Damien Logan, a ruthless billionaire, is used to control and power. But his life is shaken after a one-night stand with a mysterious woman, Ariana. When he wakes up to find her gone, he assumes they’ll never meet again until fate steps in. Struggling with debt and the loss of her job, Ariana unexpectedly finds herself back in Damien's world. Faced with his grandfather’s demand to marry a woman of his choosing, Damien comes up with a bold plan: a marriage contract with Ariana. In exchange for pretending to be his wife, she’ll get the financial stability she needs. Reluctantly, Ariana agrees, stepping into a life of wealth and lies. But as their fake marriage goes on, their walls start to crack. The line between pretending and real feelings starts to blur. Secrets and insecurities threaten to ruin everything. Can a love built on a lie survive, or will their contract end before they find each other’s hearts?
View MoreAriana's POVI glanced at the time, 5:30 PM. The room that had been my refuge, my prison, and the witness to countless tears now felt unbearably small. My suitcases were packed, stuffed with everything I could carry. Clothes, memories, and a silent hope that this decision wouldn’t backfire.Julie had called me twice already, eager for updates. "Girl, you’re about to live every woman’s dream!" she had squealed earlier. "Rich husband, luxury, and no love drama? Take it!"I wished I shared her enthusiasm.Just as the clock hit 6 PM, a firm knock echoed through my tiny apartment. My heart skipped. That was fast. Taking a deep breath, I walked to the door and pulled it open.A tall man in a black suit stood there, his face unreadable. He had sharp features, neatly styled dark hair, and an air of efficiency that screamed "no nonsense."“Hi,” I greeted with a polite smile, trying to lighten the mood.“Miss,” he responded, his voice clipped and businesslike. “Boss sent me to pick you up.”"Bo
Ariana’s POVI stared at the sleek business card in my hands, my fingers trembling slightly. CEO of Logan Group. Damien Logan.The same man I had a one-night stand with. The same man who just offered me a fake marriage like it was a business transaction.I dropped the card on my nightstand and flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Was I really considering this?"Fake marriage?" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. "Is this even real?"My debt. My job. My life falling apart. It all circled back in my mind like a never-ending nightmare. Could this ridiculous proposal be my way out?I groaned, rubbing my temples before grabbing my phone. There was only one person I could talk to about this.I dialed Julie’s number, and she picked up almost instantly."Girl, what’s up? Why are you calling me this late?" she asked, sounding half-asleep."You won’t believe what happened tonight.""Try me," she said, suddenly more awake.I sucked in a deep breath. "Remember that stranger from
Damien's POVAfter a long day at the office, jumping from one meeting to another, I leaned back in my chair, my head pounding. The relentless ticking of the clock reminded me that my day wasn’t over yet.“Sir,” Alex said, stepping into the office, his tone as professional as ever. “You have dinner with your grandfather at 6 PM. Also, Miss Cindy is already there waiting for you.”I groaned inwardly, pinching the bridge of my nose. Of course, Cindy would be there. This wasn’t just dinner. It was another setup, another attempt by my grandfather to shove his plans for my life down my throat.I glanced at the clock. It was already 5:30 PM. There was no avoiding it now. I had to confront him and make it clear to both him and Cindy that I wasn’t playing along with this charade anymore.“Let’s go,” I told Alex, standing and grabbing my jacket.The drive to the villa was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. It raced with thoughts of the argument I knew was coming. By the time we pulled up to the sprawli
Damien’s POVThe sound of the alarm pulled me from sleep. I blinked at the ceiling, disoriented, then glanced beside me. My chest tightened. The bed was empty.She was gone.I sat up slowly, my mind clouded with fragments of last night. Her scent lingered faintly in the air. The sheets were cold and untouched. Why had she leave before I woke up?I remembered last night, but I didn’t have to dwell on it. She was just a stranger, a one-night stand. Nothing more.I forced myself out of bed and into the shower. By the time I was dressed and ready, my mask of indifference was firmly in place. Alex, my secretary, was already waiting for me downstairs, punctual as always.Two hours later, I was seated in the boardroom, surrounded by a dozen executives.“…And lastly,” one of the executives said, signaling the close of the meeting, “The Hortense Group has approached us again. They’re requesting our investment and partnership for their new luxury resort project.”“Hortense?” I asked, my voice s
