Chapter 1
Chapter 1 — The Wedding Contract
Amelia Carter stared at the hospital bill in her trembling hands.
$48,000.
She read the number again, hoping she had somehow misunderstood it.
She hadn’t.
Her mother’s surgery was scheduled for Friday.
Today was Monday.
Four days.
Amelia lowered the paper and looked through the small hospital-room window. Her mother lay unconscious beneath the white sheets, surrounded by machines that beeped softly every few seconds.
“Mom…” Amelia whispered.
She had already borrowed money from everyone she knew. She had sold her car, emptied her savings account, and worked two jobs until exhaustion became normal.
It still wasn’t enough.
Her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown Number.
She almost ignored it.
Then it rang again.
Amelia answered.
“Hello?”
A man’s calm voice came through the phone.
“Amelia Carter?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
“My name is Daniel. I represent Mr. Adrian Blackwood.”
The name made her pause.
Everyone knew Adrian Blackwood.
Thirty years old.
Billionaire.
Owner of Blackwood Holdings, one of the largest private companies in the country.
And, according to every magazine Amelia had ever seen, one of the most private and ruthless businessmen in the world.
“What does Mr. Blackwood want with me?”
“I’d rather explain that in person.”
“I don’t have time for games.”
“This isn’t a game, Ms. Carter.”
Amelia looked at her mother’s sleeping face.
“Then tell me.”
There was a brief silence.
“Mr. Blackwood wants to offer you a contract.”
“What kind of contract?”
“A marriage contract.”
Amelia nearly dropped the phone.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
She gave a nervous laugh.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Mr. Blackwood is prepared to pay you five million dollars.”
Her smile disappeared.
Five million.
The number seemed impossible.
Daniel continued.
“In exchange, you will remain his wife for one year.”
Amelia stared at the hospital bed.
“And after one year?”
“You divorce.”
“Why would a billionaire pay someone five million dollars to marry him?”
“That is a question you should ask him yourself.”
“I don’t even know him.”
“You don’t need to love him.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“You simply need to marry him.”
Amelia closed her eyes.
Five million dollars could save her mother.
It could change everything.
But marrying a complete stranger?
“No.”
She ended the call.
Her phone immediately rang again.
This time, there was a message.
You have until midnight to decide.
A second message arrived.
Your mother’s surgery can be paid for before morning.
Amelia’s heart stopped.
She looked at her mother.
Then at the hospital bill.
For several minutes, she couldn’t move.
Finally, she whispered:
“What have I gotten myself into?”
Three hours later, Amelia sat across from Adrian Blackwood.
His mansion was nothing like any home she had ever seen.
Marble floors.
Huge windows.
Expensive paintings.
Security guards standing at every entrance.
Everything about the place screamed power.
And then she saw him.
Adrian sat behind a large black desk, dressed in a perfectly fitted suit.
He didn’t stand when she entered.
He simply looked at her.
His eyes were cold.
Calculating.
Amelia suddenly understood why people were afraid of him.
“Sit,” he said.
She sat opposite him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian pushed a document across the desk.
“The contract.”
Amelia looked down at it.
“One year.”
“Yes.”
“Five million dollars.”
“Yes.”
“My mother’s medical expenses will be paid immediately?”
“Yes.”
“And after twelve months, the marriage ends?”
“If you follow the terms.”
Amelia frowned.
“What terms?”
Adrian leaned back.
“There are five rules.”
“I’m listening.”
“First, you don’t speak to the media about our marriage.”
“Fine.”
“Second, you don’t enter my private office.”
She glanced toward the hallway.
“Fine.”
“Third, you don’t ask questions about my business.”
“That sounds easy.”
“Fourth, you don’t bring anyone into my house without my permission.”
Amelia nodded.
“And the fifth?”
Adrian’s expression changed slightly.
“You never try to leave without telling me.”
She stared at him.
“That sounds less like a marriage and more like imprisonment.”
His eyes hardened.
“You’re free to walk away.”
Amelia looked at the contract.
Then she thought of her mother.
“I need the money.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Instead, he pushed another document toward her.
A medical payment confirmation.
Her mother’s entire surgery had already been paid.
Amelia’s eyes widened.
“You paid it already?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t like wasting time.”
She looked back at him.
Something about this man didn’t make sense.
“Why me?”
Adrian was silent.
Then he said:
“Because you are exactly who I need.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“It answers enough.”
Amelia stared at him.
She didn’t trust him.
But she trusted the possibility of saving her mother.
Slowly, she picked up the pen.
Before signing, she asked one final question.
“Do you hate me?”
For the first time, Adrian’s expression changed.
His eyes became darker.
“No.”
He paused.
“I hate your family.”
Amelia froze.
“My family?”
Adrian said nothing.
She looked down at the contract again.
There were things she didn’t understand.
Things he wasn’t telling her.
But her mother was dying.
Amelia signed.
Adrian watched the pen leave the paper.
Then he stood.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Blackwood.”
She looked up at him.
“I haven’t married you yet.”
His expression was unreadable.
“You will tomorrow.”
Amelia’s stomach tightened.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
He walked toward the window.
Outside, several black cars waited in the driveway.
Then his phone rang.
He answered it.
“Speak.”
Amelia couldn’t hear the voice on the other end, but she watched Adrian’s expression change.
His face became completely cold.
“Are you sure?”
A pause.
“Find him.”
He ended the call.
Amelia stood.
“What happened?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
She frowned.
“Then why do you look worried?”
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
He walked toward her.
When he stopped, they were only inches apart.
His voice dropped.
“From tonight onward, Amelia, you belong under my protection.”
She swallowed.
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
His eyes held hers.
“That’s what worries me.”
Amelia didn’t understand.
Then her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
There was a message from an unknown number.
Her blood ran cold.
You don’t know who you’re marrying.
A second message appeared.
Ask Adrian what happened to your father eight years ago.
Amelia slowly looked up.
Adrian was watching her.
And for the first time, she saw something in his eyes she hadn’t seen before.
Fear.
