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?"
