Seo Ji-woo's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the cold, sterile walls of the hospital room. Her mother's frail figure lay on the bed, hooked up to machines that beeped in an endless rhythm. The medical bills were piling up, and her father's business was on the verge of collapsing. She had no idea how much longer they could survive this way.
Her eyes flickered to the empty chair beside her mother. The room felt suffocating, the weight of impending doom pressing on her shoulders. She had always been strong, the backbone of her family. But this? This was too much. She felt herself crumbling under the pressure.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. The name on the screen made her blood run cold.
Lee Joon-hyuk—the name echoed like a thunderclap in her mind. The CEO of LJ Construction, one of the most powerful and ruthless men in the business world. He was known for his icy demeanor and his ability to crush anyone who crossed him.
Why was he calling her now?
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Ji-woo, I assume you know why I'm calling." Joon-hyuk's voice was smooth and emotionless, like a man who was used to giving orders, not asking for favors.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about," Ji-woo said, forcing herself to remain calm. Her mind raced. What could he possibly want with her?
"You're in a tight spot," he continued, his voice never wavering. "Your mother's medical bills, your father's debts… I can help you. But there's a price."
A chill ran down Ji-woo's spine. There was always a price when it came to men like Joon-hyuk.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"A contract marriage," he said bluntly. "You'll marry me, publicly, for one year. In return, I'll take care of your mother's medical expenses, pay off your family's debts, and provide you with the resources you need to rebuild your father's business."
Ji-woo was speechless. A marriage? A contract? It was absurd. But the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like the only way out. Her pride, her dignity, everything she held dear could be sacrificed in exchange for her family's survival.
But could she really marry a man like him? A man who only saw her as a means to an end?
"And what do you get out of this?" she asked, trying to steady her breath.
"Public image," he replied without hesitation. "A wife will make me appear more… respectable in the eyes of the media. A perfect, family-oriented man. But don't worry, Ji-woo. This will be purely business. Nothing more."
Ji-woo's mind spun. She didn't trust him. She didn't even know him. But the thought of her mother's condition worsening, the thought of her father losing everything… it was too much to bear.
"One year," she whispered, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. "One year and everything will be taken care of?"
"Exactly," Joon-hyuk said, his voice cold as ever. "You have nothing to lose."