The Night That Changed

Everything

The heavy rain poured down on the silent streets of the city.

Emily Carter stood outside the hospital, her clothes completely wet and her hands trembling. Her eyes were red from crying.

Inside the hospital, her father was fighting for his life.

The doctor had just said something that shattered her world.

"We need the surgery money tonight. Otherwise… we can't continue the treatment."

Emily’s heart felt like it had stopped beating.

"How much…?" she asked in a shaking voice.

"Fifty thousand dollars."

The number echoed in her mind like a nightmare.

Fifty thousand.

For someone like Emily, that amount was impossible.

She had already sold everything she owned. Her small apartment, her jewelry, even her mother's old ring.

But it still wasn't enough.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Emily quickly answered.

"Hello?"

A cold female voice came from the other side.

"Emily Carter?"

"Yes…"

"You applied for a job at Knight Group yesterday, right?"

Emily’s heart skipped a beat.

Knight Group.

The biggest and most powerful company in the entire city.

"Yes! Yes, I did!"

"You need money, right?" the woman said calmly.

Emily froze.

"How do you know that?"

There was a small laugh on the other side.

"Because someone is willing to pay you."

Emily's breath became heavy.

"Pay me… for what?"

The woman paused before speaking again.

"For marrying him."

Emily felt like lightning struck her.

"M-marriage?"

"Yes."

The woman continued in a cold tone.

"A contract marriage with the CEO of Knight Group."

Emily's mind went blank.

The CEO of Knight Group.

Everyone knew his name.

Alexander Knight.

The youngest billionaire in the country.

Cold. Powerful. Untouchable.

But also known as the most dangerous man in the business world.

Emily swallowed nervously.

"This… this must be a joke."

"It's not."

"If you marry him for one year, you will receive one million dollars."

Emily’s heart almost exploded.

One million.

Her father's surgery would be nothing compared to that.

But something felt very wrong.

"Why me?" Emily asked slowly.

The woman answered without emotion.

"Because Mr. Knight needs a wife immediately."

"And after one year… you will disappear from his life."

Emily looked at the hospital building behind her.

Her father was dying.

She had no choice.

Her voice trembled as she whispered…

"I… I agree."

The woman replied instantly.

"Good."

"Come to Knight Mansion tonight at 10 PM."

Emily nodded even though the woman couldn't see her.

"O-okay…"

The call ended.

Emily stood in the rain, her heart racing.

She didn't know it yet…

But that decision would change her life forever.

Because the man she had just agreed to marry…

Was a man who didn't believe in love at all.

And what Emily didn't know…

Was that Alexander Knight was already watching her through the dark window of a black luxury car parked across the street.

His cold eyes studied her carefully.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Is she the girl?"

The man sitting beside him nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Knight."

Alexander leaned back slowly.

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

"Perfect."

"But she has no idea…"

His voice turned dangerously quiet.

"...what kind of marriage she just agreed to."

And at that exact moment…

Emily received a message on her phone.

She opened it.

Her blood froze instantly.

The message said:

"Welcome to the marriage, Mrs. Knight."

And below the message…

Was a photo.

A photo of Alexander Knight standing right behind her.

Emily slowly turned around.

Her heart stopped.

Because the most powerful billionaire in the city…

Was standing just a few steps away from her.

Emily slowly turned around.

Her heart was beating so fast that she could hear it in her ears.

And then she saw him.

A tall man stood behind her, holding a black umbrella. The rain fell around him, but not a single drop touched his expensive suit.

His sharp eyes were cold and unreadable.

Emily immediately recognized him.

There was no way she wouldn’t.

Every business magazine in the country had his face on the cover.

Alexander Knight.

The most powerful billionaire in the city.

Emily’s hands started shaking.

"H-hello…" she said nervously.

Alexander didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his dark eyes slowly looked at her from head to toe.

Her wet clothes.

Her trembling hands.

Her frightened expression.

After a moment, he spoke in a calm but cold voice.

"So… you're Emily Carter."

Emily quickly nodded.

"Y-yes, Mr. Knight."

Alexander walked closer.

The air around him felt heavy and dangerous.

"You agreed to marry me."

It wasn't a question.

It was a statement.

Emily swallowed.

"I… I did."

Alexander stared at her for a few seconds before saying something unexpected.

"Good."

Emily blinked in surprise.

That was it?

No explanation?

No questions?

Alexander turned toward the black luxury car parked nearby.

"Get in."

Emily hesitated.

"Now."

His voice became slightly colder.

Emily quickly followed him.

Inside the car, everything looked incredibly expensive.

Soft leather seats.

Dim lights.

A driver sat quietly in the front.

Alexander sat beside Emily, his expression completely emotionless.

The car started moving.

For a few minutes, there was only silence.

Emily finally gathered the courage to speak.

"Mr. Knight…"

Alexander didn’t look at her.

"Speak."

Emily nervously held her hands together.

"This marriage… it's just a contract, right?"

Alexander finally turned his head toward her.

His eyes were sharp.

"Of course."

Relief filled Emily’s chest.

Alexander continued speaking.

"You will live in my mansion."

"You will attend events with me."

"You will act like my wife in public."

Emily nodded slowly.

That sounded simple enough.

But then Alexander added something that made her heart freeze.

"But remember one thing."

His voice turned dangerously cold.

"You will never fall in love with me."

Emily looked at him in shock.

Alexander leaned slightly closer.

"Because I will never love you."

The words felt like ice.

Emily forced a small smile.

"Don't worry."

"I wasn't planning to."

For the first time, Alexander looked slightly amused.

But the moment disappeared quickly.

The car stopped in front of a massive gate.

Emily looked outside and gasped.

In front of her stood a huge mansion.

It looked more like a palace than a house.

"This is… your house?"

Alexander stepped out of the car.

"Welcome to Knight Mansion."

The giant gates slowly opened.

As Emily walked inside, dozens of servants lined up in two rows.

They all bowed respectfully.

"Welcome, Mr. Knight."

Emily felt overwhelmed.

Alexander walked forward like a king returning to his castle.

Then suddenly he stopped.

He looked back at Emily.

"Tomorrow morning…"

"we get married."

Emily’s eyes widened.

"T-tomorrow?!"

Alexander nodded calmly.

"The contract starts immediately."

Emily felt her mind spinning.

Everything was happening too fast.

But before she could say anything…

A loud female voice suddenly echoed through the mansion.

"STOP THIS WEDDING!"

Emily turned toward the staircase.

A beautiful but furious woman was standing there.

Her eyes burned with anger as she stared directly at Emily.

Then she shouted loudly…

"Alexander cannot marry a poor nobody like you!"

Emily felt the entire room fall silent.

The woman slowly walked down the stairs.

Her high heels echoed across the marble floor.

She stopped right in front of Emily.

Then she smirked.

"Let me introduce myself."

Her voice was cold and arrogant.

"I'm Sophia Blake."

"And I am the woman who was supposed to marry Alexander Knight."

Emily's heart dropped.

But what Sophia said next shocked everyone in the room.

She looked directly at Emily and said with a cruel smile…

"And if you don't leave right now…"

"I'll make sure you regret being born.”