My CEO… She Paid Me to Be Her Husband for 1 Year — Then Our ‘Fake’ Marriage Turned Real
Chapter 10
The wedding took place in early summer.
The ceremony was held at a small lakeside venue outside Chicago.
Daniel wore a dark suit.
Victoria wore a simple white dress.
Lily walked down the aisle carrying flowers.
Thomas, Daniel’s father, sat in the front row.
Victoria’s remaining family members attended.
Even some of Daniel’s old coworkers came.
There were no business contracts.
No cameras.
No corporate announcements.
Just family and friends.
When Victoria walked toward Daniel, he forgot every word he had prepared.
She smiled.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because this time it’s real.”
She laughed.
The ceremony was short.
But when they exchanged vows, neither hesitated.
Victoria promised to stand beside Daniel.
Daniel promised to love Victoria.
They promised to protect Lily.
And when they kissed, the crowd applauded.
Later that evening, Victoria stood beside the lake.
Daniel joined her.
“Happy?”
She smiled.
“Very.”
He looked at her.
“Do you ever think about how strange this started?”
“Every day.”
“You paid me.”
“Technically.”
“To be your husband.”
“Yes.”
“For one year.”
“Yes.”
Daniel laughed.
“And now?”
Victoria wrapped her arms around him.
“Now I can’t get rid of you.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
Lily ran toward them.
“Mom!”
Victoria turned.
It was the first time Lily had called her that.
Victoria froze.
Lily smiled.
“Mom, can we get cake?”
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“Of course.”
Daniel looked at her.
She whispered:
“She called me Mom.”
He smiled.
“You are.”
They walked back together.
That night, Victoria realized something.
She had spent her entire life believing she needed to protect herself.
Her grandfather had taught her to distrust everyone.
The company had taught her that relationships were transactions.
And the contract had reinforced that belief.
But Daniel had changed everything.
He had shown her that trust wasn’t weakness.
That love wasn’t a liability.
And that family wasn’t defined by blood.
Sometimes family was simply the people who stayed.
