THE STAIN: CONTRACT WIFE FOR THE COLD BILLIONAIRE.

ce everyone long to be

ed and piss off . The champagne flutes clinked, the laughter was forced, and the air was

she balanced the tray of champagne glasses. One wrong move and she would be out of a job,she couldn't afford that. Her mom's surge

her mom surgery,As she moved through the expensive and designer gowns, a voice growled

t thing she knew, a $20,000 sui

om wen

he girl petite, terrified, and

. "I I'm so sorry

think you can

e guests turned. And

hrough the silence,

room seemed to shrink. The music stopped for a moment the laughter stuck

whisper. She knew it was a stupid thing to say the moment the words left

ty thousand dollars, Miss for this...?" He raise

burning with humiliation. "I do

. This was better than the charity

trash. "Then I guess you're out of luck

her job, her scholarship, everything. He

piped up from the cro

ed his gaze to a silver-haired woman in a red gow

"It's not about th

tly. "Of course it isn't, darlin

rsed, bored with the drama. Ethan's eyes never left Lia's face.

dazed. What did

the hem of her skirt. Ethan's arm shot out,

t the warmth of his chest, the scent of his collet, t

," he repeated, his v

art racing. What

s eyes narrowing. This w

g to get out. She didn't stop until she hit the cool night air, gulping in oxygen

as a disaster. Her job was gone. Her mom's surgery...ohh I don't

xt from Emma, her best

fired. Meet me at cafe

e her address, then dropped her head into

d - cold, handsome, ruthless. Wh

ling off.mom was asleep on the couch, TV still on,but on a low volume,

was that woman, Victoria? Why did she look at me that way And why did Etha

ification from the hospita

orr

sank. No job

de her jump. Who was t

door she saw a man, suited man sto

n?" he asked,

ed, hear

er your mother's surgery costs. Be

r a card. Rivers

ed. What game wa

er too tired of been broke her mum surgery,life support

gn anything he his hiding a child.lia dropped the phone what child

file in front of him. Lia Mason. Med stude

xt from Victoria. Don'

oldly. Oh,

wers. Penthouse, the text. What did Ethan want? Her mind sense scenarios all

he couch. "Lia, swee

ing, Mum. Just...work wen

ly shut. Lia's gut twisted.

ing loomed like a steel giant. She pressed the penthouse button. The elevato

e. Ethan sat behind a desk, eyes on her li

ked shut. Lia

s leaned back. "You need

instincts screamed warni

le was ice.

nked. M

One year. You'll get...everything. Your

un. Why? What

ll. I marry, stay married one year...I inh

s swirled. A

't be serious." Marry a stranger? For

lia' couldn't place."Dead serious. One year, Lia. You'll be Mrs. R

rgery. Her future... "What's the catch?" She

ng out. If you divorce me before a year, you get noth

rt skippe

ill ruin you. No med schoo

. He was ruthless.But...Mum.she taught of her mum smile,her laugh,

s face flashed in her mind - si

whispered.

ng triumph, satisfaction "Good. W

eling trapped.

g over her. "Thompso

. Lia signed with shaking hands. Ethan si

ushed against hers. Lia jerked away, her

narrowed, you

m, her voice sha

w, you pack. You wi

dropped.

was ice. "I

but his next words st

ispered, her

run. You wil

She hailed a taxi, Contract wife. One

ped her home.

ing into? The text don't sign anything keeps mak

e, her phone buzzed. A te

u up at 10 P

rt skippe

around her

suitcase in hand. A black car pulled up. T

ing a shiver down her spine,Lia hesita

which send a shiver down her

felt a shiver. This was it

he silence. "Welcome

. What have i gotte