LOGINLivia Shelby, 19, is forced into marriage with Damian Alexander - a ruthless CEO with a cold heart. Hate simmers beneath the surface, and sometimes it blurs the line between resentment and desire. But what happens when the love that grows between them is bound by a contract... and forbidden to be spoken?
View MoreA young, beautiful woman-no more than nineteen-sat quietly in the corner of an upscale café. She looked nervous, her hands folded neatly in her lap, and a glass of untouched iced coffee sweating on the table before her.
Her father's voice echoed in her head:
'Livia, you must please Mr. Alexander. Do whatever it takes to win him over. This marriage is our last chance.'She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to block it out-but it was impossible. That one sentence had carved itself into her bones. It wasn't a plea. It was an order-from her so-called biological father, demanding repayment for the nineteen years he had "sheltered" her.
She straightened her spine, practicing a smile. Then another. And another.
'No matter what happens today,' she told herself, 'you just have to smile.'
A polite cough startled her.
"Miss Livia Shelby?"
She jumped up. It was the assistant-the same man who had picked her up earlier.
And behind him... a man walked in.
No-strode in.
The café seemed to shift the moment he entered. Damian Alexander wasn't just any man-he looked like someone who owned the world and expected everyone in it to bow.
Livia's breath caught. Her first time seeing him... and her entire body was already trembling.
This must be Damian Alexander. The man who would become her husband-or to be exact, her new boss.
Damian didn't waste a second. He sat down like he owned the chair, the café, the air around them. The assistant pulled out a thick brown envelope and placed it on the table with a practiced motion.
Damian barely glanced at her before sliding the envelope across the table. "Read it."
Livia blinked. "Y-yes, Sir."
She opened it with trembling fingers. The first sentence hit like a slap:
The second party must obey and listen to the first party in all matters during the duration of the marriage. The first party is the rule.Her brain froze for a second.
'So... he's the law? Like, literally? Am I marrying a husband or a human constitution?'
But she caught herself in time and forced a smile. "Uh... just to clarify, this means I... should obey everything you say?"
Damian raised an eyebrow, amused. "Exactly."
"Oh. Wonderful. I-I like clarity." She gave a tiny, overly enthusiastic nod, like a schoolgirl who'd just passed a pop quiz. "It's very efficient."
He ignored her sarcasm-or didn't notice.
"Three rules."
She sat up straighter, ready.
"One-never interfere in my personal affairs. Especially my relationships with other women."
Livia blinked once. Then twice. "Okay," she said brightly, as if she'd just agreed to water the plants.
"Two-fulfill your role as my wife. Quietly."
"Yes, Sir. Quiet wife. Got it. Like a ninja wife."
He paused. "...What?"
"Nothing, Sir."
Damian eyed her, suspicious.
"Three-never embarrass me in public. Keep your behavior proper, presentable, and silent."
"Absolutely, Sir. I can be very... invisible when needed." She gave a polite smile that trembled at the edges.
A long silence followed.
Damian leaned back in his chair, observing her.
"You agree to all of that without even thinking?"
Livia nodded quickly. "Yes, Sir! I mean-what's there to think about? I'm very... agreeable. Very obedient. I-I take instructions like a pro."
Damian tilted his head. "Are you always this desperate to please?"
She froze, then laughed a little too loudly. "Oh no, not at all! I mean, yes-but also no. I just-uh-want this marriage to be... successful."
She mentally kicked herself. What does that even mean? Successful like a business merger?
Damian's lips curved into something that almost resembled amusement. "You're strange."
"I've heard that before," she muttered.
He stood up abruptly. "That's all for now. Brown will give you the detailed list later when he drives you home."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you for... the clarity."
Damian turned and walked out, his presence fading like a cold wind sweeping through the room.
Livia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her back was soaked in sweat.
Rule One: Don't interfere.
Rule Two: Be silent. Rule Three: Be a ghost.She grabbed her iced coffee and chugged it in one go, muttering to herself,
"Easy. Totally manageable. I'm basically halfway to being wallpaper already.""Miss Livia Shelby, shall we?" Assistant Brown interrupted, standing by the door with an unreadable expression. He gestured toward the exit, signaling it was time to leave.
Livia nodded and stood up, clutching the contract papers as she followed him out.
The car ride was silent at first. Livia stared down at the envelope, her head throbbing from the overwhelming content. Inside were dozens of pages, like an exam she hadn't studied for.
