It was the worst thing that could ever happen to Core. Her boss handed her a horrible assignment---an interview with her husband, a prominent figure in the city's entertainment circle, regarding the gossips surrounding him. Core was the bride whom Winson had spent thirty million dollars on. Her father had personally pushed her into Winson's arms. She couldn't keep her dignity or her self-esteem in front of this man. Her only goal, for now, was to make enough money to pay off her debts. She had to buy back her freedom from him. Regardless of her efforts, he kept her close to him using all kinds of tricks. He wanted her trapped with him for the rest of her life.
Cora Xi stared at her boss with her eyes wide in shock.
'Why is he asking me to interview my husband?' she wondered anxiously.
No one in her company knew that Winson Chu, CEO of the Winson Media, was her husband...on paper, at least.
But even though their marriage was only nominal, it didn't mean that she liked watching him be dissolute.
She hesitated for a few seconds, wondering how to refuse the task. However, the editor-in-chief ignored her expression and said seriously, "You know that Winson is a prominent figure in our city's entertainment circle. It's very important to complete this task. It would be even better if you can get Winson to introduce his lover."
Then, he handed her a note and waved her off, dismissing her from his office. Cora Xi sighed and walked out of the office with a sullen expression on her face.
Thinking back now, she remembered that as soon as she had arrived at the company this morning, she had heard a group of people gossiping about Winson Chu.
Recently, the paparazzi had caught Winson Chu spending the night with a mystery woman. Photos of the two of them had popped up all over the internet, causing a great uproar.
All the media outlets had flocked to Winson Chu to get a comment from him, but he had unexpectedly chosen the Starry Newspaper for an exclusive interview.
"Cora! Earth to Cora!"
Cora Xi, who was lost in her thoughts, snapped back to reality upon hearing a man calling her. She looked up and saw her colleague, Bruce He.
"Finally. It's time to go, Cora.
Let's go," said Bruce He.
Cora Xi smiled lightly, trying to put her worries aside. Since she and Winson Chu were destined to cross paths again, she could only grit her teeth and move forward. She quickly grabbed her things and followed Bruce He to the main road, where they flagged down a cab and headed to their destination together.
"Have we reached, Cora?" Bruce He asked with a gasp when the car finally rolled to a stop.
Amused by his words, Cora Xi teased him, "It's just a villa. Why are you so surprised?"
Bruce He widened his eyes in awe. "It's not a villa. It's a palace!"
Cora Xi shook her head with a smile, feeling much more relaxed after the car ride.
"Let's go," she said, getting out of the car. With a polite and restrained smile on her face, she steadily walked towards the villa.
As they slowly walked past the gate, they noticed tall sculptures on both sides of the gate, which stood there as if they were guarding the villa.
Taking a deep breath, Cora Xi rang the doorbell.
Soon, a young man in a suit and leather shoes opened the door.
"Please come in. He is waiting for you two in the living room," he said politely, his eyes lingering on Cora Xi's face for a moment.
Cora Xi noticed his gaze, of course, but she pretended not to. This young man's name was John Cheng, and he was Winson Chu's right-hand man. Naturally, she knew him very well. She also knew that he had a bad impression of her.
Nevertheless, she smiled indifferently and walked into the room with her head held high.
The living room was done up with tasteful antique decor that would take away the breath of anyone who walked in. Winson Chu sprawled lazily on the sofa in the middle of the room. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and the corners of his lips were turned up into the smallest of smiles.
Even though they hadn't seen each other for a long time, the enchanting image of Winson hadn't faded away in Cora's mind.
She sighed in her heart, but on the outside, she put on a serious expression, trying to be as professional as possible. "Hello, Mr. Chu, I am..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Winson interrupted her. "Where is my wife?"
He stared at Cora's prudish and old-fashioned clothes with obvious disgust in his eyes. As for her face, he didn't recognize it at all.
His question took Cora by surprise, and she stayed silent, biting her lower lip in a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
"Sir, this is Miss Cora," John Cheng answered with a flustered expression on his face.
With a bitter smile, Cora took off her black-framed glasses and calmly asked, "Mr. Chu, why did you ask to see me?"
Bruce was so nervous and stunned that his hands started sweating, coating the camera that he was holding. He looked back and forth between Cora and Winson with evident surprise in his eyes.
Cora quietly looked at Winson for a reaction. They hadn't seen each other for almost five years.
The last time she had seen him was when she had moved out of this magnificent cage to work alone. If it hadn't been for this interview, she might never have taken the initiative to see him again.
After all, she was the bride that Winson had spent thirty million dollars on. Her father had personally pushed her into Winson's arms. In front of this man, she had neither dignity nor self-esteem. As far as she was concerned, it was better not to face him.
Her only goal for the time being was to make enough money to pay off her debts. Only in that way could she really gain freedom.
Seeing that Winson stayed silent, Cora smiled, "Mr. Chu, you've taken great efforts to see me. There must be a reason."
Winson frowned slightly as if he was very dissatisfied with her. Ignoring her question, he said, "Your clothes are really unappealing to look at."
"Why did you want to see me, Mr. Chu?" Cora repeated firmly, though the smile on her face had gotten even more forced after hearing his words.
John Cheng winked at Winson so many times that he almost felt one side of his face cramp up. It was only then that Winson managed to restrain himself. He leaned back and said in a bored voice, "You have to move back today. My parents will arrive tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Cora's smile disappeared in an instant.
Although she wanted to refuse, she couldn't say no.
She had no right to refuse the creditor's request. What was more, Winson's parents had always been nice to her and treated her like their own daughter.
Besides, as long as she could get through one more month, the five-year period they had agreed upon would come to an end. After that, she would be free! That was the agreement they had made when they had gotten married.
As Cora recalled that, she felt a bit relieved. She put on her glasses and said expressionlessly, "Can we start the interview now, Mr. Chu?"
Winson snorted. "Of course."
Cora took out the note that her editor-in-chief had given her, and felt astonished when she read it.
'What the hell is it? Are these actual questions for the interview?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"