"You will be my husband."
The woman's voice was calm, sharp, and commanding—like a queen issuing a decree.
Oska blinked, confusion washing over his face. "What are you talking about? I came here for a job interview."
"The paper you signed was a contract marriage agreement," she replied coolly, tapping her long manicured nail against the document. "Not a job offer. And if you violate any clause, I'll make sure you regret it in court."
Oska Andara had just arrived in Calora city. The place is famous for its business towers and scandalous rumors about the elites. He had just arrived from abroad to try his luck in a foreign land. But somehow he encountered bad luck.
The woman in front of him, Stevanie Jiazhen, was the CEO of Bai Cheng Corporation, one of the most powerful conglomerates on the island. Cold, stunning, and terrifyingly rich.
"You must be joking," Oska muttered, his disbelief turning into frustration. "We barely know each other, and now you're trying to buy me into marriage?"
Stevanie didn't flinch. She lifted a thick bundle of cash from her desk and set it down with a soft thud.
"Ten thousand dollars," she said flatly. "Every month. All you have to do is sign and play your role."
The sight of the money made Oska's throat tighten. His savings were gone, his stomach empty, and the city's rent unforgiving. He wanted to walk away—but his desperation whispered otherwise.
Still, he forced a bitter smile.
"Sorry, Miss Stevanie. I may be broke, but I still have my dignity. I'm leaving now."
He grabbed his worn-out suitcase and turned to leave.
"Mr. Oska," Stevanie called out coldly. "My ten thousand dollars is still in your hand. I'm gonna need it back."
Oska froze. His hand instinctively reached into his pocket—and he found a few bills he had unknowingly clutched. His face turned crimson. Returning the cash quickly, he muttered an apology and stormed off, leaving behind the suffocating scent of her perfume and his own embarrassment.
When the door shut, her assistant, Mr. Han, sighed. "Ms. Stevanie, that was unnecessary. You can't just trap random men into your marriage scheme."
Stevanie turned toward the glass wall, her reflection sharp against the city skyline.
"Mr. Han, I'm not in the mood for your lectures right now. Can't you see I've just been rejected by a man?"
"Stop playing the victim. If you really need a husband, why not go about it the right way? You're young and beautiful—there would be plenty of men lining up to marry you."
"You don't understand. That's not the kind of marriage I'm talking about."
"Then what are you talking about?"
"I... I can't explain it. Never mind. Just have someone find out where that man lives. I'm going to drag him to court and sue him."
"This is not the way to handle this. Why don't you—"
Knock, knock!
Their argument was interrupted by a series of persistent knocks on the door. Mr. Han quickly moved to open it.
"Mr. Oska?!" Mr. Han and Stevanie exclaimed in shock.
Oska stood there, drenched in sweat, his suitcase still in hand. His expression was a mixture of pride and despair.
He stepped forward, then suddenly fell to his knees.
"Please forgive everything I said," Oska begged, tears streaming down his face as he knelt at Stevanie's feet, looking every bit the desperate man he was.
Stevanie watched in silence, unable to find the words to respond to his pitiful display. Mr. Han, at a loss for how to handle the situation, decided to leave the room and give them some privacy.
"Hmm?" Stevanie raised her eyebrow, her voice laced with skepticism. "What happened to your pride?"
"I'm begging for your forgiveness," Oska said, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm at the end of my rope. This is my first time abroad, and I've spent all my money. If I don't get some cash soon, I don't know how I'll make it to the end of the month."
Feeling a surge of triumph, Stevanie settled back into her chair, propping her feet up on the desk. "Honestly, I'm still hurt by your rejection. I'm not used to being turned down; you might be the first to ever do that to me. I'm not sure if I want to take you back."
"I was a fool to reject someone like you. Please, give me another chance. I'm truly on the edge. Accepting your offer is my only chance to survive this month. I'm begging you."
"Hmm, I do enjoy seeing a man beg," Stevanie mused, her tone mocking yet slightly softer. "Alright then, given your pitiable situation, I'll give you a second chance."
"Really?"
"Sign the contract before I change my mind."
Oska scrambled to pull a pen from his bag and hastily signed the marriage contract without reading it. His desperation left no room for hesitation.