The rain poured relentlessly, hammering against the glass windows of the upscale restaurant where Lin Xinyi sat, her fingers clenched around the stem of her untouched wine glass. The candlelight flickered, casting shadows over her pale face, but even the dim lighting couldn't hide the turmoil in her dark, stormy eyes.
Across from her sat the man she had avoided for years Chen Wei, the untouchable CEO of Chen Group.
Dressed in a tailored black suit that hugged his tall, lean frame, he looked every bit as powerful as the rumors claimed. His sharp jawline, chiseled features, and piercing gaze made him devastatingly handsome, yet utterly unapproachable. He was the kind of man who could command a room without uttering a single word. The kind of man who destroyed anyone who dared to stand in his way.
And now, that man was offering her a deal she couldn't refuse.
"You still haven't changed, Xinyi," Chen Wei said, his deep voice sending an unwelcome shiver down her spine. "Still as stubborn as ever."
Xinyi inhaled sharply, forcing herself to remain calm. If she showed even a hint of weakness, he would pounce. That was the kind of predator he was.
"My answer is still no," she said firmly, gripping the edge of the table.
A ghost of a smirk curled on Chen Wei's lips, but his eyes remained cold. "You're not in a position to refuse."
Her nails dug into her palm. She knew that.
She had spent years building a life away from the shadows of her family's past, trying to escape the cage they had placed her in. But when her father's company fell into ruin, and the debt collectors started circling like vultures, everything came crashing down.
She had no way out.
And Chen Wei knew it.
"I'll clear all your father's debts," he said smoothly, as if they were discussing nothing more than a simple business transaction. "In exchange, you'll marry me."
Xinyi's heart pounded violently in her chest.
Marriage?
Her fingers tightened around the stem of her glass. "Why me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You have countless women throwing themselves at you."
Chen Wei leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Because I don't trust easily. And you, Lin Xinyi, are the only one I know who won't fall in love with me."
A sharp, painful silence followed.
Xinyi's breath caught in her throat. That was why? Because he knew she hated him?
She should have felt relieved. At least he wasn't pretending this was about love. But somehow, hearing him say it so casually sent a strange ache through her chest.
Chen Wei pulled out a sleek black folder and slid it across the table toward her.
Marriage contract.
"Everything you need to know is in there," he said, his voice as emotionless as ever. "Sign it, and your father's company will be saved. Refuse, and I walk away."
Xinyi swallowed hard.
She slowly reached for the folder, her fingers trembling slightly as she flipped it open. Her eyes scanned the first page—
Marriage duration: One year.
No physical intimacy unless agreed upon.
Public appearances required.
Confidentiality is mandatory.
Her chest tightened. One year.
Just one year in this contract marriage, and then she would be free.
It sounded simple enough.
But nothing was ever simple when it came to Chen Wei.
She glanced up at him, searching for any sign of emotion in his dark eyes. But there was nothing. No warmth. No hesitation. Just cold, calculated determination.
A part of her wanted to say no. To fight back, walk away, and find another way to save her father's company.
But deep down, she already knew the truth.
There was no other way.
Her fingers trembled as she picked up the pen.
And as she signed her name on the contract, she knew she had just sold her soul to the devil.
Chen Wei's smirk returned, slow and victorious.
"Good girl," he murmured, taking the contract from her hands.
Lin Xinyi felt her stomach drop.
There was no turning back now.
She was his.