"Contract Love: The Billionaire's Whim"

As the morning sun bathed the mansion in a warm glow, Mason made his way to the bedroom after a night spent in his study, carefully maintaining appearances to avoid suspicion among the staff. Upon entering the room, he discovered Grace sprawled across the bed in a haphazard fashion, her uncouth sleeping posture a stark contrast to the refined elegance expected of a lady. Her limbs were strewn about, her hair disheveled, and she was unconsciously chewing in her sleep.

Mason couldn't help but let out a disdainful scoff. "There's truly nothing appealing about her beyond that pretty face," he muttered to himself. With a deliberate clatter, he dropped a file onto the nearby table to rouse her from her slumber.Grace jolted awake, startling Mason with her sudden movement. He stood frozen, observing her as one might a peculiar object. Groggy and disoriented, Grace mumbled incoherently, scratching her tousled hair. "Uhh... hmmm..."Slowly, she opened her left eye, followed by her right, surveying her surroundings. "Ugh, still in Wonderland, I see..." She turned her head, only to find Mason staring at her with a mix of bewilderment and amusement.Hastily sitting up and attempting to smooth her wild locks, Grace questioned him, "Why are you staring at me like that?"Mason, still mildly startled, retorted, "Who wouldn't be surprised by such a traumatic sight?"Grace looked at him, her confusion mounting. "Huh?"With a slight smirk, Mason gestured toward the mirror. "Go see for yourself, zombie." He then proceeded to the shower, leaving Grace to unravel the mystery of her disheveled state.As Mason left the room, Grace playfully mocked him with exaggerated silent gestures, questioning what could have been so distressing about her appearance. With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, she lazily made her way to the mirror. "Oh my goodness!" she gasped, covering her mouth as she caught sight of her disheveled reflection.Hastily grabbing a brush from the dresser, Grace began taming her tangled locks, transforming into a more vibrant version of herself. She wiped her face with a cleansing cloth, erasing any remaining traces of her previous, less-than-glamorous state.Just as Mason emerged from the washroom, he paused, taking in her vastly improved appearance. "Seems the zombie has resurrected," he commented wryly.Grace huffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm not a zombie," she retorted, preparing to step into the shower. Suddenly, she halted, a look of concern crossing her face. "Oh! I don't have anything to wear," she lamented.Mason, anticipating her predicament, responded, "I've asked them to prepare an outfit for the family lunch today. Afterward, you can go shopping for more clothes this evening. You can use my black card."Grace squealed with excitement, "A black card, all for me? Awww!"Mason quickly added, "You can only use it for shopping, not for withdrawing cash.""Okay, okay, shopping it is!" Grace agreed eagerly.As Mason exited the room, Grace made a shuddering expression, muttering, "Such a stingy rich boy." She then entered the shower, eager to prepare for the day ahead, her spirits lifted by the promise of a shopping spree.Grace emerged from the shower, refreshed and reinvigorated, only to be greeted by a maid entering the room with a dress for the family lunch. "Good morning, ma'am," the maid said with a polite bow.Grace, wrapped in her bathrobe, exuded sophistication as she made her way to the dresser and took a seat. "I am here to help you prepare for the family lunch this afternoon, ma'am," the maid informed her.Grace raised an eyebrow in response, teasingly drawing out her words. "Oh, the family lunch..."The maid suddenly bowed even lower, her voice filled with genuine apology. "I am sorry, ma'am."Unable to contain her mirth, Grace erupted into a hearty laughter, nearly choking on her own amusement. "I'm sorry," she managed between giggles, taking in the maid's confused expression. "What's your name?" she asked, attempting to compose herself."Rose, ma'am," the maid replied, her posture still rigid and formal.Grace relaxed into the chair, crossing her legs as she regarded Rose with a blend of kindness and exasperation. "Rose, I don't bite. I was just teasing you. You looked like you could hardly breathe."Loosening up slightly, Rose managed a small smile, though her stance remained unchanged. Grace, unsatisfied by the persistent formality, pouted and said, "I mean, can't you lighten up a bit around me? You'll be serving me from now on." She pulled Rose closer, her tone turning more serious. "I mean it. Be comfortable. I'm new here, and at least you can make me feel more relaxed around you."Grace searched Rose's face for a response, eager to bridge the gap between them. "I believe we can get to know each other and be of help to one another, more like allies," she insisted, her eyes locked on Rose's, waiting for a sign of understanding.Finally, Rose's face softened, and she nodded, a genuine smile gracing her lips as she accepted Grace's invitation to a more personal connection.As Rose carefully styled Grace's hair, Grace inquired, "So, what's his mother like? I heard she's feisty."Rose paused for a moment before replying, "You can't imagine, ma'am. She's truly a hard person to please and gets really angry. She doesn't hesitate to deal with anyone who crosses her. Even Master Mason tries to avoid her."Grace let out a thoughtful hum. "She really is a hard nut to crack, isn't she?" Pursing her lips, Grace continued, "Any other person I should be wary of?"Rose leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "His ex-fiancée is something else, ma'am. And the issue is, she has eyes in this mansion.""I get it now," Grace replied, turning to face Rose with a knowing look. "Can you fix me my breakfast? And make sure no one else touches my meals except you.""Yes, ma'am," Rose said, leaving to prepare Grace's breakfast.Grace turned her chair to face the mirror, heaving a sigh as she reflected on the complexities of her new environment. "Ugh, nothing good comes easy indeed."That afternoon, everyone gathered in the luxurious dining room for the much-anticipated family lunch. Grace was seated at the table, dressed in a stunning white short gown with white heels, her hair adorned with silver jewelry. The lavish setting before her and the platters of delectable food continued to make her mouth water."Oof, I couldn't care less about the introductions; I just want to eat," she whispered to herself, staring longingly at the feast.Mason leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper. "Don't make any mistakes. We need to appear convincing, okay?"Grace stared back at him, her gaze questioning. "Why are you so eager to please them? I thought you said your business isn't anyone's concern."Just as Mason was about to reply, moving intimately closer to Grace's ear, a voice called out, "Get a room, you both!" They looked up to meet the disgusted gaze of Vivian, Mason's younger sister.Grace glanced at Mason, her expression filled with questions. "That's my sister," he explained, dismissing the remark. "Ignore her."Vivian sat down, her eyes fixed on Grace. "So, you're the sudden wife, hmm?" she said, scanning Grace with a scrutinizing stare that made her feel uncomfortable.Just then, Mason's mother walked in, a sophisticated-looking lady in tow. The woman wore a red-colored suit with a black inner and red pants, her hair adorned with a silver accessory. Her eyes were accentuated with a nude eyeshadow, and her lips were painted a bold red. A black purse and heels completed her ensemble, exuding both wealth and a striking familiarity that Grace couldn't quite place

