Chapter 1 One Billion Dollar
(Sara’s POV)
The rain lashes down mercilessly. Midnight drapes over the city like a black velvet cloak. My white Christian bridal gown is soaked, sticking to my trembling body. My veil drifts over my face, wet and heavy.
I run. Barefoot. My chest heaves, my lungs burn.
Behind me, the sounds of pursuit shouts, heavy footsteps, rough laughter echo through the empty streets.
The goons. My fiancé’s men, I stumble on the slippery pavement. My hands clutch my dress, my feet nearly giving way under the wet weight of the gown. Tears mix with the rain, washing streaks of fear down my cheeks.
“Stop her!” a voice bellows, My heart jumps. I run faster, adrenaline screaming through my veins.
Then, out of the darkness, a sleek black car screeches to a halt in front of me. Its headlights slice through the rain, blinding me for a moment.
Without thinking, I throw open the door and dive inside.
“Please help me!” I cry, shivering violently, The door slams shut. Silence, Then the engine roars to life. A shadow moves outside the car.
The goons freeze mid-chase, mouths opening in disbelief. “Wilson?” one gasps, barely able to form the word.
Michael doesn’t answer. His eyes are deep black, with a hint of red in them, and his hair is perfectly styled. He has fair skin, sharp features, and a gym-toned body. His name is MICHAEL WILSON the man who changed everything. Anyone could lose their mind just by looking at
Then, with one blow, chaos erupts.
Fists fly. Bodies crash. The goons scream, stagger, fall. Each strike is precise, brutal. No hesitation. Within moments, every single man is writhing on the rain-slicked ground, moaning in pain, defeated.
I am soaked through, trembling, barely able to breathe. My gown clings to me like a second skin. I stare at him, frozen, heart hammering.
He finally turns to me. His gaze sweeps me from head to toe, taking in my drenched veil, my bare feet, my shaking hands. Then, his voice, deep and calm, cuts through the rain “Where were you going?”
I swallow hard. My throat tightens, and my voice cracks, “Please… help me get out of this mess,” I say, my hands shaking. “I ran away from my wedding because my fiancé was cheating on me. I was forced to marry him for money. My little sister is in the hospital… she needs treatment. I have no one else, I am in desperate need of one billion dollars.”
Tears blur my vision, but I don’t look away from him, “I’m begging you,” I continue, desperation spilling out. “Please marry me just for one month “
His eyes are narrow and unreadable. He says nothing, I rush my words, afraid he’ll refuse.
“No love. No intimacy. No emotions,” I say quickly. “You live your life, I live mine. Just… help me survive this one month.”
I take a shaky breath, “Think of it as a deal. A business arrangement,” I add. “After one month, I’ll make my own arrangements and leave your life completely. I promise.”
Silence stretches between us. My heart pounds painfully in my chest as I wait, He studies me from head to toe, his gaze sharp, assessing, cold. Then, finally, he speaks his voice calm, firm, emotionless, “Okay.”
The single word hits me like a shock, I look at him, stunned, barely believing what I just heard. My shoulders sag in relief, and my breath trembles as it escapes my lips. “Thank you” I whisper, my voice breaking.
Michael opens the car door for me. “Get in.”
I obey without question.
The car speeds through the rain-slicked streets, taking me away from my nightmare.
Finally, it stops in front of a grand, white mansion, illuminated by chandeliers and guarded at every corner. Lush gardens, sparkling waterfalls, a swimming pool glistening under the moonlight. My breath catches.
The car door opens. Michael steps out. He pulls me out of the car by my wrist and strides toward the mansion.
On the left, there’s a large swimming pool; on the right, a sparkling waterfall. Bodyguards stand alert in every corner.
The car halts in front of the mansion. The entire building is painted white, with huge letters across it “DEVIL’S DEN” I stare in confusion, caught between awe and fear.
He steps out of the car, walking around to my side. Without saying a word, he pulls me out of the car and, holding my wrist, drags me inside the mansion.
The moment we step inside, I freeze. His house is breathtaking, luxuriously designed, with every corner radiating opulence. The chandeliers glow like frozen fire, scattering crystal light across the marble floor that gleams under my trembling feet.
The walls are lined with huge, framed portraits of him, each one capturing a different shade of his dangerously handsome face. I can see the sharp angles of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes, the commanding aura that makes him seem untouchable. I glance around, awed and terrified at the same time.
He doesn’t give me a second to absorb my surroundings. Still holding my wrist firmly, he pulls me straight into the room. His steps are fast, controlled, as if he already knows every corner of this house. Once inside, he releases my hand and gestures toward the bed.
“Sit,” he says, his voice flat.
I sit down immediately, my heart racing. Tears burn my eyes, but I force myself to stay quiet.
He removes his coat and shoes calmly, then stands in front of me, his posture tall and intimidating.
“Listen carefully,” he says. “From this moment on, you will follow my rules.”
I look up at him, scared but attentive, “You will not leave this house without my permission,” he continues. “You will not talk to any stranger. No calls, no meetings, no secrets.”
My hands tighten in my lap, “You will not do anything against my will,” he adds coldly. “And no one here will force you to do anything. As long as you follow my rules, you are safe.”
I blink, surprised. That’s not what I expected.
He pauses for a second, then says, “This is a contract marriage. Nothing more. Don’t expect emotions.”
I nod quickly, a small, relieved smile breaking through my fear, “Okay,” I say softly. “I’ll follow everything.”
For the first time, I feel like I can breathe.
He watches me for a moment, “Rest,” he says.
As he leaves the room, the door closing softly behind him, I realize something terrifying and strange at the same time.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!