Married To The Billionaire At First Sight

October in Toronto was supposed to be cool.

Instead, the heat pressed down like a bad mood that refused to leave-only retreating briefly at dawn and after nightfall.

Chloe Bishop woke before sunrise.

She cooked breakfast for three people, picked up toys scattered like landmines across the living room, and mopped the floors until they gleamed. When everything was done, she grabbed two steamed buns, slipped her household registration booklet into her bag, and quietly closed the door behind her.

She left without waking anyone.

Because last night's argument still rang in her ears.

"We're splitting everything fifty-fifty from now on! Living expenses, mortgage, car loan-all of it! And your sister lives here, so she pays half too! Two thousand dollars a month? That's basically freeloading!"

Her brother-in-law's voice had been sharp. Cutting.

Chloe had stood outside the bedroom, frozen, listening.

She understood then-if she stayed, her sister's marriage would crack.

So she had to leave.

But leaving wasn't enough. If she moved out alone, her sister would worry. Feel guilty. Keep trying to help.

There was only one clean solution.

Marriage.

Absurd, maybe. Desperate, definitely.

She didn't even have a boyfriend.

But as Chloe stepped onto the bus heading toward the Civil Affairs Bureau, she remembered Grandma Jones.

And the proposal that had sounded ridiculous at the time.

Marry my eldest grandson.

The bus doors shut with a hiss.

Twenty minutes later, Chloe stepped onto the sidewalk.

The Civil Affairs Bureau stood quietly ahead.

"Chloe!"

She turned.

Grandma Jones waved enthusiastically, standing beside a tall man with a cold, intimidating presence. His posture was straight, his expression sharp, his aura screaming keep your distance.

So this was him.

David Jones.

Chloe blinked.

This... was not what she had imagined.

According to Grandma Jones, her grandson was thirty, hopelessly single, and socially awkward enough to scare women away. An executive with money-but no wife.

Chloe had assumed he was ugly.

Painfully ugly.

Because if a rich man couldn't find a girlfriend, there were usually only two reasons: extreme pickiness... or an unbearable face.

She had bet on the face.

She lost.

David Jones was strikingly handsome-cold eyes, defined features, the kind of man who made people straighten their backs unconsciously. Standing there in silence, he looked untouchable.

And dangerous-for her peace of mind.

A black BMW was parked nearby.

Seeing the familiar, modest logo, Chloe relaxed slightly. At least he wasn't absurdly rich. The gap between them wouldn't be terrifying.

She wasn't poor, either.

Living with her sister wasn't about money-it was about family.

She co-owned a bookstore near Toronto Middle School, a massive institution with nearly ten thousand students. The profits were steady, competitive, and generous. Add her online sales of handmade crafts, and Chloe earned over twenty thousand dollars a month.

More than enough.

Her brother-in-law didn't know that.

He thought her business barely survived.

He didn't know the five thousand dollars she handed over every month more than covered her stay. Or that she secretly asked her sister to save half of it.

"Chloe," Grandma Jones said happily, tugging her back to the present. "This is my eldest grandson, David. Thirty years old. A leftover man-but reliable! Cold face, warm heart. I wouldn't dare sell you a faulty product."

David didn't react.

Clearly immune.

Chloe smiled politely, cheeks warming. "Hello, Grandma Jones."

Then she turned and extended her hand. "Mr. Jones. I'm Chloe."

David's gaze swept over her-calm, assessing, distant.

Only after his grandmother coughed pointedly did he shake her hand.

Brief. Firm.

"David," he said.

Then, checking his watch, he added flatly, "I'm short on time. Let's keep this efficient."

"...Okay."

"Go, go!" Grandma Jones urged. "Register first. I'll wait here."

"It's hot," David said, already guiding her toward the car. "Wait inside."

The old woman grumbled but obeyed.

Chloe watched him open the door for her, careful, precise.

Cold-but considerate, she thought.

Good enough.

This wasn't about romance.

It was about solving problems.

A house with no mortgage. A legal marriage. Separate lives under one roof.

Roommates-for life.

David returned. "Let's go."

Inside the Civil Affairs Bureau, the air was cool and sterile.

At the counter, David suddenly stopped.

"Miss Bishop," he said, looking at her seriously, "you can still walk away. Ignore my grandmother. Marriage isn't something to joke about."

He hoped-irrationally-that she would say no.

He didn't want this.

Not with a stranger.

Not like this.

