Seraphina was on the verge of exploding—like a volcano finally erupting.
She was going absolutely insane because of Lucian.
What kind of man was this? In this day and age, who still dressed like they were stuck in the 1980s? His fashion sense was outdated to the point of embarrassment. His words? Sharp, sarcastic, and utterly lacking in class. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for three days. And the way he carried himself… frivolous, sloppy—he gave off the vibe of a homeless drifter from the streets.
And this was the man she was about to sign a marriage contract with?
Just the thought of that night—sharing a bed with this despicable lowlife, and having her most precious possession, her first night after twenty-seven years, taken by him—made Seraphina burn with shame and fury. It felt like her entire world was crumbling.
Everyone knew that Seraphina, the celebrated young female tycoon of Solviva, was a man-hater to her bones. She couldn't even stand a glance from the opposite sex, let alone any physical contact. A few arrogant rich boys had once tried to approach her, thinking their looks and status would win her over. All of them had been thoroughly humiliated—drenched in metaphorical ice water and sent crawling away in defeat.
At Kynix Group, which employed over a thousand staff, fewer than fifty were male. The company was jokingly dubbed "a paradise for women." That alone said everything about Seraphina's disdain for men.
And now, Seraphina—the city's most unattainable goddess—had not only lost her virginity to this jerk, but was also being forced into a marriage contract with him. Worse, Lucian didn't even have the decency to shut his mouth—mocking her, criticizing her, driving her to the brink.
How could someone like Seraphina, the pride of heaven, not lose control?
Her hatred for men wasn't without reason. When she was just fourteen, her family had fallen apart, and the trauma left her deeply afraid of marriage and resentful toward men. For the past thirteen years, her attitude had only worsened. She swore to never marry, never start a family. Her life was her work. That was the only thing she could count on.
But fate had a cruel sense of humor.
On a dark, stormy night, overwhelmed by stress and emotion, she did something unthinkable—she went to a bar to drown her sorrows. And that's where she met him.
One drink led to another, and somehow she ended up in bed with the worst possible man.
And the worst part?
After visiting multiple doctors, reviewing her cycle again and again, she confirmed the terrifying truth—that night had been her most fertile.
"If both parties are healthy," the doctor had said with confidence, "the chances of pregnancy are over ninety percent."
That cold, clinical sentence pushed Seraphina over the edge.
Pregnant? With his child?
If that were true… marriage would become inevitable.
Haunted by her own past, she couldn't bear the thought of letting her child grow up in the same kind of broken home she did. If there was even the slightest chance she was carrying a child, she had to give them a complete, stable family.
And so, out of desperation, she found Lucian and proposed the unthinkable—a marriage contract. The term? Two months. If she wasn't pregnant, the contract would automatically dissolve, and they would go their separate ways. No debts, no ties.
But if she was…
She would accept her fate. She would marry this man she despised more than any other. For the child's sake.
Seraphina was already suffocating with rage and humiliation. And Lucian just kept testing her limits—taunting her, teasing her, looking at her with that infuriating glint in his eye.
Seraphina, always calm, always composed, always in control—snapped.
Fine, she thought. You want to humiliate me? Then I'll drag us both down in flames.
She pulled a utility knife from her purse—revealing just how far she was willing to go, how fiercely she would protect her dignity.
The lawyer jumped back in alarm, clearly terrified. Lucian, on the other hand, didn't even flinch. He just looked at her with a half-smile, watching her trembling frame with a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Even when you're angry, you're beautiful in such a unique way," he murmured. "I think I've fallen for you—completely and hopelessly."
"I'm going to kill you!" Seraphina roared.
Snap!
Before she could even move, the blade vanished from her hand like a magic trick. Lucian hadn't even lifted a finger, but it was gone.
"A beauty like you really shouldn't be wielding knives. It ruins the aesthetic," he said lazily, as he pocketed the blade. "Anyway, let's get back to business. I agree to the contract. Hand me a pen."
Seraphina was still shaking as she sat back down, her face icy. "Lawyer. Pen."
The lawyer, still trying to catch his breath, quickly handed a pen to Lucian. "Mr. Lucian, you just need to sign on the last page."
Lucian took it and scribbled his name with practiced ease.
The lawyer adjusted his glasses nervously. "Mr. Lucian, since our boss has already provided all her personal information, it would be helpful if you could share yours as well. Given the two-month term, a little mutual understanding could avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."
"My personal information?" Lucian stroked his chin. "Let's see… I'm six feet tall. Half of that is legs. Physically healthy, no bad habits."
He lit a cigarette and continued, "I like growing plants, raising little animals. Sometimes I practice calligraphy, read the classics. As for heroic deeds like saving damsels in distress… let's just let those stories fade away with the tides of time. If I had to sum myself up in one phrase… I'd say I'm capable of anything."
"…"
The lawyer wanted to slap himself. Why the hell did I ask?
"Do you have a job?" Seraphina's voice was icy, like she was interrogating a suspect.
"I'm currently in discussions with several companies," Lucian replied, completely serious. "They've offered positions like CEO, COO, CFO… But to be honest, I value my personal space. High-pressure jobs just aren't for me. So I haven't responded yet."
"So you're unemployed." Seraphina cut through his nonsense without hesitation.
Lucian raised a brow. "Just temporarily."
"Lawyer, check for any open positions in the company," Seraphina ordered coldly.
"What are you doing?" Lucian protested. "Is this some kind of charity? Are you trying to keep me on a leash? I'm not ready to be your kept man!"
The lawyer glanced through the company's openings. "HR needs a training manager. Finance needs a cashier. And the security team is short a guard."
"I've had leadership qualities since I was a child. Born to lead," Lucian interrupted quickly. "Training manager might be beneath my talents, but it's the closest to my potential."
"No other options?" Seraphina frowned slightly. Clearly, she didn't believe he was fit for any of them.
"The janitor from marketing recently quit—her daughter-in-law is pregnant. That department's been complaining about the work environment…"
"Hey!" Lucian nearly jumped out of his seat. "How could you even suggest I become a janitor? That's an insult to my dignity! At the very least, I could do finance. Back in fifth grade, I won first prize in the city's math competition!"
Maybe it was Lucian's endless chatter, or maybe the mention of pregnancy hit a nerve. Either way, Seraphina's voice was colder than ever.
"Report to the security team. Your shift starts today."
Lucian let out a long breath. Not his first choice—but security wasn't the worst gig. Flexible, low stress, fit his laid-back lifestyle.
Still, when he caught Seraphina's look of pure contempt—like she couldn't decide whether to pity or despise him—he felt a flicker of annoyance. What? Just because we slept together, I'm suddenly scum? You weren't exactly forced, were you?
Lucian knew why she was making him work—so he wouldn't just vanish one day and dodge responsibility. Fine. He wasn't picky. He'd play along. Working as a guard at "the paradise for women" might not be so bad.
But he couldn't resist poking the bear one last time.
He straightened his posture, looked her dead in the eye, and asked, "Since we're contractually married now, I hope you don't mind me asking a personal question."
"Speak," Seraphina replied icily.
"What's your zodiac sign?" he asked casually, a glimmer of mischief flashing in his eyes.
Seraphina looked puzzled, but answered curtly, "Virgo."
Lucian smiled.
"Not anymore."