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 sat stiffly on the luxe leather couch, staring at the contract Adrian had just placed on the glass coffee table between them.

Her stomach twisted. The first one had already ruined her life—what fresh disaster would this one bring?

Adrian sat across from her, one leg casually crossed over the other, every inch the untouchable billionaire. If the tension between them bothered him, he didn't show it.

"Read it," he said smoothly. "These are the rules of our arrangement."

Ella folded her arms. "Rules? You mean more control?"

Adrian's lips twitched, just barely. "Call it whatever you like. But if we're going to keep up this charade, I need to ensure you don't step out of line."

Her jaw clenched. Step out of line? What was she, an employee?

Still, she picked up the contract, her eyes scanning the text. And with each word, her frustration grew.

The Terms of the Blackwood Marriage:

Six months. They would remain married for half a year. No more, no less.

No public scandals. Ella had to attend events as his wife, smile when required, and keep her mouth shut.

No personal involvement. Their marriage was a business deal—nothing more. No emotional entanglements.

Adrian had the final say. On everything.

Ella's grip tightened on the pages. Unbelievable.

She tossed the contract back onto the table and met his steely gaze. "You really think you can control me like one of your employees?"

Adrian leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I think you signed up for this, and now you have to deal with the consequences."

Her pulse pounded. "You're unbelievable."

Ella exhaled sharply. This wasn't about her. This was about him—about protecting his pristine reputation, keeping the media from tearing into his personal life.

And her? She was just another pawn in his perfectly controlled world.

But she had no choice. If she walked away now, it wouldn't just be her life ruined—it would be her mother's too.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. "Fine."

Ella lifted her chin. "I'll stay. Six months. But I have my own conditions."

A flicker of amusement passed through his gaze. "Do you?"

She ignored the mocking tone. "First—I'm not your servant. I won't be ordered around."

Adrian tilted his head, considering. "Fair."

Encouraged, she pressed on. "Second—I keep my life. I don't want you interfering with my job, my friends, or anything outside of this… this ridiculous arrangement."

A pause. Then, slowly, Adrian nodded. "Agreed."

Ella's stomach twisted. This was really happening.

Six months trapped in a marriage with a man who didn't trust her.

Six months of playing the role of a billionaire's wife… while trying not to lose herself in the process.

She had no idea how she was going to survive it.

But one thing was clear—Adrian Blackwood had just met his match.

Chapter 7: Terms and Conditions