Contract Marriage: Married To A Sadistic CEO

"What the fuck!" Olivia screamed at the sight of her husband and her cousin in their bedroom.

She moved closer, doubting whether or not she was seeing things. Verifying that this was really happening, her purse fell from her hand, and her legs weakened.

Her husband got away from the woman he was with. He adjusted his trousers before he walked up to her without an ounce of shame or guilt.

"Bradford," she tried to speak, but was at a loss for words. Not only was she disappointed, but she was equally shocked.

"Olivia, i–"

Before Bradford could finish his statement, Olivia summoned the courage to slap him, silencing him.

Olivia wasn't just sad, but angry at her husband, who had the guts to bring a woman into their bedroom. She thought he was a different man and trusted him, but he failed her like every other man she had encountered. All they wanted was what she had to offer, not her love.

"Olivia, I don't care if you slap me a hundred times. It is what it is." His words left her speechless. "Let's get a divorce. I am tired of hiding this from you. I love your cousin, Layla."

For some reason, his words made tears well up in her eyes. She expected him to go on his knees and beg for her forgiveness like other men. But no! He showed no remorse for his action.

To worsen it, she had just transferred her shares to him, making him the owner of her father's company. She gave him everything, including her money, house, and cars, believing he truly loved her. She never expected this day to come.

For the past three years they had been together, Bradford was always treating her well and making her believe he was the only person she could trust and rely on. For that reason, Olivia opened up to him and gave him everything she had.

"What if I say no?" Her brow raised as she asked. "Actually, I am not getting a divorce," she firmly opposed, holding back the tears that threatened to pour down.

Bradford chuckled darkly at her words before walking closer to her. She kept drifting back until her back was against the wall.

He leaned in close to her. "Olivia, will you sign the divorce letter or would you prefer I strangle you to death without anyone knowing?"

Hearing his words, fear instilled inside of her. She knew Bradford was not a man who went back on his word; he was a man of his word. "I... will... sign... it..." she stammered, hoping not to get hurt by Bradford.

"Fine," he said with a sly smile before turning to face Layla, who had been watching them. "Babe, can you get me the divorce letter?"

"Sure." Layla's voice echoed.

In no time, she walked up to them with the divorce letter, the duvet wrapped around her chest.

"What are you waiting for, Olivia? Won't you sign it?" Layla asked, stretching the divorce letter and a pen to Olivia.

Olivia felt defeated as she received the divorce letter from her cousin instead of her husband. She read the document with tears streaming down her face.

She raised her gaze to look at Bradford, staring into his eyes. His green eyes, which used to look at her lovingly, were now cold, staring at her like she was the most despicable thing in the world.

"Do you really have to do this? Is this a divorce or a scam?" Olivia asked sadly.

"Do what?" He asked, sounding as if he had no idea what she meant.

She hesitated before speaking, tears streaming down freely. "Why does it say I am getting nothing from you? Including everything I gave you? Why do I have to be the one losing everything? Can't we just go our separate ways without destroying each other?"

Bradford burst into laughter at her words. He turned to Layla, who was anticipating what the almighty Olivia would do. "Layla, can that happen?" He asked her, sounding like this was actually fun.

'It must be fun for both of them. Maybe this was their plan from the beginning,' Olivia thought. No matter how she tried to remain strong like the lady her father raised her to be, she kept breaking down.

"Why should it happen? Did she allow my father, who worked hard for the success of the company, to have the company?" Layla retorted before she took a few steps closer to Olivia. "Girl, things don't always go as you wish; remember that."

"Will you sign the document or not? Layla and I have unfinished business to finish," Bradford said, licking his lips seductively.

She took a deep breath, trying not to hurt herself further because Bradford didn't deserve it. She picked up the pen and signed the document.

After she was done signing the document, she handed it back to him. "The both of you are only helping me keep what is mine safe. I will come back for it," she informed them.

"Until then, honey," Layla whispered in Olivia's ear, feeling victorious.

