Ivery's PovI rolled tiredly on the bed only to find myself staring at a figure of someone bracing me. My eyes were still heavy since I was just waking up and it made it hard for me to see the person so I just kept staring. I felt pressed and at the same time so weak to stand up. The pains around my body also didn't allow me to feel myself. But seeing the person beside me didn't make me focus and understand what was going on until I shut my eyes closed again and had a flashback to the other day. **Flashback**"Your mom has been diagnosed with heart cancer for a long time now and we kept telling you to let her have the operation but you've refused to bring her back until now that the cancer had risen to another stage," the doctor attending to my mother illness, spoke to me out of concern and I sensed bitterness in her tone. She was surely expressing how fatal my mom's sickness had become. I held my hands together to her table desk while I choke on tears. "I'm sorry, doctor. You sho

Ivery's PovI heard the message alert and raised my phone to look at the phone screen. Franco's name was vividly written as the sender. I shut my eyes and tried not to listen to the word that kept ringing in my ears. Marry me? What audacity. I knew it wasn't going to end well for me and I was already prepared. I was not ready to start disturbing myself on an ingrate. Like for real; because we had a night stand meant he should go overboard? Pervert!I clicked on the message he sent and my mouth parted in amazement. ** Five million dollars will be yours to be my contracted wife for just a month**"Seriously?" I asked no one in particular and read the message close to five times to know if truly I saw right. I did! He promised to pay me five million dollars to be his wife just for one month. One month? Holy! This guy must be kidding me. "Who are you, Franco?" I thought to myself and picked up my phone to dial his number again. At the first ring, he picked. Of course, he was waiting fo

Ivery's POVFranco took a deep breath and stepped forward, push open the glass doors, and stepped into the air-conditioned lobby. His gaze searched every but softened when his gaze met his assistant. He walked towards her smiling, this was the first time I witnessed him smiling genuinely. “Thank you.” He muttered silently while collecting the marriage certificate. “You have to put out your best, we need to make them believe we are a thing. And I'm sure you know the consequences if otherwise happen,” he said gruffly. I nodded my head in response and put on a fake smile. We walked into the conference hall silently. He presented the marriage certificate to them, but to my surprise, I was shocked to see we have been married for five years. I looked at him with so much repulsion, how can he tell such a lie? I tried to question him but decided to let it wait because of the press conference. The press conference continued, and Franco was fielding questions from reporters. They were mos

Chapter seven. Ivery's POV. I woke up suddenly, my mind still fuzzy with sleep. As I became more aware of my surroundings. I quickly sat up, my heart racing, as the memories of the previous day came flooding back to me. The press conference, the argument with Franco. It was all too much to take in. I put my head in my hands, trying to make sense of it all.I lay in my bed again, trying to relax my mind, but I could not, as Franco's words were fresh in my head. I groaned tiredly. I stood up lazily as I stumbled to walk, I entered the bathroom to take my bath. In less than an hour I was through, and I opened my wardrobe to pick a creamy skirt that stopped at my knees and I wore a crop top that showed my cleavage a bit. I packed my hair, leaving two strands at the front, I was not the makeup type. I looked at myself one more time before stepping out of my room. Franco was standing at the coffee maker, preparing coffee for himself. His back view was facing me. “Good morning,” I gree

Ivery's POV. Franco's head snapped up as I approached, his eyes narrowing as he took in my expression. Our eyes met, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I saw the wariness in his eyes. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the worst. I walked toward Franco, my footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to think of the right words. I could smell the faint scent of his breath. I cleared my throat, the sound reverberating off the walls. "Please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I need your help. I need a maid for my mother. She needs someone to help her, and I don't know what else to do.""I can't grant you what you request," he said, with his gaze fixed on his lap. I could see the set of his shoulders, stiff and unyielding. He made no move to look at me, even though I was right in front of him. "Please," I begged, my voice cracking with emotion. "My mother needs someone to care for her, she's too weak to do it on her own." I tri