The CEO's Perfect Bride: A Deal With The Devil In Disguise

"Wanna do it?" Leyla Stanley asked, wrapping one leg around the man's waist.

Leyla was leaning against a door as she spoke.

A corridor separated the two of them from the lively banquet hall next door.

In that hall, Leyla's ex-boyfriend was celebrating his engagement with his new partner.

The man heard her clearly and emotion flashed in his narrowed eyes.

He gripped Leyla's waist, seized one of her wrists, and threw her onto the soft bed.

Then he leaned over her with his head lowered. His voice was thick with seduction. "Yes."

Leyla's long hair lay sprawled across the pillow. She leaned in and pressed her rosy lips against his.

The sweet scent of her perfume mixed with the deep aroma of wine, filling the room.

His breath caught in his throat. He held her chin with one hand and his voice grew low and tempting. "Leyla, open your eyes and look carefully... Who am I?"

Wait a minute... Who exactly was he?

The tipsy Leyla blinked her eyes open.

The man was incredibly handsome. His long lashes framed striking eyes, and he had a strong nose and refined features.

What a devilish charmer.

Leyla moved closer, her breath warm against him.

Wrapping her slightly cool arms around his neck, she leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"You are..." Her voice was seductive. "Colton."

He was indeed Colton Quinn.

He was the infamous playboy of Valston, known for his reckless ways. He was a romance expert who never let himself get too attached to any woman.

Colton was also the head of the influential Quinn family.

Colton hesitated for a moment.

Then he kissed her passionately, and the kiss seemed to last forever.

The next morning, Leyla woke up from a nightmare.

Her head was pounding, and she buried her face in the blanket.

What Theo Higgins, her ex-boyfriend, had said last night at the engagement party echoed in her mind, haunting her dreams.

"Leyla is just as loose as Rachael. It was only a fling. I would never marry someone like her."

And just like that, Theo had gotten engaged to someone else.

After the Stanley family had faced tragedy, Leyla had become an orphan and went to live with her aunt, Rachael Yates.

Rachael had married into the Higgins family, so Leyla had moved in with the family.

Over the years, Theo had pursued her without giving up.

Rachael encouraged her to accept him; after all, he treated her kindly.

Feeling a bit moved, Leyla had said yes to Theo's courtship, even though she didn't love him.

In Theo's eyes, she had become loose.

The mocking laughter from the crowd last night still echoed in her mind.

A wave of bitterness washed over her, making it hard to catch her breath.

She forced out a bitter smile.

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

Suddenly, the edge of the blanket was lifted, bringing in a rush of fresh air. A relaxed voice reached her ears.

"Miss Stanley."

Leyla looked up quickly and found a handsome face looking back at her.

His long lashes framed his eyes, and a small mole rested at the corner.

Colton?

Noticing her surprise, Colton spoke in a rough voice, a teasing tone lacing his words. "With that expression, it's as if you you've forgotten what happened last night."

He gently brushed a stray hair from her cheek.

His fingers were slightly cool against her skin, causing her to shiver.

When she noticed the suggestive marks on his neck, her expression changed, and she felt herself blush.

Colton was known as the most carefree playboy in the Quinn family.

And he was... Theo's cousin.

In a moment of reckless abandon fueled by alcohol, she had slept with him.

She frowned slightly, her long hair cascading loosely over her pale shoulders.

Her eyes, which had sparkled with allure last night, were now clear and cold. No longer drunk, she seemed completely indifferent and distant.

To her, sex was just a casual affair.

She wanted nothing to do with Theo.

"Let's just pretend last night never happened, Mr. Quinn." Her tone was cool.

Colton's eyes sparkled with amusement. A carefree smile spread across his face as he suddenly grabbed her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze.

"Are you kidding?" Colton spoke in a teasing tone at the end of his words. It seemed like he was smiling, but his eyes were still cold.

Before Leyla could understand his feelings, he pulled his hand back and lightly rubbed the bite mark on his neck with his fingers.

Leyla instinctively followed his motion and noticed the bite mark. Instantly, the passionate moments from last night replayed in her mind.

His gentle kisses, the intensity of his movements, and the warmth of his big hands...

It was she who had asked the question that kicked everything off...

"Wanna do it?"

She had even wrapped her legs around his waist, and after two rounds, she had still held onto his neck, not wanting to let go. She had murmured, "You're so handsome, babe. Let's do it again."

The mark on his neck had come from the third time they had had sex.

Feeling uncomfortable, Leyla frowned and turned her gaze away.

She spoke in a cool, detached tone. "Sex is no big deal to me. I don't need you to compensate me, so you aren't losing anything."

She seemed like a different person compared to last night.

Colton felt a slight sting from the bite, and a mischievous smile crossed his face. "But, Miss Stanley, you ought to compensate me."

Leyla looked up, surprised. She met his gaze, which sparkled with mischief.

In Valston, everyone knew Colton was a womanizer. He appeared indifferent but was ruthless in his business dealings.

Anyone who crossed him vanished without a trace, thanks to his clever methods.

Could someone like him really need her to compensate?

Leyla believed he was joking, and her delicate brows furrowed. "Mr. Quinn, how do you expect me to compensate you?"

