Contracted Wife: 90-Day Marriage

“Marry me, just for three months.” Celina Collins was immediately taken aback upon hearing it. She had just sat down a few seconds ago, her chair not even warm yet, but Prince Dalton—the man in front of her—uttered that sentence without any preamble. If asked whether her heart raced because of the proposal, the answer would be no. Not at all. Although they had dated in the past, those feelings had long died, buried along with the end of their relationship. Now they were meeting again after many years, not to reminisce about the past, but for a specific matter. “Isn't that your job? Being a contract wife for men who need one.” “How did you— I mean, how do you know about my work?” “Your last ex-husband, who is my colleague, recommended a woman I could pay for a short marriage. Without involving feelings. He said... you are very professional.” Celina gave a faint smile upon hearing that, then leaned back in her chair. There was a brief pause before she responded, as a waitress suddenly came over to deliver two drinks to their table—which Celina hadn't even ordered yet. “Enjoy,” the waitress said kindly, then walked away. “Stephlla latte is still your favorite drink, right?” “No. Not anymore.” Celina shook her head. Still with her faint smile, she pushed the Stephlla latte in front of her, swapping it with Prince's order—iced americano. “Sweet flavors do pamper the palate, but bitter ones are more realistic. I prefer americano now. And, thank you for the drink.” Prince fell silent upon hearing that. His attention never left Celina, from the moment she lifted the glass to when she sipped her drink. There was no change in expression—Celina seemed to genuinely enjoy it. That was enough to conclude that her words were not just empty words. Celina's taste had indeed changed, very different from a few years ago. “So, will you accept my offer?” Prince asked to confirm. “Whatever payment you request, I have no objections, Celina. We can discuss the details after you agree.” “What is your reason for wanting a contract marriage with me?” Celina replied, after placing her glass back on the table. “Don’t get me wrong, Prince, all my clients always explain their purpose before marrying me. Wouldn't our cooperation go more smoothly if we both understood the reasons?” Prince took a deep breath and didn’t answer immediately. He was choosing the right words—to sound reasonable without revealing too much. A few moments passed. Finally, he spoke, “I want to reconcile with my ex-wife. I've already divorced her twice before. But to maintain my family's reputation and avoid media scrutiny regarding that plan, I need someone who can divert public attention. And you are the right person. You just need to be my temporary wife, appear with me at several important events, and play the role of my legitimate partner until the agreed-upon time.” One of Celina's eyebrows raised, as if questioning why the process had to be so complicated just to reconcile. But... she chose not to voice it. It wasn't her business, so there was no need to delve further. For Celina, Prince's reason was sufficient. Moreover, the offer was very tempting. Three months is a short time—it will surely pass quickly. The payment promised by the man could be her final severance before she decides to retire from her profession as a paid wife and move abroad. So, with an outstretched hand and her characteristic formal smile when dealing with clients, Celina confidently agreed to Prince's proposal. “Alright, let's go through with... that marriage.” The corners of Prince's lips lifted as he welcomed Celina's outstretched hand with a satisfied expression. “A wise decision, Celina,” he said.