Amara Cole never dreamed of marrying a billionaire. But when her mother's hospital bills grew unbearable, she signed a contract that bound her to the cold, ruthless Lucian Hale. One year as his wife. No love. No expectations. No freedom. Lucian is everything she should fear-arrogant, powerful, and heartless. To him, Amara is nothing but a pawn in his world of business and betrayal. Yet the more she endures his cruel words and icy indifference, the more sparks begin to burn between them. But their marriage is far from simple. His jealous ex will do anything to destroy her. His father calls her unworthy. And another man's kindness makes her question if love is possible outside the contract. Caught between duty and desire, Amara must find her strength before the year ends. Because when a ruthless billionaire starts to fall... the contract is the last thing he'll obey.
Amara Cole's hands trembled as she clutched the pen. The black ink blurred on the paper in front of her, the words twisting together until she could barely read them. She had already read this contract a hundred times. It didn't change the truth.
One year. Pretend to be his wife. Obey the rules. No love. No expectations.
Her throat tightened, and she lowered her eyes, afraid of the man sitting across the polished table.
Lucian Hale.
Even his name made her heart pound with dread.
The thirty-two-year-old billionaire leaned back in his chair like a king on a throne, his custom-made suit hugging his tall frame, his eyes sharp and unreadable. The man who had ruined rivals and bought companies with a flick of his hand was staring at her as though she were a piece of property up for auction.
Amara wanted to run. Every part of her screamed to get up and leave.
But she couldn't.
Her mother was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines they couldn't afford. The bills piled higher every day, the weight of them crushing Amara's chest with every breath. And her father's debts... they were a noose tightening around her family's neck.
This marriage wasn't a choice. It was a sentence.
"Sign it."
Lucian's voice was deep, cold, final. His command sliced through the heavy silence, making her flinch.
Amara lifted her head slowly, meeting his gaze for the first time. His eyes were dark and piercing, like blades cutting into her soul. There was no warmth there. No kindness. Just control.
"Why me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You could have any woman you want. Women who would... love you."
His lips curved, but it wasn't a smile. It was a mockery. "Love?" He almost laughed, but the sound was humorless. "I don't need love. I need a wife who won't ask questions, who won't get in my way. Someone plain. Forgettable. You fit perfectly."
Her chest ached at his cruel words. Still, she clenched the pen tighter. This wasn't about her pride. This was about survival.
"For one year," he said lazily, as if this marriage was just another deal. "You play your role in public. You smile when I say smile, stand when I say stand. In return, your family gets their money, and when the year ends, you disappear. We both get what we want."
His gaze sharpened. "But make no mistake, Amara. You will never touch my heart. Understand?"
The sting of his words was worse than a slap.
She lowered her eyes, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. If she broke now, she would lose everything. She forced her hand to move, pressed the pen to the paper, and signed her name.
The sound of the pen scratching against the paper was louder than thunder in her ears.
It was done.
She wasn't Amara Cole anymore. She was Mrs. Hale.
Lucian leaned forward, his eyes glinting with cold satisfaction. "Good girl."
He stood, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. Every movement he made radiated power, as though he ruled not just the room but the world. He leaned down, close enough for her to feel his breath against her ear.
"Remember this, Amara," he whispered, his tone dark and dangerous. "You belong to me now. But only on paper. Don't mistake this for anything more."
Her stomach twisted, and her fingers dug into the edge of the chair. She wanted to scream, to fight, to run. But her body wouldn't move.
Suddenly, the heavy doors to the hall burst open. The sharp sound of heels clicked against the marble floor.
Amara turned, her breath catching.
A tall woman strode inside, her crimson lips curved in a poisonous smile. Her long black dress clung to her perfect figure, diamonds glittering at her throat. Her eyes-icy and full of disdain-swept over Amara like she was filth on the floor.
She stopped in front of Lucian, her hand brushing against his arm as if she owned him. Her gaze dropped to the contract on the table, then back to Amara.
"So..." the woman said softly, her voice dripping with venom, "this is the girl you chose?"
Amara froze.
Her heart pounded painfully as the woman's cruel smile widened.
Chapter 1 The Contract Bride
09/10/2025
Chapter 2 The Wedding Without Love
09/10/2025
Chapter 3 The Mansion of Strangers
09/10/2025
Chapter 4 A Public Humiliation
09/10/2025
Chapter 5 The Kiss That Shouldn't Happen
09/10/2025
Chapter 6 The Father's Warning
09/10/2025
Chapter 7 Two Faces
09/10/2025
Chapter 8 A Stranger's Kindness
09/10/2025
Chapter 9 The Jealous Billionaire
09/10/2025
Chapter 10 The Storm Inside
09/10/2025
Chapter 11 Whispers in the Dark
09/10/2025
Chapter 12 The Choice She Didn't Know She Had
09/10/2025
Chapter 13 Lines Drawn
09/10/2025
Chapter 14 A Mother's Cry
09/10/2025
Chapter 15 Cracks In The Cage
09/10/2025
Chapter 16 Aftershocks
09/10/2025
Chapter 17 The Other Woman
07/11/2025
Chapter 18 Drawing Her Own Lines
07/11/2025
Chapter 19 Choosing Her Own Ground
09/11/2025
Chapter 20 What Truly Matters
10/11/2025
Chapter 21 Headlines And Whispers
10/11/2025
Chapter 22 Tangled Promises
10/11/2025
Chapter 23 The Gentle Intruser
10/11/2025
Chapter 24 The Ice Between Them
10/11/2025
Chapter 25 The Man Behind The Mask
10/11/2025
Chapter 26 After The Fire
10/11/2025
Chapter 27 The Space Between Them
10/11/2025
Chapter 28 The Net Tightens
10/11/2025
Chapter 29 The Clash In The Quiet
10/11/2025
Chapter 30 The First Strike
10/11/2025
Chapter 31 Into The Lion's Den
10/11/2025
Chapter 32 After The Storm
10/11/2025
Chapter 33 Restless Shadows
11/11/2025
Chapter 34 The Mask Before His Stage
11/11/2025
Chapter 35 The Predator Across The Room
12/11/2025
Chapter 36 The Smile Behind The Smoke
12/11/2025
Chapter 37 The Silence Between Them
12/11/2025
Chapter 38 Frost At Dawn
13/11/2025
Chapter 39 Breaking Point
13/11/2025
Chapter 40 Paper Cuts
13/11/2025