Rain poured relentlessly outside the tall arched windows of the old cathedral, as though the heavens themselves were mourning the union about to take place. Inside, the air was thick with tension, a silence louder than thunder. Every guest sat perfectly still, unsure whether to congratulate the bride—or offer her condolences.
Alina Wu stood at the end of the aisle, her white wedding dress clinging to her skin despite the heavy fabric. Her veil concealed her face, but beneath it, her eyes were wide, her lips bloodless. She looked like a porcelain doll—fragile and terrified.
Her fingers trembled as she gripped the bouquet, white roses with just a hint of crimson at the edges. Symbolic, perhaps, of her current fate: beauty tainted by sacrifice.
At the altar stood Leonard Xu.
The man everyone feared.
CEO of Xu Corporation, billionaire before thirty, cold-hearted, ruthless in business—and, as the tabloids loved to say, emotionally unavailable. Clad in a custom-tailored black suit, he looked like he'd stepped out of a fashion magazine. But his expression could freeze fire.
His gaze was steady as she approached, dark eyes devoid of emotion. No warmth. No welcome. Just obligation.
The priest cleared his throat. "We are gathered here today..."
Alina heard the rest of the words like a faint buzz in her ears. Her mind was elsewhere—six days ago, to be exact.
Six Days Ago
"Dad, please tell me this is a joke."
Alina stared at her father across the mahogany desk. Wu Cong, former real estate magnate, now sat hunched like a man twice his age. His eyes—once so confident—were hollow.
"I wish it were, Lina." His voice cracked. "But the debt collectors have given us until Friday. Either we pay them, or they take the house, the company—everything."
Alina swallowed the lump in her throat. "And marrying Leonard Xu will... fix this?"
Her father nodded slowly, shame burning in his eyes. "His grandfather and I were old friends. Leonard agreed... but on one condition. The marriage must be legal. Binding."
"Why me?"
"Because he asked for you."
That part made no sense. She'd met Leonard Xu once, briefly, at a charity gala two years ago. They hadn't even spoken. What kind of man agreed to marry a near-stranger just to help an old man's family?
Or... what kind of man had other motives?
Alina didn't sleep for two nights. But when the eviction notice arrived, and her mother collapsed from stress, she knew she had no choice.
Now
The priest continued, "Do you, Leonard Xu, take Alina Wu to be your lawfully wedded wife—"
"I do," Leonard said smoothly, without hesitation.
The words sliced through Alina like cold wind.
"And do you, Alina Wu—"
"I... I do." Her voice barely came out, strangled by the knot in her throat.
"You may now exchange rings."
Leonard reached for her hand. His fingers were warm—but his touch felt mechanical, clinical. He slid the diamond ring onto her finger without once looking into her eyes.
When it was her turn, she did the same. Her hands shook so much, the band nearly fell. Leonard didn't flinch.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
A polite applause followed. It was shallow, forced. No smiles. No cheer.
Leonard stepped forward and, in a move that shocked her, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Let's go," he whispered.
She didn't speak. She followed.
The car that waited for them outside was a black Bentley, sleek and spotless. Leonard opened the door for her, a gesture that felt more like formality than affection.
Inside, the silence stretched like a taut wire.
Alina glanced at him. "Mr. Xu—"
"We're married now. Call me Leonard."
There was no softness in the correction.
She nodded. "Leonard, I just wanted to say... thank you. For helping my family."
He turned to face her, one brow raised slightly. "I didn't do it for charity, Alina. Let's get that clear."
Her heart sank. "Then why?"
There was a pause. Then, "I needed a wife. You were available. Our arrangement served both parties."
Alina bit her lip. "So this really is... just a contract."
Leonard didn't answer. He looked out the window, rain sliding down the glass like tears neither of them would shed.
They arrived at a towering penthouse in the city's most exclusive district. When the elevator opened, Alina stepped into a space that could have belonged to royalty—polished marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a view of the skyline that stole her breath.
"This will be your room." Leonard gestured to the left hallway. "Mine is down the other side."
Two separate rooms. Of course.
"Do you have any rules for this marriage?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.
He looked at her like he was reading her soul.
"Don't meddle in my business. Don't ask questions you don't want answered. And don't fall in love with me."
Alina froze. "Excuse me?"
He walked past her, shrugging off his coat. "I've seen what happens when emotions complicate arrangements. It's best if we keep this... clean."
"And what happens if you fall for me?" she asked, the words escaping before she could stop them.
Leonard turned slightly, eyes gleaming with amusement—or was it disdain?
"I don't fall, Alina."
That night, Alina lay awake in the massive guest bed, staring at the crystal chandelier above her. She was no longer a Wu. She was now Mrs. Xu.
A wife.
But not a partner.
Not even a companion.
Just a placeholder.
She curled into herself, pulling the blankets tighter. Her wedding dress had been exchanged for silk nightwear, her tiara replaced by a hollow ache.
What had she agreed to?
And why did Leonard Xu—CEO, billionaire, coldest man in the city—need a wife in the first place?
She didn't know the answers yet.
But something told her this marriage of convenience was anything but convenient.