Before she could finish her thought, a fresh, woodsy scent surrounded her as he pinched her chin once more. "Marry me."

Leyla's eyes went wide with surprise.

He released her chin and leaned back against the headboard, casually playing with her hair. "My grandfather is pushing me to settle down. I need a wife to ease his mind."

His voice had that distinctive husky quality of morning. Leyla pulled her hair away from his fingers.

She was just an orphan. Her family couldn't compare to Colton's.

When it came to looks, there were many more beautiful than her.

Everyone knew Colton had an unrequited love.

A few years ago, he had even had a falling out with his grandfather over the woman.

If he was going to marry, shouldn't he go after the woman he truly loved?

Leyla spoke in a flat tone. "Why me?"

She didn't believe in lucky breaks.

Colton squinted and lit a cigarette.

The faint smell of tobacco filled the air, and Leyla frowned in annoyance.

She wore a distant, yet still charming look on her face.

Seeing her displeasure, Colton chuckled. He playfully bit her lip and blew smoke into her mouth.

As he watched her cough uncontrollably, he finally replied, taking his time, "Being my wife isn't just about mutual respect."

He paused and a teasing look appeared on his face. "At the very least, you really satisfy me in bed."

His suggestive tone tugged at Leyla's heart.

Her cheeks turned red, and she frowned slightly.

She hesitated.

Rachael had always urged her to marry into a rich family, and she needed a marriage.

Only by getting married could she reclaim what her father had left for her.

Colton's reasoning was simple and hard to resist.

Regardless of the situation, they could always get a divorce.

What mattered most to her was escaping the Higgins family, where she felt stuck.

Leyla's voice came out a bit hoarse from her nerves. "Alright. I agree to marry you."

Watching her closely, Colton casually blew a perfect smoke ring.

It felt as though he could see right through her.

"Miss Stanley, think it over. No one in my family has ever had a divorce."

Leyla's heart raced.

Leyla met Colton's intense gaze and managed to smile. "I know. So... When are we tying the knot?"

She spoke while she got dressed.

The smooth fabric of her dress hugged her figure, the hem flowing gracefully like a stream.

Colton rose slowly, his hand brushing lightly against her waist. "Today, of course."

"Today?" Leyla spun around, surprised to see him only in his underwear.

He was so well-endowed that it took her aback, even in his relaxed state.

Feeling heat rise to her cheeks, she looked away. "I understand. I'll head home to grab my ID. I'll see you this afternoon."

Later that day, Leyla arrived at the courthouse and spotted Colton in the distance.

His features were sharp, and his expression was icy.

He leaned casually against the car door. When he saw her, he strolled over and naturally took her bag.

"After you, sweetheart." His tone was relaxed and easy.

He had called her sweetheart.

Leyla felt her cheeks heat up as she awkwardly trailed behind him.

When they exited, Leyla paused at the door, momentarily taken aback.

Just like that, she was a married woman.

Her father had always wanted to see her married while he was still alive.

Although she didn't particularly like Theo, she thought that marrying him was a reasonable choice.

But now, she was Colton's wife.

"What's on your mind?"

Colton's casual tone pulled her back to the present. She glanced up and met his steady gaze.

Colton took her hand and dropped a set of keys into her palm.

The keys felt icy, and she instinctively tightened her hold on them.

"Sunlight Villa," he said. "That's our home."

Their home.

A bittersweet feeling washed over her, reaching deep into her core.

Those two words nearly clouded her thoughts.

To everyone, she was a burden.

She had relied on others since childhood, and this was the first time anyone had called a place her home.

"I've got work to do," Colton said, moving slowly as he handed her bag back. "I'll be on my way."

He walked away, tall and graceful.

"Colton," Leyla said with some effort, her voice slightly hoarse. "Please don't tell anyone we're married yet."

Ever since that incident, the media had been all over the Stanley family.

At that moment, she wasn't ready to face their questions.

Besides, she still hadn't figured out how to break the news to Rachael and the others.

Colton stopped for a moment and then gave a lazy smile. "I understand."

He wondered what was on her mind.

He climbed into the car.

Simon Gilbert, Colton's childhood friend, was seated in the passenger seat and teased, "Happy now? Did you just call me to be your chauffeur?"

Colton looked up, his gaze icy. He was in no mood for jokes. "Shut up and drive."

That evening, Leyla returned to the Higgins family's home.

Things had turned sour between her and Theo. Staying there was no longer right. It was time to move out.

She went to her room to pack her belongings.

As Leyla opened her suitcase, a sharp voice broke the silence behind her.

"Leyla, you've become quite bold, haven't you? Where were you last night?"

It was Rachael.

Leyla frowned and turned to face her. "Aunt Rachael, I..."

"Leyla! How could you?" Rachael cut her off, her voice booming. "What was going on with this?"

With a fierce grip, Rachael yanked Leyla over to the bathroom mirror, holding her so tightly that it brought tears to Leyla's eyes.

"You're a decent woman. How could you have no self-esteem? Who were you with last night?"

As Rachael's angry words echoed around her, Leyla caught sight of her own reflection in the mirror.

Her long hair hung loosely on her shoulders and tears welled in her eyes. There was a noticeable hickey peeking out from beneath her collar.