Contract Marriage: The President's Stand-in Lover - Chapter 7:

Fracture

That night, Vivian barely slept.

After her tears ran dry, only bone-deep exhaustion and a piercing coldness remained.

Gu Chen’s icy words played over and over in her mind like a broken record,

each syllable a poisoned needle stabbing into her flesh.

Out of line… wrong identity… no right…

She curled into herself under the blanket, but no matter how tightly

she wrapped it around her body, the chill wouldn’t fade.

So this was how he truly saw her just a woman he had bought with money,

a paid employee who must never forget her place. Her pain, her confusion,

her desperate questions to him, they were nothing but foolish acts of crossing a line.

Vivian Lin, what are you still hoping for?

She asked herself that, and the answer was obvious painfully obvious

but it only deepened her despair.

By dawn, her eyes were swollen and her face pale.

She took a deep breath in front of the mirror.

No, she couldn’t let her grandfather see her like this.

She pressed ice to her eyes, layered on heavier makeup than usual to hide the exhaustion,

and chose a high-necked knit dress to cover the faint red marks on her wrist.

She would give Gu Chen no reason, no excuse, to accuse her again.

When she went downstairs, Gu Chen was already at the dining table, immaculate in his suit,

as if nothing had happened the night before.

He looked up when he heard her steps. His gaze paused on her face, calm and distant,

purely polite as though she were a stranger.

See?

He doesn’t care how much you cried last night.

Her heart sank lower.

They ate in silence. The only sounds were the soft clinks of cutlery.

The air was heavy enough to suffocate.

Gu Chen finally broke the silence.
Grandfather’s plane lands at five. The driver will pick him up. Dinner’s been arranged.

You

I know what to do.

Her voice was steady eerily steady.

I’ll play the good Mrs. Gu. You won’t have to worry about me ruining the act.

She emphasized the words play and Mrs. Gu with a quiet, cutting irony.

Gu Chen’s brow tightened, almost imperceptibly.

He seemed caught off guard by the sharp edge in her tone, but said nothing just nodded.

That afternoon, Vivian left work early and came home to inspect the dinner preparations herself.

She checked every detail the flowers, the table setting,

the candles ensuring that everything was flawless.

She worked not to impress anyone, but to fulfill the contract

and to preserve the last fragile piece of her dignity.

Just after five, the car arrived.

Old Mr. Gu sat in his wheelchair, a little pale but smiling warmly.

His eyes shone with affection when he saw them.

Grandfather.

Gu Chen’s voice was softer than usual, almost gentle.

Grandfather, you must be tired from the trip.

Vivian stepped forward with a perfect smile, taking the blanket from the maid and

gently tucking it around the old man’s knees.

Her every gesture was tender, practiced, flawless.

Not tired at all.

The old man chuckled, holding her hand with wrinkled warmth.

He looked between the two of them, his eyes bright with pride.

Seeing you both like this makes me happy. Chen, why so serious?

Working too hard again? Spend more time with your wife, you hear me?

Gu Chen stepped closer and placed his arm naturally around Vivian’s shoulders.

The warmth of his palm seeped through her dress,

and her body stiffened for an instant but her smile didn’t falter.

Of course, Grandfather. He looked down at her, his gaze suddenly filled

with convincing tenderness. I’ve been busy lately, neglected Vivian a little.

Tonight I’ll make it up to both of you.

His performance was flawless.

Vivian lowered her head shyly, matching his act perfectly

the loving wife in every gesture.

But inside, she felt nothing but emptiness.

Dinner unfolded in a haze of false warmth.

Their coordination was seamless.

He picked food for her, dishes she didn’t even like safe choices he assumed she’d appreciate.

She, in turn, leaned close to dab a nonexistent drop of sauce from his lips.

Every motion perfectly timed, every glance rehearsed.

To an outsider, they looked like the perfect couple.

And Grandfather believed it. His smile never faded, and at one point,

his eyes even glistened with tears.

Wonderful. Truly wonderful. Seeing you two like this,

I can rest easy.

He took their hands and pressed them together.

Promise me you’ll stay this happy. Give me a great-grandchild soon,

and I’ll die with no regrets.

Vivian felt Gu Chen’s fingers pause then tighten around hers,

as if to reassure her.

Her hand in his felt cold as stone.

A great-grandchild… in a marriage built on lies and substitutes?

What a cruel joke.

After dinner, Grandfather grew tired and was helped to his room.

The moment the door closed behind him, the air between

Vivian and Gu Chen shifted again  warmth gone, silence heavy.

Vivian quietly gathered the teacups, unwilling to speak.

You did well tonight.

His voice came from behind her, calm, professional

the tone of a boss complimenting a subordinate.

Her hand froze. A spark of anger flared in her chest.

She turned around slowly, a bitter smile curling at her lips.

Only well? I thought I was perfect.

Gu Chen’s eyes darkened. What do you mean by that?

Nothing.

Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to sound indifferent.

Just that your acting skills are impressive, Mr. Gu. I can’t compare.

But don’t worry, I’ll keep practicing until I meet your standards.

After all, you’re paying for the performance.

She spat the word paying like poison.

His expression hardened. He stepped forward, tall and imposing.

Vivian Lin, must you talk like that?

And how should I talk?

Her voice rose the calm mask cracking at last.

Should I be grateful instead? Thank you for this transaction?

Thank you for letting me play the loving wife while you remind me of my place?

Her eyes glistened again, but she refused to let the tears fall.

Gu Chen stared at her, something uneasy flickering in his chest irritation,

maybe, or something he couldn’t name. He hated the look in her eyes,

that wounded defiance.

We had an agreement—

An agreement!

Her voice broke.

Is that all you ever have to say? I’m not a contract, Gu Chen.

I’m not a robot you bought and programmed. I’m a person with feelings, with pain,

with a heart you keep trampling on.

Her tears finally fell, silent and relentless.

I just want to know… why you chose me.

In this marriage of convenience, what am I to you?

Is that really such an unreasonable question?

So unreasonable that you keep hiding behind words like agreement and boundaries?

Gu Chen said nothing.

He looked at her at that tear-streaked face, those familiar eyes that reminded him of someone he

could never forget. The resemblance, once a reason for control, now cut deeper than he expected.

He clenched his jaw, the muscle twitching. He could have ended this easily

with cold words, with distance, with silence.

But the words wouldn’t come.

He looked at her once more, eyes flickering with something she couldn’t read anger, restraint,

and a trace of something dangerously close to pain.

Then he turned sharply and walked away. No slammed doors this time

only the echo of his retreating footsteps.

That quiet departure hurt more than shouting ever could.

Vivian sank onto the sofa, all strength drained from her.

The argument, the tears, the humiliation all of it left her hollow.

The fracture between them had only deepened.

No apology, no act, could bridge it now.

And the shadow of being a stand-in still loomed over her a reminder that in this marriage,

there was no light at all.