She had never won Olivia anything. Education, business, creativity, luck, name it all, Olivia has always been on top. How sad it would be for Mr. Jaylen to see his dear daughter lose her man to her cousin.

"Olivia, what are you waiting for? Won't you excuse us? Layla and I still have rounds to go," Bradford reminded her, sounding naughty and pleased.

Just as much as she regretted ever meeting a scoundrel like him, she would regret not taking her revenge on him. She clenched her teeth before she walked out of the room weakly.

She headed out of her own house with one more glare, wishing everything was a dream, but it was too vivid to doubt if it was really happening.

Just as she stepped out of her magnificent mansion, heavy rain began to pour down on her. She closed her eyes and allowed her tears to stream down, wishing the rain would wash away her pain. She wished that by the end of this rain, she would no longer feel pain.

"Olivia, are you really fine?" Her friend, Annabelle, asked worriedly.

After the night that she got divorced, she couldn't think of anywhere to go aside from her friend's place. She caught a cold and wouldn't tell her friend what happened.

"I am," she managed to reply, as if those two words were forced out of her mouth.

Annabelle placed her hand on Olivia's forehead to feel her temperature. Her temperature was warm compared to two days ago when she came knocking on her door, looking soaked.

"Olivia, you aren't okay. Stop pretending to yourself," Annabelle said. She knew her friend would never share her problem with anyone except she was at the verge of dying.

Unable to keep lying, Olivia decided to tell everything to Annabelle. She explained how she caught Bradford, how shameless he was, and everything that transpired between them.

Annabelle ruffled her long black hair as if she were the one treated that way. "Fuck! Girl, how could you keep such a thing to yourself?"

"What can I do? Even though I report him, I have no evidence," Olivia replied sadly.

"Olivia, it must have been hard for you. Don't worry, you can rest all you want before you resume working," she suggested.

Olivia hesitated before she spoke up. "Work? I already transferred my shares to him. Literally, he is the owner of the company."

Her eyes widened at Olivia's words. If Olivia was a baby, she would beat her until she passed out. After warning her, she still went ahead and transferred the shares to him.

"Don't tell me you gave him everything. Your house, cars, money, and shares? What sort of love made you stupid?" She asked, doubting if the smart lady she used to know was Olivia in front of her.

Olivia, who didn't want to be reminded about her foolishness, pleaded, "Will you just stop blaming me, please? I need a rest from all this shit going on in my life."

"Rest? Girl, don't tell me you are going to let them get away with everything," her brow raised, Annabelle said coldly.

"What can I do to get back at them when they literally have everything to fight me?" She asked curiously, ready to do whatever it takes to watch them feel the same pain they inflicted on her.

Annabelle sat up before she began with her crazy suggestion. "The easiest way to get revenge on them is to marry my ex-fiance's brother. He is rich, handsome, and way beyond Bradford's level. He can get you everything you want," she paused and gulped down the glass of water on the table. "Send Bradford to prison? Make Layla the topic of mockery in the town? Name it all, he can do it."

"Even if he can, I can't marry someone I don't love just for revenge," she opposed.

Annabelle burst into laughter at Olivia's level of stupidity. "Love? I can't believe you are still talking about love after what you experienced! There is no real word like love any more. In this modern world, marriage is only possible when it comes with benefits," she explained with a smile.

"Isn't it so cheap coming from you when you rejected his brother?" She asked. "Anyway, my answer still remains the same, Anna," Olivia said weakly. She managed to stand up about to leave Annabelle's apartment; that way, she would be able to breathe.

"Olivia, will you allow Layla to take away the company your father worked hard to build? Will you allow that man to live happily while you live in sadness and pain? Won't you regret not taking revenge on them?"

Annabelle's words made her halt. She turned to face her before she replied, "Is that enough reason to go into a fake marriage with a total stranger?"

Annabelle stood up and walked up to Olivia. "Girl, it is just for a few months, and you get divorced. It's a win-win for the both of you. No need to overreact over it," she said, confusing Olivia.

"What did you mean?"

