Marry Me for One Year
Chapter 1 — Marry Me for One Year
Ysabel Alvarado had exactly ₱1,842 left in her bank account when a billionaire asked her to become his wife.
She didn’t know the first number.
But she knew the second.
Because she had checked her balance three times that morning.
Once before leaving the hospital.
Once while standing at the bus stop beneath the Manila heat.
And once more after receiving the message that had brought her to the forty-eighth floor of Monteverde Tower.
Mr. Monteverde would like to discuss a private employment opportunity with you.
Employment.
That was why she came.
Not because the message carried the name Monteverde.
Not because the building she entered looked like it could buy the entire neighborhood where she grew up.
And definitely not because the man waiting behind the enormous glass doors was Caelan Monteverde.
“Ms. Alvarado.”
His voice made her stop.
Caelan stood beside the windows overlooking Makati.
Thirty-one years old.
CEO of Monteverde Holdings.
Grandson of Celestine Monteverde.
And according to almost every business magazine Ysabel had ever seen, one of the most eligible bachelors in the country.
The photographs didn’t do him justice.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dark hair perfectly arranged without appearing like he’d tried.
And a face that seemed designed specifically to make people forgive his terrible personality.
Because judging by the expression he was giving her, Caelan Monteverde definitely had one.
“You’re four minutes late.”
Ysabel glanced at the clock.
“Your receptionist told me to wait.”
“Three minutes.”
“What?”
“You arrived one minute late. My receptionist wasted the other three.”
Ysabel stared at him.
“Should I apologize for both?”
For the first time, something changed in his expression.
Barely.
Almost amusement.
Then it disappeared.
“Sit.”
She sat.
Caelan remained standing.
There wasn’t a single paper on his desk except for a black folder.
No family photographs.
No decorations.
Nothing personal.
It looked less like an office and more like a room waiting for someone to move into it.
“You need money,” Caelan said.
Ysabel stiffened.
So much for introductions.
“Most people do.”
“You need considerably more than most.”
Her fingers tightened around her handbag.
Caelan opened the folder.
“Your father’s business collapsed eighteen months ago. Outstanding debts remain. Your mother requires continued treatment. You’ve been covering most of the household expenses while working two jobs.”
Ysabel slowly stood.
“I’m leaving.”
“Sit down.”
“You investigated my family.”
“I investigate everyone before offering them fifty million pesos.”
She froze.
The room suddenly became silent.
Even the traffic forty-eight floors below seemed to disappear.
Ysabel turned.
“How much?”
Caelan finally sat behind his desk.
“₱50 million.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
That amount could erase every debt.
Pay every hospital bill.
Give her parents a home no bank could take away.
She hated that her first thought wasn’t no.
It was what do you want?
Caelan pushed the black folder toward her.
“One year.”
Ysabel didn’t touch it.
“One year of what?”
“Marriage.”
She blinked.
Then laughed.
She genuinely laughed.
Caelan didn’t.
Her smile vanished.
“You’re serious.”
“Completely.”
“You want me to marry you?”
“Legally.”
“For fifty million pesos?”
“Correct.”
Ysabel stared at him for several seconds.
“Are you insane?”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I’m sure.”
Caelan leaned back.
“My grandfather’s will contains a condition. Control of several family assets transfers to me on my thirty-second birthday provided I am married.”
“Then marry your girlfriend.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Fiancée?”
“No.”
“Someone you actually like?”
“I don’t see why that’s necessary.”
Ysabel almost laughed again.
“Usually liking someone helps when you’re planning to marry them.”
“I’m not planning a marriage. I’m arranging one.”
There it was.
Cold.
Precise.
Business.
“Why me?”
“You’re suitable.”
“That’s romantic.”
“I wasn’t attempting to be.”
Ysabel picked up the folder.
The first page contained her full name.
The second contained numbers that made her mouth dry.
She turned another page.
Separate finances.
Separate bedrooms.
Public appearances when necessary.
Complete confidentiality.
Marriage duration: twelve months.
Then she reached the payment clause.
₱50,000,000 upon completion of the agreement.
It was real.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Caelan noticed.
Of course he did.
“You would never have to worry about your family’s debts again.”
Ysabel closed the folder.
“And what do you get?”
“My inheritance.”
“You’re already a billionaire.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
“No, I think it’s very relevant when you’re asking a stranger to marry you for money.”
His jaw tightened.
