As Grace emerged from the dressing room, the lady escorting her glanced at Mason, seeking his approval. He offered a subtle nod, and the woman retreated, leaving Grace alone with Mason once more. Grace couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she had seen Mason somewhere before, and she racked her brain, trying to place him.
"What are you waiting for?" Mason asked, breaking the silence.Grace regarded him with suspicion. "Where are you taking me? I won't move an inch from here if you don't tell me what's going on. For all I know, you might be a serial killer," she said, her eyes widening as a thought occurred to her. "Oh! Serial killers like adorning their victims before killing them!" She took a step back, her gaze never leaving Mason.Mason shook his head, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on his face. "I see you really are a psycho," he remarked."Yes, I'm a psycho," Grace declared, nodding emphatically. "There's absolutely nothing attractive about me!" She began making exaggerated, unattractive faces and gestures, desperately trying to prove her point. "See, there's a vein on my hand! Ha! So manly, right? Unattractive!" she ranted, continuing her bizarre performance."We're getting married," Mason stated calmly, cutting through Grace's antics.Grace froze, her jaw dropping in shock. "Mar... marr... marriage?! I don't even know you! No, I won't do it!" she stammered, her eyes locked on Mason's, searching for any sign of rational explanation.
Grace stood frozen, shocked by the sudden marriage proposal. "Don't you need money?" Mason asked, breaking the silence."I need money, but I don't even know you," Grace stammered, still trying to process the situation."Then search for Mason Lockwood, and we may proceed," he instructed.Grace fumbled with her old, partly-broken phone, and as Mason's identity was revealed, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh my god, it's really you! But why would a billionaire like you want to marry me? It's suspicious," she blurted out, her thoughts racing. "If I hadn't run into you...""Let's talk in the car," Mason interrupted, leading her outside to the parking spot.
As they approached the luxury vehicles, Grace noticed the entourage of bodyguards waiting for their boss. She couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and trepidation at the lavish display. Grace had never been treated with such attention before, and it felt strangely comforting after the chaos she had experienced since leaving the orphanage.Once they were seated in the car, Grace immediately questioned Mason's motives. "Why do you want to marry me?" she asked, her green eyes shining with curiosity and disbelief. Suddenly, a realization hit her, and she gasped, covering her mouth. "Don't tell me you fell in love at first sight," she said, tucking her hair back in a coquettish manner.
Mason chuckled at her assumption. "I don't believe in love," he confessed, facing her. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't get married. But my mother doesn't agree, and I don't want to marry the girl she has chosen for me. Marry me for three years," he proposed. "You won't lack anything, and you will be paid three billion dollars into your account after the three years expires, along with a clothing line business, an estate, and five luxury cars."Grace's mouth dropped open, her eyes widening in shock. She hit her face gently, trying to snap herself out of the surreal situation. "Huh... uhm... this is a prank, right?" she asked, scanning the car for hidden cameras. "Okay, jokes over! You guys can come out!" she exclaimed, turning to Mason with a confused expression. "What show is this again?"Mason stared at her mixed reactions and couldn't help but laugh out loud, finding her genuine disbelief and suspicion both amusing and endearing."Why are you laughing?" Grace asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.Mason stared at her, his amusement subsiding. "Why do you think this is a joke?""Because it's too good to be true," Grace replied earnestly. "I mean, I love luxury, I envy rich people, and I want to be rich myself. But this is just too good to be true.""You just need to act like my wife for three years," Mason explained, ignoring her question. "If you agree, you'll sign a contract, and we'll proceed to register our wedding right now.""Wait!" Grace interjected. "What if I have a boyfriend?""Your personal affairs are not my business," Mason said coolly. "Just sign, and we'll proceed.""Huh," Grace murmured, her mind racing. "I didn't go to college. I can't just sign a contract. I need a lawyer. What if you end up scamming me?" she asked suspiciously.Mason stared at her, his expression serious. "Do you think I have enough time to play around? There are many ladies out there willing to do this. I specifically came to that neighborhood to find a contract wife. If you're not up to the task, get out, and I'll find someone else." He retracted the file in his hand, preparing to put it away."Wait, wait... uhm, I'll sign it," Grace said hastily, "but... you need to give me a deposit. I have bills to pay, too.""All your previous issues will be settled," Mason assured her. "You're moving in with me today."Grace gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. "Huh... I'll sign it," she said, taking a deep breath.Mason handed her the file, and Grace read through the contract, her heart pounding in her chest. She signed her name at the bottom, and before the SUV began to move, Mason produced the latest smartphone from a pouch and handed it to her."Throw out that garbage you've been using before," he instructed. "It's not befitting of my status."Grace's eyes widened as she unboxed the phone, the silver frame gleaming in her hands. Her heart raced with excitement, and she struggled to process everything that had happened in such a short time. After completing the marriage registration, Grace and Mason returned to the car, making their way back to the mansion. Grace couldn't help but smile as she explored her new smartphone, still reeling from the whirlwind of events."You can't inform anyone that we're in a contract marriage," Mason stated firmly. "Absolutely no one. Otherwise, you'll be breaching our contract, and I will divorce you without giving you a penny.""Ha!" Grace exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What do you mean, 'without a penny'?""Yes, learn to keep your mouth shut," Mason retorted."Of course, I won't tell anyone," Grace added hastily. With that settled, she asked, "How do I tell your family how we met? I mean, we need to come up with a story.""Tell them I took a liking to you at a restaurant, and we got married," Mason replied matter-of-factly."Huh? Just that?" Grace inquired, skeptical that the story would be convincing enough."I don't need to explain things to anyone," Mason asserted. "I rule my world, so just ignore them. They might be harsh, but it's your job to handle them.""Huh," Grace said, mulling over his words. "Now I see that nothing good comes easy." Her thoughts raced as she considered potential challenges she might face. "What if I get hit, or someone attempts to kill me? Oh my god! What if I get poisoned by your intended fiancée?" she asked, her face a mask of horror."You need to stop watching dramas," Mason responded, clearly unamused by her wild speculations. He rested his head against the leather seat of the car, leaving Grace alone with her tumultuous thoughts.