The hospital corridor smelled like antiseptic and fear.
Selena Ward had been pacing for almost an hour, her hands shaking as she clutched the emergency report the nurse handed her. Her mother had collapsed again—only this time, she didn't wake up.
A doctor finally stepped out of the ICU.
"Miss Ward… we need to operate immediately. She has internal bleeding. Without surgery, her chances are very low."
Selena swallowed, her voice barely a whisper.
"H-how much?"
The doctor hesitated. "A little over ten million naira."
Ten million.
She didn't even have ten thousand.
Her legs felt weak. Her vision blurred. Ten million might as well have been a hundred billion. She had no relatives, no savings, and the landlord was already threatening to kick them out.
Please," she begged, "can't you do the surgery and I'll pay later?"
"We can't. Hospital policy."
Selena felt her world collapsing in slow motion. She pressed her hand against her mouth and walked back to the hallway, tears burning her eyes.
She didn't notice the tall man standing at the far end of the corridor until she walked right past him and heard a deep, cold voice:
"Miss Ward."
She froze.
Slowly, she turned.
The man approaching her looked out of place in the shabby hospital—tall, sharply dressed, and intimidatingly handsome. His aura alone made people step aside.
He stopped in front of her, eyes unreadable.
"Jace… Ariston?" she whispered. She had seen him once before—when she worked a small catering job at one of his company's events. The billionaire CEO who people whispered about like he was some rumored storm.
"Yes." His tone was cool, controlled. "I heard your mother was admitted."
Selena frowned. "Why would you care?"
"Because," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets, "I came to offer you a deal."
Her heart raced. "What kind of deal?"
"A marriage contract."
Selena almost laughed. Almost. But she was too tired, too broken.
"Is this a joke?"
"No," he replied, voice dangerously calm. "I need a wife. Immediately."
She stared at him, not sure if the shock or confusion was stronger.
Jace continued, expression sharp as glass.
"My grandfather's inheritance can only be claimed by a married heir. I need someone—someone with no ties, no scandals, no family interference."
Selena felt her stomach twist. "And why me?"
His gaze slid down to her trembling hands, then back to her eyes.
"Because you're desperate enough to accept. And because I can offer you what you need."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"The hospital bill will be paid immediately. Your mother will get the surgery tonight. And you…"
He paused.
"…will become my wife for the next three months."
Selena's breath caught in her throat.
Three months.
Her mother's life.
A contract marriage.
She shook her head. "I—I can't just marry a stranger."
Jace's tone didn't change. "Then your mother dies."
The words sliced through her.
Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. Jace watched her silently—no sympathy, no emotion—just certainty.
He extended his hand.
"Choose, Selena Ward. Your pride… or your mother's life."
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
She didn't have a choice.
Not a real one.
With shaking fingers…
Selena placed her hand in his.
"I'll do it."
Jace's expression remained unreadable, but his grip tightened just slightly.
"Good," he said. "Your mother's surgery begins in an hour. Our marriage begins tonight."
And just like that—
Selena Ward's life changed forever.