The Stark Group

In the heart of New York’s ultra-expensive financial district, the thirty-three-story headquarters of the Stark Group stood like a titan. The magnificent skyscraper lived up to its name, radiating an aura of prestige and power from every polished window.

Every graduation season, countless elite students fought tooth and nail just to set foot in this building, hoping to secure a high-paying, high-status career. Even now, outside of graduation season, the lobby was a blur of activity. Everyone was in a race against time, working with a frantic energy as if trying to squeeze two minutes out of every one.

On the top floor, in the CEO’s office.

Rob Stark, the President of the Stark Group—a man usually far busier than any of his employees—was currently experiencing a strange moment of stillness.

On his expensive desk sat a document. It wasn't a billion-dollar contract from a partner, nor was it an urgent file from a department head. In fact, it wasn't anything that would typically be considered worth his professional time. Yet, since the moment he opened it, his gaze hadn't wavered. He read it line by line, focusing on every single word with intense concentration.

Across from him, Chloe Bishop sat with her back ramrod straight. The oversized executive chair made her look especially frail and thin. Her hands were clasped over her knees, their slight trembling betraying her nerves despite her best efforts to remain composed.

Mr. Stark was a tall man. Even sitting down, his presence was imposing enough to overwhelm her. The afternoon sun cast his shadow directly over Chloe, enveloping her like a massive mountain that made it hard to breathe.

Chloe thought to herself that she hadn't seen Rob Stark in fifteen years, and he had grown into someone far more intimidating than the boy she once knew. He was also much more handsome. She stole occasional glances at him—his rugged features, sharp jawline, and cold silhouette all radiated a "do not approach" vibe. Even his long eyelashes, which should have looked soft, seemed hardened by the indifference in his eyes.

He truly was a man whose looks were out of this world. If he were just a little bit warmer, Chloe figured she would probably be one of his many fangirls.

"You want to get engaged to me?"

While Chloe was lost in thought, the man opposite her finally finished reading the document she had brought. It was a formal engagement agreement, a thick stack of papers that she had asked Jake Tully to draft in advance.

"Yes." Chloe met his indifferent gaze, lifting her head and summoning every ounce of courage to look him in the eye. Her expression was one of absolute determination.

"And it's... a fake one?" Rob Stark’s voice rang out again. There was a hint of genuine surprise hidden in his tone.

"Yes," Chloe answered, even more firmly this time.

Snap!

Rob Stark closed the agreement and tossed it onto the desk. He uttered a single word: "Reason?"

He was genuinely perplexed. If he remembered correctly, he hadn't seen the woman in front of him for fifteen years. After he had accompanied his mother to her mother's funeral when she was ten, they had had no contact at all. If it weren't for the jade pendant, he wouldn't even have recognized her.

"Didn't you say that if I ever brought this pendant to you, you would repay me for saving your life?" Chloe steadied her nerves and pointed to the jade pendant resting on the desk near his hand.

Rob Stark nodded. He admitted he had made that promise, but he never expected her to cash in that favor in such a way.

A fake engagement?

For the first time in forever, Rob's curiosity was piqued. His thin lips pressed together briefly. "I need to know the reason behind this decision before I consider agreeing."

"The truth?" Chloe asked.

Rob Stark nodded.

Chloe Bishop had no intention of hiding her motives, so she spoke with total frankness. "The Chloe Bishop sitting in front of you is no longer the wealthy heiress of the Bishop Group. Today, I have nothing—no money, no connections, and no one to back me up. You, Rob Stark, have everything. I need to borrow the status of being your fiancée to take back what belongs to me."

As these blunt truths tumbled out of her mouth, a flicker of complexity finally crossed Rob Stark’s usually expressionless face. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

If he remembered correctly, Chloe Bishop had once been the golden child of the Bishop Family, showered with affection. How had she fallen so far in just fifteen years? What exactly had happened to her?

"You don't need to worry about me refusing to break off the engagement later," Chloe added, seeing his silence. "The agreement clearly states that after one year, you will be the one to initiate the breakup. One year is all I need. I won't occupy the position of your fiancée forever."

Rob Stark remained silent, his indifferent eyes fixed on her. This woman was a stranger compared to the girl in his memories. He didn't know what her personality had been like as a child, but he was certain it wasn't this.

Behind her gaze lay a hidden, fragile helplessness. She looked at him with a glimmer of hope—as if he were her last lifeline—though she likely didn't even realize it. It gave Rob the unsettling feeling that if he rejected her, she would truly have nowhere left to turn.

As the silence stretched on, Chloe’s small hands involuntarily balled into fists. She had arrived with a head full of prepared arguments, but facing Mr. Stark now, she had completely forgotten her script.

Minutes ticked by. The massive CEO’s office became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. In this silent standoff, Chloe was the first to break. She took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

"I’m sorry. I’ve put you in a difficult position."

As much as she wanted him to agree, she wasn't the type to force someone. It made sense; probably no man would willingly agree to such a strange arrangement.

"It’s not a difficult position."

Rob Stark’s voice finally cut through the silence, making Chloe freeze just as she was about to leave.

