Contract Wife

Forced marriage

Yin Sichen's calm tone held an undeniable authority.

The room emptied quickly, leaving the two most powerful figures in the Yin Corporation alone.

Old Madam Yin looked at her grandson. He was her pride and joy.

Since taking over as CEO, he’d increased the corporation's value by twenty percent, solidifying their position as an unstoppable force.

However, his marital status remained a source of concern. Countless women had their sights set on the Yin family's fourth generation heir.

To the outside world, he was a formidable CEO. But in front of his grandmother, he was simply a respectful grandson.

With the others gone, his demeanor softened.

“Grandmother, why are you here?” he asked gently. “If you weren't feeling well, you should have had the doctor come to the house. You shouldn't have gone through the trouble of coming here yourself.”

“Don't play coy with me,” Old Madam Yin chuckled, her face glowing with delight. “I know what's going on. This concerns the heir to the Yin family; how could I not come personally?"

“Grandmother, what heir?” Yin Sichen retorted, refusing to acknowledge the woman in the other room. “Dina isn’t ready to get married yet. What fourth-generation heir are you talking about?”

Old Madam Yin rapped him lightly on the head with her knuckles. “Enough with the charade! If that Lin Xiaoya is so insistent on her career, then let her have it! The Yin family does not lack for women willing to bear children!"

"Grandmother, don't tell me you're planning to let that woman in there keep this child?” Yin Sichen frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over him. “No. Absolutely not!”

Old Madam Yin's expression turned frosty. "Are you still waiting for that Lin Xiaoya? Sichen, I know you love her. For years, I’ve stayed silent. But see how long she's strung you along! She’s given you no commitment, no promise of a future. The Yin family doesn’t need her money. She could easily resume her career as a model after giving birth. But she refuses! You’re twenty-eight years old! How much longer are you willing to wait!?”

“Grandmother, you promised me!" Yin Sichen countered, a flicker of anger in his eyes. “When I became CEO, you wouldn’t interfere with my marriage!”

“And you promised me you’d be married by twenty-eight!” Old Madam Yin retorted, her voice rising. “What’s so special about that Lin Xiaoya? What hold does she have over you? She's kept you on a leash for years, unwilling to commit or give you an heir! Why would I want such a woman as my granddaughter-in-law?”

Their voices, laced with anger, echoed in the hallway.

Inside the room, Gu Xixi stirred awake.

She slowly opened her eyes, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The exquisite decor, the luxurious furnishings... Where was she?

Where… where was she?

Had she heard someone mention Xiaoya just now?

Was she hallucinating? Xiaoya was in Milan. How could she be here?

Gu Xixi tried to sit up, only to hear whispers outside the door. “The Young Madam is awake. Get ready!”

The next moment, the door swung open and an elegant older woman walked in. Despite the traces of time etched on her face, she possessed an undeniable aura of grace and power. A small army of doctors and nurses followed closely behind.

Gu Xixi stared, completely bewildered.

The last thing she remembered was being at the office. She had a meeting... An important meeting!

Oh no! She’d completely forgotten!

She tried to get out of bed, but the elegant lady stopped her. Her eyes shone with delight.

“Don’t move,” the woman said, her voice warm and reassuring. “Let the doctors examine you. You are a valuable asset to the Yin family now. Leave everything else to us.”

Gu Xixi looked at her, bewildered. “Excuse me, but… who are you? And what am I doing here?”

The elegant lady smiled. “I am the Chairman of the Yin Corporation, Yin Sichen's grandmother. And you are…?”

“Gu Xixi… My name is Gu Xixi,” she stammered. “Chairman, I… I didn’t mean… I don’t understand… I’ll return to the office immediately and get back to work. Please don't fire me! I won't make any more mistakes!”

Old Madam Yin raised a finger to her lips. “Shh…”

Gu Xixi looked at her, confused.

“You just rest and relax,” Old Madam Yin smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “As long as I am here, no one would dare to fire you. You have a very important role to play.” She looked at Gu Xixi’s face, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. “Give birth to a healthy heir for the Yin family, and I will personally ensure your well-being.”

