Arohi stepped into the luxury car, her clothes dripping wet from the rain. The smell of expensive leather and a sharp, masculine cologne filled her senses. Sitting in the back seat was Aaryan, his face partially hidden in the shadows, his eyes fixed on a glowing tablet. He didn't even look up when she entered.
The silence inside the car was suffocating. Arohi clutched her father's prescription tightly, her hands trembling.
"I... I've decided," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I will do whatever you want. Just save my father."
Aaryan finally looked up. His eyes were cold, like ice. He handed her a set of documents. "This is the contract, Arohi. You will play the role of my wife for exactly one year. No feelings, no questions, and no interference in my personal life."
He leaned closer, his gaze intense. "In exchange, your father's surgery will begin tomorrow morning at the best hospital in the city. All expenses are already paid."
Arohi's heart skipped a beat. Relief and fear washed over her at the same time. She was selling her soul, but her father was going to live.
"Sign it," Aaryan commanded, handing her a gold pen.
With a shaky hand, Arohi signed the papers. She didn't know it yet, but her life was about to change forever. She was no longer just a student; she was now the contract bride of the most powerful man in the city.