Chapter 0003

Helena ignored Kenneth’s odd look and said coolly, "What kind of woman could you possibly not get, Mr. Keller? You don’t need to stoop to something so low."

In terms of looks, wealth, and power, Kenneth was a constant presence in the country’s top three "Most Eligible Bachelors" lists.

Women who fawned over him numbered in the thousands.

A month ago, on that fateful night when he’d let his guard slip—an infatuated woman had drugged him, leading to an unexpected encounter with a drunken Helena.

Kenneth scoffed and settled back into his seat, smirking. “Since you know me so well, Miss Lane, why don’t you take a guess at where I was last night?”

Helena frowned slightly. “Mr. Keller, your lack of cooperation will only prolong the police investigation.”

“And so what?” Kenneth scoffed, raising an eyebrow. “Are you worried the police will dig too deep, or are you more concerned that someone else might come up empty-handed?”

Realizing he’d let slip more than he intended, Kenneth quickly shifted his focus, glancing at the upcoming intersection. “Take a left here and drop me off at the Starlight Club.”

Ignoring his veiled jabs, Helena kept her tone professional. “The afternoon’s bidding event is important. You’ll need to attend in top form.”

Without a word, she continued driving in the opposite direction, away from the club.

Kenneth was silent for a moment, then lifted his gaze with a wry smile. “Miss Lane, are you planning to breach the marriage agreement? Because if that’s the case, then I could ask you to fulfill certain marital duties.”

Screech!

The car came to an abrupt halt.

The white sedan quickly reversed direction and headed straight for Greenwick’s largest entertainment club.

When Kenneth chose to be reckless, nothing—not even a contract—could rein him in. The only reason he upheld their agreement was that Helena had followed it to the letter. If she broke it, what right did she have to expect him to do the same?

Though Kenneth was unpredictable, he never shirked his responsibilities. After a night out and a morning spent at Starlight, he still showed up impeccably dressed and right on time for the afternoon bidding event.

But as soon as it ended, he vanished once again.

Helena was on her way back to the office when she received a call from Kenneth’s grandmother, Rachel Wilson.

“Helena, the bidding event is over, right? Don’t forget to come home with Kenneth for dinner tonight!”

That was when it hit Helena—it was the end of the month.

The Keller family rule required every family member in Greenwick to return home for dinner on the last day of the month, no matter how busy they were.

Kenneth never took that family rule seriously; it was always up to Helena to remind him.

This time, however, she’d been too busy reviewing bid documents and dealing with Kenneth’s issues at the police station that morning, so the reminder had slipped her mind.

Not wanting to disappoint Rachel, Helena reluctantly called Kenneth three times.

But he didn’t answer his phone.

Kenneth was too independent to tolerate bodyguards trailing him. His protection detail consisted of covert security, hidden and discreet.

Helena hesitated, ultimately deciding not to ask them for his whereabouts.

They only answered to Kenneth, and they might not tell her anyway.

Besides, if he found out she’d been trying to track him down, who knew what kind of reaction she’d face?

Left with no choice, Helena headed to the Starlight Club on the off chance he’d be there.

It seemed her luck was in her favor. She had been to the club a few times before with her friend, Miranda Cook, so the manager recognized her.

Upon learning she was looking for Kenneth, he graciously offered to pass along the message.

After a few minutes, the manager returned, looking pale, and shook his head apologetically. "Miss Lane, I’m sorry, but Mr. Keller said he’s unavailable."

Helena lowered her gaze, keeping her expression unchanged.

When the manager had opened the door to enter, she’d caught a quick glimpse inside.

In the room, a sultry woman in a skimpy outfit was moving suggestively to the music, clinging to a pole in a provocative dance. She hadn’t seen Kenneth directly, but with such a lively atmosphere, it was clear he wasn’t short of female company.

So, he was irritated that she’d interrupted his fun.

Helena offered the manager a polite smile, slipped him a few bills from her wallet as a tip, and left the club, heading back to her car.