Ariana's POVThe pounding in my head was relentless, like a drumbeat echoing through my skull. My eyes fluttered open, and I immediately regretted it. The harsh morning light streaming through the curtains only made the pain worse. I groaned softly, pressing my palm against my forehead, hoping the discomfort would subside. Slowly, I turned my head, and then I froze. Where was I?There, beside me, was a man. My heart skipped a beat as I stared at him. His chest rose and fell rhythmically with each steady breath. He appeared to be in his early thirties. He has strong jawline with handsome features,so relaxed that he seemed completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. He was a stranger, someone I didn’t recognize, yet here I was , lying beside him in his bed.I blinked hard, trying to clear the fog in my mind. The events of the previous night flickered through my brain in fragmented flashes,hazy, distorted memories. I remembered him, but only in pieces.The stranger, the kiss. How ha
Damien’s POV I was in my office, immersed in a sea of documents, when a knock pulled me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I called without looking up. Alex, my personal assistant, stepped in, holding a phone. “The chairman is calling, sir.” I sighed and took the phone from him. “What is it now?” “You bastard!” My grandfather’s voice thundered before I could greet him. “You called off the engagement? Do you know how hard I’ve worked to secure Logan Group’s reputation? Get to the villa and fix this mess!” The line went dead before I could reply. Typical. My grandfather, the founder and chairman of Logan Group, had controlled every aspect of my life since my parents died in a plane crash when I was a child. The engagement to Cindy, his best friend’s granddaughter, had been decided before I could even spell "marriage." Cindy was everything I despised.Clingy, fake, and self-absorbed. She wanted me for more power, and I had no intention of becoming her puppet. I ended things days ago,
Ariana's POV“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I stammered, nearly crashing into a waiter holding a tray of drinks. My heels clicked against the white-tiled floor of Silver Foods Restaurant as I rushed toward the private booth at the back.Thirty minutes late. My stomach churned as I glanced at my wristwatch again. I was supposed to meet Daniel at 7:00 PM, and it was nearly 7:30.Why was I running? Well, as ridiculous as it sounds, I was desperate to meet my boyfriend of five years, who’d called me earlier with a tone so cold it sent chills down my spine.“Hey, love,” I’d greeted warmly when I picked up his call.“We need to talk. Meet me at the usual spot.”Before I could ask him what was wrong, he hung up.I had barely caught my breath when I spotted him sitting at our usual table. His broad shoulders were hunched, and he was staring at his phone, oblivious to the bustling restaurant around him.“Danny!” I called, plastering on a smile as I slid into the seat opposite him. “I’m so sorry. Traffic
Ariana's POV“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I stammered, nearly crashing into a waiter holding a tray of drinks. My heels clicked against the white-tiled floor of Silver Foods Restaurant as I rushed toward the private booth at the back.Thirty minutes late. My stomach churned as I glanced at my wristwatch again. I was supposed to meet Daniel at 7:00 PM, and it was nearly 7:30.Why was I running? Well, as ridiculous as it sounds, I was desperate to meet my boyfriend of five years, who’d called me earlier with a tone so cold it sent chills down my spine.“Hey, love,” I’d greeted warmly when I picked up his call.“We need to talk. Meet me at the usual spot.”Before I could ask him what was wrong, he hung up.I had barely caught my breath when I spotted him sitting at our usual table. His broad shoulders were hunched, and he was staring at his phone, oblivious to the bustling restaurant around him.“Danny!” I called, plastering on a smile as I slid into the seat opposite him. “I’m so sorry. Traffic ...
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