Elena Carter stared at Alexander Knight as if he had just suggested robbing a bank.
"A contract marriage?"
Alexander didn't even blink.
"Yes."
Elena laughed awkwardly.
Then she laughed again.
Then she realized he wasn't joking.
"…You're serious."
"Completely."
She ran both hands through her messy hair, pacing across the luxurious bedroom.
"This is insane."
Alexander watched her quietly, leaning against the window with the calm composure of someone who controlled billion-dollar deals every day.
"You married me after three glasses of whiskey and a bad breakup," he said evenly. "Compared to that, this is actually very reasonable."
Elena pointed at him dramatically.
"That was a mistake!"
"And yet the marriage is legally valid."
Her shoulders slumped.
He wasn't wrong.
"Look," she said, trying to sound rational. "You're a billionaire CEO. I'm just a regular employee with a terrible hangover. Our worlds don't even exist on the same planet."
Alexander's gaze remained steady.
"That's exactly why I chose you."
Elena froze.
"…What?"
"I need a wife who has no connection to my family or my business world."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"So you randomly chose a drunk woman at a bar?"
"You approached me first."
Elena covered her face again.
Why was her drunk self such a menace to society?
Alexander continued calmly.
"My grandfather has made a condition in his will."
Elena peeked through her fingers.
"What condition?"
"I must be married within the year in order to inherit control of the Knight Group."
Her jaw slowly dropped.
"You're telling me… the richest man in the city is being forced into marriage by his grandpa?"
Alexander's expression darkened slightly.
"My grandfather built this company from nothing. He believes a man without a family cannot lead an empire."
Elena blinked.
"…That sounds like something from a soap opera."
He ignored the comment.
"I have avoided the issue for years. But now the board is pressuring me."
"And?"
"And I need a wife."
Elena pointed at herself.
"And somehow that wife is me."
Alexander nodded once.
"Yes."
She stared at him for a full five seconds.
Then burst out laughing.
"You're kidding."
He didn't react.
Her laughter slowly died.
"Oh my god… you're not kidding."
Alexander crossed his arms.
"You are already legally my wife."
"TEMPORARILY!"
"We can simply extend the arrangement."
Elena groaned.
"This is crazy…"
Alexander reached into a drawer and pulled out a thin folder.
He placed it on the table in front of her.
"Contract."
Elena approached slowly.
Her curiosity was stronger than her common sense.
She opened the folder.
Inside was a neatly printed document.
Contract Marriage Agreement
She scanned the page quickly.
Rule #1
The marriage will last exactly one year.
Rule #2
Both parties must maintain the appearance of a real married couple in public.
Rule #3
No romantic obligations are required.
Rule #4
No interference in each other's personal lives.
Rule #5
The wife will receive financial compensation and protection.
Elena stopped reading.
"Protection?"
Alexander's tone remained calm.
"My world is not simple."
She looked up.
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer directly.
"You don't need to worry about it."
That answer worried her even more.
She continued reading.
Her eyes widened when she saw the number written at the bottom of the page.
"Ten million dollars?!"
Alexander corrected her.
"Ten million per year."
The paper nearly slipped from her hands.
"PER YEAR?!"
"Yes."
Her brain began calculating numbers faster than a calculator.
Ten million dollars.
That was enough to pay her mother's hospital bills.
Enough to clear all her debts.
Enough to completely change her life.
Elena suddenly shook her head.
"No."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
"I can't do this."
"Why not?"
She pointed at the contract.
"This is basically selling myself!"
"It is a business agreement."
"It's a fake marriage!"
"Exactly."
She paced across the room again.
"What if your family hates me?"
"They probably will."
Elena stopped walking.
"WHAT?!"
Alexander shrugged slightly.
"My family prefers women from wealthy backgrounds."
"So they'll eat me alive!"
"They might try."
"That's not comforting!"
Alexander watched her with faint amusement.
"You are free to decline."
Elena bit her lip.
Decline.
She looked again at the contract.
Then she thought about the hospital.
Her mother lying weak in bed.
The bills piling up every month.
Her boss yelling at her for being late.
Her tiny apartment with broken plumbing.
And then she looked around this massive penthouse.
The city skyline stretched endlessly outside the windows.
This was a completely different world.
Alexander spoke again.
"Think carefully, Miss Carter."
His voice was calm but persuasive.
"You will receive financial security."
"You will live comfortably."
"And after one year…"
"Our paths separate."
Elena looked at him.
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
"No strings attached?"
"No strings."
She studied his face.
Alexander Knight was known for being ruthless in business.
A man who never lost a negotiation.
Which meant…
He probably wasn't lying.
But there was still something strange about the situation.
"Why me?" she asked again quietly.
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
His eyes lingered on her for a moment.
"You are honest."
Elena blinked.
"…That's your reason?"
"Yes."
She stared at him.
"You realize there are probably thousands of women who would marry you without needing ten million dollars."
"I am aware."
"Then why pick the one woman who literally attacked you with a pillow this morning?"
Alexander's lips curved slightly.
"For the same reason."
Elena frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It will."
Silence filled the room again.
Finally, Elena took a deep breath.
"Okay."
Alexander straightened slightly.
"Okay?"
"I'll do it."
For the first time since they met, Alexander looked genuinely surprised.
"You accept?"
She pointed a finger at him.
"But we're setting some rules."
He folded his arms.
"Go ahead."
"First," she said firmly. "No funny business."
Alexander looked confused.
"…Funny business?"
"No kissing unless absolutely necessary!"
"Necessary?"
"You're a CEO! You go to events and stuff!"
"That is true."
"And second," she continued, "you have to help my mom with her hospital treatment immediately."
"Done."
"And third…"
She hesitated.
Alexander waited patiently.
"…Don't fall in love with me."
Alexander blinked once.
Then he said calmly—
"That won't be a problem."
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"You sound very confident."
"I am."
She grabbed the pen from the table.
"Fine."
If this was a crazy dream…
She might as well go all the way.
Elena Carter signed the contract.
The moment the pen touched the paper…
Her normal life officially ended.
And the dangerous world of Alexander Knight had just begun.