3

GEN'S POV

I opened my eyes, the world that welcomed me a blur. The smell of antiseptics, detergents, and drugs plagued the air, making me wonder where I was. I blinked a couple of times; the blurry haze cleared, and a bright light hung over me.

It was then my mind registered the beeping sounds beside me. I turned, watching the lines sink into my veins.

I was in a hospital.

But who brought me here?

The last thing I remembered was… Dominique and Tania, then Florian. Cotton filled my fingers, my nails digging into the material beneath me.

Those fucking bastards.

I closed my eyes as I tried to remember what had happened, the scene replaying in my mind. Me wandering into the streets. A car heading toward me. The driver slamming on the brakes.

Right. That was what happened.

Did that person save me?

A baritone voice came from the other side of the door.

“Schedule the business meeting for tomorrow night.”

“But sir—”

“I’m sure I was clear the first time.”

“Yes, sir.”

At first, I wasn’t sure who it was, but now it was crystal clear, and my stomach twisted.

I hoped this was just a freaking coincidence.

But it wasn’t.

It was him.

I’m screwed.

The door opened, and he walked in clad in a black Armani suit, the material clinging to his defined physique, his muscles flexing beneath it. The white dress shirt tucked underneath had its first three buttons open, revealing inked skin that disappeared into the fabric. His dark hair was slicked back, a cigar dangling between his lips.

His watch caught the light, gemstones shimmering, exuding elegance, wealth, and class. My eyes moved to his face, and my lungs stalled for a second too long.

I’d seen him multiple times.

Award shows.

Interviews.

Parties.

Conventions.

But never this close.

He looked impeccable—classy.

He looked like Kade.

My business rival.

What was he doing here? And why?

The chalky smell of his cigar slid into my nostrils. I clasped my palm over my nose to block it. His brows lifted slightly as he pulled the cigar from his mouth, quenching the flame between his fingers.

The stench cleared, and I released a breath.

“What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer, simply walking toward me. The space between us evaporated as he reached for the button beside me, pressing it lightly. Seconds later, a doctor and two nurses rushed in.

He slid his hands into his pockets, keeping the quenched cigar between his lips.

“She woke up,” he acknowledged. I nearly scoffed. Classic Kade—ignoring me and doing whatever the hell he wanted.

The doctor checked my vitals and, after confirming I was fine, left the room with the nurses. Once again, it was just me and Kade.

He sat at the corner of the room, legs crossed.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, and thankfully, he answered.

“Is this how you thank your savior?”

My eyes rolled. It was his car. Could this night get any worse? “I wouldn’t technically call you a savior when you were the one who ran me over.”

He lifted a finger, shushing me.

“Correction—my driver ran you over. I decided to save you. I could’ve left you there, you know. Eliminated the competition.”

He chuckled, but it wasn’t funny.

“You should’ve just left me there to die,” I mumbled beneath my breath, the incidents replaying in my mind.

I hated that I fell for it.

Their lies.

Their love-coated hate.

Their deceit.

All of it.

I despised myself for it.

I should’ve known Florian would never accept me. Tania had always hated me, but sleeping with my husband? That was a whole new level of low—one I couldn’t take.

He adjusted in his seat.

“I assume that incoherent mumbling is because of your husband’s betrayal?”

What?

How did he know?

“News flies fast when your rival gets taken down,” he answered.

I scoffed. For a moment, I’d thought it was because he cared. But no—it was because he’d probably wanted my downfall in the first place.

Too bad for me.

He got what he wanted.

“So what are you going to do now?” I asked. “Mock me? Humiliate me? Throw me out of this hospital?” I was ready to leave. He could just say the word.

“Actually… no. I’m not here for that.”

I froze mid–blanket lift.

“Then why are you here?”

“Because we both have one common enemy now.”

He stood, walking toward me. My heart raced, my fingers unconsciously tightening around the blanket.

“Your husband betrayed you and took your company—and by doing that, he made himself my rival.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

He moved closer, caging me between his arms. His eyes locked onto mine, so deep I couldn’t breathe—and I didn’t know why.

Fear?

Anticipation?

I couldn’t tell.

“It has everything to do with you.”

I swallowed, warmth spreading across my skin. He leaned back, giving me room to breathe, and I caught the smirk on his lips when he noticed the effect he was having on me.

“You know everything about that company,” he continued, “and everything I need to bring it down.”

“And you think it was wise coming to meet me?” I scoffed. “Did you think I’d agree to destroy my father’s company? Absolutely not—”

“Don’t say what you don’t mean,” he cut in, his height towering over mine. “You want vengeance. You want them to suffer for what they did to you, don’t you? You want them to rot in hell, don’t you?”

With each question, he leaned closer.

With each step, I lost my breath.

But one thing I could admit was that he was right.

I did want vengeance.

I did want them to pay.

Still, I couldn’t just accept this. He could have an ulterior motive.

“What do you want in return?”

“You—” he answered a little too quickly.

I gulped.

“Me? Why me?”

“I want you to be my wife,” he said easily, as though he hadn’t just dropped a bomb. His face remained stoic, unaffected. “For only one year.”

“Why me? There are other women who would beg for this position.”

“Because you’re the only one who can give me what I want.”

“And what is that?”

He hesitated for a second, then spoke. His voice turned deadly cold, rattling my bones.

“To crush my rival’s company.” He interlocked his fingers. “It’s a win-win situation. You get your company in the end, and I get my rival out of the picture.”

“Why would I help you?”

He didn’t reply. He turned and walked toward the door.

I had nowhere to go. No one to trust.

I had to accept this—at least to gain some stability. Then I’d get my company back and end whatever this was.

Besides, it was just one year, right?

Making a deal with him was a massive mistake.

But I’d get through it.

Especially if it meant ruining Dominique, Tania, and Florian the exact way they ruined me.

I looked up, his frame inches from the door.

“Wait…” He froze, his hand wrapped around the handle.

“Deal.”