.As Grace's eyes darted back to Mason's mother, she observed the gold floor-length gown she wore, her hair tied in a sleek ponytail, and her bold makeup highlighted by pink lipstick and long, dangling earrings. Despite her age, she appeared to be in her early 30s.Before Grace could utter her greetings, the lady pulled out a chair and sat down. "What is she doing here?" Mason asked, his tone laced with irritation.His mother replied with a cold smile, "Why can't she be here? She's family."Feeling the scorching eyes of the three ladies on her, Grace couldn't help but sense a growing uneasiness. The dynamics at play within this family were far more complex than she had initially anticipated, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just stepped into a lion's den.

Mira didn't hesitate to interrogate Grace. "What does your family do?"Grace responded honestly, "I don't have one."Reina scoffed at the remark, while Mira's face stiffened with shock. "You don't have one?" Mira continued, trying to convince herself that she must have misheard. "You must be a famous actress, a secret rich billionaire, or a hidden heiress, aren't you?"Grace answered, sticking to the story that Mason wanted her to tell. "I come from a humble background. I used to work at a restaurant. We met, fell in love, and now we're here."Reina scoffed again. "Oh, what an insult!"Mira, dumbfounded by the revelation, couldn't utter another word for a moment. Eventually, she regained her composure and demanded, "Get a divorce!!! I will never approve of this marriage!"Vivian kept on eating her steak, giggling at the scene unfolding before her. "This is an insult to me as a person and my career! You can't just bring a street girl and marry her. You have to divorce her!"Grace sighed, attempting to defend herself.

"I'm also human. Shouldn't you be careful with what you say? I mean, I'm sitting right here. No one chooses to be born poor; it's just how life turns out sometimes."Reina frowned at Grace's comment and was about to speak when Mira scoffed out loud. "How dare you talk back to me? I won't repeat this twice. Get a divorce, Mason!"

Mason tried to intervene, addressing his mother. "Mom, she's the one I love, and I'm sorry, but I can't leave her."Reina held her forehead, frustrated by the situation. "At least get someone of a good social standing if you want to fall in love, Mason!"Mira agreed with Reina, turning her attention back to Grace. "Can't you see the girl I had for you, Mason? You had everything on a silver platter, yet you pick this?"Grace couldn't hold back any longer. "Ma'am, we are already married. The deed is done. Just move on. But I won't leave Mason."Reina retaliated, labeling Grace as a "gold digger."Grace scoffed, feeling insulted. "I'm not done talking yet, Miss Know-It-All."Reina looked at Grace, her displeasure evident on her face.Grace continued, "I mean, who doesn't love luxury? But I must say, Mason is really down-to-earth, aside from his wealth. Any lady would fall for such a handsome, caring man. I give it to you, ma'am; you've got really beautiful children," she said, referring to Mira.

Mira sat there, watching Grace with her head held in frustration. She stared at Mason, who was chuckling at Grace's boldness, and said, "Did you see the nutcase you brought home? Such a disgrace on the family name!!!"Grace addressed Reina directly, "Can you stop calling me names to my face? As you said, I am from the street; there's no telling what I can do now."Mira shrank back at the threat, while Reina added, "You really have the nerve to threaten us?" Her eyes were wide open as she stood up with a glass of wine, spilling it on Grace's face. Mason and Vivian stood up in shock while Mira smirked.Grace sat in shock, not expecting the violence. A scene flashed before her, reminding her of the time she was slapped at a party. She stared back at Reina, wiping her face with a napkin. Now, remembering the lady who slapped her then was Reina, she was about to react when Mason shouted at Reina, "This is my wife! How dare you disrespect her? What is your problem?"