Chloe met his gaze without hesitation.

"I've thought it through," she said calmly. "Once I decide something, I don't regret it."

Her words landed quietly.

But there was no turning back now.

David didn't argue after hearing her answer.

He simply took out his ID and placed it on the counter.

Chloe followed.

From start to finish, neither of them spoke another word.

The clerk glanced between them again and again, visibly uneasy. They had registered countless couples, but this was the first time it felt like witnessing a corporate merger rather than a wedding. No smiles. No nerves. No excitement.

Only cold efficiency.

The clerk cleared their throat and dropped a few careful hints, clearly hoping one of them would hesitate.

Neither did.

With no legal grounds to refuse, the stamp came down.

Thud.

Two red marriage certificates slid across the counter.

David flipped through his briefly, then handed one over.

"This is yours."

"Thank you."

That was it.

No congratulations.

No photos.

No holding hands.

They walked out together like colleagues leaving a meeting.

Outside, David stopped and waited for her.

He reached into his pocket and took out a set of keys-already prepared.

"The apartment is in Square Garden," he said briskly. "Grandma mentioned your bookstore is near Toronto Middle School. It's about fifteen minutes by bus."

He studied her for a moment. "Do you have a driver's license?"

"Yes."

"Good. If you want a car, I'll handle the down payment. You take care of the monthly installments. It'll save time."

Then, without waiting for her reply, he continued.

"I'm busy. I leave early, come back late, and travel often. You don't need to take care of me. Household expenses-I'll transfer money to you every month on the tenth."

He paused, eyes sharpening.

"One more thing. For now, this marriage stays secret."

Each sentence landed clean and decisive.

Like clauses in a contract.

Chloe didn't mind.

This marriage was a solution-not a romance.

She accepted the keys. "I have an e-bike. Just changed the battery. No need for a car yet."

After a brief hesitation, she asked, "Do we need to go AA on expenses?"

Her sister and brother-in-law had loved each other once-and still ended up arguing over every cent. Since she and David were strangers, splitting costs felt... safer.

David answered instantly.

"No."

He met her eyes. "I married you. I can afford to support this household."

Chloe smiled faintly. "Alright."

Still, she made up her mind to pay for groceries and daily necessities herself. Even a contractual marriage needed balance.

David checked his watch again. "I need to get back to the office. I can lend you my car, or you can take a taxi and I'll reimburse you."

"Let's exchange WhatsApp first."

They added each other.

"I'll take a taxi," Chloe said. "Go ahead."

"Contact me if anything comes up."

Before leaving, David pressed two hundred dollars into her hand.

She tried to refuse.

One look from him-and she obediently accepted.

The newlyweds didn't even walk to the parking lot together.

David left first.

Inside the van, Grandma Jones immediately sensed something was off.

"Where's my granddaughter-in-law?" she demanded. "You went in together. Why are you alone? Did you scare her off?"

David fastened his seatbelt and tossed the marriage certificate onto her lap.

"It's done. I gave her money for a taxi. I have a meeting."

"You heartless child!" Grandma snapped. "At least drive her home!"

The doors locked.

"Grandma," David said coolly as the engine started, "I married her because you wanted it. Don't interfere beyond that."

His eyes darkened.

"I still need to observe her. Until she passes my test, this isn't a real marriage."

Grandma stared at him in disbelief. "The Jones family does not divorce!"

"Then that depends," he replied coldly, "on whether the wife you chose is worth a lifetime."

Ten minutes later, the van stopped at a quiet intersection.

Waiting there was a fleet of luxury cars.

At the center-an unmistakable Rolls-Royce.

David stepped out, tossed the keys to a bodyguard, and said, "Take the Old Madam home."

"I'm not leaving! I'll live with Chloe!" Grandma protested.

Too late.

The Rolls-Royce door closed.

The motorcade disappeared into traffic.

David Jones-corporate executive on paper-was in reality the crown prince of Toronto's business empire, the head of the city's wealthiest family, a man worth hundreds of billions.

Grandma Jones clenched her cane, eyes glinting.

"Stubborn brat. I hope you fall so hard you regret every word."

She immediately called Chloe.

"Chloe dear, David is busy. Don't take it to heart."

Chloe touched the marriage certificate in her pocket. "I understand, Grandma. I'm already on my way home."

"Still calling me 'Grandma Jones'?"

"...Grandma."

