Chapter 4: A New Life Begins 

The morning sunlight felt too bright as I stepped out of the car in front of Vale Tower. The city was already buzzing with life, but my head felt heavy with every thought racing at once.

I had signed the contract the night before. My mother’s surgery was paid for. My father’s debts were cleared. On paper, everything was solved.

But nothing about the arrangement felt simple.

Ethan Vale’s words echoed in my mind as I rode the elevator to his office: “Tomorrow, your life is going to change in ways you are not prepared for.”

I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that.

When the elevator doors opened onto the seventy-second floor, Daniel, Ethan’s assistant, was already there. He gave me a polite nod, holding the folder with my signed contract.

“Good morning, Miss Bennett,” he said. “Mr. Vale will see you in five minutes.”

I nodded and stepped toward the panoramic windows, trying to steady my thoughts. The city looked smaller from up here, but the weight pressing on me only grew heavier.

Five minutes later, the doors opened, and Ethan entered. He wore a tailored navy suit that seemed to swallow everything else in the room. His presence alone demanded attention, the kind that made people sit straighter and speak quieter.

He stopped a few feet from me and studied me with that calm, unnerving gaze.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning,” I replied, trying to sound steady. I was not succeeding.

“You slept, I hope?” he asked.

“Enough,” I said, and he raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

“Enough is all I require,” he said simply, turning toward the desk and gesturing for me to follow him to the chair across from him.

As I sat down, I noticed the pile of documents on his desk. Business contracts, agreements, letters—his empire spread across every sheet. And somewhere in that empire, I was now a part of it.

“Let’s discuss the rules of the contract again,” he said. His voice was calm, precise, and utterly in control. “No love, no jealousy, no pregnancy. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I replied.

He leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Good. And remember, any violation will terminate the contract immediately. No exceptions.”

I swallowed. “I understand.”

There was a brief silence before he added, “Now, as part of the arrangement, you will be living in my home. You move in today.”

The words made my stomach tighten. Living under the same roof with the man I barely knew? A man whose name carried weight far beyond this city?

“I… I wasn’t expecting that today,” I said.

“You signed the contract last night,” he reminded me. “It begins immediately.”

I tried to protest, but I knew it would be useless. Ethan Vale was not a man who took ‘no’ for an answer.

He handed me a key card and a folder. “This contains the schedule for your orientation and the staff you will be working with. Everything you need to adjust to your new home is inside.”

I opened the folder, scanning the pages. Mansion staff, personal assistants, security personnel—it was all meticulously organized.

I looked up at him, feeling overwhelmed. “This… this is a lot.”

“It’s a life you agreed to,” he said, his tone flat. “It will require adjustment.”

“I’m not sure I can do this,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s gaze softened for a fraction of a second. Then it hardened again. “You will do this. Not because I demand it, but because your family depends on you. You agreed to this contract.”

I clenched my hands in my lap, trying to steady myself. He was right. My mother needed surgery. My brother needed me to be strong. I had no choice.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of introductions and instructions. Daniel escorted me through the mansion, introducing me to staff who bowed politely and smiled as if they had known me for years. It felt surreal. Every corner of the house was immaculate, furnished with elegance and wealth that made my old apartment feel like a distant memory.

By midday, I found myself alone in the room assigned to me. Large windows let in streams of sunlight, but the luxury around me did little to ease my nerves. I sat on the edge of the bed, folding my hands tightly in my lap.

Then, a soft knock at the door made me jump.

“Enter,” I said.

Ethan walked in, carrying a folder. He didn’t sit. He didn’t smile. He simply stood there, looking at me as though evaluating my every move.

“I wanted to discuss the schedule for the day,” he said.

I nodded, but I was too distracted by the tension between us to focus on his words.

“Living together will not be easy,” he continued. “You will need to follow the rules strictly. Staff will report any violations immediately. There is no leniency.”

“I understand,” I whispered.

His eyes studied mine for a moment. Then he added softly, almost quietly, “And remember, despite appearances, this arrangement is temporary. One year. Not a lifetime.”

I nodded again, unsure if I believed him.

He handed me the folder with my orientation details and turned toward the door. Just before he left, he said, “Dinner is at eight. I expect you to be ready.”

And just like that, he was gone.

I was left alone with the weight of a life I had never imagined one filled with rules, obligations, and the constant presence of a man whose name alone could command the city.

I sank onto the bed, my heart racing.

One year. That was all.

And somehow, I

had a feeling that surviving it was going to be far more complicated than I ever imagined.