The next morning, Lila awoke in a room that felt more like a palace than a home. She had never seen such luxury—marble floors, golden chandeliers, and silk sheets that smelled faintly of sandalwood. But the beauty of the room did little to calm her nerves.
The moment she opened the door, she found him waiting. The CEO, impeccably dressed, his eyes cold as steel, as if measuring her every move.
"Good morning," he said flatly. "Before we continue, there are rules you must follow. Ignore them, and the contract is void."
Lila's stomach tightened.
"Rule one: We live under the same roof. You respect my privacy."
"Rule two: No emotions. No attachments."
"Rule three: The marriage is temporary. One year. After that, it's over."
She nodded silently, trying to mask her unease.
He studied her with a sharp gaze. "I don't care about your feelings. I only care that your family's debts are cleared. Understand?"
"Yes," she whispered.
He paused, then leaned slightly closer. His voice was softer, almost dangerous. "One more thing… if you break any rule, you'll regret it. For both of us."
Her heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the warning, not exactly—it was the intensity of his presence. He was like a storm contained in a perfectly tailored suit, and she feared that once the storm hit, she might not survive unscathed.
As he turned and left the room, she realized one terrifying truth: she was trapped in a contract that was supposed to be simple… but already, it felt like a battlefield.
How long before her heart betrays the rules she swore to follow?