The old woman laughed happily. "Good girl. If that boy ever bullies you, tell me. I'll deal with him."

After all-she hadn't worked this hard to trap a granddaughter-in-law just to let her grandson scare her away.

"I will, Grandma."

Chloe answered easily-but she didn't believe it.

No matter how kind Grandma Jones was, David was her blood. If a real conflict ever broke out, would the Jones family truly protect an outsider?

Chloe had seen this story before.

Before her sister married, her in-laws treated Kate like a princess. They praised her, spoiled her-so much that even their own daughter felt jealous.

But the moment the marriage certificate was signed, everything changed.

Now, whenever Kate argued with her husband, her mother-in-law was the first to scold her.

You're not being a good wife.

You don't know how to manage a home.

In the end, sons were blood.

Daughters-in-law were replaceable.

"You need to get to work, so I won't keep you," Grandma Jones said warmly. "I'll tell David to pick you up tonight. Let's have dinner together."

"Grandma, I close the shop late," Chloe replied gently. "Tonight might not work. How about the weekend?"

Weekends were slow-the only time she could breathe.

"That's fine," Grandma Jones said immediately. "We'll talk then. Go on."

After hanging up, Chloe messaged Sara, her best friend and business partner, telling her she'd be late for the morning shift.

Some things were more urgent than work.

She needed to tell her sister.

Fifteen minutes later, Chloe arrived at the apartment.

Her brother-in-law was already gone. Kate stood on the balcony hanging laundry, looking up in surprise. "Chloe? Why are you back? Aren't you opening the shop?"

"I'll head over around noon," Chloe said. "Is James awake?"

"If he were, you'd hear the chaos."

Chloe helped hang the clothes. The silence pressed in.

Eventually, Kate spoke. "Your brother-in-law didn't mean to drive you out. He's under pressure. And... I don't earn anything right now."

Chloe didn't respond.

Pressure or not, the message had been clear.

Her brother-in-law earned a high salary as a manager. He and Kate had been college sweethearts, once inseparable. After marriage, he had held Kate's hands and promised, I'll support you. Stay home. Rest. We'll have a baby.

Kate believed him.

She quit her job.

A year later, James was born.

Between childcare and housework, Kate lost time, energy, and herself. Three years passed. The bright, beautiful woman Chloe once admired became tired, overweight, and invisible.

Now, with no income, her husband demanded they split every expense.

Not because he needed the money.

Because he wanted control.

Chloe clenched her fingers.

She was five years younger than Kate. When she was ten, their parents died in a car accident. Since then, it had always been the two of them-no one else.

The insurance money should have secured their future.

Instead, their relatives carved it up.

The sisters survived on what little remained, scraping through school, renting tiny apartments, relying only on each other.

Kate married.

Chloe moved in.

And now, even that shelter was gone.

"Sis," Chloe said softly, "I'm sorry. I've become a burden."

"Don't say that," Kate replied immediately. "I'm your older sister. I'm supposed to protect you."

Chloe's throat tightened.

When she was small, Kate shielded her from the world.

Now-it was her turn.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a red booklet.

"I got married this morning," Chloe said calmly. "I came to tell you... and to pack."

Kate froze.

"You-what?"

Her voice shot up as she snatched the booklet. The photo inside showed Chloe standing beside a man she'd never seen before.

Handsome.

Cold.

Dangerous.

"Chloe! You don't even have a boyfriend!"

"I've been seeing him for a while," Chloe said smoothly, the lie already prepared. "His name's David. He's busy, so you never met him."

"He proposed. I agreed. We registered today."

She smiled. "He's good to me. Don't worry."

Kate's mind spun.

Suddenly, everything clicked-the argument last night, Chloe's silence.

Tears welled up. "I told your brother-in-law you pay your share. You don't have to leave. You don't need to rush into marriage because of us."

Chloe squeezed her hand. "It's not because of that. I'm happy. You should be happy for me."

Kate broke down.

After she finally calmed down, Chloe added gently, "I'll visit often. His place is in Square Garden-ten minutes by e-bike."

"What about his family?" Kate asked quietly.

Chloe paused.

She didn't actually know much.

"He works for a major group. Owns a car and a house. His situation is stable."

Kate's expression shifted instantly. "The house is his pre-marital property, right?"

Chloe nodded.

"Then you need your name on the deed," Kate said firmly. "That's your protection."

Chloe didn't answer.

The red marriage certificate felt suddenly heavier in her bag.