Alex woke up to the sound of soft knocking on his door. Ariana, his personal maid entered when he replied, his eyes still stuck on the newspaper in his hand.

She helped him shower and dress, careful not to step on him throughout the activity. It was the same every day, yet something felt unusual.

He had only three days to bring up a wife to the investors.

By the time he arrived in the dining room, a delicious feast of breakfast had been set, but he didn't have the appetite for one. So he asked for a cup of black coffee instead.

The name Melissa McCarthy kept ringing in his head like some sort of mantra.

"There's still nothing on her, boss." Alex looked up to see Dan, his right-hand man, standing over him.

He remained quiet for some time, just sipping on his drink. But Dan could notice how his hand tightened on the mug.

"What is taking them so long? Even a rejection should have gotten here by now. What games are they playing?" Alex muttered.

Dan stood stiff, not responding. He didn't know how to tell the man to give up. It was obvious that Melissa didn't want a marriage with him. But Alex was too stubborn, he wouldn't listen to anyone.

By the time Alex reached his company later that day, the thought of the marriage contract had taken over 99% of his thoughts. He hadn't even been paying attention to what Dan was saying.

"I reviewed the files. The investors are reliable and solid, but they would want to build a full-proof trust in you" he whispered into Alex ear as they walked towards the meeting room. "You will need to impress them."

Alex nodded.

He entered the board meeting room.

Alex finally looked up to see Jake, his cousin, talking and laughing with a group of his investors that he had called for a meeting. He stood there like he owned the place.

What audacity!

Jake turned to him immediately, a sly smirk growing on his face. "Cousin! You're finally here," he greeted, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"You should thank me. If not for me, your investors will be sitting here getting bored out of their mind," he laughed.

"What the hell are you doing here? I don't remember calling for you," Alex growled at him.

"You're my cousin, of course you don't need to call me before I come to you." Jake grinned.

Alex turned away from him to face his investors.

"I hope I didn't keep you all waiting for too long?" He inquired.

"No, you didn't," they said, shaking their heads, a hint of a smile on their faces.

The meeting began, immediately, Alex taking full control of the activities. He explained how the project would go and how it would benefit everyone who made contributions to it. His tone was professional, and the investors couldn't help but nod their heads in affirmation.

Alex was convinced he had won the heart of the investors until one finally spoke up.

"I notice how you've done well by emphasizing how this deal is beneficial to couples," he started. "But I can't help but ask how this would go when you're not even in any relationship. You're not married, Alex."

Alex stilled. He hadn't expected this reply from them. No one had questioned his relationship status, ever. It never mattered to any of his business partners.

He looked up at Jake to find him already staring at him, a smirk plastered on his face.

Of course.

"The business is built around partnership, trust, and love...that I could tell from what you've been telling us. But how can we trust you when we don't even see the quality of that in you." The investor said calmly.

He had a point. He would be skeptical about a single man leading a project like this too.

He clenched his fist and then tried to control the anger that bubbled inside him.

Furthermore, he was trapped.

"I'm getting married," he finally said, his teeth clenched.

The investors stared at him wide eyed, surprised at the sudden announcements.

Alex was a famous man, popular among the ladies for his good looks, but not once had he been heard or seen intimate with a woman. So this took them by surprise.

"In three days, you'll meet my wife," he said, his voice controlled. "This meeting is over."

After the investors had left, Jake barked out a loud laugh, his head thrown back.

"What do you mean you're getting married? Did you finally find a prostitute to take as your wife?" Jake laughed as he said.

"Watch your mouth," Dan stepped forward, glaring at Jake.

She ignored, looking past him to meet the eyes of his cousin. "I hope you're really not placing a bet on getting Melissa. She doesn't want you. You should get this into your thin skull," he said, glaring at him. "You're a cripple, no woman will fancy you, especially not a gorgeous and wealthy woman like Melissa."

Alex's fist tightened on the arm rest of the chair, but his face remained impassive.

"Get out," Was all he said.

"Are you __"

"I said get out," he repeated.

"I'll leave, but don't say I didn't come here to warn you. You should look for a woman who has your kind of disadvantage, that's the kind of person who would throw a look at you." He grinned and then turned to leave.

