Accidentally Married to the Billionaire Heir

The October heat in the city of Riverdale was still relentless, with only the early mornings and late evenings offering a hint of the crisp autumn air to come. Sophia had been up since dawn. She prepared breakfast for her sister's family of three, tidied the living room cluttered with toys, and mopped the floor. Only then did she grab two steamed buns, tuck her passport into her bag, and quietly slip out of her sister's apartment. "From now on, we split everything—living expenses, the mortgage, the car payment. All of it! And your sister living with us needs to pay half. What good is two thousand a month? It's practically living here for free!" Those were her brother-in-law Mark's words from last night's argument, still ringing in her ears. To keep the peace in her sister Chloe's home, Sophia knew she had to move out. But to do so without making her sister worry? There was only one path: marriage. To get married quickly without even a boyfriend, she had decided to accept a proposal from Eleanor—to marry Eleanor's notoriously difficult grandson, Liam, who, according to his grandmother, found marriage an impossible challenge. Walking down to the main road, she saw a city bus stopped at the curb. She hurried over, confirmed it went past the City Hall, and boarded just before the doors closed. She took a window seat. As the bus pulled away, she watched the urban scenery slide by. Riverdale was a bustling metropolis, its skyline a forest of gleaming skyscrapers that spoke of its prosperity. Twenty minutes later, Sophia got off at the City Hall stop. "Sophia!" The moment she stepped onto the pavement, she heard the familiar voice. It was Eleanor. "Eleanor." Sophia walked over quickly and saw Eleanor standing with a tall, strikingly handsome man who carried an air of cool detachment. This had to be Liam. Up close, Sophia got a clear look at him, and surprise washed over her. According to Eleanor, her grandson Liam was thirty, hopelessly inept at relationships, and couldn't even secure a girlfriend—a source of great worry for the old lady. Eleanor and Sophia had met after Eleanor, out alone incognito, had fallen on the street, and Sophia had stopped to help her and taken her to the hospital. As they grew closer, Eleanor came to admire Sophia's character. Learning that Sophia was twenty-five and unattached, she decided to play matchmaker for her and Liam. Sophia had always assumed that a thirty-year-old man who couldn't get a girlfriend must be unattractive, especially since Eleanor described him as a high-level executive at a major corporation with a very high income. A successful man still single was either far too picky... or so physically unappealing that not even a gold-digger could stomach him. Sophia had assumed Liam was the latter. Seeing him now, she realized he was decidedly the former. Liam was undeniably handsome, his demeanor cool. Standing beside his grandmother, his expression was stony and severe, giving him a rugged, aloof air that screamed "keep your distance." A black Ford SUV—a solid, unpretentious vehicle, not a luxury sedan costing hundreds of thousands—was parked nearby. Seeing this, Sophia felt the gap between her and Liam wasn't so vast after all. She knew her living situation had been precarious. She'd stayed with her sister mostly out of love for Chloe and her nephew, enduring the awkwardness. But her financial situation wasn't poor. She co-owned a bookstore near the prestigious Riverdale Academy—a private school encompassing elementary through high school—with an old friend. With nearly ten thousand students and staff, the demand for books and supplies was huge, though competition was fierce, with bookstores lining the block. In her spare time, Sophia crafted small handmade items and sold them online, where they did quite well. After deducting all the shop's overhead, she split the monthly profits with her friend. Combined with her online store income, she consistently earned over four thousand dollars a month. In Riverdale, that was a solid professional salary. Her brother-in-law, however, was unaware of this. He assumed the bookstore barely broke even due to the competition, which fueled his resentment. In reality, Sophia gave her sister a thousand dollars each month for rent and food—she'd just advised Chloe to secretly save half of it for emergencies, away from Mark's knowledge.Chloe was somewhat aware of her sister's earnings and constantly reminded her to spend wisely and save up to buy an apartment in a couple of years, hoping she would have a place of her own. "Sophia, this is my eldest grandson, Liam," Eleanor said, gesturing to the man beside her. "A leftover bachelor at thirty who just can't seem to get sold off. But don't let his cold exterior fool you—he's quite considerate and attentive. You saved my life, we've known each other for three months now. Trust me, I wouldn't push a subpar grandson on you." Liam listened to his grandmother's description, his gaze sweeping over Sophia with a deep, icy coolness, but he remained silent. Perhaps he had built up an immunity after being disparaged by his grandmother so many times. Sophia knew Eleanor had three sons, each of whom had given her three grandsons. The elderly lady had nine grandsons in total but no granddaughters. Grateful that Sophia had saved her and finding her kindred spirit, Eleanor had come to treat Sophia as the granddaughter she never had. "Eleanor," Sophia responded, her cheeks flushing slightly. Despite her mild embarrassment, she gracefully extended her right hand to Liam with a warm smile. "Mr. Liam, hello. I'm Sophia." Liam's sharp eyes scrutinized her from head to toe and back again. Only after a subtle, warning cough from his grandmother did he extend his own hand for a brief, firm handshake, his voice deep and cool. "Liam." Once their hands parted, Liam glanced at his wristwatch. "My schedule is tight. Let's make this quick," he stated. Sophia simply nodded in agreement. "Go on, you two, head inside and get the paperwork done," Eleanor urged. "I'll wait right here for you." "Grandmother, please wait in the car. It's too hot out here," Liam insisted, carefully helping her back to the vehicle. Watching his thoughtful action, Sophia felt reassured that Eleanor's words held truth. Liam might project a cold demeanor, but he was undoubtedly attentive and caring. Even though they were strangers, Eleanor had mentioned he fully owned his apartment, clear of any mortgage. Marrying him would allow Sophia to move out of her sister's home, giving Chloe peace of mind and ending the constant arguments about her presence. Her marriage, after all, was just a practical arrangement—a partnership of necessity. Soon, Liam returned to Sophia. "Shall we?" he said. With another quiet nod, Sophia followed him into the City Hall building. At the marriage registration office, just before proceeding, Liam turned to her one last time. "Miss Sophia, if you have any reservations, you can still change your mind. Don't feel pressured by my grandmother. Marriage is a significant life event—it shouldn't be treated lightly." He genuinely hoped she would reconsider. He had no desire to marry, let alone to a complete stranger he was meeting for the very first time. True to his grandmother's description, Sophia was young, beautiful, and carried an air of refined intellect. But still—they were strangers.Liam fell silent. His grandmother had been urging him for months to meet Sophia. Having been raised by her personally during his childhood when his parents were constantly busy, he felt a deep sense of filial duty toward her. It was only out of respect for her persistent wishes that he had finally agreed to come today. "Since I've given my word, I won't go back on it now," Sophia replied firmly. She had thought it over for several days before making her decision. Once her mind was made up, she wouldn't waver.