I built this empire. If you want to inherit it, you’ll follow our conditions.” Jaden clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had worked tirelessly to prove himself as a capable leader, yet they were willing to put it all at risk over something as trivial as marriage. But Richard’s expression left no room for negotiation. “You have six months,” his father said. “Find a wife, or we’ll find someone else to take your place.” Later that day, Jaden sat in his office, staring out at the city skyline. His whiskey glass reflected the lights of Manhattan, but the taste did little to dull his frustration. Jaden grew up in a cutthroat world of wealth and power. His father, a merciless businessman, groomed him from a young age to be a leader who never showed weakness. Every failure, no matter how minor, was met with harsh consequences, teaching Jaden that success came at any cost. At 21, he fell in love with a woman who he thought would stand by him despite his family’s power struggles. However, she betrayed him. That betrayal shattered Jaden’s belief in love and trust, pushing him to close himself off emotionally. He learned to use people rather than rely on them, viewing relationships as tools rather than connections. Marriage. The very idea made his skin crawl. Commitment, feelings, compromise. It wasn’t who he was. He thrived on control, and love was the opposite of that. But he wasn’t about to let his parents strip him of the company he had spent his life building. If they wanted a wife, he’d give them one. On his terms. Jaden’s phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. He picked it up, seeing the name of his assistant, Claire. “What is it?” he asked, his tone clipped. “There’s a young woman here asking to see you,” Claire said. “She doesn’t have an appointment, but she insists it’s urgent.” Jaden frowned. “Who is she?” “Her name is Anna Hayes. She said it’s about her sister.” He hesitated. The name meant nothing to him, but something in Claire’s tone caught his attention. Against his better judgment, he said, “Send her in.” A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened, and Anna Hayes stepped into his world. She was nothing like the polished socialites who usually vied for his attention. Her brown hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and her clothes were modest, almost shabby. Yet there was something in her wide, desperate eyes that held his attention. “Mister Blackwell,” she began, her voice soft but trembling with determination. “Thank you for seeing me.” Jaden leaned back in his chair, studying her. “Make it quick. What do you want?” Anna swallowed hard, clutching a folder to her chest. “My name is Anna Hayes, and I’m here to ask for a loan. My younger sister has leukemia, and the treatments are expensive. I’ve tried everything. Banks, charities, but no one will help us. You’re my last hope.” Jaden’s brow furrowed. It wasn’t the first time someone had come to him with a sob story, but there was something about the way she stood, trembling but unbroken, that made him pause. “And why should I help you?” he asked, his voice cold. Anna’s grip on the folder tightened. “Because I’ll do anything to save her. I can work for you, pay back every penny with interest. Just, please.” The room fell silent as Jaden considered her. She was desperate, vulnerable, a far cry from the strong-willed woman he’d imagined as his perfect fake fiancée. But perhaps that was exactly what he needed. A plan began to form in his mind. He rose from his chair, his towering frame making Anna take an instinctive step back. “You need money,” he said. “And I need a wife.” Anna blinked, confused. “What?” “I’ll give you the money for your sister’s treatment,” Jaden said, his voice low and deliberate. “But in exchange, you’ll marry me.” Her eyes widened in shock. “Marry you? But I don’t even know you,” “You don’t have to,” he said with a smirk. “This isn’t about love. It’s a business arrangement. You help me secure my company, and I’ll save your sister’s life.” Anna stared at him, her mind racing. It was absurd, impossible. But as she thought of her sister lying in a hospital bed, her fragile body fighting to hold on, she realized she didn’t have a choice. “What do you say, Miss Hayes?” Jaden asked, his tone almost mocking. “Do we have a deal?”