With that, she turned and left the room.

Gu Xixi sat there, stunned.

Give birth? What child?

“Don't worry, Young Madam,” the doctor said cheerfully. “Your baby is doing well. Perfectly healthy.”

The blood drained from Gu Xixi’s face. Her eyes widened in horror. She gripped the doctor's arm, her voice trembling. "What… what did you say? Baby? Are you saying I’m… pregnant?"

She always wanted children. But only with Zhao Zegang. Not this... This wasn’t right.

She thought she’d escaped that nightmare. But it was back, haunting her once more.

Why was fate so cruel? Why did it keep dragging her back into this abyss?

Meanwhile, outside the room, Yin Sichen was reaching his breaking point.

“No! I will not marry her!” he roared, his voice shaking with anger. “I refuse to marry someone I don't love!”

Old Madam Yin fixed him with a chilling stare. "Sichen," she said, her voice dangerously calm, “Think carefully. The company is in the middle of a major collaboration with a Korean conglomerate. The chairman and his wife will be arriving shortly for a state visit. Family is of utmost importance to them. How will it look if they discover you’ve abandoned a pregnant woman? What kind of message will that send about the integrity of the Yin Corporation? ”

Yin Sichen froze. The implications of her words hit him like a ton of bricks.

He lit a cigarette, taking a long, slow drag. By the time he was done, he was his usual composed self.

“I’ve made my position clear," Old Madam Yin continued, her voice softening slightly. “You must marry her. No abandoning her after she gives birth! The Korean company is about to sign a ten-year contract with us, and I will not allow anything to jeopardize this deal.”

“The Yin Corporation needs an heir! Sichen, you know how many are eyeing your position, waiting for you to slip up! Your position will be threatened with the slightest misstep if you don’t produce an heir!" Old Madam Yin continued relentlessly. "With danger lurking both inside and outside, don't you see what's at stake here?”

Yin Sichen’s resolve began to crumble.

She was right.

He’d become CEO because of her unwavering support. His uncles were envious, their resentment simmering beneath the surface.

In the past two years, he'd proven himself, silencing his critics by increasing the company's value.

He was not a naive young fool. But he refused to let his marriage be dictated by others.

A month ago, the news of him and Gu Xixi had surfaced, causing a minor stir. If he didn’t handle this well, the repercussions could be disastrous. And the Korean representatives likely assumed the woman from the news was his wife…

He finally looked up at his grandmother, his voice weary. "Grandmother," he sighed, “I will marry her. I’ll give the Yin family their heir."

A slow smile spread across Old Madam Yin’s face; her grandson had always been her pride and joy.

Intelligent and discerning, he understood the delicate balance of power, always weighing the pros and cons before making a decision.

As the heir to the Yin empire, he had to make sacrifices.

“Go and see the young lady. I trust you know what to do, Sichen," she said, patting his shoulder affectionately. With a final nod of approval, she turned and left the room.

Yin Sichen watched her go, his eyes downcast. Behind his sharp, enigmatic gaze swirled a storm of emotions.

He’d marry her. But building a life with this woman? Unthinkable.

It was just a marriage of convenience, a means to an end. A small price to pay for the security of the Yin legacy.

Gu Xixi sat on the bed, hugging her knees, tears streaming down her face. The medical staff exchanged confused glances.

Carrying the heir to the Yin Corporation should have been a joyous occasion. Why was she so distraught?

Didn’t she want the child?

But... how could she not?

Yin Sichen strode into the room. His long legs, his perfectly tailored suit, everything about him screamed power and effortless charm.

“Sir… The Young Madam…” one of the doctors began hesitantly.

“I’ll take it from here,” Yin Sichen cut him off, his voice as sharp as ice. The rest of the staff practically scrambled to leave the room.

Gu Xixi lifted her head. Their eyes met.

And at that moment, recognition dawned on her face, and the tears flowed even harder.

She knew exactly who this man was.