Contract Marriage: The President's Stand-in Lover - Chapter 1: The Price of Rain

Vivian Lin stood in the rain, soaked to the bone.

Raindrops slid down her hair and gathered into a small puddle at her feet.

She lifted her gaze to the grand mansion before her a fortress of wealth and power its wrought-iron gates gleaming coldly under the storm’s veil.

This was her last hope.

And the one place she never wanted to set foot in again.

Miss Lin, the young master is waiting for you in the study, said the butler, expressionless beneath a black umbrella as he opened the gate.

Vivian nodded, stepping past him into the mansion that felt more like a castle than a home.

The marble floors reflected her disheveled image; the crystal chandelier above shone with an icy brilliance.

Every corner whispered of power, control, and distance.

And she… was only here to beg.

The study door creaked open.

Behind a massive desk sat a man whose mere presence seemed to command the room. His features were sharp, sculpted in steel, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Ethan Gu.
CEO of the Gu Group.
A man powerful enough to decide the fate of empires.

You’re here, he said calmly not surprised, not pleased, simply expecting her.

Vivian stood frozen at the doorway. Water dripped from her sleeves onto the carpet, leaving dark stains that marked her humiliation. She had never looked so broken   or so desperate.

Mr. Gu, I…Her voice trembled, the cold and fear twisting it into a whisper.

Ethan rose from his chair, every movement deliberate. He was taller than she remembered, his shadow stretching over her until she seemed to disappear beneath it.

I assume you’re here about the Lin Corporation, he said, his eyes cutting into her like blades.

Vivian took a shaky breath. Yes. If my father’s company doesn’t receive funding soon, it will declare bankruptcy next week.

Ethan arched a brow. And?

I’m asking you to invest in it. Her words came out like shards of glass. I know it’s presumptuous, but you’re my last hope.

He turned away, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. He didn’t offer her a seat. Didn’t offer a towel. He simply let her stand there dripping, shivering as if testing how much pride she was willing to lose.

Miss Lin, he said coolly, business isn’t charity. The Lin Corporation is a sinking ship. Why would I throw money into the sea?

His words were merciless, but true.

The Lin family still has value!” she pleaded. We have the infrastructure, the clients   it’s only a temporary

mismanagement issue and a broken cash flow, Ethan cut in, finishing her sentence for her. I don’t invest in lost causes.

Her vision swam. He was right, but giving up wasn’t an option   not when her father’s life’s work was at stake.

Please… Her voice cracked. If you’re willing to help, I’ll do anything.

For the first time, something flickered in Ethan’s eyes. Interest.

Anything? he repeated, his tone slow, deliberate dangerous.

Vivian hesitated only a second before nodding.

Ethan set down his glass, opened a drawer, and slid a document across the desk toward her.

Then sign this.

She stepped closer, picked up the folder, and froze when her eyes met the title on the cover.

Marriage Agreement.

This… what does this mean? she asked, her voice barely audible.

It’s simple, he said with a faint, humorless smile. You marry me  and I save your family.

Vivian stared at him in disbelief. Why me? We’ve only met a few times

That’s not your concern.”His tone turned cold again. You only need to make a choice. Sign it, and your father’s company lives. Refuse, and you can watch everything he built collapse.

Her hands shook as she flipped through the pages. Each clause was more suffocating than the last: rules for residence, behavior, public appearances — even a section on heirs.

And then she saw it.

Clause 3: The marriage shall last for three years. Upon expiration, Mr. Gu reserves the right to renew or terminate at his discretion. Breach of contract by either party will incur severe penalties.

A contract marriage… she whispered.

Exactly. His voice was calm, detached. “My grandfather is dying. His only wish is to see me married. You need money. I need a wife. It’s mutual benefit, Miss Lin.

So that was all she was   a convenient choice, a living prop for a dying man’s peace of mind.

Why me? she asked again, her voice hollow.

He studied her face for a brief moment, eyes unreadable. Then he said simply, Because you fit the part. You’re respectable, poised, and. He paused. You’re desperate.

The truth hit like a slap.

She thought of her father lying in a hospital bed, of the employees waiting for salaries, of her late mother’s last wish  take care of your father, no matter what.

I’ll sign, she said softly.

He handed her a pen   heavy, gold, and cold to the touch. With trembling fingers, she wrote her name at the bottom. Each stroke felt like sealing away a piece of her soul.

Good, Ethan said, collecting the document with a trace of satisfaction. Tomorrow, my team will handle Lin Corporation’s finances. For now, Mrs. Wang will show you to your room.

He pressed the intercom. A kindly-faced housekeeper appeared almost instantly.

Mrs. Wang, take Miss Lin to the guest room. She’ll be staying here from now on.

Yes, sir.

Vivian cast one last glance at him. Ethan was already back behind his desk, eyes fixed on his papers   as if their agreement had been nothing more than another business transaction.

She followed Mrs. Wang up the sweeping staircase, her heart heavy. In less than an hour, her entire life had changed.

This will be your room,” the housekeeper said gently, opening the door to a beautifully furnished suite. There are fresh towels and a warm bath waiting.

You should rest and change before you catch a cold. Would you like me to bring you something to eat?

Vivian shook her head. No, thank you.

When the woman left, silence swallowed the room. Outside, rain tapped against the windows, mournful and endless — as if the heavens themselves pitied her.

She looked into the mirror. The woman staring back was pale, her eyes empty, her face drawn with exhaustion.

The new “Mrs. Gu.”
A wife by contract, not by love.

She stripped off her wet clothes and stepped into the steaming shower. The hot water cascaded over her, but no amount of heat could thaw the cold inside her chest.

Later, wrapped in a robe, she stood by the window, gazing at the blurred city lights. The city of her childhood   now a stranger.

Her phone buzzed. It was her father’s doctor.

Miss Lin, good news! The hospital just received a large anonymous donation it’s enough to cover your father’s full treatment.

We’ve already arranged for his recovery plan.

Vivian ended the call, her chest tightening. She didn’t need to ask who the donor was.

Ethan Gu had kept his word. Swiftly, efficiently  just like he conducted all his deals.

That night, she lay awake in the softest bed money could buy.

By morning, she would be the fiancée of a man who didn’t love her.

Soon after, his wife   in name only.

And she knew, deep down, that this marriage wasn’t a beginning.

It was the price of survival.