Chapter 1:The Proposal That Made No Sense
The diner smelled like freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon.
Emily Carter balanced three plates on one arm as she hurried between the tables. The small diner had always been busy during the evening rush, but tonight felt especially chaotic.
"Emily! Table six needs another coffee!" the cook shouted from the kitchen.
"I'm on it!" she replied with a tired smile.
This place had been her second home for the past four years. The tips weren't amazing, but they were enough to pay rent and slowly save money for her dream.
Her dream.
A small restaurant of her own one day.
Nothing fancy—just warm food, a cozy atmosphere, and a place people could call home.
Emily placed the plates down carefully.
"Here you go, sir."
One of the customers nodded gratefully.
But just as she turned around, the door of the diner opened.
A cold breeze swept inside.
And with it… a man who clearly didn't belong here.
He was tall—easily over six feet—with a perfectly tailored black suit that probably cost more than Emily's entire yearly salary. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his sharp features carried an air of quiet authority.
The entire diner seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Emily frowned slightly.
Rich businessmen didn't usually come to diners like this.
Yet he walked in as if he owned the place.
His cold grey eyes scanned the room before landing directly on her.
Emily blinked.
Why was he staring at her?
The man walked straight toward her table.
His steps were calm and confident.
When he stopped in front of her, Emily gave him her professional smile.
"Welcome to Carter's Diner. Would you like a table?"
Instead of answering, he studied her face carefully.
Emily felt slightly uncomfortable under that intense gaze.
Finally, he spoke.
"Emily Carter."
Her smile froze.
"…Yes?"
"How old are you?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Twenty-four."
"Good."
Emily frowned.
Good?
What kind of conversation was this?
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black card.
He placed it on the table.
Emily glanced down.
Alexander Knight
CEO – Knight Corporation
Her eyes widened slightly.
Knight Corporation.
Everyone knew that name.
It was one of the most powerful companies in the country.
So why was its CEO standing in a small diner talking to her?
She looked back at him cautiously.
"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Knight?"
Alexander Knight stared at her calmly.
Then he said something that completely shattered her understanding of reality.
"Marry me."
Emily blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then she laughed.
"Good joke."
She picked up the coffee pot and turned around.
"Sir, if you'd like to order something—"
"I'm serious."
Emily stopped.
Slowly, she turned back toward him.
His face showed absolutely no sign of humor.
"…Excuse me?"
"I want you to marry me."
Emily stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Did you hit your head before coming here?"
A few nearby customers chuckled.
Alexander ignored them completely.
"This marriage would only last one year."
Emily crossed her arms.
"Oh, that makes it sound so much better."
He continued calmly.
"You will receive five million dollars."
Silence fell.
Emily felt her brain stop working for a second.
"…Five… what?"
"Five million dollars," he repeated.
Her heart skipped.
That amount of money could open ten restaurants.
But she quickly shook her head.
"Nope. Definitely a scam."
Alexander's expression remained unchanged.
"It's not."
"Right. And I'm secretly a princess."
He sighed slightly, as if dealing with a stubborn child.
"This marriage is a condition in my father's will."
Emily narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"If I marry within the next three months, I inherit Knight Corporation."
"And if you don't?"
"The company goes to charity."
Emily blinked again.
"That sounds like a very nice charity."
Alexander ignored the comment.
"My father specifically requested that I marry someone honest."
"And somehow that led you… to a diner waitress?"
He nodded.
"My father eats here every morning."
Emily froze.
"…Wait."
Her mind immediately pictured a familiar elderly man.
Kind smile.
Always ordered pancakes.
Tipped generously.
"Mr. Robert?" she asked slowly.
"Yes."
Emily's jaw dropped.
"That old man is your father?!"
Alexander nodded again.
"He recommended you."
Emily leaned against the table, completely stunned.
That sweet old man had basically… set her up in a billionaire marriage proposal?
Unbelievable.
Alexander watched her carefully.
"I don't care about love. I only need a legal wife for one year."
Emily stared at him.
"And after that?"
"We divorce."
"So basically… a contract marriage?"
"Yes."
Emily rubbed her forehead.
This had to be the weirdest night of her life.
"But why me?"
Alexander's eyes remained steady.
"My father trusts you."
That answer made her pause.
Then he added—
"And you clearly need money."
Emily frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"I researched you."
She didn't like the sound of that.
"Your rent is overdue by two months."
Her face flushed red.
"And your dream restaurant plan has been rejected by three banks."
Emily looked away.
That… was painfully accurate.
Alexander placed a folder on the table.
"This contract explains everything."
She hesitated before opening it.
Inside were pages of legal documents.
And a number written clearly at the bottom.
$5,000,000
Her heart pounded.
This money could change her entire life.
But still…
She looked up at him.
"What's the catch?"
"You must live with me."
"Obviously."
"You must attend business events as my wife."
Emily sighed.
"And?"
"No romantic involvement."
She blinked.
"Wow."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're disappointed?"
She smirked slightly.
"No. Just surprised a billionaire CEO is scared of falling in love."
For the first time, a faint expression crossed his face.
Something between annoyance… and amusement.
"I simply don't believe in it."
Emily closed the folder slowly.
Five million dollars.
One year.
Fake marriage.
No love.
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then she said—
"I'll think about it."
Alexander nodded once.