"Boss, I think you should give up on melis__" Dan started but was interrupted.

"Prepare the car now, we're heading to the courthouse."

MEANWHILE...

Lauren sat in the corner of the abandoned storage room, sitting on the dirty bed, her eyes roaming over the wedding contract.

Melissa's word from earlier seeped into her mind when she had attempted to convince her to take the marriage proposal from the rich CEO.

"If you're so interested in this marriage, you should take it. Alex is just the right man for you. With his... terrible condition, I bet he wouldn't bat an eye before taking you to be his wife," Melissa had said, laughing at her suggestion.

She crushed the paper in her hands, a scowl resting on her face.

This family had treated her like trash, she had to make them pay for what they had done to her and her mother.

But she was weak.

They were too powerful. She was just a rat trying to find her way around among lions. They would eat her up even before she made clear of her intention.

So there was only one way. She had to look for a high class animal in the midst of predators, that she could befriend.

And there was only one way she could do that.

Back at the courthouse...

Alex sat stiffly on his wheelchair, staring at the empty and cold courtroom.

It was now past three hours since he had been here, waiting for Melissa to honor his marriage proposal, but the only person who had entered the courtroom was the slightly older woman who was responsible for legalizing the marriages.

His hand squeezed around itself, a slight panic going through him.

This was embarrassing to him. Maybe, he should have listened to his cousin.

Who would want to marry a man who had no control of his feet? No woman would trust him enough to lead a home.

He was pathetic, and he could smell it on himself too.

But what about the investors? What would he tell them? He had promised to introduce them to his wife.

He closed his eyes, swearing under his breath.

"Boss, how long will you seat here?" Dan's voice broke him out from his thought. He could tell how concerned the young man was.

Alex kept quiet for some seconds.

"Prepare the car. We should leave." He finally announced.

"You'll have to get a woman from the club who can agree to a marriage with me. I don't care if she's a wh*re," he said, his voice was cold.

Dan was taken aback, but he nodded his head. He couldn't judge the man. Dan quickly walked towards the exit, but as he opened the door, a woman stepped inside.

Her eyes were wide, her lips slightly parted like she had been running.

"You don't need to find a wh*re. I'll marry you," the woman said, stepping towards a shocked Alex.

Alex's eyes burned into the young woman as she found her way to the front of the now silent courtroom. The soft yet, deliberate click of her heels was the only sound that could be heard, a complete contrast to the wild storm that brewed inside Alex. His right-hand man, Dan, tensed beside him, his lips held in a deep scowl.

"And who might you be?" Alex finally asked as she stood directly in front of him.

"Lauren. Melissa's half sister," she said simply.

"The wedding contract was sent to Melissa, so why are you standing here in her place?" Alex asked coldly.

"Melissa has no interest whatsoever in you. To her, you're just another man in the queue dying to get a taste of her love," she said as she looked at him. "But you'll never be able to get pass that queue." She glanced at the wheelchair he sat on.

Alex raised a brow in question. He still didn't comprehend why she was standing there in front of him, offering herself willingly.

Lauren was obviously very different from her sister. She didn't look exquisite, nor did her beauty seem to catch every male's attention.

But there was something unique.

Her strength. Her posture.

Even with her cheap outfit, she stood like the most confident woman in the room. And something about that attitude made Alex more curious about her.

But still, Melissa was the one he wanted. He hadn't thought about getting tied to any woman apart from the woman who had rescued him.

Everyone had said he shouldn't be hopeful, Melissa will most likely never turn up for the wedding. Although, he still believed that the woman whose eyes held so much softness wouldn't put a man's disability above his true worth.

However, now, after waiting in the courtroom for more than three hours, he was sure that Melissa will never show up.

"Melissa does not want you_" she started, but Alex cut her off quickly.

"I get your point, now move on." he narrowed his at her. The thought of being rejected by Melissa still pricked his skin.

"But you still need a wife. And I, in return, need your help."

"So you want me to marry you instead." It wasn't a question.

"You're a businessman, and I know how much you value a good, fair exchange."

