Chapter 1: Hot Coffee and a Cold Heart

Aria! Hurry up, the order for table number 4 is ready!" the cafe manager's voice echoed above the afternoon rush.

"Coming right away, sir!" Aria Lin quickly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and lifted a tray loaded with steaming mugs of coffee. Her face bore the signs of exhaustion, yet her eyes held a fierce determination. She had been working non-stop for the past twelve hours. First college, then her design studio internship, and now this part-time cafe shift. The heavy burden of her grandmother’s mounting hospital bills rested squarely on her shoulders. She was allowed to be tired, but she refused to give up.

Just then, the glass door of the cafe swung open, and a sudden, chilly breeze seemed to sweep through the room. The ambient chatter instantly died down.

A tall, breathtakingly handsome man in a custom-tailored grey suit stepped inside. His eyes were as cold as ice, and an aura of absolute authority surrounded him. This was Ethan Vance, the young and ruthless CEO of Vance Enterprises—known in the business world as the "Ice King." His presence was so intimidating that even his secretary, walking a step behind him, seemed to hold his breath.

"Sir, regarding today's board meeting, we need to—" the secretary began, but Ethan cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand. Ethan was staring intently at his phone, his focus entirely consumed by a financial report.

At that exact moment, Aria turned around quickly with her tray. Her foot caught the edge of a chair leg, and she completely lost her balance.

"Ah! Watch out—!" a gasp escaped Aria's lips.

SPLASH!

A deathly silence fell over the entire cafe. The scalding Americano from Aria’s tray had splashed directly onto Ethan’s pristine grey suit. Dark, bitter stains rapidly spread across his white shirt and expensive blazer.

Aria’s heart dropped into her stomach. Panicking, she grabbed a handful of tissues and rushed to wipe the suit. "I am so, so sorry, sir! It was an accident, I lost my balance... Let me clean this up for you."

Ethan brushed her hand away with a harsh flick of his wrist. His freezing, dark eyes locked onto Aria as if he wished to bury her alive right then and there. When he spoke, his voice carried a sharp, humiliating edge. "Don't touch me. Do you have any idea what this suit costs? It’s worth more than your entire year's salary. Is this the standard of staff this cafe employs?"

Aria, who had been trembling with guilt, froze at his words. She knew she was at fault and she had sincerely apologized, but she could not tolerate someone trampling all over her self-respect. She stepped back, lifted her chin, and looked straight into Ethan's piercing eyes.

"I admitted my mistake and apologized, sir. I am even willing to pay for your dry-cleaning expenses. But that does not give you the right to insult my dignity or my worth. It’s just a suit, sir. It wasn't made of gold!"

Ethan was stunned. No one had ever dared to raise their voice at him, let alone talk back so fearlessly. He glared at her, but there was a raw honesty in her defiance that struck a chord deep inside him. Without uttering another word, he turned on his heel and walked out of the cafe. But as he left, Aria’s fierce face remained burned into his memory.

The atmosphere on the top floor of the Vance Corporate Office was incredibly tense. Ethan sat back in his luxury leather chair, while across the desk, his grandfather—Chairman Vance—angrily thudded his walking cane against the hardwood floor.

"Ethan! I am sick and tired of your cold attitude and the endless media reports about your temper!" the Chairman thundered. "The board of directors thinks you are an irresponsible, ruthless machine. For the sake of the company's reputation, you need to project the image of a stable family man."

Ethan exhaled a cold, slow breath. "Grandfather, I have no interest in marriage. Marriage is nothing but a sentimental distraction, and I refuse to waste my time on it."

"Then hear my final decision!" the Chairman declared, slamming his cane one last time. "If you do not get married within the next month... I will hand over the position of CEO to your cousin, Lucas!"

The mere mention of Lucas made Ethan's jaw tighten. Lucas was a deceitful snake who would run the empire into the ground. Ethan could never let that happen. He leaned back, his mind racing. 'If I must marry, I need a woman who will be a wife in name only. Someone who only cares about money and will quietly leave my life the moment the contract expires.'

Right on cue, his secretary, Mark, stepped forward and opened a profile on his tablet.

"Sir, you asked for details on the girl from the cafe... Her name is Aria Lin," Mark reported. "Her grandmother is currently in critical condition at the city hospital. She urgently needs a massive amount of money for a life-saving surgery, and every bank has rejected her loan application."

Looking at Aria’s picture on the screen, a devilish, handsome smirk crept onto Ethan's lips. The very same stubborn, fearless girl.

Ethan stood up, adjusting his coat with effortless grace. "She needs money, and I need a temporary wife. Get the car ready, Mark. It's time to make a deal."

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