Chapter Five

Scott sat at the dining table with his family, quietly eating his meal as his parents and grandfather discussed various work topics, particularly his responsibilities as CEO. Everything seemed normal until his mother suddenly shifted the conversation.

“Scott,” she said, placing her spoon down with a determined look. “When are you getting married? Have you chosen any of the three women we introduced to you? It’s high time you settled down.”

Scott felt a wave of nervousness but steadied himself, meeting her gaze. “Actually, I’m not interested in any of them,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

The silence that followed was thick. His mother’s expression darkened, and she slammed her hand down on the table with a sharp thud. Her eyes bore into him, frustration and disappointment evident. “Not interested? Scott, you must get married within the next three days, or you’ll lose your seat as CEO. It’s time you took responsibility.”

Scott glanced at his father, hoping for support, but his father only nodded in agreement with his mother. “Son, you’re 34 now. It’s time you think about your future and the family’s legacy.”

Even his grandfather, who usually stayed out of family disputes, nodded his approval. Scott felt the walls closing in around him. Frustrated, he took a deep breath and tried to make himself clear. “I understand your concerns, but I’m not interested in those women. I want to choose someone for myself.”

His mother’s expression softened slightly but remained firm. “Very well, Scott. If you refuse those choices, then at least choose someone who has good character and comes from a humble background. But you must act quickly.”

Scott felt a mixture of relief and pressure. His family’s expectations were heavy, but at least he had been given the chance to choose someone on his terms. Still, as he left the table, he knew he was running out of time to find someone who could meet both his heart’s desire and his family’s high standards.

Scott leaned back in his chair in his bedroom, the pressure of his family’s ultimatum weighing on him. His mind raced, searching for a solution. And then it hit him—Lydia. The woman he’d met just a few days ago. He wasn’t sure how she’d feel about marriage, especially under such a strange circumstance, but she was his best shot.

A quick, confident smile spread across his face, but it quickly faded as doubt crept in. Would she even be interested in something like that? he thought. And how would I even approach her? The idea of asking her for help felt strange, but with the clock ticking down, he had little choice.

He pulled out his phone, dialing Lucas, his trusted secretary, with urgency in his voice. “Lucas, I need you to investigate someone for me. Her name is Lydia,” he said, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. “I need to know everything about her—her background, family, work, social circle—anything you can find. Likes, dislikes, relationships, habits—everything. I need a full report within 24 hours.”

Lucas’s voice came through on the other end, sounding curious but professional. “Understood, Mr. Scott. I’ll get started immediately.”

Scott hung up, his mind already working through the plan. Once I have all the details, I can figure out how to approach her. He leaned forward, his thoughts consumed with the idea of a contract marriage. It wasn’t ideal, but it might be the only way to meet his family’s demands without completely sacrificing his own choice.

As the hours passed, his anxiety grew. Would Lydia be willing to help him? And even if she was, how could he ever explain the situation without scaring her away? The stakes had never been higher, and Scott knew he had to move quickly.

~

Lydia sat by the window in her small apartment, absentmindedly stirring her tea as she replayed the events of the night before. The evening with Scott and his friends had been unexpectedly fun, and she’d felt a surprising connection with him. There was something genuine and kind about him, even though they’d only known each other for a few days.

But her coworkers’ warnings still lingered in the back of her mind. Don’t get too caught up, they’d said, guys like him don’t come along without a reason. She brushed the thought away, trying not to overthink it.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, breaking her train of thought. She glanced at the screen to see a message from an unknown number:

“Hello, Ms. Lydia. I’m Lucas, Mr. Scott’s personal assistant. Mr. Scott has asked if you would be available to meet with him at his office tomorrow. He would like to discuss something important.”

Lydia’s heart skipped a beat. Important? She couldn’t imagine what Scott could want to discuss so urgently. Her mind raced through possibilities, but nothing seemed to make sense. After a brief hesitation, she replied with a simple, “Sure, what time?”

Lucas responded almost immediately, giving her the details and adding that Scott would send a car to pick her up. The formality of it all made her feel both nervous and intrigued.

The next morning, Lydia found herself outside a towering office building, her pulse quickening as she stepped into the sleek lobby. Lucas was waiting for her and greeted her with a polite nod. “Thank you for coming, Ms. Lydia. Mr. Scott is waiting for you in his office.”

As Lucas led her through the quiet hallways, Lydia’s mind buzzed with questions. When they reached Scott’s office, Lucas opened the door for her, giving a small smile of reassurance before stepping away.

Scott looked up as she entered, his face lighting up with a mix of relief and determination. “Lydia, thank you for coming,” he said, gesturing for her to sit.

She took a seat across from him, trying to mask her confusion. “Of course. Your message made it sound… important.”

Scott took a deep breath, clearly gathering his thoughts. “It is,” he said, his gaze steady on her. “I’m just going to be direct. My family is pressuring me to get married, and they’ve given me a very short time to do it. I thought of you… and I wondered if you might consider helping me.”

Lydia’s eyes widened in surprise. “Helping you? With… marriage?”

He nodded, looking slightly embarrassed but resolute. “Yes. It wouldn’t be real—it would be more of an arrangement. I’d propose a contract, something temporary, where you’d play the part of my wife. I know this is a lot to ask, especially since we barely know each other, but… I need someone I can trust.”

She stared at him, trying to process what he was saying. It felt surreal, like something out of a drama, yet here he was, genuinely asking her to consider a fake marriage. “Scott, this is… well, unexpected, to say the least,” she finally said. “Why me?”

Scott looked down, taking a moment before answering. “You’re the only person I’ve met recently who feels real. And my family has certain expectations—they’d want someone from a humble background, someone with character. You’re… everything I need to make this work.”

Lydia took a shaky breath, her mind whirling with uncertainty. She had so many questions, but one thing was clear: Scott was serious. And somehow, despite the strangeness of it all, she felt a strange sense of trust in him.