"I overheard Grandma Katherine's conversation with my grandma. She wants to hand over the company to her third grandson when he returns home. She won't hand over the company to him unless he gets married, and that is when you come in. He is a player who doesn't love," she explained with a faint smile.

Olivia, who was convinced that this wouldn't affect her in any way, walked back to the couch. Annabelle did the same before they sat down.

Staring at Annabelle, she asked, "What is he like? What can I do to make him marry me?"

"Just be straight with your words. Make sure to appear just when he is thinking of the best candidate. Convince him that you don't do love stuff," Annabelle replied.

Olivia bit her lips at Annabelle's response. She knew how hard that would be since she is shy, but she had no choice but to practice the words that she was going to say.

"How about his family? Will they accept me? A foolish lady who lost everything to a man?" She asked, tears clustering in her brown eyes.

"No, they won't. The only person whose acceptance matters is my ex-fiance's brother, Alden," Annabelle informed her. "You have to look seductive. He is crazy and smiles a lot, but don't fall for it. That is his power," she added.

"Seductive?" The word escaped from her lips in a questioning tone.

"Olivia, don't worry about that. I got you. Don't bother about dresses, makeup, and jewelry."

She burst into tears at her friend's words. She felt bad for always receiving her friend's help and happy to have Annabelle as a friend.

Before Annabelle could ask why she was crying, she embraced her in a tight hug. "Thank you so much, bestie. You are the best."

"Tch, stop overreacting. Alden will be returning to the city in two hours. You have to get prepared, girl," Annabelle said, making Olivia disengage from the hug.

"Oh my God! Why didn't you tell me he was returning today?" She asked sadly.

Without waiting for Annabelle's response, she hurried away. She knew if she waited for Annabelle's response, she would spend the two hours in a conversation.

"Grandma, what is this family dinner about?"

Dario, the youngest grandson of old Grandma Katherine, asked curiously, interrupting the silent dinner. It was unusual for their family to dine together unless there was an announcement to make.

Atlas, the eldest grandson, paused to hear his mother's response. He knew there was no important announcement to make aside from announcing who she was going to hand over the company to.

"I called everyone, including your brother, Alden, who just returned from Country D, to announce who I was going to hand over the company to," the old woman replied before she continued eating.

Atlas chuckled at his grandma's words. Every action she took was unpredictable. Wasn't it obvious that he was the one she was going to hand over the company to? Was there any need to inform his brothers instead of announcing it to the press?

"Atlas, why did you laugh? What is so funny about my words?" She asked with a serious look on her face.

Atlas hesitated before he replied, "It is just funny to me. Why invite the boy who ran away from this mansion ten years ago? Besides, why is there a need to announce it here instead of the press?"

Alden, who suddenly became the topic of conversation, let go of his cutlery. He raised his gaze to watch his brother and grandmother with a bright smile on his face.

"I called him over because I was going to hand over the Crawford group to him. I don't want it to come as a surprise to any of you," she replied coldly, not caring how much those words hurt both Atlas and Aziel, whose sacrifices were the reason the company was still at the top.

Just like Atlas, Aziel also had his own expectations. Even though he was the second grandson, he still hoped for things his older brother wanted. Not only that, he worked harder than anyone in the Crawford group.

Grandma Katherine's words made everyone's eyes widen in awe. Alden wasn't left out.

How can his grandma hand over the company to him when he has been away for ten years and literally hasn't done anything for the company? Maybe their grandma was making a joke like usual.

Before Alden could ask any questions, Atlas asked, "Grandma, why are you giving him the company when he has zero right to own one percent of it? I am the best candidate, but no! You chose him over me. It's been him over the rest of us! When will you even appreciate our hard work and let us have what we deserve?"

"Yes! When will you even consider the fact that Atlas and I were the reason Crawford was still the number one in the business world? I wonder if you will even give me anything after all these years of hard work," Aziel voiced out before Grandma Katherine could speak up.

Grandma Katherine let go of her cutlery before she raised her gaze to stare at her grandsons. "Among the both of you, who deserves the company? Atlas, who steals the company money, planted the seed of corruption or the fact that he was a murderer? Or you, Aziel, who always indulges in one scandal after another and is sued for sexual harassment?"

