The Billionaire's Hidden Marriage Contract

Emly Carter rushed down the dark pavement in London, the chilly evening air clinging to her as the medical bills seemed like a physical burden against her chest. Her mother's condition had deteriorated once more, and the physicians were requesting money that she lacked. She checked the time on her shattered phone screen while blinking quickly to fight the burning in her eyes. Her second job was cleaning offices till dawn, and she had ten minutes to get there. Stuffed with past-due notices and rejection letters from banks hesitant to assist a twenty-one-year-old girl in need, her bag felt heavier than normal. She silently prayed as she pushed through the tall glass building's spinning doors, hoping that tomorrow wouldn't completely destroy her. The dark automobile parked across the street, with its tinted windows concealing the pair of eyes watching her every step, escaped Emly's sight. With a calculated, inscrutable stillness, Adrian Blackwood watched her walk into the building. The CEO of Blackwood Enterprises didn't typically get involved in situations like these, where regular girls were fighting for their lives, but Emly wasn't typical to him. He had once seen her serving drinks at a charity dinner, her worn-out smile hardly concealing her weariness. Her unwavering fortitude and purity had left a lasting impression on him. The corner of his jaw pinched now as he watched her vanish into the foyer. He required a spouse. Quick. And Emly Carter was a fantastic fit for all the requirements. Emly put on gloves, tied her hair up, and started sweeping the marble floor inside the empty office. She was left with the horrible reality that her mother didn't have much time until she sought a miracle as the silence engulfed her thoughts. She stopped at the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed at the city lights as if they were far-off stars that she would never be able to reach. Even though the car hardly moved anymore, she muttered, "Maybe I should sell the car." Or perhaps she ought to quit school. The resentment hurt. Hope seemed like a luxury she couldn't afford, yet she yearned for a life free from hardship. Unaware that the miracle she had prayed for was already approaching her, her chest constricted once again as she went back to cleaning. Emly pulled her head up as the elevator sounded softly. This floor was never visited at night. A tall, well-dressed guy emerged, suddenly filling the large room with his presence, and her heartbeat sped. His massive shoulders, dark eyes that could cut through armor, and black suit made him intimidatingly attractive. Blackwood, Adrian. His visage was all over business magazines and news channels, so she knew who he was right away. What was he doing here, though? And why was he approaching her head-on? Emly stood up straight, using the mop handle as a shield. Adrian looked at her coolly and thoughtfully, as though evaluating something that only he could comprehend. "Miss Carter," he remarked in a cool, smooth voice. "We must speak.” Her breath caught. "You know my name, do you?" Adrian didn't grin. "I make it my mission to be knowledgeable about important topics." Emly tensed up, not sure whether to feel scared or flattered. He examined her for a time, noting the fatigue under her eyes and her shaking hands. He went on, "I've been watching your situation." Ice formed in her blood. “My situation?” "Your mother's health." Your obligations. your job. Emly felt vulnerable, even violated. "Why would you investigate my life?" Adrian took a step forward and lowered his voice. "Because I want to make you a proposal." One that will address all of your issues. Emly swallowed hard, her gut telling her that something was wrong, but she couldn't take her eyes off of him. Adrian spoke with such assurance, as if he already knew she would agree. He declared, "I will pay off all of your debts." "Everything, including your mother's hospital costs and treatments. In return... He stopped, allowing the silence to deepen between them. "In exchange for what?" Emly muttered, her heart pounding. Adrian looked her in the eye. "In return for becoming my spouse." The mop fell out of her grasp and hit the tiles with a clatter. Certain that she had misheard, she gazed at him. Getting married? To London's most formidable and powerful billionaire? It sounded absurd and unfeasible. Adrian's face remained expressionless. "A marriage with legal force. A year. Discretion is necessary. Shaking her head, Emly staggered back. "Why me? You have no idea who I am. He answered, "I know enough.” Emly's thoughts raced. Marriage was real, passionate, and sacred. She wasn't desperate enough to wed a stranger, but she wasn't naive enough to accept fairytales either. "No," she blurted out. "Definitely not. This is crazy. Adrian moved in closer, his presence commanding yet oddly serene. He muttered, "Insane is pretending your mother will survive without immediate medical care." A sharp pain shot through her chest. "Don't try to control me with my mother." He looked her in the eye. "I'm providing you with an escape route. Beyond what we agree upon, no conditions. Your mother's life will be preserved, and you will be protected and financially secure. Emly's mouth quivered. It sounded so tempting, and she detested it. "What makes having a wife necessary?" His eyes clouded. "It's my business.” He held out a slick black card. "My phone number. Consider it. You have 48 hours to make a decision. He placed it gently on the ledge next to Emly, but she didn't reach for it. In a hushed voice, he continued, "I'm not asking for love." "Just collaboration. appearances. An arrangement that benefits both parties. He turned to walk away. Emly's breath trembled. She yelled, "Wait." Adrian stopped but did not look back. "Will you still cover my mom's medical expenses if I say no?" The ensuing hush was oppressive and thick. Then he said, "No," without emotion. The elevator doors opened with a slide. "I only make investments in things that are mine." As he vanished from view, his words sent a shiver down her spine. Emly fell onto the closest chair and put her hands to her face as soon as he left. Fear, rage, bewilderment, and something else she didn't want to identify made her heart race. marriage. a contract. A proposal from a billionaire. It sounded like one of those crazy scandals that the media gushed about. However, this was now her reality rather than a delusion. Feeling its weight like a chain around her neck, she gazed at the black card that gleamed in the fluorescent lights. She had no desire to rely on anyone, much less a man such as Adrian Blackwood. However, the alternative—the possibility of losing her mother—was intolerable. "What am I supposed to do?" she said as her body shook. She didn't recall a single second between Adrian's departure and the moment she stepped outdoors into the early morning cold, even though her shift ended at daybreak. The gray sky of London loomed over her like a foreboding. Every street became sharper and colder, as if the city was aware that she had been presented with something perilous. Emly's phone chimed with another hospital reminder, so she tightened her coat. She was ill. She could hardly breathe as the heaviness inside her chest increased. She barely paid attention to her surroundings as she strolled home in a robotic manner. Her mom was dying. Her life was falling apart. The answer was in one man's possession, but she wasn't prepared to pay the price. However, time was passing more quickly than she realized. The steady beep of medical monitors welcomed Emly like a slap as she walked into their small flat. With cables fastened to her chest and feeble breathing, her mother dozed off on the couch. Emly's eyes immediately filled with tears. She knelt next to her and ran a soft touch over her mother's frail cheek. Her voice cracked as she murmured, "I'm trying, Mum." "I'm making every effort." Was she, though? Given the price, could she really turn Adrian down? Torn between pride and desperation, Emly hid her face in her hands. Emly mustered a frail grin as her mother stirred feebly and mumbled her name. She whispered, "I'll fix everything." "I promise." But the reality was whispered by the anxiety in her chest: she might be at a loss for options. Sleep was elusive that night. Adrian's offer kept coming back to Emly as she lay awake and gazed at the ceiling. She was horrified by his chilly assurance, his commanding presence, and the way he declared, "You will belong to me." However, she couldn't quite put her finger on what lay beneath his tough veneer. Desperation? A sense of urgency? Hidden secrets? With quivering fingers, she let out a shaky breath and groped for the black card on her nightstand. Everything would alter with only one call. Her life would be permanently linked to his with just one phone call. "I can't lose her," she eventually said to the empty room, her heart pounding. Heartbroken, Emly took up her phone at 3:14 a.m. and called Adrian Blackwood.