Alex's lips curled. He couldn't deny how the fire in her eyes made him feel some kind of way. He was unable to describe the feeling.

"Boss, we should talk more about this_" Dan tried to talk him out.

"No, we won't."

He stared at Lauren, his strong gaze doing nothing to intimidate her.

Alex curled his lips.

She's made of steel, he thought.

"Do you have an idea of what you're getting into?" He asked. "As you can see, I'm not your typical whole man. Once you get in, there's never a way out."

"I've had time to think about my decision well. I'm more than ready."

He could see it now, her eyes– the desperation in her tiny voice. But it wasn't just that. There was something else, something that intrigued him...defiance and a mix of rebellion. This woman standing before him was truly a mystery he didn't know if he cared enough to solve.

But he was in a tight spot. Another door has been opened to him, and he would be a fool if he didn't run towards it.

He turned to the registrar, "Prepare the documents."

At least now, he wouldn't disappoint his investors.

****

The marriage was finalized quickly, Dan constantly throwing a disapproving gaze at Alex. But, Alex was only focused on the woman sitting close to him in the car.

Lauren looked away from him, her eyes following the trees and houses as they passed by.

"You never told me what you wanted from me in return," Alex finally said, breaking the comfortable silence. "What do you want from me?"

Lauren tensed by his side as she slowly turned to look at him. "Can we not talk about it here?" She pleaded with her eyes.

"You expect my boss to marry you without knowing what's up your sleeve?" Dan glared at her.

"He's already married to me," Lauren spat back.

Alex watched them in amusement, a smile forming on his lips. But then his eyes suddenly returned cold again. "The jury's still out. Don't get ahead of yourself," he said to Lauren.

"I just want us to discuss in a more comfortable setting. That's all," she told him.

The car finally pulled up to the motion, Alex, helping his bride to step out of his sleek car.

Lauren watched in amazement as she went closer and closer to the house.

"Woah! You live here alone?" She asked, amazed, as her eyes continued to take in her environment.

"Yes, in this particular building. But my uncle and nephew stay in the other building."

"Oh, I see. Your home is nice." She genuinely said.

"It's your home now, Lauren," he said, looking up at her. "...well, until I hear the reason you married me."

"Oh..." Lauren turned her eyes away from him.

"Enough of the stalling now. What do you need my help with?"

Lauren looked up to find Dan already glaring at her. He really didn't trust her, that much she noticed. She knew his boss didn't trust her as well, but Dan made his own pretty obvious.

"My mother is very ill. I couldn't raise the money alone for her treatment." She said, wincing internally at how she sounded. She sounded like someone who was selling her body for money. "I just had to do this."

Lauren's words landed like gun shots to Alex's ears. He had really hoped Lauren was different...someone who didn't want him just for his wealth.

"So you married me because of my money," he said coldly, his words coming out harsher than he had intended.

"No, that's not it. I married you to save my mother's life. The only woman who had been there for me when my father rejected me like a stray animal," she said as she clenched her hands. "There's a big difference between the two."

But this only made Alex's jaw stiffened. "What about your biological father? He's among the wealthiest men in the country. Why didn't you run to him instead?"

"My father hates me and my mother. He was the first person I reached out to. But he and his disgraceful family kicked me out of their dinning like a dirty rag, telling me that I wasn't worth a penny of theirs," Lauren seethed as she recalled her encounter with her family.

Dan cursed quietly by his side, his hands clenching tight.

"So you thought the next best thing was to go into a marriage with the man who wanted your sister, so you could get him to fund all your bills," Alex said, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Trust me, I'm as displeased with this situation as you are. But I'm not the only one getting something out of this marriage," she looked down to stare at him directly. "You wouldn't have rushed the marriage that quick if you weren't in a tight situation yourself. And if I have to get a man to marry me to save the only person that matters to me, I won't hesitate, Alex," she finished, his name rolling out of her lips like a prayer. "This marriage doesn't have to mean a thing. It's purely busi__"

Just before she could finish her statement, a voice interrupted her, making Alex turn around in fury, his hand tightened over the armrest of his wheelchair.