The rain poured heavily over the city as Lina ran down the street, trying to cover her head with her bag. Her shoes were wet, and her clothes were already soaked, but she kept running.

“I’m late… I’m late again…” she whispered to herself, breathing heavily.

When she finally reached the café where she worked part-time, her manager was already standing at the door with an angry face.

“Lina! You are late again!” he shouted.

“I’m sorry, sir! The bus was late and—”

“I don’t want excuses. If you are late one more time, don’t come back,” he said coldly.

Lina lowered her head. “I’m sorry…”

She quickly changed her clothes and started working. The café was busy that night, and she kept running from table to table, taking orders, cleaning tables, and washing dishes. Her hands were red from the cold water, and her feet hurt, but she didn’t complain.

She needed this job. She needed money.

After the café closed, Lina finally sat down on a chair to rest. She looked at the photo on her phone — it was a picture of her and her mother smiling together.

“Mom… please get better soon…” she whispered softly.

Suddenly, her phone started ringing.

When she saw the caller ID, her heart started beating fast.

City Hospital

Her hands started shaking as she answered the call.

“H-Hello?”

“Is this Lina Hart?” the nurse asked.

“Yes, this is Lina.”

“I’m calling about your mother. Her condition has become worse. The doctor says she needs surgery as soon as possible.”

Lina stood up immediately. “Surgery? Is it dangerous?”

“It is a serious surgery, but without it, her condition will continue to get worse.”

Lina felt like the world stopped for a moment.

“How much… does the surgery cost?” she asked quietly.

There was a short silence before the nurse answered.

“It will cost around 50,000 dollars.”

Lina couldn’t speak. Her mind went blank.

“T-Thank you… I understand…” she said and slowly ended the call.

Her phone slipped from her hand onto the floor.

“50,000…? That’s impossible…” she whispered.

She walked outside the café slowly. The rain was still falling, and the street was almost empty. She sat on a bench near the road and started crying quietly.

“I don’t have that kind of money… What should I do? Mom…”

She covered her face with her hands as tears fell down her cheeks.

At that moment, a black luxury car stopped in front of the café. The door opened, and a tall man in a black suit stepped out. He looked rich, cold, and very handsome. His sharp eyes noticed Lina sitting alone in the rain.

He walked towards her slowly and stopped in front of her.

“You need money?” he asked in a calm, cold voice.

Lina looked up, surprised. “I’m sorry… Do I know you?”

“I heard your phone conversation,” he said. “You need money for your mother’s surgery.”

Lina felt embarrassed and quickly wiped her tears.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean for anyone to hear…”

“I can pay for the surgery,” the man said suddenly.

Lina’s eyes widened. “R-Really?”

“Yes. Not only the surgery. I can pay for your house, your studies, and your living expenses.”

Lina stood up quickly. “Why… would you help me?”

The man looked at her quietly for a moment before speaking again.

“Because I need something from you too.”

“What do you need?” she asked nervously.

He looked directly into her eyes and said,

“Marry me.”

Lina froze completely. She thought she heard wrong.

“W-What did you say?”

“It’s a contract marriage. One year only,” he said calmly. “You will act as my wife. After one year, we will divorce. You will get money, and I will get what I need.”

“Why me?” Lina asked.

“I need a wife for family reasons, and you need money. This is a fair deal.”

He took out a business card and gave it to her.

Adrian Blake – CEO of Blake Corporation

“Think about it,” he said. “Call me tomorrow if you accept.”

He turned around and walked back to his car.

Lina stood in the rain, holding the card tightly in her hand. Her heart was beating fast.

She looked up at the dark sky and whispered,

“Mom… what should I do…?”

She looked at the card again.

“…Maybe this is my only choice.”

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Lina did not sleep that night. She kept looking at the business card on the table.

Adrian Blake – CEO of Blake Corporation

“Contract marriage… This is crazy…” she whispered to herself.

