The Billionaire’s Fake Bride Is Carrying His Real Heir

Chapter 1 Mia’s Pov My grandfather always told me that some doors are locked for a good reason. When I was a little girl, I used to ask him about the car crash that took my mom and dad away from me. I wanted to know what song they were listening to, where they were driving, and why they left me behind. But Grandpa would just look down at his silver pocket watch, shake his head, and say, "Mia, leave the past alone. Some wounds bleed more when you pick at them." I trusted him more than anyone in the whole world. After my parents died, he took me into his massive stone mansion, but he never let me act like a spoiled princess. While other rich kids spent their days crashing expensive sports cars and buying designer clothes they did not need, Grandpa made me work for everything. He made me sit in boardrooms, read thick financial reports, and learn how Carter Holdings made its money. He told me that a true leader earns her crown, she does not just wear it. Today, the mansion feels too big and much too quiet. Grandpa is gone. He passed away peacefully in his sleep three days ago, leaving behind a cold house and a heavy silence. Right now, I am sitting in the large mahogany office with my uncle Ethan and a lawyer named Mr. Vance. The room smells like old paper and expensive leather. Uncle Ethan is pacing back and forth near the window. He has a smug smile on his face, like a cat that just cornered a very small mouse. He thinks he has already won. "Well, Mr. Vance?" Ethan asks, his voice dripping with fake sadness. "We are all waiting. What does the old man's final will say? Who gets control of Carter Holdings?" Mr. Vance adjusts his thick glasses, clears his throat, and opens a thick folder. "Your father's will is very specific, Ethan. Ownership of Carter Holdings goes entirely to Mia. However..." Mr. Vance pauses, looking right at me. "There is one major condition." My heart skips a beat. "A condition? What kind of condition?" "Your grandfather added a strict rule," Mr. Vance says softly. "To officially inherit controlling ownership of the company, you must be legally married before your twenty-fifth birthday. If you are not married by then, all shares, properties, and the entire control of Carter Holdings will transfer directly to your uncle Ethan." I gasp out loud. I look at my watch. My twenty-fifth birthday is in less than three weeks! Uncle Ethan laughs, letting out a loud, ugly sound that echoes off the wooden walls. "Married? In three weeks? Oh, Mia, sweetheart, you do not even have a boyfriend! How are you going to find a husband in twenty days? The company is practically mine already." "You did this," I say, standing up so fast my chair scrapes loudly against the floor. I point a shaking finger right at Ethan. "You put this idea into his head, didn't you? You wanted the company all along!" Ethan shrugs, stepping closer to me with a cold smirk. "Do not look at me, niece. Your grandfather made his own choices. He never trusted you to run a multi-billion-dollar empire on your own. Face it. You lost." I bite my lip so hard I almost taste blood. I will not cry in front of him. I refuse to give Ethan the satisfaction of seeing me break down. Carter Holdings is my parents' legacy, and I built my entire life around protecting it. I have twenty days to find a husband, or I lose everything. Later that evening, I attend a crowded charity gala downtown. The ballroom is blindingly bright, filled with sparkling chandeliers, flashing cameras, and people wearing expensive jewels who only care about gossip. I am standing near a tall marble pillar, holding a glass of sparkling water I have not touched, trying to breathe through my panic. How am I supposed to find a husband tonight? Am I just going to walk up to a random stranger and ask him to marry me? People would think I am completely crazy. "You look like a trapped animal, Miss Carter." I turn around and jump slightly. Standing right behind me is a man I instantly recognize from the front pages of every business magazine. Adrian Blackwood. He is tall, dressed in a sharp, perfectly tailored black suit that makes him look like he owns the entire room—which, knowing his massive family empire, he probably does. He has dark hair, sharp jawline, and cold gray eyes that look right through you like he can read every secret in your head. People call him the ruthless billionaire because he crushes every company that gets in his way. "I am fine, Mr. Blackwood," I say, lifting my chin and trying to sound as brave as possible. "Just enjoying the party." "People only stand by pillars when they are trying to hide from the crowd," Adrian says smoothly, taking a sip of his drink. His voice is deep and calm. "And you look like you are about ready to run out those double doors." I let out a bitter laugh. "If I told you why, you would probably laugh too." "Try me," he says, stepping a little closer. For some crazy reason, I decide to tell him the truth. Maybe it is because I am desperate, or maybe it is because I have nothing left to lose. "My grandfather's will says I have to be married before my twenty-fifth birthday, which is in three weeks, or my uncle steals my company. I need a husband, and I need one right now." Instead of laughing, Adrian goes completely still. His gray eyes narrow as he studies me carefully. A strange, calculating look crosses his face, like a chess player seeing a winning move. "What a coincidence," Adrian says softly. "My grandfather put the exact same stupid condition on my inheritance. I have to be married before I can officially become the chairman of Blackwood Enterprises." I stare at him in total shock. "You? But you are Adrian Blackwood! You own half the city!" "And yet, I am stuck dealing with old family rules," he replies, his voice cold. "I have no interest in falling in love, and you have no interest in a real marriage. But if we get married, we both solve our problems." "Are you proposing a fake marriage to me?" I ask, my eyes wide. "A business arrangement," Adrian corrects me, holding my gaze. "Three months. You wear my ring, I help you protect Carter Holdings from your uncle. Then, we quietly divorce and go our separate ways. What do you say, Mia?" I look into his cold, handsome face. It is crazy. It is dangerous. But right now, it is the only lifeline I have. "Deal," I whisper.