Title: Contracted to the CEO
Synopsis
Ava needed money for her brother's surgery. Liam needed a wife to inherit his grandfather's empire. One signature changed their lives. It was supposed to be just business, but their hearts had other plans.
Chapter 1: The Golden Cage
The rain was pouring heavily against the glass windows of the grand café. Ava sat across from the most powerful man in the city, Liam Sterling. He looked cold, handsome, and completely uninterested in anything but the document on the table.
"Read it, Ava," Liam said, his voice deep and commanding. "If you sign this, the money for your brother's operation will be in your bank account within ten minutes."
Ava looked at the bold letters at the top: MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
"One year?" she whispered, her hands trembling as she held the pen.
"One year," Liam confirmed. "You will live in my house. You will attend events with me. You will pretend to be the perfect wife in front of my family. After twelve months, we get a quiet divorce, and you walk away with enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life."
"Why me?" Ava asked, looking into his sharp blue eyes.
Liam leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "Because you are invisible to the media. No scandals, no history. You are exactly what I need to show my grandfather that I am a 'settled' man."
Ava knew this was a deal with the devil. But looking at the medical bills in her bag, she didn't have a choice. She took a deep breath and signed her name at the bottom of the page.
"Good," Liam said, standing up. "My driver will pick you up tomorrow at 8 AM. Pack your bags. Your life as Mrs. Sterling starts now."
Chapter 2: The New Reality
The Sterling Mansion was more like a castle than a home. As Ava stepped into the marble hallway, she felt like a stranger in a different world. The staff bowed as she passed, but she could feel their curious eyes on her simple clothes.
"Your room is next to mine," Liam said as they walked up the grand staircase. "Remember the rules, Ava. No one can know this is a contract. Not even my sister."
"I understand," Ava replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
Just then, Liam's phone rang. His face hardened as he looked at the caller ID. "It's my grandfather. He's coming for dinner tonight to meet you."
Ava's heart raced. "Tonight? I don't even know anything about you!"
Liam stopped and turned to her. He was so close she could smell his expensive cologne. He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. For a second, his touch felt real.
"Then we better start practicing," he whispered. "Because starting tonight, you have to act like you're madly in love with me