Ethan Carter never believed in forever.
To him, forever was just a word people used when they were too afraid to face reality.
Everything had an end.
Deals expired.
People left.
Feelings faded.
That was why he trusted contracts.
Contracts didn't lie.
"You have three months."
The voice of his grandfather echoed across the silent office.
Ethan didn't look up from the file in his hand. "For what?"
"To get married."
Now he looked up.
His sharp gaze met the old man's calm, unshaken expression.
"You're joking."
"I never joke about legacy."
The air turned heavy.
Ethan leaned back slowly, his jaw tightening. "Marriage isn't a business strategy."
"It is now," his grandfather replied. "No wife, no inheritance. No inheritance… no control over Carter Holdings."
Silence.
A long, suffocating silence.
Ethan exhaled quietly.
"Fine," he said at last, his voice cold and controlled. "Then I'll make it a deal."
Across the city, Luna Hayes was running out of time.
She stood outside her apartment, staring at the eviction notice taped to her door.
FINAL WARNING.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled it off.
"Just a little more time…" she whispered, even though no one was listening.
Life hadn't been kind to her.
No family.
No backup.
No second chances.
Only bills.
Always bills.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
For a moment, she hesitated… then answered.
"Hello?"
"Miss Luna Hayes," a deep, professional voice spoke. "We have a proposal for you."
She frowned slightly. "What kind of proposal?"
"A financial agreement."
"I'm not interested in loans."
"This isn't a loan."
A pause.
Then—
"It's a marriage contract."
Luna froze.
"I think you have the wrong person."
"We don't."
The voice remained calm, almost indifferent.
"You will marry Mr. Ethan Carter for one year. In exchange, all your financial problems will be taken care of."
Her heart started pounding.
"A fake marriage…?"
"Yes."
"And after one year?"
"You will be free."
Free.
The word sounded tempting.
Too tempting.
But something about it felt… off.
"Why me?" she asked slowly.
Another pause.
Then the answer came—
"Because you have nothing to lose."
The call ended.
Luna stood there, phone still pressed to her ear.
Nothing to lose.
She let out a weak laugh.
"Yeah…" she whispered. "That's true."
That night, she stood in front of a tall glass building.
Carter Holdings.
The kind of place people like her only saw from a distance.
But tonight… she was walking in.
Inside, everything felt cold. Controlled. Perfect.
Just like him.
Ethan Carter.
He stood near the window, his back facing her.
Tall. Still. Untouchable.
Without turning, he spoke—
"You're late."
Luna frowned. "I'm right on time."
Now he turned.
His eyes were sharp. Calculating. The kind that didn't miss anything.
Good.
She didn't like him already.
Ethan studied her for a moment.
Simple clothes. Tired eyes. But there was something else too—
Strength.
Interesting.
"You understand the terms?" he asked.
"One year marriage," Luna replied. "No feelings. No interference. And then we walk away."
"Correct."
"And in return… you solve my problems."
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"And what's the catch?"
Ethan stepped closer.
For a second, the space between them felt too small.
"Once you sign," he said quietly, "you don't get to walk away early."
Her breath hitched slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"It means," his voice dropped colder, "for one year… you are bound to me."
Bound.
Not married.
Bound.
Something about that word sent a chill down her spine.
Luna looked down at the contract in her hands.
This wasn't just a deal.
It felt like a cage.
"Last chance," Ethan said. "Walk away now."
She looked up at him.
Then at the contract.
Then back at him.
Slowly… she picked up the pen.
"I don't run away," she said softly.
And she signed.
That was the moment everything changed.
Because what Luna Hayes didn't know was—
This wasn't just a one-year marriage.
It was a lock.
And once she stepped inside…
There would be no easy way out.