Billionaire Ethan Blackwood has everything-except time. His grandfather's ultimatum is clear: marry within a month or lose the empire he's built. Desperate, Ethan turns to the one woman who would rather see him burn-Ivy Sinclair. Years ago, Ethan's ruthless business decisions destroyed Ivy's family, turning her from his best friend into his fiercest rival. Now a self-made fashion mogul, Ivy has sworn never to trust him again. But when her company faces a devastating financial crisis, Ethan offers a deal she can't ignore: one year of marriage in exchange for $50 million. The rules are simple-no love, no emotions, just business. But as they navigate the treacherous world of high society, family betrayals, and a media frenzy determined to expose them, old wounds resurface, and unexpected sparks fly. With secrets threatening to tear them apart and a hidden clause in Ethan's grandfather's will that could ruin everything, Ivy and Ethan must decide: is this marriage just a contract, or is it their second chance at something real?
Ethan's Pov:
Ethan Blackwood sat at his polished oak desk, his fingers resting on the edge of the papers scattered before him. The tall glass windows of his office offered a panoramic view of the city below, but today, even the sprawling metropolis felt distant. He stared blankly at the documents in front of him, his mind racing with one thought: how to fix everything before it was too late.
His grandfather's ultimatum was clear and unyielding. If Ethan didn't marry within a month, he would lose everything-the family empire, the businesses he had carefully built over the years, and his place in the legacy his grandfather had crafted. It was as though all of Ethan's hard work, every sleepless night and every risky decision, had been leading up to this. And now, it was all hanging by a thread.
"Get married, or lose it all," his grandfather's cold voice echoed in his mind.
The thought of it made Ethan's stomach churn. A marriage, he scoffed. He had no desire for a wife, especially not one he didn't choose. But he had no choice. The family name, the businesses, the wealth-it was all intertwined with a single decision. And that decision, much to Ethan's distaste, was to find a bride in the next thirty days.
He pushed back from his desk, pacing the room as the weight of his responsibility pressed down on him. His eyes flickered across the room, landing on the photo frame on the shelf-an image of himself and Ivy Sinclair, once his closest friend. Her laughing eyes, her wild curls, the way she used to challenge him in every debate they had. It seemed like a lifetime ago, before the betrayal, before the fallout that had torn their lives apart.
Ivy.
She was the only woman who could possibly help him now. His former best friend turned bitter rival. He knew she despised him-how could she not? He had destroyed her family. His ruthless business decisions had left Ivy's father bankrupt and her family's once-thriving company in ruins. Ivy had tried to move on, to rebuild her life and her career. But Ethan had seen her rise, from a shattered girl to a powerful woman in the world of investment, and he couldn't help but respect her for it.
But that didn't change the fact that she hated him.
He reached for his phone with a heavy sigh. If she would even agree to talk to him, it would be a miracle. But he had no other choice. His empire depended on it.
The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before Ivy's voice finally came through, cool and clipped. "Ethan."
"Ivy," he replied, his voice steady despite the nerves gnawing at him. "I need your help."
There was a silence on the other end of the line. Ethan could practically hear her assessing the situation, the tension building. It had been years since they last spoke. Too much time had passed for forgiveness, and Ethan knew it.
"I'm listening," Ivy said finally, though her tone was far from warm.
"I need a favor," Ethan continued. "Actually, it's more than a favor. I need you to marry me."
The words hung in the air, heavy and absurd. He could already feel her anger building. He braced himself for the inevitable rejection.
"Marry you?" Ivy's voice was tight with disbelief. "Are you out of your mind, Ethan? After everything that happened, you think I would just agree to something like that?"
"Ivy," he cut in, his voice firm, "it's not what you think. I'm not asking for love. I'm asking for a business arrangement. A contract. You pretend to be my wife for one year. No emotions, no strings attached. In exchange, I'll fund your project-the one you've been working so hard to build."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Ethan could almost feel the shock radiating through the silence. He knew it was a lot to ask, but this was the only way.
"Fifty million dollars, Ivy," Ethan added quickly. "Fifty million for your dream project. You can finally take your vision to the next level."
Ivy was silent, and for a moment, Ethan feared she might hang up. But then, finally, her voice came through, quieter now, but no less sharp.
"You want me to marry you. For one year. And then what? You think I'll just walk away after that, with fifty million in my pocket, and forget everything that happened?"
"I don't expect you to forget," Ethan replied, his voice softer now. "I know what I did. I know how much I hurt you. But this is a chance for you to get everything you've dreamed of, and I... I don't have another option."
Another silence followed. Ethan could hear the weight of her thoughts on the other end of the line. He knew this wasn't easy for her. It wasn't easy for him either.
"Fine," Ivy finally said, her voice cold but resolute. "One year. And after that, we go our separate ways. No feelings. No complications."
Ethan felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. "Thank you. I'll have the paperwork ready."
"Don't think this means anything to me, Ethan," Ivy warned, her voice steady but laced with bitterness. "This is strictly business. Nothing more."
Ethan's lips twitched into a small smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
In the eyes of the public, Elijah was ever the gentleman, always distant and reserved. But behind closed doors, he was an animal who relentlessly ensnared Ashley in a web of lust. No one knew of their secret relationship, yet at the same time, no one dared to bully her again. Then one day, she was hit with morning sickness right in front of everyone. To everyone’s shock, the aloof and domineering Elijah quickly knelt in front of her and caressed her pregnant belly. “Babe,” he crooned, “let’s go public with our relationship. I will give you my everything.”
[Cute Baby + Secret Identity + Powerful hero and heroine!] Caroline loved Damian with all her heart for five whole years. She devoted herself to him and lived humbly for his sake. However, when the couple faced a crisis, she hoped that the news of her pregnancy would fix their marriage, but what she got in return was just a divorce agreement. And to make things worse, while she was about to give birth, she had fallen into someone's trap and her life was in danger. After managing to survive such a harrowing experience, she was determined to cut all ties with the man. Five years later, she re-emerged with her head held high, being the CEO of a famous company. Those who used to bully her now got a taste of their own medicine. And the truth about the past gradually surfaced... Dazzled by Caroline's newfound confidence, her ex-husband wanted to get back together with her, but she just turned a blind eye to his advances. Damian pleaded desperately, "Honey, our baby needs both his parents. Please remarry me!"