Flash Marriage: Accidental Marriage to the Billionaire

Sylvia POV

“You can't be serious,” I said, staring at him.

“I am,” he replied without hesitation. “Why would I joke about something like this?”

I frowned. “That's exactly why I'm confused. Why would you marry someone you barely know? Marriage isn't a joke, Mr. Vincenzo.”

I shook my head and took a step back.

“I've already embarrassed myself enough today. I don't need everyone who watched me get humiliated by Vincent to see me standing here with another man. That would just make me look even more pathetic.”

I turned to leave.

“This would be a contract marriage,” he said calmly. “Stay married to me for a while, and you'll get your revenge.”

I almost laughed.

“So revenge is all I get?” I asked, blinking back the tears burning my eyes. “Yes, I want Vincent to regret what he did. I want him to realize I wasn't someone he could throw away. But if I really want to prove something, it won't be by showing up beside another man.”

I took a slow breath.

“I've only just realized how foolish I've been. I spent five years believing love was enough. My best friend warned me over and over again, but I refused to listen. I lost myself chasing someone who never loved me. I'm not going to jump into another relationship just because my heart is broken.”

The words poured out before I could stop them.

It was ridiculous.

I had only known this man for a few minutes.

He looked at me for a moment before speaking.

“What if I improve the offer?”

I raised a brow.

“When our contract ends, I'll pay you two hundred thousand dollars. Consider it capital to start a new life.”

I froze.

Two hundred thousand... dollars?

My feet refused to move.

That wasn't the kind of money someone like me could earn in years.

A tiny voice in my head immediately screamed, Gold digger!

Another answered just as quickly.

I didn't ask for it. He offered.

I slowly turned back to him.

“You mean... if I marry you, you'll really give me that money?”

He nodded once.

I swallowed.

“Mr. Vincenzo... how long would this contract marriage last?”

“A year,” he answered. “That should be enough. Unless you want a shorter contract.”

“Shorter?” I blinked. “I was actually thinking... maybe two years.”

For the first time, the corner of his lips lifted.

“And if we make it two years,” I continued with a sheepish smile, “the payment should double too... don't you think?”

He let out a quiet chuckle.

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

“Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not a gold digger. I'm just... a poor woman who knows a generous opportunity when she sees one.”

I held out my hand with a bright smile.

“So... we have a deal.”

I tilted my head.

“Oh, and what kind of fake married couple are we going to be? The hopelessly-in-love type? Don't worry, I can act. I've watched plenty of contract marriage dramas.”

As pathetic as it sounded, I needed this.

Only now was I beginning to realize just how badly I had ruined my own life.

Where exactly was I supposed to go?

The woman I once called mother had thrown me out when I was seventeen, long before I met Vincent. The only person who would have opened her door to me was Lina, but she had already left the city for work.

I had nowhere to stay, no jobs and no savings..

For five years, I had lived in Vincent's apartment, cooking for him, doing his laundry, taking care of everything he needed. Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking about myself.

I had sacrificed my own future just to make another man comfortable.

Now that he was gone, I had nothing.

If I walked away from this offer, I'd be homeless, unemployed, and probably wondering where my next meal would come from.

Maybe accepting a contract marriage sounded desperate.

But wasn't I already desperate?

Besides...

Vincent was never worth destroying my life over.

"A court wedding?" Vincenzo asked. "Or would you prefer something grand?"

I let out a dry laugh.

"A grand wedding?"

The words alone made my chest tighten.

That had been my dream once.

Not anymore.

"I don't want a grand wedding," I said, shaking my head. "It's only a contract marriage. A court wedding is more than enough."

"We can have whichever wedding you want," he replied calmly. "I know you've always wanted a grand one."

I looked at him in confusion.

How did he know that? I'd never met this man before... had I?

I narrowed my eyes. "How do you know so much about me?"

“What did you say?” he asked, tilting his head slightly as though he hadn't heard me.

I hesitated for a second before repeating myself.

“Do... do you know me from somewhere?”

One of his brows lifted.

“Why would you ask that?”

I searched his face, hoping to find something familiar.

“You just knew what I wanted,” I said quietly. “You said I've always wanted a grand wedding.”

For a brief moment, he was silent.

Then he replied calmly, “My PA was at the wedding. He heard the arguments... and everything that happened. That's how I knew.”

“Oh...”

I lowered my gaze, feeling a little embarrassed for asking.

It made sense.

Still...

For some reason, I couldn't shake the strange feeling that there was something familiar about him.

Maybe I was just overthinking.

After everything that had happened today, my mind was probably trying to make sense of things that weren't there.

I let out a small breath and nodded.

“I see.”

He didn't say anything else.

Neither did I.

But somehow, the silence between us no longer felt as awkward as before.