The Wrong Vow, My Perfect Match

# Chapter 3: The Ex Comes Calling

After Lily left, Stella sat on the couch, her mind spinning.

In just one day, her life had completely changed.

From a pitiful victim of a broken engagement to the wife of the city's richest man.

Even if it was just a contract, the transformation felt surreal.

Her phone buzzed.

It was her mother calling.

Stella hesitated, then answered.

"Hello—"

"STELLA SU! You finally answered!" Her mother's voice exploded through the speaker. "Do you know how much you embarrassed us by running away from your wedding?"

"Mom, I—"

"Get home immediately!" Her mother cut her off. "Marcus's family is willing to give you another chance. As long as you kneel and apologize—"

"I'm not going back." Stella said calmly. "I'm already married."

"Married? To that nobody you ran off with?" Her mother sneered. "You've been scammed, don't you realize?"

"I haven't been scammed."

"You're still defending him?" Her mother's voice rose. "Marcus already investigated. That Damien Lu doesn't exist in any records!"

Stella couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, why don't you have Marcus check what the CEO of Lu Corporation is named?"

"What Lu Corpor—" Her mother's voice stopped abruptly.

Clearly, she'd just realized something.

"That can't be..." Her mother's voice trembled. "You couldn't mean...THAT Lu Corporation?"

"The very one." Stella said lightly. "My husband is Damien Lu, CEO of Lu Corporation. The city's richest man."

Dead silence on the other end.

Then her mother's tone shifted completely to fawning: "Stella, you're joking, right?"

"No joke. We registered yesterday."

"Really?" Her mother's voice shook. "Then, then why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Did you give me a chance?" Stella shot back.

Her mother went quiet.

"Stella," she immediately changed tactics, "Mom was just worried about you earlier. Don't take it to heart. When can you bring your husband home for us to meet? Your father and I—"

"No need." Stella interrupted. "My marriage is my business. I don't need you to worry about it."

She hung up.

Damien emerged from his study, noticing her pale expression. "Your mother?"

"Yes." Stella set down her phone. "One second she was cursing me, the next she was all sweet after learning your identity."

"Does it bother you?"

"Bother me about what?"

"My identity," Damien looked at her, "causing you trouble."

Stella shook her head. "It's not trouble. It just made me see certain people more clearly."

Damien reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "You're very level-headed."

Stella froze, instinctively wanting to pull away.

But Damien's hand had already withdrawn.

"Sorry," he said. "Won't happen again."

"It's fine..." Stella's face felt warm. "Just sudden."

The atmosphere grew subtly charged.

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Stella opened the door to find Marcus standing outside.

Her adoptive parents stood behind him.

"Stella!" Her mother's face lit up. "Mom came to see you!"

Stella frowned. "I said you didn't need to come."

"How could we not?" Her mother tried to peer inside. "Is your husband home? Let us meet him?"

"He's not."

"Stella." Marcus suddenly spoke, his face dark. "You really married Damien Lu?"

"What's it to you?"

"I don't believe it!" Marcus stepped forward. "How could someone like Damien Lu marry YOU? You're obviously impersonating his wife—"

"Who gave you permission to speak to my wife that way?"

A cold voice came from behind.

Stella turned to see Damien approaching.

He wore casual clothes, but his presence remained commanding.

Marcus stiffened when he saw Damien.

"Mr., Mr. Lu..."

"Mr. Xu." Damien reached Stella's side, naturally wrapping an arm around her waist. "I said yesterday—she's my wife."

"But, but..." Marcus stammered, "how could you..."

"Marry her?" Damien looked at Marcus, his eyes ice-cold. "Because I love her."

Stella's heart skipped a beat.

Though she knew he was acting, he said it so naturally...

"Mr. Xu," Damien continued, "I heard you spent quite a bit investigating my background yesterday."

Marcus's face went white.

"I don't like being investigated." Though Damien's tone was casual, it carried undeniable pressure. "So I had someone look into Xu Corporation."

"Discovered some...interesting things."

Marcus's expression grew uglier.

"For instance, tax evasion, fraudulent accounts, and..." Damien paused, "certain illicit transactions."

"You—"

"I've already submitted the materials to the tax bureau." Damien said calmly. "They should be auditing Xu Corporation very soon."

Marcus's face went deathly pale, his body trembling.

If they audited, all of Xu Corporation's shady dealings would be exposed!

"Mr. Lu, I, I was wrong..." Marcus's voice shook. "Please, show mercy—"

"Too late." Damien looked at him. "I hold grudges, especially against those who hurt my wife."

He pulled Stella closer. "Yesterday you humiliated her at the wedding. Today I'll ruin you in the business world."

"Fair, wouldn't you say?"

Marcus collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

Stella's mother and father stood frozen in shock.

Her mother recovered first, stepping forward. "Son-in-law, we're Stella's parents—"

"I know." Damien cut her off. "I also know that minutes ago you were still questioning my identity."

Her mother's face reddened.

"So," Damien looked at them, "I hope you won't disturb Stella anymore in the future."

"But we're her parents—"

"She owes you nothing." Damien said coldly. "From the moment you used her as a bargaining chip for an arranged marriage, that parental bond ended."

Her mother opened her mouth but couldn't speak.

Damien turned to Stella. "Tired? Let's go inside and rest."

Stella nodded.

As they turned to go inside, Damien glanced back at the three people outside.

"If you harass my wife again," his voice was soft but carried lethal intent, "Xu Corporation's fate will be yours."

SLAM—

The door closed.

Stella leaned against it, her heart pounding.

Damien just now...had been so commanding.

"Sorry." Damien looked at her. "I took matters into my own hands."

"No..." Stella shook her head. "Thank you."

She'd never been protected like this before.

The feeling filled her with unexpected warmth.

"We're husband and wife." Damien said. "Even if it's a contract marriage, in public, I'll protect you."

Stella looked at him, suddenly remembering what Lily had said—

"I bet within a month, you two will turn this fake marriage real."

Her heartbeat quickened.

No. She couldn't.

This was just a transaction.

She couldn't fall for him.

But looking at this man, Stella realized her defenses were already beginning to crumble.

***

That night, Stella lay in bed, unable to sleep.

Her mind replayed the day's events.

Damien holding her waist, saying "Because I love her."

Damien ruffling her hair.

Damien coldly warning Marcus and her parents.

And his words—"I'll protect you."

Stella hugged her pillow, her heart racing.

No. She had to stay rational.

This was just acting. He was just fulfilling contractual obligations.

She couldn't let herself fall for him.

Just then, her phone lit up.

Lily: [How was today? Any developments?]

Stella hesitated, then briefly explained what happened.

Lily replied instantly: [OMG! Ultimate protective husband! Stella, you're done for!]

Stella: [I'm not done for. This is just acting.]

Lily: [You can lie to others but not me. You've definitely fallen for him.]

Stella: [I haven't.]

Lily: [So stubborn. But seriously, who wouldn't fall for a man like that? Handsome, rich, AND obsessed with you. Literally perfect!]

Stella stared at her phone without responding.

She turned off the screen and closed her eyes.

Lily was right.

This kind of man was dangerously easy to fall for.

But she couldn't.

Because in one year, they'd divorce.

If she fell for him now, the pain would only be worse then.

Stella took a deep breath, forcing herself to sleep.

In the next room, Damien couldn't sleep either.

He looked at a photo on his phone—one he'd secretly taken of Stella leaning against the door earlier, her cheeks flushed.

"Because I love her."

That line had come out too naturally.

So natural he almost believed it himself.

Damien closed his phone and shut his eyes.

One year contract.

That should be...enough, right?

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