Just as she was about to put the contract aside, Assistant Brown's voice broke the quiet from the driver's seat.
"These are the rules you must follow after becoming the young master's wife. I've written everything down in detail."Livia didn't know much about the man sitting in front of her, except that his last name was Brown.
"Do I have to memorize all of this?" she asked, feeling overwhelmed.
"If you have any questions, please ask," Brown replied calmly.
'I want to protest and throw these papers in your face. Damn it!' Livia wanted to say-but instead, she smiled politely.
"Thank you for your hard work, Assistant Brown. I'll read and memorize everything so I don't make mistakes.""It's my duty to keep everything around the young master running as it should," Brown said proudly.
'Wow, what a strange little slave,' Livia thought.
"The most important thing is that you serve the young master and fulfill your duties as his wife," he continued.
Unconsciously, Livia fiddled with a button on her shirt.
"Except-don't expect to serve the young master in bed. You're not really the type he likes."
'What! Who wants to sleep with that guy?' Livia sighed in relief. 'Honestly, I'm glad he hasn't touched a strand of my hair.'
"It's a shame, though. Mr. Damian Alexander is very handsome," she added with a laugh.
***
Kylie's positive pregnancy test made Brown double down on his preparations-he was ready to face every kind of "pregnant wife drama" imaginable.But the problem was... why on earth was she so different from Miss Livia?!Brown honestly started doubting whether Kylie was really pregnant. Physically and emotionally, she was nothing like Miss Livia had been when she was expecting Miss Davina.Back then, Mr. Alexander had to deal with all kinds of strange mood swings and bizarre cravings. Sometimes Miss Livia didn't even want to be hugged, and she had even kicked her husband out of bed more than once.But with Kylie? It was the complete opposite.Ever since she got pregnant, she refused to let Brown go. If she wasn't sleeping under his arm or cuddled against his chest, she'd toss and turn all night. She wanted kisses every chance she got-and not just wanted them; she gave them freely too. There were days when she would hug him constantly, pounce on him o
Time kept moving forward. Months passed, seasons changed. The leaves that had once withered under the summer sun began to sprout again. Under the gentle light of morning, young shoots stretched out, performing their quiet duty-creating life, feeding the trees, and giving birth to new blossoms in every color.Even the tiny buds of fruit began to appear.It was a simple reminder: the world turns according to its rhythm, no matter what people do.Over the past few months, much had happened in Brown and Kylie's life. Their marriage was vibrant and full of warmth. And now, the man who once lived only as a loyal assistant was about to earn a new title-one that his former employer had gained before him.A future father. That's what Kylie lovingly called him.One morning, after they'd shared a quiet moment together, Brown brushed Kylie's hair aside and began kissing her neck. She giggled, squirming from the ticklish feeling, but he didn't stop-his affectio
The moment they heard Kylie say 'my husband,' the two men didn’t just turn pale—they looked like the blood had completely drained from their faces.It was as if their eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets from sheer shock. One of them had actually been feeling lucky to run into Kylie again. He had admired her bravery during that press conference and wanted to get to know her personally. But now—“Kylie, so… you’re married?”Brown’s hand slid around Kylie’s arm, pulling her close. He lowered his head so their cheeks touched—wordlessly announcing his claim. His eyes said it clearly: leave, now.“Which media outlet are you two from?”One of them started to speak, but the other quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and bowed deeply.“Nice to meet you, sir. And congratulations on your marriage! I’m, uh, shocked—haha—but I guess when two peop
Brown ate even more enthusiastically, just to make his mother-in-law happy.Meanwhile, Kylie's younger siblings had already disappeared. Even though their mother had brought them packed lunches, the kids had gone off wandering to find snacks instead.Kylie opened her own lunchbox, taking small bites while speaking with her mouth half full - and what she said instantly changed the entire atmosphere."Mom, what if I have a baby?"Her mother, who had just been about to bite into an apple, dropped her fork and spoon in shock. She gasped silently - a mix of surprise, joy, and disbelief flooding her expression.A baby? Did Kylie just say baby? That could only mean one thing. Her daughter was finally going to make her a grandmother! Her lips trembled as she whispered, "A grandchild...""Oh my God, Kylie, are you pregnant?" her father blurted out, just as excited. "Thank God! I can't believe it - my daughter's going to have a baby! Kylie, oh,


















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