The Wrong Vow, My Perfect Match

Chapter 2: The Billionaire Revelation

The next morning, Stella woke up and immediately plugged in her phone.

When it powered on, Lily's messages had piled up to 99+.

She opened them. The first message made her freeze—

[Stella, your husband is the CEO of Lu Corporation! The city's richest man!]

[I'm not kidding! Search "Damien Lu + Lu Corporation"!]

[OMG Stella what kind of luck is this?!]

[Or are you being scammed? Someone impersonating Mr. Lu?]

Stella's hand trembled.

Lu Corporation?

The city's richest man?

That man who drove her home last night, who said he was an "office worker"?

She opened her browser and searched "Damien Lu."

The first result: [Lu Corporation surpasses 100 billion in valuation, mysterious CEO Damien Lu never appears publicly]

The accompanying photo showed a blurred profile.

Stella stared at it, her heart racing.

The outline...did look similar.

But it was only a side view. She couldn't be sure.

She searched more articles. All described him as "mysterious," "low-profile," "never grants interviews."

Not a single clear photo.

Stella put down her phone and took a deep breath.

Same name? Coincidence?

Or...

"Awake?"

A voice came from the doorway.

Stella looked up to see Damien standing there, holding breakfast.

"I made porridge and eggs. Wasn't sure what you liked."

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating him.

White shirt, black slacks, sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing lean forearms.

Domestic yet devastatingly handsome.

Stella looked at him, her mind flashing to those news articles.

"Something wrong?" Damien walked in, setting breakfast on the nightstand. "Not feeling well?"

"No..." Stella hesitated. "I wanted to ask—are you really just an office worker?"

Damien paused.

"Why do you ask?"

"My friend said..." Stella met his eyes, "you might be the CEO of Lu Corporation."

Silence hung in the air for several seconds.

Damien sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her. "What if I am?"

Stella's heart sank.

So it was true?

"Why did you lie to me?"

"I didn't lie." His tone remained calm. "I just said I work at a company. That's true."

"But you didn't say you're the CEO!"

"You didn't ask."

Stella was stunned by his logic.

She took a breath. "So you really are the richest man in the city? The CEO of Lu Corporation?"

Damien was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes."

Stella felt her mind go blank.

The "random stranger" she grabbed was the most powerful man in the city?

What kind of ridiculous drama was this?

"I understand you're shocked right now." Damien said. "But this doesn't change our agreement."

"How can it not change anything?" Stella stared at him. "You're a billionaire! And I'm just a regular designer!"

"So?"

"So we're from completely different worlds!"

"And?"

"And I'm questioning whether you had ulterior motives approaching me—"

"Stella." Damien stood, looking into her eyes. "If I had ulterior motives, I could have refused you at the registry yesterday."

"Maybe your motive requires a fake wife—"

"You were the one who proposed a contract marriage first," Damien interrupted. "We both get what we need, don't we?"

Stella couldn't argue.

True...she was the one who proposed the fake marriage first.

"Do you want to back out now?" Damien asked.

"I..." Stella bit her lip. "I just think this is all too surreal."

Damien looked at her, then suddenly pulled out the marriage certificate from the nightstand drawer.

"Is this real enough?"

The red booklet showed their photos side by side.

Stella stared at it, emotions churning.

"I know what you're worried about." Damien's voice was low. "You're afraid I'm some rich playboy who'll toy with an ordinary girl's feelings."

Stella didn't deny it.

"But I can promise you," Damien looked at her, "during this year, I'll honor our agreement. After one year, if you want a divorce, I won't stop you."

Stella looked up at him.

The man's eyes held genuine sincerity.

"And," Damien continued, "since you now know my identity, we can redraft the agreement with more protective clauses."

"What protection?"

"For example, regardless of the reason for divorce after one year, I'll give you compensation."

"I don't want money." Stella refused immediately.

"Then what do you want?"

"I want you..." Stella thought for a moment. "Don't tell anyone we're in a contract marriage for the entire year."

Damien raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"Yes." Stella said seriously. "I don't want people saying I married you for money."

Damien looked at her, his expression softening.

"Alright."

***

After redrafting the agreement, Stella felt relieved.

Though Damien's identity was intimidating, at least he didn't seem like someone who'd play with feelings.

And the agreement was clear—mutual benefit, no interference.

"Hungry?" Damien glanced at the cold breakfast. "I'll make fresh."

"No need, I can—"

"I'll do it." Damien cut her off. "During this year, we're husband and wife. This is my responsibility."

He headed to the kitchen.

Stella stared at his retreating back, dazed.

The city's richest man...making her breakfast?

She walked to the kitchen doorway, watching Damien expertly c***k eggs and heat the pan.

"You...cook often?"

"Yes." Damien poured eggs into the pan. "I don't like others touching my things, including food."

Stella remembered what he'd said yesterday about "rarely meeting genuine people in this world."

She suddenly felt sympathy for him.

Outwardly powerful and successful, yet without a single person he could trust.

"I can cook in the future," Stella offered. "My skills are average, but at least edible."

Damien glanced at her, his lips curving slightly. "Take turns, then?"

"Sure."

They exchanged a look, the atmosphere warming unexpectedly.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Stella went to answer it. Lily stood outside.

Her friend rushed in, looking her up and down. "You're still alive?!"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You married Damien Lu!" Lily lowered her voice. "The richest man in the city! The legendary cold-blooded CEO who crushes competitors!"

"He's not that scary..."

"You're defending him already?" Lily's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you've actually fallen for him?"

"Of course not, we're just—"

"Contract spouses." Damien's voice came from the kitchen.

Both women froze.

Damien emerged carrying breakfast, his expression neutral. "Good morning. I'm Damien Lu, Stella's husband."

Lily stood paralyzed.

Oh my god, he's even more handsome in person!

"Hello, I'm Damien Lu, Stella's husband." He nodded. "What I just said is true—Stella and I have a contract marriage for one year."

"C-contract..." Lily stammered.

"Yes." Damien looked at Lily. "I trust you'll keep this confidential."

"Of course! I won't tell anyone!" Lily nodded frantically.

Damien smiled with satisfaction. "Thank you."

He turned to Stella. "Breakfast is ready. Eat while it's hot."

Then he returned to the bedroom.

Lily grabbed Stella's arm. "Holy s**t, that man is SO attractive!"

"Stop fangirling."

"Stella," Lily looked at her seriously, "are you really treating him as just a contract partner?"

"What else?"

"I think..." Lily smiled meaningfully, "he's different with you."

"Different how?"

"Didn't you notice? The way he looked at you just now was so gentle!"

"Don't talk nonsense. We only met yesterday."

"Hey, just wait and see." Lily said mysteriously. "I bet within a month, you two will turn this fake marriage real."

"Impossible." Stella shook her head. "We have an agreement."

"Agreements mean nothing when feelings are involved."

Stella didn't respond.

But she knew—she couldn't let herself fall for him.

This was just a transaction.

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