MARY_OMONOWA

Married by Mistake to the Ice-Cold CEO

Ella Carter is at rock bottom. Broke, jobless, and desperate to pay off her debts, she agrees to a shady but simple deal—sign a fake marriage contract in exchange for a life-changing sum of money. It’s supposed to be a harmless formality, just a few signatures, and she’s free.

But when she wakes up the next morning, she’s no longer a fake wife. She’s legally married to Adrian Blackwood, the ruthless billionaire CEO with a heart of ice and a glare that could freeze fire. Worse, he believes she’s nothing more than a conniving gold digger who trapped him into this marriage.

Determined to end their arrangement as soon as possible, Adrian is cold, cruel, and utterly unshaken by Ella’s protests. He wants her gone. But there’s one problem—she refuses to be intimidated. Unlike everyone else in his life, she fights back, and to his shock, she actually wins their battles.

The more they argue, the more their tension ignites. And the more Adrian tries to push her away, the more he finds himself drawn to her defiant spirit, her fire, her ability to see the man behind the icy mask.

But when secrets come to light and enemies lurk in the shadows, their marriage of convenience becomes a battlefield of trust, passion, and betrayal.

Will Adrian let down his walls and accept the one woman who dares to stand by his side? Or will Ella walk away before she loses her heart to a man who never planned to keep her?

One mistake. One contract. One marriage neither of them saw coming.

Married by Mistake to the Ice-Cold CEO

Ella had never lived in a place so luxurious.

And she had never felt so trapped.

The Blackwood penthouse was a palace in the sky. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, casting golden streaks of light across gleaming marble floors. Everything was sleek, modern, untouchable. The kind of place where emotions didn't belong.

Ella stood stiffly in the center of the massive living room, her suitcase still by the door. Across from her, Adrian lounged against the bar, pouring himself a drink with practiced ease, as if forcing a woman to move into his home was just another business transaction.

She folded her arms. "You can't make me stay here."

Adrian didn't even glance at her as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. "Actually, I can."

Her pulse ticked up. "This wasn't part of the deal."

Finally, he turned to her, his cold gaze pinning her in place. "It is now."

Ella's fingers curled into fists. She should have seen this coming. Of course Adrian Blackwood—control freak, billionaire, and professional nightmare—wouldn't just let his contract wife live wherever she pleased.

"People talk, Ella," he said smoothly, taking a slow sip of his drink. "And if my 'wife' is living anywhere but here, they'll dig. And I don't like people digging."

His tone was casual, but the warning was clear.

Ella's stomach twisted. He wasn't doing this for her. He was doing it to control the narrative, to protect his pristine reputation.

She lifted her chin. "And what if I refuse?"

Adrian smirked, as if the idea amused him. "Then I'll assume you have something to hide."

Adrian Blackwood wasn't the type to leave loose ends. If he thought she was a liability, she had no doubt he'd make her life a living hell.

Her hands trembled at her sides. This wasn't a marriage. It was a cage.

Adrian finished his drink and set the glass down with a soft clink. "You'll find everything you need in the guest room."

He arched a brow. "Did you expect to share my bed, sweetheart?"

Heat rushed to her cheeks. "Of course not!"

He smirked, but his eyes stayed cold.

"Good. Because this is a business arrangement, not a romance."

Something about the way he said it—so effortlessly, so detached—sent a sharp pang through her chest.

She wasn't expecting romance. But hearing him say it like that, like the idea was laughable…

Before she could dwell on it, Adrian's phone buzzed. He checked the screen, then slid the device back into his pocket.

"I have work to do." His voice was already distracted, as if she had ceased to exist. "Try not to break anything."

And just like that, he walked away, disappearing into his office as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience.

Ella let out a shaky breath. Her new home was a prison.

And Adrian Blackwood was the warden.

This chapter intensifies the power struggle while reinforcing the cold, business-like dynamic between them. Let me know if you'd like any adjustments!

Chapter 6: The Penthouse Prison