Chapter 4

Julius's Point of View

"It's too urgent, please..." she tried to speak, but I cut her off.

"I'm not begging you for this," I said sharply, then glanced at my wristwatch and added coldly, "There's still time for you to tell your family, if you even have any."

Her face fell instantly.

Was she upset because I questioned whether she had a family left? But was I wrong to say it?

**Earlier that day**

"Dad, I'll be getting married in two days," I announced the moment I stepped into his villa.

His eyes widened, shock flashing across his face. And honestly, who wouldn't be shocked?

Two days ago, this same man, my father had looked me in the eye and said he was planning to make my elder brother his heir. My elder brother. The lazy, extravagant fool who had done nothing but drain money from the family name, while I had bled sweat and time to build this empire with my own hands.

To my utter surprise, my father had given me an ultimatum: "Get married, then you and your brother will compete to prove who deserves to be the heir."

Married? Just like that?

Of course, I knew I was far more competent than my brother. He could never measure up to me in any competition; business or otherwise. But the problem was, I had no intention of getting married anytime soon. Not after what that bitch Hope had done to me.

That night, I tossed and turned, my mind burning. I couldn't afford to lose everything I had worked for because of a stupid requirement. Then it struck me, an idea so reckless, yet perfect.

If my father wanted me married, then I would give him exactly that. Not a real wife, but someone who could play the role long enough for me to prove myself. A contract wife.

And that is exactly why I'm here, to tell my father the news: I was getting married.

He looked thrilled, relieved even. He had no idea that I hadn't even found the woman yet.

Without wasting time, I went to meet with Dr. Luke. Fate, however, had its own plans. Just as I was about to step into his office, a woman bumped into me.

"Hey, watch it," I snapped, irritated.

She didn't even apologize. Not a word. She just hurried away, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"Who's she?" I asked Dr. Luke.

He sighed. "Her mother's admitted here. They can't even afford dialysis, let alone the surgery."

That was interesting. Enticing, in fact.

"She has no money, but she has this passion to save her mother," Dr. Luke revealed.

A sharp grin crept onto my face. Perfect.

She was desperate to save her mother's life, and I was desperate to prove myself worthy of being my father's heir. We could help each other.

"What's her name?" I asked.

"Diva Scott," he replied.

I pulled out my phone and searched her profile. Within seconds, the truth flashed before my eyes, her father and brother had died in a ghastly motor accident. No wonder she clung so tightly to her mother.

**Back to the present**

"Take this number," I said, handing her a card. "Call her. She'll give you whatever you need for the wedding."

Her hands trembled as she accepted it, her lips pressed together, her silence louder than any words.

 The Wedding Day

Narrator's point of view 

**Baron's Villa – 11:35 a.m.**

The Baron mansion glittered with luxury as guests arrived for the sudden wedding. Flashy cars filled the garage, and inside the hall, carefully arranged for the ceremony elegant decorations sparkled under crystal chandeliers.

Whispers rippled through the crowd: Who is this mysterious bride?

It was, of course, a surprise that Julius had suddenly decided to marry, despite his repeated claims that he wouldn't wed anytime soon. All the guests were eager to see the woman who had captured Julius's heart so completely that he had decided to marry her on such short notice.

Baron, beaming with pride that his son was finally getting married, moved around the hall, greeting the dignitaries present for the ceremony.

And after a while, Diva found herself standing before Julius, her heart pounding and her mind a storm of swirling thoughts.

The officiating priest stood solemnly in front of them, and after a tense pause, they exchanged vows before his imposing family.

Julius's father watched with piercing intensity, while his mother's eyes held a skeptical sharpness as Diva hesitated, just for a heartbeat, before speaking her own vows.

A cold, uneasy feeling clawed at Mrs Baron's chest, something was terribly amiss. But she pushed it down, vowing to confront it later. For now, she would play her part.

From the crowd, Silvester's gaze burned into Diva, icy and unrelenting. Every time her eyes flicked across the assembly, they landed on him, and his stare never wavered. In that moment, she felt exposed, hunted, a lone prey trapped in a den of predators.

After they finished exchanging vows, the priest's voice rang out: "You may kiss the bride."

Diva's heart skipped a beat. It had never crossed her mind that Julius would kiss her, after all, he had made it abundantly clear that kissing was not part of their contract.

Conflicted and tense, she barely had time to brace herself before Julius closed the distance between them. His lips met hers firm, commanding a gesture for the crowd, yet it left her breathless, every nerve on fire.

Instinctively, she responded, forcing herself to play along, her mind spinning even as her body betrayed a flutter of surprise and something dangerously close to desire.

Julius pulled away from the kiss, and the hall erupted in loud cheers and applause. Some guests even screamed his name, and he couldn't help but smile inwardly.

Diva had played her part perfectly. He knew that with that kiss, every lingering doubt had been silenced. Now, all he could do was hope she could maintain the act.

As the newlyweds began to leave the hall, Silvester slid up to Julius with a sly, almost predatory smile.

"Congratulations," he whispered.

"Thanks," Julius replied cautiously, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Silvester leaned closer, his voice low and venomous. "She won't last. And neither will you."

Diva caught the words and shivered, a cold realization creeping over her. She had stepped into a dangerous game, one where the stakes were far higher than she had ever imagined.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Julius demanded, trying to keep his voice composed, though beneath the surface, his anger boiled.

"You heard me right," Silvester said with a disparaging smile.

Just then, their mother's voice cut through the tension.

"Diva." She stepped closer, her gaze steady and unflinching. "I want to have a word with you..."

"Not now," Julius cut in abruptly.

"Mom, the conversation should wait for some other day. We're heading for the after party." He added.

"But can't we just..." Diva tried speaking when Julius cut in.

"It's fine dear." 

"Hm... congratulations!" Mrs Baron hesitantly said and returned her gaze to Diva.

Without saying a word, she left. And at that moment, diva felt knots tied in her stomach.

With the look in Julius's mother's face, she could tell something was obviously wrong. 

<The next day>

Julius didn’t bother knocking.

He pushed the door open, stepping into the room where he’d told Diva to sleep after the wedding. He’d spent the night out, needing space to clear his head, to make sense of the whirlwind their lives had become.

But nothing could’ve prepared him for what he saw.

The bed, white sheets stained deep red.

He froze, breath caught in his throat, eyes locked on the scene like it might change if he blinked. His mind raced, refusing to land on the most obvious conclusion.

What the hell happened?

“Diva!” His voice cut through the silence.

She stepped out from the bathroom, a towel clutched to her chest. Her eyes were swollen, rimmed with red, her face streaked with tears.

And suddenly, everything inside him turned cold.

“Julius, it’s not what you think,” she said quickly, voice trembling.

His jaw tightened. Fury surged beneath his skin, hot and uncontrollable.

“You slept with someone else?” he asked, his voice low, sharp, and dangerous.

Julius’s blood roared in his ears, his rage boiling over like a storm he could no longer contain.

The thought clawed at him, on their wedding night, in the very bed meant to seal their act, had she really betrayed him this cruelly?

His chest heaved, his fists clenched at his sides as his mind twisted with fury and disbelief.

How was he supposed to keep this contract alive, to keep up this charade, if she had shattered it in the very beginning?

Diva’s lips trembled, her eyes pleading, yet something in her silence felt heavier than any denial.

And then, before she could utter another word, there was a knock at the door.