Synopsis
One unexpected night changed Hathaway's life forever.
To save her family from collapsing, she enters a contract marriage with Andrew—cold, powerful, and the most untouchable tycoon in the city.
They agree: no love, no feelings, just a business deal.
But Andrew breaks all the rules.
He defends her, spoils her, chases away anyone who dares to hurt her…
And slowly, he becomes obsessed with his own contract bride.
Hathaway: "Andrew, we're only married on paper!"
Andrew: "Then I'll turn this paper into forever."
Chapter 1: The Contract
The night was cold and dark, with a sharp wind blowing through the empty streets. Hathaway's hands were shaking violently as she stepped out of the luxurious hotel, her mind still foggy from the chaotic hours before.
Everything that had happened felt like a terrible, blurry dream. One reckless night, one moment of weakness, and her entire life had been completely overturned. She could barely remember the details clearly, but the deep sense of panic and regret lingered heavily in her chest. She leaned against the cold wall, trying to calm her racing heartbeat, but the more she thought about it, the more helpless she felt.
Before she could calm herself down, her phone rang sharply. The screen showed her father's name, and Hathaway's heart sank instantly. She already knew what he was going to say. She had heard this tone many times lately—desperate, pressured, and ready to sacrifice her for the family.
Taking a deep breath, she answered the call. Her father's voice was sharp, desperate, and full of hopelessness, leaving no room for refusal.
"The company is going to fail completely. All the funds are gone, and the creditors are pressing hard. The only way to save us, and to save your father from prison, is for you to marry into the Li family."
Hathaway closed her eyes tightly. She knew exactly what that meant. She would be sacrificed, traded like an object, to a man she hated and feared, just to save her family's broken business. She had heard rumors about Li Wei—arrogant, rude, and surrounded by scandals. Marrying him would be like walking into a lifetime of darkness.
She had no way out. No money, no power, no one to turn to. She felt completely trapped, with no path to escape.
Just then, a sleek black luxury car stopped quietly in front of her. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a man with sharp, cold, and unbelievably handsome features. His presence was so intimidating that the surrounding air seemed to freeze. Even under the dim streetlights, his aura was strong enough to make anyone hold their breath.
His voice was low, deep, and commanding, leaving no room for rejection.
"Get in."
Hathaway froze completely. She recognized him immediately.
It was the man from last night.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously, her voice trembling slightly.
"Andrew," he said simply, as if his name was enough to explain everything. "And I have a deal for you."
Inside the warm, quiet car, he placed a thin but formal document in front of her. It was a marriage contract.
"I will save your family," Andrew said, his dark eyes unreadable and calm. "I will pay off all your father's debts, save his company, and make sure you never have to marry that man from the Li family. In exchange, you will marry me. This will be a contract marriage—no feelings, no love, no emotional involvement. Just a simple transaction."
Hathaway stared at the paper in front of her, her chest tight and heavy.
This was crazy. Marrying a man she barely knew, a man who looked cold enough to break her heart without a second thought.
But she had no other choice.
She took a deep, shaky breath and lifted her head.
"When do we start?"
Andrew's lips curved into a faint, cold smile.
"Tomorrow."
With that one word, Hathaway's life stepped into a new, unknown, and irreversible beginning.
Chapter 2: The Silent Agreement
The car glided smoothly through the night streets, the luxurious interior isolating Hathaway from the cold wind outside. Andrew sat across from her, his long legs casually crossed, his posture relaxed yet undeniably imposing. Every move he made carried an unspoken authority that made her nervous. The soft light inside the car illuminated his perfect facial features, making him look even more distant and untouchable.
He pushed the marriage contract toward her, the words printed clearly on the cover. Hathaway's heart tightened as she picked it up, her fingers slightly trembling.
"Read it carefully," Andrew said, his voice low and completely devoid of emotion. "This is a transaction, not a romance. I will solve all your family's financial troubles and keep your father's company from collapsing. In return, you will be my wife in public, attend necessary social events, and maintain a perfect, obedient image for me."
