Ethan Carter never believed in forever.
To him, forever was just a lie people told themselves—
a fragile illusion to escape the truth.
Everything ended.
Deals expired.
People walked away.
Feelings… faded.
That was why he trusted only one thing.
Contracts.
Because contracts didn't betray you.
"You have three months."
The words cut through the silence like a blade.
Ethan didn't look up. His eyes remained fixed on the document in his hand.
"For what?"
"To get married."
Now he paused.
Slowly… he lifted his gaze.
His sharp eyes locked onto his grandfather's calm, unshakable expression.
"You're joking."
"I don't joke about legacy."
The room grew heavier.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, jaw tightening. "Marriage isn't a business deal."
His grandfather didn't blink.
"It is now."
A pause.
Then—
"No wife, no inheritance. No inheritance… no Carter Holdings."
Silence fell.
Thick. Suffocating.
For the first time in a long while… Ethan felt cornered.
Then he exhaled.
Cold. Controlled.
"Fine," he said.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I'll turn it into one."
Across the city—
Luna Hayes was running out of time.
She stood frozen outside her apartment door, staring at the notice taped to it.
FINAL WARNING.
The bold red letters felt like a countdown to her collapse.
Her fingers trembled as she tore it off.
"Just a little more time…" she whispered.
But even she knew—
Time was something she didn't have.
No family.
No support.
No safety net.
Just debt.
Endless, suffocating debt.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She hesitated.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
"Miss Luna Hayes."
The voice on the other end was calm. Professional. Almost too precise.
"We have a proposal for you."
Her brows furrowed. "I'm not interested in loans."
"This isn't a loan."
A pause.
Then—
"It's a marriage contract."
Her world… stilled.
"I think you have the wrong person."
"We don't."
The voice didn't waver.
"You will marry Mr. Ethan Carter for one year. In return, all your financial problems will disappear."
Her heart started pounding.
"A fake marriage…?"
"Yes."
"And after one year?"
"You walk away."
Walk away.
The words felt unreal.
Dangerous.
Tempting.
Too tempting.
"Why me?" she asked quietly.
Silence.
Then—
"Because you have nothing to lose."
The line went dead.
Luna stood there, frozen.
Nothing to lose.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"Yeah…" she whispered.
"Maybe I don't."
That night—
She stood in front of a towering glass building.
Carter Holdings.
A place she never imagined entering.
But tonight…
She walked in anyway.
Inside, everything felt… perfect.
Too perfect.
Cold. Controlled. Untouchable.
Just like him.
Ethan Carter.
He stood by the window, his back to her.
Still. Silent. Dominant.
"You're late."
His voice came before she could speak.
Luna frowned. "I'm right on time."
He turned.
And for a moment—
It felt like being examined.
His gaze was sharp. Calculating.
Like he could see through everything.
Good.
She didn't like him already.
Ethan studied her.
Simple clothes. Tired eyes.
But beneath that—
Strength.
That caught his interest.
"You understand the terms?" he asked.
"One year marriage," Luna replied. "No feelings. No interference. Then we walk away."
"Correct."
"And in return… you fix my life."
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"And the catch?"
Ethan stepped closer.
Too close.
The air shifted.
"Once you sign…" his voice dropped, colder now,
"You don't leave early."
Her breath faltered.
"What does that mean?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"It means—for one year…"
He paused.
"…you belong to this contract."
Not marriage.
Not partnership.
A contract.
A cage.
Luna looked down at the paper in her hands.
Something about it felt wrong.
Dangerous.
Irreversible.
"Last chance," Ethan said.
"Walk away."
She looked at him.
Then at the contract.
Then back at him.
Slowly—
She picked up the pen.
"I don't run."
And she signed.
That was the moment everything changed.
Because Luna Hayes didn't just sign a contract—
She stepped into a trap.
And once inside…
Getting out wouldn't be that easy.