"Take your time."
He turned and walked toward the exit.
But just before leaving, he stopped.
Without looking back, he added—
"One year, Emily Carter."
Then he stepped outside into the night.
Emily stood there holding the contract.
Her heart racing.
Because deep down…
She had the strange feeling that accepting this deal might completely change her life.
Chapter 2:The Old Man's Secret
The diner was quieter than usual the next morning.
Sunlight slipped through the large windows, painting warm golden stripes across the wooden tables. The smell of pancakes and coffee filled the air.
Emily Carter moved automatically behind the counter, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Five million dollars.
One year of marriage.
Alexander Knight.
The words kept repeating in her head like a broken record.
"Emily?"
Her coworker Lily waved a hand in front of her face.
"You've been staring at that coffee mug for five minutes."
Emily blinked and quickly placed the mug down.
"Sorry. Just tired."
Lily leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
"Or maybe thinking about that insanely handsome guy who showed up last night?"
Emily groaned.
"Don't remind me."
"Oh please, the entire diner saw him walk straight to you like you were the only person in the room."
Emily lowered her voice.
"He asked me to marry him."
Lily froze.
"…What?"
Before Emily could explain further, the door bell jingled.
A familiar elderly man slowly walked inside.
White hair. Warm smile. Gentle eyes.
Emily instantly straightened.
"Good morning, Mr. Robert!"
Robert Knight chuckled as he took his usual seat by the window.
"Good morning, Emily."
She walked over with a coffee pot.
"Pancakes again?"
"You know me well."
Emily poured his coffee, but this time she studied him more carefully.
This sweet old man…
Was the father of one of the richest CEOs in the country.
It still felt unreal.
Robert noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow.
"You look like you have something on your mind."
Emily hesitated.
Then she leaned closer.
"Your son came here yesterday."
Robert's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Did he now?"
"He asked me to marry him."
Robert took a calm sip of his coffee.
"Ah."
Emily stared at him.
"That's it? Ah?"
She placed her hands on her hips.
"Mr. Robert, do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?"
The old man chuckled softly.
"Yes, I suppose it does."
"You recommended me to him!"
"I did."
Emily dropped into the chair across from him.
"Why?"
Robert studied her face kindly.
"Because you're honest."
She frowned.
"You barely know me."
"I've been coming here every morning for three years, Emily."
He gestured around the diner.
"I've seen how you treat people."
"How I carry pancakes?"
"How you help customers who can't pay."
Emily froze slightly.
Robert continued.
"How you stay late to help the cook clean the kitchen."
She looked away, embarrassed.
"That's normal."
"No," Robert said gently. "It's rare."
Emily sighed.
"But why involve me in… this?"
Robert's smile faded slightly.
"My son needs someone real in his life."
Emily laughed softly.
"I don't think he wants that."
Robert nodded slowly.
"That's exactly the problem."
Emily leaned forward.
"He seemed pretty clear about the rules."
"No love."
"No feelings."
"Just business."
Robert chuckled again.
"Alexander has always been like that."
"What happened to him?"
The old man looked out the window for a moment.
Then he said quietly—
"His mother died when he was sixteen."
Emily's expression softened.
"He buried himself in work after that."
Robert continued.
"He built the company into what it is today."
"But he also built walls around himself."
Emily remembered the cold expression on Alexander's face.
That made sense.
Still…
"Why the marriage condition?"
Robert grinned.
"Because I know my son."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
"If I simply gave him the company, he would spend the rest of his life working alone."
"But if I force him to marry…"
Emily slowly understood.
"You're trying to push him into having a life."
"Exactly."
She leaned back in the chair.
"You're very sneaky for a sweet old man."
Robert laughed loudly.
"Old men have their tricks."
Emily looked down at the contract folder she had brought with her.
Five million dollars.
Her fingers traced the edge of the paper.
"This money could change everything for me."
Robert nodded.
"I know."
"My dream restaurant…"
"It could happen."
Emily bit her lip.
"But I don't want to be someone's temporary wife."
Robert leaned forward slightly.
"My son may believe this marriage is temporary."
"But life has a funny way of changing plans."
Emily snorted.
"You sound like you're writing a romance novel."
The old man simply smiled.
At that moment, the diner door opened again.
A familiar tall figure stepped inside.
Alexander Knight.
His sharp grey eyes immediately found them sitting together.
Emily groaned quietly.
"Speak of the devil."
Alexander walked toward their table.
He glanced at his father.
"Good morning."
Robert grinned.
"Perfect timing."
Alexander's gaze moved to Emily.
"Well?"
Emily crossed her arms.
"Well what?"
"Your answer."
Her heart skipped slightly.
Lily and the other staff were pretending not to watch from across the diner.
Emily took a deep breath.
"One year?"
"Yes."
"Five million dollars?"
"Yes."
"No love?"
Alexander nodded calmly.
Emily stared at him for a long moment.
Then she extended her hand across the table.
"Fine."
Alexander looked slightly surprised.
"Fine?"
"I'll marry you."
The entire diner went silent.
Robert tried to hide his smile.
Alexander slowly shook her hand.
"Then welcome to the contract, Mrs. Knight."
Emily's stomach flipped at the title.
Mrs. Knight.
She had the strange feeling that her quiet life had just ended.
And something far more complicated had begun.