Hathaway flipped through the pages slowly. The terms were strict but clear: no personal feelings allowed, no overstepping each other's boundaries, no prying into his private life or business. The marriage would last for a fixed period, and once the contract ended, they would part ways peacefully, with no attachments to each other.
It was a cold, rational, and emotionless deal—exactly what she needed to escape her family's cruel pressure.
She bit her lower lip gently, thinking of her father's desperate voice on the phone, the family's crumbling future, and the terrifying alternative of marrying into the Li family. Marrying Andrew was clearly the only way out.
"I agree to all the terms," Hathaway said softly, closing the contract gently.
Andrew's dark eyes flickered for a brief moment, as if he hadn't expected her to agree so quickly and calmly. He pushed a golden, expensive pen toward her, his gaze steady and unwavering.
"Sign here."
Without hesitation, Hathaway wrote her name neatly at the bottom of the page. In that instant, she knew her life had been irrevocably tied to this mysterious, powerful, and dangerously cold man named Andrew.
"The wedding will be simple and private," Andrew stated calmly, folding the contract and putting it away carefully. "There will be no guests, no ceremony, no media. Tomorrow morning, I will send a car to pick you up for the marriage registration. From tomorrow onward, you will be Mrs. Andrew—to everyone in this city."
Hathaway nodded lightly, her mind racing with mixed feelings of fear, doubt, and a faint, hidden hope. She had always thought this would be a cold, distant, and formal arrangement.
What she never anticipated was that this contract marriage would soon turn into something warmer, sweeter, and more unforgettable than she had ever dared to dream.
Chapter 3: The Cold Husband Grows Soft
The next morning, Hathaway was picked up by Andrew's personal driver and brought directly to the marriage registration office.
The whole process was quick, quiet, and extremely simple. No grand ceremony, no cheering guests, no beautiful flowers or wedding dress. Only two signatures, a few official stamps, and a small marriage certificate.
Just like that, ordinary Hathaway became the legal wife of Andrew, the most powerful and untouchable tycoon in the city.
Afterward, she was taken to Andrew's private mansion—a huge, quiet, and unbelievably luxurious place that looked more like a high-end royal palace than a normal home. Everything was clean, tidy, and elegant, but it also felt cold and empty. Hathaway stood in the middle of the living room, looking around, and felt extremely small and out of place.
She twisted her hands slightly and spoke in a soft, careful voice.
"I… I can stay in a guest room. I won't disturb you at all."
Andrew glanced at her briefly, his expression calm and unreadable.
"We are husband and wife in front of others. It would look suspicious and unnatural if we sleep separately. People will question our marriage."
Hathaway's face turned slightly red. She lowered her eyes and didn't know how to reply.
But Andrew did not make things difficult for her.
He simply instructed the servants to prepare the master bedroom for her, while he himself stayed in the quiet study.
That night, Hathaway lay on the big, soft, comfortable bed, still unable to believe that she was actually married. She stared at the ceiling, her heart full of confusion and unease. The room was beautiful, but it felt strange and unfamiliar.
She had thought that was how they would live—distant, polite, cold, and completely separate.
But she was completely wrong.
The next morning, when she woke up, she felt a little unwell, dizzy, and weak. Before she could even call for help or walk out of the room, a private doctor arrived at the mansion quietly, brought by the servants.
"Mr. Andrew asked me to come and check on your health immediately," the doctor said with a gentle, friendly smile. "He noticed you looked tired last night and was worried about you. He left early in the morning but told me to come as soon as you woke up."
Hathaway froze completely, her eyes wide with surprise.
He noticed? He even arranged a doctor for her?
Soon after, Andrew returned early from his company. He walked up to her slowly, his tone still low and cold, but there was something noticeably softer and warmer in his dark eyes.
"Rest more today. Don't push yourself, and don't do anything tiring. I've told the servants to prepare your favorite food and drinks. Just stay in bed and recover."
It was just a short, simple sentence, but it made Hathaway's heart skip a beat violently.
This cold, distant, unapproachable man…
was already quietly caring for her, protecting her, and thinking about her.
She lifted her head and looked at him quietly, and for the very first time, she thought to herself:
Maybe this contract marriage wouldn't be so cold, lonely, or terrible after all.