But then she looked at her phone and opened the photo of her mother again. Her mother was smiling in the picture, but now she was lying in a hospital bed, weak and sick.

“I don’t have a choice…” Lina said quietly.

The next morning, Lina stood in front of a huge office building. The building was so tall she had to look up for a long time to see the top.

“Blake Corporation…” she read the name on the building.

Her hands were sweating. She was nervous.

Inside the building, everything looked expensive — the floors, the lights, the furniture, even the people looked rich and important.

She walked to the reception desk.

“Hello… I’m here to see Mr. Adrian Blake,” Lina said softly.

The receptionist looked at Lina from head to toe, a little surprised by her simple clothes.

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked.

Lina hesitated for a moment and then showed the business card.

“He told me to come…”

The receptionist’s eyes widened when she saw the card.

“Please wait a moment.”

After a few minutes, a man in a suit came to Lina.

“Miss Lina? Please come with me. The CEO is waiting for you.”

Lina followed him into a private elevator. Her heart was beating fast.

When the elevator door opened, she saw a large office with glass walls and a beautiful city view. Adrian Blake was standing near the window.

He turned around when he heard her footsteps.

“You came,” he said.

Lina took a deep breath.

“I… I thought about your offer.”

“And?” he asked calmly.

“…I accept the contract marriage,” she said nervously.

Adrian looked at her for a few seconds, then nodded.

“Good. Sit down. We need to discuss the rules.”

They sat across from each other, and Adrian placed a document on the table.

“This is the contract,” he said. “Read it carefully.”

Lina looked at the paper. There were many rules written on it.

Contract Marriage Rules:

The marriage will last one year.

They will live in the same house.

They must act like a real couple in public.

No romantic feelings.

After one year, they will divorce.

Lina will receive money after the divorce.

Lina read everything slowly. Her hands were shaking.

“If I sign this… you will pay for my mother’s surgery?” she asked.

“Yes. The hospital will receive the money today,” Adrian replied.

Lina looked at the paper again, then slowly picked up the pen.

“This is for Mom…” she whispered and signed her name.

Adrian also signed the contract.

“From today, you are my wife,” he said calmly.

Lina’s face turned red. She still couldn’t believe this was real.

“In the evening, you will move into my house,” Adrian continued. “My assistant will help you.”

“Move in… today?!” Lina asked, shocked.

“Yes. We don’t have time to waste,” he said.

That evening, a black car picked Lina up from her small apartment. She only had one suitcase with her clothes and a few books.

When the car stopped, Lina looked out the window and her mouth slowly opened in shock.

In front of her was a huge mansion with a big garden and a fountain.

“Y-You live here?!” she asked.

“Yes,” Adrian replied simply.

They walked inside the house. The house was bigger than Lina’s entire apartment building. There were beautiful lights, big stairs, and expensive furniture everywhere.

A middle-aged woman came and bowed slightly.

“Welcome home, Sir. Is this Miss Lina?”

“Yes. She will live here from now on,” Adrian said.

The woman smiled kindly at Lina.

“Hello, Miss Lina. I’m Mary, the housekeeper.”

“Hello…” Lina said shyly.

Adrian then looked at Lina and said,

“Your room is on the second floor. My room is on the third floor.”

Lina blinked. “Separate rooms?”

“Yes. This is a contract marriage. Don’t misunderstand,” he said coldly.

Lina crossed her arms and said,

“Don’t worry. I don’t want to sleep in your room anyway!”

Adrian looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled a little.

This was the first time Lina saw him smile.

“Good,” he said. “Then we understand each other.”

Lina followed Mary upstairs to her new room. When she opened the door, she was shocked again.

The room was huge, with a big bed, a sofa, a TV, and even a balcony.

“This room is bigger than my whole apartment…” she whispered.

She sat on the bed slowly and looked around the room.

“From today… I’m the wife of a CEO…”

She lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

“My life is really changing…”

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Lina woke up early in the morning, confused for a moment when she saw the large, beautiful room around her.