“Certain shares remain controlled by the family trust. Without them, decisions regarding Monteverde Holdings can be challenged by other members of my family.”
“So this is about power.”
“It’s about control.”
“Same thing.”
“Not to me.”
Ysabel looked down at the contract again.
Fifty million.
She thought of the hospital room she’d left that morning.
Her mother’s smile when she insisted she was fine.
The unopened bills hidden inside Ysabel’s drawer.
Her father pretending he wasn’t ashamed every time she paid for groceries.
Fifty million pesos could change everything.
Caelan watched her.
“Your answer?”
“You’ve known me for five minutes.”
“I know enough.”
“You know numbers on a report.”
“Numbers tend to be more reliable than people.”
Something about the way he said it made Ysabel look at him differently.
For just a second, the billionaire disappeared.
She saw a man who had learned that lesson from somewhere painful.
Then his expression hardened again.
“I need an answer by tomorrow.”
Ysabel pushed the contract back.
“No.”
Caelan’s eyebrows moved slightly.
“What?”
“No.”
“You haven’t finished reading it.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Fifty million pesos.”
“I heard you.”
“Your family’s entire debt is less than a tenth of that.”
“I know.”
“Your mother’s medical expenses—”
“Don’t.”
The word came sharper than she intended.
Caelan stopped.
Ysabel stood.
“You can investigate my finances. You can investigate my work. But don’t use my mother to convince me.”
His gaze remained fixed on her.
“Everything has a price, Ms. Alvarado.”
“Maybe in your world.”
“In every world.”
Ysabel picked up her bag.
“Then you should have no trouble finding another woman.”
She walked toward the door.
“One hundred million.”
Her hand stopped on the handle.
She slowly turned.
Caelan hadn’t moved.
“Excuse me?”
“₱100 million.”
Ysabel stared at him.
“You just doubled it.”
“You rejected fifty.”
“That doesn’t mean you increase the price!”
“That’s generally how negotiation works.”
“This isn’t a negotiation!”
“It is now.”
For the first time, Ysabel couldn’t decide whether she wanted to slap him or admire his confidence.
She walked back toward the desk.
“Mr. Monteverde, what exactly makes you think you can buy a wife?”
Caelan rose.
They stood across from each other.
“Because everyone wants something.”
“And you think money can give it to them?”
“Usually.”
“That’s sad.”
Something flickered behind his eyes.
This time it wasn’t amusement.
“Be careful.”
“Why? Because you’re rich?”
“Because you don’t know me.”
Ysabel held his gaze.
“Neither do you.”
Silence.
Then Caelan looked away first.
“Tomorrow. Nine a.m.”
“I already said no.”
“Take the contract.”
“No.”
“Read it.”
“No.”
“Ms. Alvarado—”
Her phone rang.
Ysabel pulled it from her bag.
The hospital.
Her stomach dropped.
“Hello?”
She listened.
Her face slowly lost its color.
“How much?”
Caelan’s expression changed.
Ysabel turned away.
“Yes. I understand.”
A pause.
“No, don’t cancel anything. I’ll find a way.”
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
The contract remained on the desk behind her.
Caelan said nothing.
That somehow made it worse.
Ysabel closed her eyes.
She hated the timing.
She hated the hospital bills.
She hated herself for already knowing what she was about to do.
Slowly, she turned around.
Caelan waited.
Ysabel walked to the desk.
She picked up the black folder.
Not because she had agreed.
She told herself that.
She was only going to read it.
Understand it.
Then reject him properly.
“Tomorrow,” Caelan said.
Ysabel looked at him.
“Don’t look so confident. I’m only reading it.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Your face did.”
Another tiny hint of amusement appeared.
Ysabel headed for the door.
Then Caelan spoke again.
“Ms. Alvarado.”
She turned.
His expression had become completely serious.
“If you accept this agreement, there is one rule you should understand before reading anything else.”
“What?”
Caelan looked directly into her eyes.
“Do not fall in love with me.”
Ysabel stared at him.
Then she laughed.
This time she didn’t stop herself.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Monteverde.”
She opened the door.
“After meeting you, I think that’s the easiest part of the contract.”
The door closed behind her.
Caelan remained motionless.
Then he looked toward the empty chair where she’d been sitting.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, he smiled.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But one year later, Ysabel would leave this same building with divorce papers in her hand.
And Caelan Monteverde would spend the next three years wishing he had never let her walk through that door.
To be continued...