"Grandma!" Atlas yelled. "Steal? Did you think the company would still function without my help? Or the help of the corruption I planted?" He asked without an ounce of shame.

Grandma Katherine chuckled at his childish behavior. Only if she knew he wouldn't change, she wouldn't have given him the benefit of doubt. She should have allowed him to keep living as a murderer rather than Crawford's eldest grandson.

"Hmm, let's see about that. Maybe the company will fall when your brother becomes the CEO," she said, a curl smile on the corner of her lips.

"But grandma, can't you–"

Before Aziel could complete his statement, Grandma Katherine cut him off. "Can't what? I already made my decisions and i don't care if it doesn't go well with anyone."

Alden, who had been watching them, smiled brightly. It wasn't supposed to look funny, but it seemed so to him. He found it unbelievable to still see how energetic Grandma Katherine was. She hadn't changed a bit.

"Alden, I will only hand over the company to you if you get married. Prove to the public that you can lead Crawford and aren't gay." With that, she stood up and left.

She had always been this way. Always prioritizing the public's opinion over her family. After she lost her eldest son and daughter-in-law in a ghastly accident because of her family's opinion, she made up her mind not to care about her family's thoughts. That was one of the reasons Alden left home; she just wouldn't give him the chance to explain.

Ten years ago, he was sexually harassed by his uncle's friend and framed. He was accused of seducing his uncle's friend into kissing him when it was the other way around. He was just like every other boys with one difference: he doesn't love anyone.

"Are you going to shamelessly accept that position, Alden?" Aziel asked harshly.

"Instead of asking him when you know Grandma has already decided, why not accept your fate?" Dario replied with a question in place of Alden.

Alden used the opportunity to walk out of the dining room. He knew if he waited longer, it would lead to a fight between them.

On his way out of his mansion, his elder brother stopped him. Atlas walked up to him before leaning closely. "Alden, reject Grandma's offer or-"

"Or what? I already accept it. Expect me as your new boss, elder brother," he whispered back to Atlas before he walked away.

He got into his car before he drove out of the parking lot. He drove off to his favorite restaurant. The restaurant used to be his first love's favorite restaurant. He always loved going there anytime he was confused or going through hardship, he found solace there.

After he arrived, he alighted from his car and walked into the restaurant that hadn't changed from how it was ten years ago.

"Alden, you are back in the city?"

The moment he walked in, the owner of the restaurant hurried to him before she asked.

"Yeah. This time, I am back for good," he replied, smiling.

He sat down close to the window. He enjoyed watching the beautiful atmosphere as he ate.

"Here is your favorite chicken-fried steak. I wish I knew you were coming, I would have prepared something better," the old woman said sadly.

"Haha. Madam Flora, I am no longer that nineteen-year-old boy you used to know." The both of them laughed at his words, reminded of good old times.

Madam Flora returned to her kitchen, leaving Alden to enjoy his meal.

Meanwhile, Olivia was over the corner, watching the man whom she had been waiting for almost an hour. He wasn't as she thought. He seemed simple and nice, making her wonder if he was really the man she had been waiting for.

She stood up and walked up to him. Without waiting for him to say anything, she sat down on the chair facing him. "Good afternoon. Can I join you?"

"Why ask when you already did?" He replied, his gaze not leaving his food.

She clenched her teeth as she tried to keep her composure. "Oh. I am Olivia, you?" She asked again, sounding awkward.

"I am sorry, I don't tell strangers my name," he said, a faint smile on his face.

"We can be more than strangers, Alden," she called out his name, amusing him.

He chuckled at her words, not revealing the fact that he was amused that she knew his name. Maybe he might be a lady Atlas sent to ruin his mood.

"I am sorry. Can you let me eat in peace?"

She moved her face closer before she proceeded with her actual plan, trying her best not to sound awkward. "Mr. Kendrick, marry me."

He raised his gaze to stare at her face, which was close to his, before he asked, "Why should I marry you?"