"You..." Chloe wasn't sure what those words meant. Was he agreeing or refusing?

Rob raised a hand, his long fingers tapping the arm of the chair. "Sit."

Chloe sat back down, her ears practically ringing as she waited for his final answer.

Rob picked up her engagement agreement again. Under her watchful eyes, he fed the thick stack of papers—all a dozen or so pages—into the paper shredder. He watched calmly as the document was reduced to strips.

Chloe’s heart sank to the bottom of the ocean. Failure. That was his answer.

Her fists tightened as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She told herself it was okay; hadn't she expected this outcome before she even walked in? If this path was blocked, she’d just find another. She hadn't died in that asylum; surely she could find a way to survive now that she was out.

Comforting herself with these thoughts, Chloe calmed down and accepted the blow. She stood up once more and turned toward the door.

"Let’s get married."

Chloe’s hand was already on the doorknob. Just as she was about to pull the heavy office door open, Rob Stark dropped those three words like a bomb behind her.

Let’s get married!

Chloe gasped for air. He had rejected her fake engagement, only to suggest marriage? Did she hear him wrong, or had Rob Stark lost his mind?

Realizing both were unlikely—especially the latter—Chloe turned back to face him, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

"A... fake marriage?"

"Marriage is not a game. I never treat my own marriage as something fake," Rob Stark said indifferently. His tone was as casual as if he were simply remarking that the weather was nice.

Chloe Bishop felt that if the situation weren't so serious, she might have laughed out loud. Hearing the words "marriage is not a game" come out of Rob Stark's mouth made the whole situation feel like an absolute joke.

How many times had they actually met? Chloe counted on her fingers—she didn't even need one hand. From the first time she met him when she was seven until now, they had met exactly three times in eighteen years. Aside from their names, they knew nothing about each other. You want to marry a stranger and claim marriage isn't a game? Are you sure you're not kidding?

"Rob Stark, did you take your medicine today?" Chloe blurted out before she could stop herself.

Rob Stark: "..."

He pressed a finger to his temple to soothe a mounting headache. With a rare display of patience, he said, "You need a backer. Marrying me is much safer than a fake engagement. If we marry, you become my wife. In New York, you can walk with your head held high, and no one will dare touch you."

"Why would I want to walk like that? I’m not a bully," Chloe shot back, her mouth once again moving faster than her brain.

Rob Stark: "..."

This time, his temple visibly twitched. He couldn't quite keep his composure.

Of course, the moment the words left her mouth, Chloe regretted them. She bit her lip, desperately wanting to slap herself. Why can't you just keep your mouth shut!

Seeing Rob's face darken, Chloe felt even worse. Just as she was trying to think of a way to salvage the conversation, a knock came from the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

The three soft raps felt like they were pounding against Chloe’s heart, making her jump.

"Come in," Rob said, his face still grim.

An assistant twisted the handle and entered. Before even stepping fully into the room, he felt the icy tension in the air. He stole a glance at Mr. Stark, noticed his dark expression, and immediately became more cautious.

"Mr. Stark," he reminded him carefully, "the car is ready. You need to head to the airport now."

Rob gave a low grunt of affirmation. He stood up, scribbled a string of numbers on a sticky note, tore it off, and walked toward Chloe.

As he approached, Chloe realized just how tall he truly was. Standing at nearly 6'1", his physical presence felt like a heavy weight pressing down on her. His perfectly tailored suit accentuated his physique; he looked like a walking mannequin.

"Take this," Rob said, pausing beside her. As he moved his hand, the diamond cufflink at his wrist caught the light, making Chloe squint. "I’ll be on a business trip for a week. Give me a call when you’ve made up your mind."

Chloe took the note as if possessed, clutching it tightly in her hand.

________________________________________

When Jake Tully dragged his exhausted body home from the law firm, he found Chloe Bishop snuggled comfortably on the sofa. Between her slender fingers, she held one of his brand-new crystal wine glasses, filled with the vintage red wine he had been saving for a special occasion. The bottle on the table was already half empty.

Jake’s heart ached at the sight of his lost treasure.

"Chloe Bishop, you better have a good reason for drinking my wine. If this isn't for a celebration, I’m throwing you off the balcony," Jake yelled, hands on his hips.

Chloe looked up. Her pale face now had a soft, rosy flush from the alcohol, making her look much healthier. The sight instantly drained half of Jake’s anger. Sigh. It’s really hard to stay mad at a face that pretty.

Jake sat down defeatedly and snatched the remaining half-bottle, pouring himself a glass. "So? Did Rob Stark agree to the fake engagement?"

Chloe shook her head like a rattle.

Jake let out a very unladylike curse. "And here I thought you were celebrating. You’re just drinking your sorrows away. Chloe, get a grip! So you got rejected—I never thought he’d agree anyway."

"Actually," Chloe said solemnly, nodding her small head, "he said marriage isn't a game and shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip. So, after 'careful consideration,' he said we should just get married."

Pfft!

The wine Jake had just sipped sprayed right back out.

"Cough... cough!" Jake sputtered and choked for a good while before managed to gasp out, "Chloe... you’re not drunk, are you?"