My CEO… She Paid Me to Be Her Husband for 1 Year — Then Our ‘Fake’ Marriage Turned Real
Chapter 2
Daniel spent the entire night staring at the contract.
By morning, he had read every clause three times.
There was no obvious trap.
Victoria would pay him monthly.
The marriage would remain legally valid for twelve months.
They would maintain separate finances.
They would sleep in separate rooms.
Neither could interfere with the other’s personal life.
And when the year ended, they would file for divorce.
Simple.
Cold.
Businesslike.
Exactly what Daniel needed.
But there was one problem.
Lily.
Daniel couldn’t bring his daughter into something that could hurt her.
So he told Victoria that he needed time.
“How much?”
“Three days.”
She nodded.
“Take three.”
Daniel stood.
“And if I say no?”
“I’ll find someone else.”
There was no emotion in her voice.
That bothered him.
On Wednesday evening, Daniel sat with Lily at their kitchen table.
She was doing homework.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Why do you look worried?”
Daniel smiled.
“I’m thinking.”
“About work?”
“Something like that.”
Lily looked at him.
“Are you going to quit?”
Daniel froze.
“Why would you think that?”
“You’ve been coming home late.”
Daniel sighed.
“I might change jobs.”
Lily looked down.
“Will we still live here?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
That was when Daniel made his decision.
He would accept Victoria’s offer.
Not because of the money.
Because the money could give Lily stability.
The next morning, he returned to Victoria’s office.
“I’ll do it.”
Victoria looked up.
“Are you certain?”
“No.”
She almost smiled.
“Fair enough.”
Daniel signed.
Victoria signed.
And just like that, they were engaged.
Three weeks later, they were married.
The ceremony was intentionally small.
A courthouse.
Two witnesses.
No flowers.
No guests.
No romance.
But when Victoria slipped the ring onto Daniel’s finger, something strange happened.
She looked at him for a second too long.
Daniel noticed.
So did she.
Then she stepped back.
“Congratulations, Mr. Carter.”
Daniel smiled.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Morgan.”
Their new life began that afternoon.
Victoria moved into Daniel’s house temporarily because public appearances required them to look like a normal married couple.
The first evening was awkward.
She stood in the living room with a suitcase.
“Where should I put this?”
Daniel pointed upstairs.
“Guest room.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
Lily came downstairs.
She stopped when she saw Victoria.
“Who’s she?”
Daniel crouched.
“Lily, this is Victoria.”
Victoria smiled.
“Hi.”
Lily looked at the ring on her hand.
“Are you married to my dad?”
Daniel nearly choked.
Victoria looked at him.
Then back at Lily.
“Yes.”
Lily considered this.
“Okay.”
She walked away.
Daniel whispered:
“That went well.”
Victoria whispered back:
“She seems terrifying.”
“She gets that from me.”
Victoria smiled.
That was the first time Daniel saw her genuinely laugh.
Over the next few weeks, they learned each other’s routines.
Victoria drank black coffee.
Daniel preferred it with cream.
Victoria worked until midnight.
Daniel went to bed at ten.
She hated cooking.
He loved it.
She organized everything.
He left books everywhere.
They were completely different.
Yet somehow, they fit.
One evening, Victoria came home exhausted.
Daniel had made dinner.
She stared at the table.
“You cooked?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
Lily looked at Victoria.
“You’re supposed to say grace.”
Victoria blinked.
“I am?”
Lily nodded.
“You’re Dad’s wife.”
Daniel looked down to hide his smile.
Victoria sighed.
“Fine.”
She joined their hands.
For the first time in years, Victoria felt like she was sitting at a family dinner.
And she didn’t realize how much she had missed it.