“Five minutes. If you don’t come down by then, I’m leaving. You can explain yourself to Grandma.”

Helena pulled out her phone, found Kenneth’s profile picture, and quickly sent him a message. The last text she’d sent him was a month ago, forwarding the marriage agreement, to which he’d replied with a curt “Whatever.”

After hitting send, she set a five-minute countdown on her phone, leaned back in her seat, and closed her eyes to rest.

Kenneth had been raised by Rachel and held a deep respect for her.

Helena had once overheard someone joking, “Kenneth Keller fears nothing and no one—except a call from his grandmother.”

While an exaggeration, there was truth to it.

Kenneth, like an untamed stallion, answered to no one… except Rachel.

Sure enough, with five seconds left on the countdown, the passenger door flew open.

As Kenneth slid into the car, a blast of icy wind rushed in, making Helena shiver as her eyes snapped open.

“Grown some nerve, haven’t you? Threatening me now?” Kenneth’s eyes narrowed even further, his gaze sharp and dangerous.

Before Helena could respond, her phone’s alarm went off. It was the countdown reminder.

She casually switched it off and started the car. “You flatter me, Mr. Keller. I didn’t mean to ruin your fun, but today is a special case. After all, Grandma is waiting for you.”

Kenneth’s frustration turned to a bitter smile as he replied with a mocking tone, “Too bad your last name isn’t Keller. Otherwise, people might think you’re her real grandchild.”

With a frustrated exhale, he slammed the passenger door shut, making the car jolt slightly as it pulled away from the curb.

The biting chill that had entered quickly faded, replaced by the warmth of the car’s heater—set to full, just the way Helena liked it in the cramped space since she hated the cold.

Helena kept her hands steady on the wheel, stealing a quick sideways glance at Kenneth.

The dim overhead light cast a warm, amber glow over his sculpted profile, softening the sharp lines of his face and adding an unreadable depth to his eyes.

She lowered her gaze, instinctively avoiding any unnecessary confrontation.

When Rachel chose Helena from the orphanage, she’d been explicit about her intentions: adopting and supporting Helena was all for the benefit of her grandson, Kenneth.

Helena was to be his subordinate, his friend, his partner, and possibly even his wife.

But not even Rachel could have predicted that Kenneth would see Helena as a rival.

From her first day in the Keller family, Kenneth had made it his mission to give Helena a hard time.

Initially, Helena thought her presence was unwelcome and that perhaps he genuinely disliked her.

Later, she realized it was jealousy driving him.

He resented her for the affection Rachel showed her, feeling as if she had stolen his exclusive bond with Rachel.

Once Helena understood that, she stopped trying to earn Kenneth’s approval and kept her distance as much as possible.

Her path was clear: to be Kenneth’s loyal subordinate, protect him, and repay the Keller family’s support and care.

Everything unfolded as she planned.

After graduating from college, she joined Keller Corporation’s legal department, shielding Kenneth’s reckless behavior and ensuring he maintained his CEO position.

But everything changed the night they, both drunk, slept together—and were caught by Rachel.

To ease Rachel’s worries, Kenneth approached Helena with a proposal for a contractual marriage.

In exchange, once the timing was right, they would divorce, and she would be free to live her life as she pleased.

Freeing herself from the burden of the Keller family’s debt was something Helena secretly yearned for; deep down, she had no desire to remain entangled with Kenneth.

But then, just as they were settling into the marriage, Rachel fell ill, diagnosed with a terminal condition after being hospitalized from the initial shock.

To ease Rachel’s mind, Helena agreed to Kenneth’s proposal.

Though she wasn’t Rachel’s biological granddaughter—and Rachel’s decision to adopt her had been partly self-serving—over the years, Helena had felt genuine love and care from Rachel.

In her heart, she had come to see Rachel as her only family in the world.

Not wanting to leave any regrets behind for her, Helena resolved to make this contract marriage appear as genuine as possible.

Until the end, she would maintain the pretense of playing the role of a devoted wife to give Rachel peace.