The CEO’s Pretend Bride

Chapter 3: The Lie That Binds Us

I couldn’t stop replaying the moment I signed the contract.

My fingers trembling. My heart racing. And the quiet realization that I was about to become someone I wasn’t.

A pretend bride. A liar. A fraud.

But then again, what was my other option?

I wasn’t going to grovel for a job. I wasn’t going to stay trapped in a world that only cared about who my father was or who I slept with. I wasn’t going to let Liú Zékǎi’s betrayal define me.

And if it meant faking a marriage to Wú Zǐhán to get there—then so be it.

But the next day, reality hit me harder than any breakup could.

⸻

I sat in my car outside the office building, staring at my reflection in the rearview mirror, forcing myself to look like I belonged. The dark circles under my eyes couldn’t be hidden, but I refused to be anything but confident.

This was my life now. No more self-pity. No more apologies. Just me, my ambition, and a very public lie.

I stepped out, holding my head high, and walked into the building like I hadn’t just signed away my life.

I wasn’t prepared for the storm that awaited.

⸻

“Miss Zhōu,” a voice called from behind as I stepped off the elevator.

It was Yùnméi. Of course, she was already waiting. She always was, wasn’t she?

I plastered a polite smile on my face. “Yes?”

Her eyes flicked to the ring on my finger before narrowing. “I see you’re making big moves already.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

Her lips curled. “Don’t play coy. You and Zǐhán. I know what’s going on.”

I swallowed, trying to maintain my composure. “You know nothing.”

She chuckled, stepping closer. “I know he’s desperate, and I know he’s not stupid. But he’ll get bored. They always do.” Her gaze turned cold. “Trust me. He’ll never want someone like you.”

I felt a sick twist in my stomach. My heart skipped a beat, but I refused to show it. Instead, I raised my chin, staring her down.

“I’m not sure you understand who you’re talking to,” I said slowly. “But I’m not the girl you think I am. And if you want to play games, then I’ll play right along.”

For a moment, her expression faltered. But then she smiled again—almost pitying me.

“I’m sure you will,” she said in a tone that made my skin crawl. “But remember, nothing in this world is ever free.”

⸻

I walked away, my nerves fraying at the edges.

I didn’t need Yùnméi telling me I wasn’t good enough. I had enough of that from Zékǎi.

But something told me this wasn’t just about a fake marriage.

I knew Zǐhán’s family wanted him to settle down. But what if there was more to his decision than just a business deal?

The idea gnawed at me all day.

⸻

By the time I reached WúTech’s top-floor conference room for a meeting, I was on edge. I still couldn’t shake the thought of what Yùnméi had said, but I had to focus. I had to look like I knew what I was doing.

When I entered the room, I found Zǐhán sitting at the head of the table, his usual calm composure in place. But there was something different today. A weight in his eyes. A storm beneath the surface.

He met my gaze without flinching. “You’re late,” he said coolly.

I bit back my words. “I’m here.”

“Sit down,” he said, motioning to the chair across from him. The other executives were already seated, silently watching us.

I felt a pulse of discomfort rise up in my chest as I sat. The silence in the room felt too thick. Too heavy.

Zǐhán’s voice cut through the tension. “We’re here to discuss our upcoming merger with Lin Corp.”

My mind raced. Lin Corp. was a direct competitor. The merger had to be top-secret. I looked at the table, trying to keep my composure, but I couldn’t ignore the strange energy in the room.

Zǐhán continued, but I barely heard the words. I was too focused on the storm behind his gaze, like he was holding something back. Like there was something he wasn’t telling me.

He glanced at me for a second, and my heart stopped.

“You’ll be there for the announcement tomorrow,” he said, as though it was already decided.

“Announcement?” I repeated, trying to mask my surprise. “What announcement?”

“Everyone will know about the engagement,” he replied. His eyes didn’t leave mine. “It’s time.”

⸻

Later that evening, I found myself standing in front of the mirror, staring at the ring on my finger.

It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry. It was a symbol of everything I was about to become. A public figure. The future wife of one of the most powerful CEOs in China.

But there was more to it. More than Zǐhán had told me.

I knew he was hiding something. I wasn’t sure what. But there was a reason he wanted this fake marriage to go public so soon.

Something in his past, maybe? Some hidden agenda I didn’t know about?

I wasn’t naïve. I knew the stakes were higher than just a simple corporate alliance. There was power, manipulation, and something darker at play.

I had to be careful.

⸻

The next day, as I stood by Zǐhán’s side at the press conference, flashing cameras went off every few seconds. The announcement of our “engagement” sent waves through the media.

It was surreal.

But the one thing I couldn’t shake?

The feeling that I was walking into a storm—one I wasn’t prepared for.

Zǐhán turned to me, and for the first time, there was something real in his eyes.

“This will change everything,” he said softly, just loud enough for me to hear over the cameras.

And in that moment, I realized—he wasn’t just pretending.

Neither was I.