The Billionaire's Contractual Wife.

Sarah Williams nervously twisted her fingers under the table. The slight pain was a reminder,this was real. The air in the room felt heavier, pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She couldn't sit still. It was as if the walls were closing in on her. Beyond the glass windows, the city buzzed with life, but in here, everything was silent, thick with tension. Sitting across from her was the man she was supposed to marry. Alexander Carter, CEO of the Carter Empire. His face was unreadable, his gaze cold and distant. He sat there like this entire meeting was beneath him,like this was nothing more than another business transaction, a waste of his time. The thick stack of documents sat in the center of the polished mahogany table, untouched but heavy with unspoken finality. The marriage contract. A deal sealed in ink, not love. Sarah’s father, Richard Williams, sat beside her, his posture stiff, his expression unreadable. But she knew better. His hands were clasped together, his knuckles slightly pale,he was anxious, just like her. Except unlike her, he had agreed to this deal without hesitation. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Sarah,” he had told her earlier. “You just have to sign.” As if it were that simple. Across from them, Alexander remained unmoved, his long fingers resting against the table, betraying not a single trace of hesitation. Beside him, his lawyer adjusted his glasses, flipping through the contract one last time. Silence stretched between them. The weight of what was about to happen settled heavily in her chest. Sarah swallowed hard before speaking. “How long is this… agreement supposed to last?” Her voice came out quieter than she intended. Alexander didn’t look up. He casually flipped a page of the contract, his expression unchanged. “One year.” His voice was deep, impassive, like he was discussing a routine business merger. “After that, we go our separate ways.” A lump formed in her throat. Just like that? She forced herself to nod. “And during that year… what exactly is expected of me?” His gaze lifted then, cold and assessing. “You’ll be my wife in name. Attend public events. Play your role. Nothing more.” Sarah’s fingers trembled slightly as she gripped the pen lying on the table. “And after the year is over?” Alexander leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “You’ll get what was promised.” Her father shot her a look—a silent warning. Sarah knew what he wanted. Knew what was at stake. But could she really do this? Her fingers felt stiff as she held the pen, hovering over the contract. The weight of the moment settled deep in her chest. This wasn’t just ink on paper—it was a signature that would change her life. She could feel her father’s eyes on her, expectant, unwavering. Across the table, Alexander remained as composed as ever, his expression unreadable, as if this entire process was nothing more than another item on his agenda. With a quiet inhale, she pressed the pen to the paper. The ink bled into her name, sealing her fate. Alexander took the pen next. He didn’t pause, didn’t hesitate. A quick stroke, and it was done. His lawyer nodded and neatly stacked the papers. “That concludes the agreement.” Sarah exhaled, barely realizing she had been holding her breath. It was official. The contract was signed. Alexander pushed back his chair and stood. Without so much as a glance in her direction, he adjusted the cuff of his suit and walked toward the door. Then, just as he reached it, he spoke. “We’re getting married in two days.” His tone was indifferent, businesslike. “Be ready.” And then he was gone. Sarah sat frozen, staring at the contract in front of her. Two days. That was all the time she had left before her life became his.