She slowly sat up on the soft bed.

“Oh right… I’m in Adrian’s house…” she whispered.

She walked to the balcony and looked outside. The garden was huge and beautiful, with flowers and a fountain in the middle.

“This place is like a hotel…” she said to herself.

After getting dressed, Lina went downstairs. She saw Adrian sitting at the dining table, drinking coffee and reading some documents.

He looked very serious and handsome in his black suit.

“Good morning,” Lina said slowly.

Adrian looked up. “Good morning. Sit down and eat.”

The table was full of food — bread, eggs, fruit, juice, and coffee. Lina didn’t know what to eat first.

“You don’t have to prepare so much food…” Lina said.

“I didn’t prepare it. The staff did,” Adrian replied.

Lina felt a little embarrassed and started eating quietly.

After a few minutes, Adrian put down his coffee and said,

“Tonight, we are going to my parents’ house.”

Lina almost choked on her juice.

“W-What?! Tonight?!”

“Yes. They want to meet you,” Adrian said calmly.

“But… what should I say? What if they don’t like me?” Lina asked nervously.

Adrian looked at her and said,

“Just remember this from today, you are my wife. Act confidently.”

Lina took a deep breath.

“Okay… I will try…”

That evening, they went to Adrian’s parents’ mansion. It was even bigger than Adrian’s house.

Lina held her bag tightly. She was very nervous.

“Relax,” Adrian said quietly and suddenly held her hand.

Lina was shocked and looked at him.

“What are you doing?!”

“We are a married couple. This is normal,” he said.

Her face turned red, but she didn’t pull her hand away.

When they entered the house, a middle-aged woman wearing an elegant dress walked towards them.

“Adrian! You’re finally here,” she said, then looked at Lina.

“And this must be your wife,” she said with a smile.

“Yes, Mother. This is Lina,” Adrian said.

Lina bowed politely.

“Hello, Mrs. Blake. Nice to meet you.”

Adrian’s mother looked Lina up and down carefully. Lina became nervous.

“She looks simple… but very pretty,” his mother said.

Lina was surprised. “T-Thank you…”

Then Adrian’s father came into the room. He looked serious and strict.

“So this is the girl you married without telling us?” he said.

“Yes,” Adrian replied calmly.

His father looked at Lina.

“What is your job?”

“I’m a college student, sir. I also work part-time,” Lina answered politely.

“Her mother is in the hospital,” Adrian suddenly said.

Lina looked at him, surprised. She didn’t expect him to tell his family.

Adrian’s father looked at Lina again, but this time his expression was softer.

“You are a hardworking girl,” he said.

Lina felt relieved. “Thank you, sir.”

During dinner, Adrian’s mother kept asking Lina many questions , what she likes, what she studies, what food she likes, and more.

Lina answered everything politely. She tried her best to act like a good daughter-in-law.

At one point, Adrian’s mother smiled and said,

“I like this girl. She is polite and kind.”

Lina felt very happy and relieved.

But suddenly, the door opened.

A beautiful woman walked into the house confidently, wearing a red dress and high heels.

She looked at Adrian and smiled.

“Adrian… I’m back.”

Adrian’s face immediately became cold.

Lina looked at the woman, confused.

Adrian’s mother looked uncomfortable and said quietly,

“Lina… this is Maya. Adrian’s ex-girlfriend.”

Lina froze.

Maya looked at Lina from head to toe and then smiled slightly.

“So… this is your new wife?” Maya said slowly.

She walked closer to Lina and said quietly,

“Let’s see how long this marriage lasts.”

Lina felt nervous, but she tried to stay calm.

She held Adrian’s arm and smiled politely.

“As long as it needs to,” Lina replied.

Adrian looked at Lina, surprised by her answer.

Maya’s smile slowly disappeared.

The atmosphere suddenly became very tense.

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