The CEO signed a contract marriage to save my dad episode 20
1128 Words
The CEO Signed a Contract Marriage to Save My Dad
Episode 20 — Forever Starts Here
Applause thundered through the wedding hall as Adrian kissed Lina beneath the golden lights.
For a moment, the entire world disappeared.
No cameras.
No family politics.
No contracts.
Just him.
Just her.
And the overwhelming realization that somehow, against all logic, their fake marriage had become the most real thing either of them had ever known.
When Adrian finally pulled back slightly, Lina was breathless.
“You’re smiling,” she whispered softly.
Adrian looked at her calmly.
“You’re surprised?”
“A little.”
“Get used to it.”
Her heart nearly melted completely.
The guests continued applauding while Ethan dramatically wiped fake tears nearby.
“This is disgusting,” he announced loudly. “I supported this relationship and now I’m emotionally suffering.”
Lina laughed through happy tears.
Even Richard Kingsley looked amused.
The cold, intimidating Kingsley family had somehow transformed into something warmer.
Softer.
More human.
And all because two stubborn people accidentally fell in love.
---
Hours later, the wedding reception filled the ballroom with music, laughter, and endless celebration.
Lina stood near the dance floor talking with guests while trying to process the fact that she was officially married.
Actually married.
Mrs. Adrian Kingsley.
Still terrifying.
A famous actress approached smiling brightly.
“You and your husband are all over social media already.”
Lina blinked.
“Already?”
The actress showed her phone.
Photos from the ceremony flooded every platform online.
THE NATION’S FAVORITE COUPLE.
FROM CONTRACT RUMORS TO REAL LOVE.
THE CEO WHO LEARNED HOW TO SMILE.
Lina laughed softly.
“That headline feels illegal.”
Nearby, Adrian stood speaking with business partners, though his attention kept drifting toward Lina every few seconds.
Richard noticed immediately.
“You’ve looked at your wife twelve times in the last minute.”
Adrian remained calm.
“I’m monitoring the room.”
Ethan nearly choked on his drink laughing.
“Right. Very professional monitoring.”
Adrian ignored him completely.
Unfortunately, the slight softness in his expression ruined any chance of believable denial.
Richard shook his head quietly.
“I spent years thinking you would never let anyone close.”
Adrian’s gaze moved toward Lina again automatically.
“She didn’t give me much choice.”
Across the room, Lina suddenly caught him staring.
Again.
She raised an eyebrow playfully.
Adrian didn’t even pretend to look away.
Dangerous man.
---
Later that evening, the music slowed as couples gathered onto the dance floor again.
Adrian walked toward Lina calmly before extending his hand.
“Dance with me.”
Lina looked suspicious immediately.
“We already survived one dangerous dance together.”
“We’ll survive another.”
She accepted his hand anyway.
Because honestly?
She always would.
As they moved slowly beneath the lights, Lina rested one hand against his shoulder while Adrian held her close.
Much closer than before.
Now there was no pretending involved.
“You seem calmer tonight,” she observed softly.
“I am.”
“That’s suspicious.”
Adrian’s hand settled gently against her waist.
“You married me anyway.”
Lina smiled slightly.
“That still feels insane.”
“And yet here we are.”
The music softened further around them.
For a few quiet moments, they simply existed together peacefully.
Then Adrian suddenly asked:
“Do you regret it?”
Lina looked up immediately.
“Marrying you?”
“Yes.”
The vulnerability hidden beneath the question touched her heart instantly.
This man still feared losing people.
Still feared love disappearing.
Slowly, Lina reached up and touched his face gently.
“Not for a single second.”
Something deep in Adrian’s expression relaxed completely after hearing that.
As though he finally believed he was allowed to keep happiness.
Then he leaned down slightly and whispered near her ear:
“You’re stuck with me now.”
Lina laughed softly.
“That sounded more threatening than romantic.”
“It was both.”
---
Near midnight, the reception finally began winding down.
Guests slowly departed while staff cleaned the ballroom.
Outside, soft rain fell once again across the city.
Lina stepped onto the quiet balcony for fresh air, holding her shoes in one hand.
“My feet officially hate me,” she complained dramatically.
Adrian joined her moments later carrying two glasses of juice.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
He handed her one glass before leaning beside her against the balcony railing.
For a while, neither spoke.
The peaceful silence felt comfortable now.
Natural.
Lina looked out toward the glowing city lights below.
“It’s strange.”
“What is?”
“A few months ago, I thought my life was ending.” Her voice softened slightly. “Now I’m standing here married to you.”
Adrian watched her quietly.
“You changed my life too.”
Lina smiled faintly.
“The scary billionaire became emotional.”
“That’s your fault.”
“I accept responsibility.”
A soft laugh escaped him again.
God.
That sound still destroyed her emotionally.
Then Adrian became more serious.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
Lina looked at him curiously.
“What?”
He hesitated briefly.
Actually hesitated.
Which immediately got her attention.
“I bought your old apartment building.”
Silence.
Lina blinked slowly.
“You what?”
“The entire building.”
She stared at him in disbelief.
“Why would you do that?!”
“It was falling apart.”
“That still doesn’t explain buying it!”
Adrian looked almost uncomfortable suddenly.
“I wanted to preserve the place where you lived before me.”
Lina’s heart completely stopped.
That was—
That was ridiculously romantic.
And somehow he didn’t even realize it.
“You sentimental disaster,” she whispered softly.
Adrian frowned slightly.
“That doesn’t sound like an insult.”
“It’s not.”
Lina stepped closer until barely any distance remained between them.
Then she wrapped her arms gently around his neck.
“You know what I realized?” she asked quietly.
“What?”
“I would’ve fallen in love with you eventually no matter how we met.”
For once, Adrian looked genuinely caught off guard.
And Lina loved that she could still surprise him.
Slowly, his arms wrapped around her waist again.
Secure.
Warm.
Home.
Rain continued falling softly around the balcony while the city lights shimmered below them.
No contracts remained between them now.
No fear.
No pretending.
Just love.
Real love.
The kind that arrives unexpectedly and changes everything forever.
Adrian rested his forehead lightly against hers.
Then quietly whispered the words that once terrified him most:
“Stay with me.”
Lina smiled softly before kissing him gently.
“Always.”
- Writer
