“Sign the contract and be my husband, Aric. I know you need the money.”

  Victoria Reid’s soft voice pierced Aric Fostr’s ears as she pced a document on the table.

  The brunette man tried to stay calm though his chest burned with restrained anger.

  “Young Lady, you’ve crossed the line!” he said coldly.

  “Did I look like I needed your money?”

  Undeterred, the blonde woman leaned closer and twirling a pen between her fingers.

  “You’re really pying hard to get, huh?”

  Victoria's eyes traced the sharp lines of Aric’s handsome face.

  He was, undeniably, attractive in Victoria’s eyes.

  “Listen, I doubt you'll find a job out there paying two hundred thousand dolrs a month with your current qualifications.”

  The tip of her pen stopped beneath Aric’s chin, as if trying to hold him captive.

  “You should be grateful I’m offering you this. A contract husband with a generous sary? That’s not a bad deal.”

  Being the contract husband of a stunning woman like Victoria should’ve been a tempting offer. Especially with the attractive sary attached.

  However, Calyse’s beautiful face soon filled Aric’s mind.

  He calmly pushed the pen away from his chin.

  “I’m not interested in being your contract husband. And I suggest you leave.”

  Victoria let out a dry ugh. Inside, she fumed. She hadn’t expected a man this ordinary to reject her offer so bluntly.

  “You’re kicking me out?” Her tone is soft, but the anger beneath it simmers.

  “I’m the one who paid for this VIP room for our first date!”

  Aric shook his head.

  “No. I think you’re in the wrong room.”

  Victoria ughed again, sharper this time.

  “Really? You think just anyone can walk into this room?”

  Aric paused. Deep down, he realized she was right.

  But he still didn’t understand why a complete stranger had entered the private dining room his wife had reserved for their romantic dinner.

  He took a breath and spoke clearly.

  “Young Lady, I came here for dinner with my wife.”

  He emphasized the words firmly.

  “My marriage is fine. I have no interest in becoming your contract husband.”

  Victoria’s brows furrowed, as if studying him.

  Before she could speak, Aric raised his left hand and showed his wedding ring.

  “I’m already married.”

  “If you need a contract husband, I suggest you find someone else.”

  This time, Victoria couldn’t hide her shock.

  ‘Damn it. Why would Calyse send me to a married man?’

  ‘Was she trying to trick me?’

  Frustrated, Aric stood and walked toward the door.

  But before Aric could leave, the door opened revealing a beautiful woman with bck hair he knew well.

  Aric’s expression changed worry as he gripped her arms.

  “Honey, where have you been?”

  “You said we're going to have dinner here.”

  Calyse Vinson didn’t respond. Her eyes briefly flicked to Aric, then shifting toward Victoria who still sat on the sofa with an annoyed look.

  Their eyes met.

  “You signed it, didn’t you?” Calyse asked.

  The woman nominated for this year's Nobel Prize in science shook her head.

  “Why do you look panicked, Aric?

  “I won’t be mad.”

  She spoke casually, as if Aric’s presence in her life had never mattered.

  “I’ve already prepared our divorce papers.”

  Aric’s grip on Calyse’s arms tightened.

  “Cal! Don’t joke!”

  Calyse shook her head indifferently.

  “No, Aric. I’m not joking.”

  “I’m the one who invited Miss Reid to make you her contract husband.”

  Time seemed to freeze, suspending everything for a few seconds.

  In his entire life, Aric never imagined hearing such a painful sentence from his own wife.

  “Why would you do that?” The words slipped from his lips, heavy with disappointment.

  Still holding her sharp gaze, Calyse answered coldly, “Because I want to secure the research partnership with the Reid Company.”

  That soft voice hit harder than a bomb leveling a skyscraper.

  “You sold your own husband for a contract?”

  Calyse said nothing, but the unwavering look on her face was more painful than any wound.

  “You’re insane, Cal!”

  Annoyed, Calyse pushed his hands away. “Let me go!”

  “I’m not the crazy one! But you are!”

  Her finger jabbed against Aric’s chest.

  “Aric, life is tough. And I’m sure you’ve seen how hard I’ve worked on my own.”

  Her finger poked at his chest again. Not hard, but sharp, like the tip of a bde.

  “I’ve built my path alone, while you’ve contributed nothing to my life.”

  Aric shook his head, about to respond, but Calyse pressed her finger to his lips.

  “I divorce you, Aric.”

  “I know deep down, you’re grateful. This deal benefits us both and you know it!”