Emily Carter learned early in life that hope was a fragile thing.
It lived in small spaces—between unpaid bills stacked on the kitchen counter, in the soft hum of the old refrigerator that barely worked, and in the tired smile her grandmother wore every morning like armor. Hope was what kept Emily standing when everything else seemed determined to pull her down.
That morning, rain traced quiet lines down the cracked window of their small apartment. The city outside was gray and restless, cars rushing past like they had somewhere important to be. Emily stood at the sink, staring at her reflection in the glass. Her hair was pulled into a messy knot, dark circles under her eyes from another sleepless night.
The phone buzzed on the counter.
She ignored it at first.
Then it buzzed again.
With a sigh, she picked it up. The number was unfamiliar, the kind of number that made her chest tighten for no clear reason.
"Hello?" she said.
"Emily Carter," a smooth, professional voice replied. "This is Mr. Hale from Blackwood Enterprises. We would like to speak with you regarding a private matter."
Her heart skipped.
Blackwood Enterprises wasn't just a company. It was a name that lived on billboards, in headlines, in whispered conversations about power and wealth. They owned half the skyline and, some people said, half the city.
"I think you have the wrong person," Emily said softly.
"We don't," the man replied. "If you're willing, a car will be outside your building in thirty minutes."
The call ended before she could ask another question.
Emily stared at her phone like it had just spoken a language she didn't understand.
The car waiting outside was black, sleek, and polished like it didn't belong in her neighborhood. The driver stepped out, opened the door for her, and didn't say a word.
The city changed as they drove.
The broken sidewalks turned into clean streets. Small shops became towering buildings of glass and steel. By the time they arrived at Blackwood Enterprises, Emily felt like she'd crossed into another world.
The building rose into the clouds, sharp and shining, like a crown placed on the city itself.
Inside, everything was quiet. Not empty—just controlled. People moved with purpose, heels clicking against marble floors, voices low and serious. Emily followed Mr. Hale through hallways that seemed to stretch forever until they stopped in front of a set of tall glass doors.
"Mr. Blackwood is waiting," he said.
The doors opened.
Ryan Blackwood stood near the window, his back to her. The city spread out beneath him, lights and motion and life. He looked like he belonged above it all.
When he turned, Emily felt the air shift.
He was tall, sharp-featured, dressed in a dark suit that fit him like it was made for him alone. His eyes were cool and unreadable, the kind that didn't give anything away.
"Emily Carter," he said. His voice was calm, steady. "Thank you for coming."
She clasped her hands together to keep them from shaking. "You called me. You said it was important."
Ryan gestured to the chair across from his desk. "Please. Sit."
She did.
He didn't.
Instead, he leaned against the desk, studying her like a problem he hadn't decided how to solve yet.
"I'll be direct," he said. "I need to get married."
Emily blinked. Once. Twice.
"I'm sorry—what?"
"My grandmother is the majority shareholder of this company," Ryan continued. "She believes a married man is a stable man. And a stable man is fit to lead."
Emily stared at him. "So… you called a stranger because of a family disagreement?"
"There's more," he said.
Of course there was.
He slid a folder across the desk toward her.
Inside were papers. Numbers. Medical records.
Her grandmother's name.
Emily's breath caught in her throat. "How do you have this?"
"I have resources," Ryan replied simply. "Your grandmother needs surgery. Treatment. Care that costs more than you can afford."
Emily felt like the room was closing in. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Because I can pay for all of it," he said.
Her heart pounded in her ears. "And what do you want in return?"
Ryan didn't hesitate.
"A contract marriage."
The words felt heavy, unreal.
"You'd marry me," Emily whispered, "for a business deal?"
"Yes."
"And after?"
"We live as husband and wife in public," he said. "In private, we respect each other's space. After a year, we divorce. Quietly."
Emily stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. "This is insane."
"Is it?" he asked calmly. "Your grandmother gets the care she needs. Your financial problems disappear. I keep my company. We both walk away when it's done."
She turned toward the window, pressing her hands against the glass. The city looked different from up here. Smaller. Easier to control.
"You don't even know me," she said.
"I know enough," Ryan replied. "You're responsible. You work two jobs. You don't have debts tied to your name. You don't seek attention."
Emily laughed, but there was no humor in it. "So I'm… convenient."
"Yes," he said. "And so am I to you."
The truth of it hit harder than she expected.
She thought of her grandmother lying in a hospital bed, pretending not to be in pain. Thought of the eviction notices, the late nights, the endless worry.
Slowly, she turned back.
"If I say yes," Emily said, "I don't want to be treated like a decoration. Or a lie."
Ryan met her gaze. For the first time, something flickered in his eyes.
"You won't be," he said. "You'll be my wife. In every way that matters to the world."
She swallowed.
"And in every way that matters to you?"
He didn't answer right away.
"Sign the contract," he finally said, "and we'll find out."
The wedding happened three weeks later.
Emily barely remembered saying yes to it.
The dress was white and heavy, stitched with details she couldn't pronounce the names of. The venue looked like something out of a dream—flowers, lights, people dressed in elegance and power.
Ryan stood at the altar, calm as ever.
His grandmother sat in the front row, her sharp eyes softened with satisfaction.
When Emily took Ryan's hand, it was warm. Steady.
For a moment, just a moment, the contract faded.
The world faded.
It was just them.
"I do," Ryan said.
Emily hesitated.
Then, quietly, she said it too.
"I do."
Applause filled the room. Cameras flashed. The city gained a new power couple.
But as they walked down the aisle together, Emily felt the weight of what she had stepped into.
This wasn't a fairy tale.
This was a deal.
That night, the mansion felt too big. Too quiet.
Emily stood in the guest room, staring at her reflection again. Same girl. Different life.
A knock came at the door.
Ryan stood there, hands in his pockets.
"I'll be in the room across the hall," he said. "If you need anything."
She nodded.
As he turned to leave, she spoke. "Ryan."
He paused.
"This doesn't have to be cold," she said softly. "Even if it's not real. We can still be… human."
He looked back at her, really looked at her.
"Careful, Emily," he said. "That's how things become real."
Then he walked away.
Emily closed the door and leaned against it, her heart beating faster than it had all day.
Somewhere deep inside, she felt it.
This contract wasn't going to stay a contract.
And whatever came next?
It was going to change both of them forever.
—END OF CHAPTER 01