Chapter 3

Amelia

The door of my apartment clicked shut behind me, cutting off the cold night air and the sound of Lucian’s voice.

My knees gave out, and I collapsed against the wood. My tablet slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a loud crack, but I didn't even move to pick it up. My chest burned like I’d been running for hours.

A contract marriage.

I pressed my hands against my face to stop my head from spinning. The man holding my family’s entire life in his hands tonight was the same stranger who had shattered mine five years ago. He had sat next to me at that bar, taken me upstairs, left cash on a nightstand like I was a transaction, and vanished.

And he had no clue.

To Lucian Rhodes, I was just Amelia Thorne—an event planner backed into a corner by four million dollars in debt, a quick fix to beat his uncle in a company war. He had looked right at me, completely blind to the fact that his past was standing right in front of him.

"Mommy!"

Two small arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me straight out of my head.

I opened my eyes and looked down at my four-year-old son, Theo.

He was in his blue dinosaur pyjamas, his hair messy from sleep, staring up at me with huge, dark eyes.

Looking into those eyes—the exact twin of the man I had just left in Suite 402—sent a rush of panic straight through my chest.

"You're home late," Theo whispered, rubbing his eye with his fist. "Auntie Maya said you were making money for Grandpa's house."

Tears stung my eyes. I pulled him close, burying my face in his neck, breathing in the smell of baby shampoo.

"I did, sweetie," I whispered, kissing his forehead. "Grandpa's house is safe now. Mommy fixed it."

"Amelia?"

Maya walked out from the hallway with a mug of tea. The second she saw my face, her smile vanished. She took in my pale skin, my shaking hands, and how I looked.

"Theo, buddy, let's get you back to bed," Maya said, kneeling to scoop him up. "Mommy needs to change."

"Can Mommy read me the dragon story?" Theo asked, yawning into her shoulder.

"I'll be right in, sweetie," I promised, forcing a smile until Maya carried him down the hall and shut his bedroom door.

The moment the door clicked, my smile dropped. I walked into the kitchen on numb legs, gripping the granite counter so hard my nails turned white.

Maya walked in two minutes later, closing the door behind her. "Alright, tell me. What happened at the Hyatt? Did you get the gala contract?"

"I signed a contract," I whispered, staring at my reflection in the window. "Just not for the event."

Maya frowned, setting her mug down. "What are you talking about?"

"Lucian Rhodes is the chairman of the Rhodes Group," I said, my voice barely audible. "He offered to pay off my parents' four-million-dollar debt and put five hundred thousand dollars in my account every six months."

Maya’s jaw dropped. "What? Why would a billionaire give you—"

"In exchange for a two-year contract marriage," I cut her off. "He needs a quiet wife with a clean background to secure his spot against his uncle before the board vote."

"Amelia, that's crazy!" Maya gasped, stepping toward me. "You can't just marry some stranger for money!"

"He's not a stranger, Maya."

The kitchen went silent.

Maya froze, her eyes widening as she put it together. "No. No, Amy... tell me you're joking."

"It’s him," Tears finally spilt down my cheeks. "The dark eyes, the voice, the smell of sandalwood... it was Lucian. He’s the man from the hotel five years ago. He’s Theo’s father."

Maya covered her mouth, letting out a soft gasp. "Oh my God. Oh my God, Amelia! Does he know? Did he say something?"

"He has no idea," I wiped my face with the back of my hand, my breath ragged. "He didn't recognise me at all. To him, I was just some desperate woman standing in his room. It was pitch-black five years ago, Maya, and he left before I woke up. He doesn't know my face... and he definitely doesn't know Theo exists."

Maya paced across the small kitchen, grabbing her hair. "This is dangerous, Amy! You're moving into his world! What happens on Saturday when his car comes to pick you up? What if he sees Theo?"

"He won't," I said, my voice hardening as a cold resolve took over. "He can't."

"Amelia, Theo is four years old! He has Lucian's exact jaw, his hair, his eyes! Anyone looking at them for two seconds will know!"

"Which is why Theo is staying here with you," I said, grabbing her hands to stop her. "Lucian's lawyers ran my financial records, but Theo’s birth certificate and medical files were registered under my mother’s maiden name at a small clinic outside the city. He doesn't exist in the databases Lucian checked."

Maya stared at me, her eyes filled with worry. "You're going to live a double life?"

"I have to," I begged, squeezing her hands. "If I walk away, my parents lose their home in twenty-seven days, and they're ruined. If I sign, my parents are safe, Theo’s future is set, and I only have to survive two years. I'll come back to this apartment every week under the excuse of work. I will keep Theo hidden from that family."

Maya looked at me for a long moment before letting out a defeated breath. "And if Lucian finds out? A man with that much power... if he figures out you hid his son..."

"He won't," I whispered, looking toward the hall where my boy was sleeping. "I spent five years keeping my son safe. I won't let Lucian Rhodes take him now."

—

Saturday Morning

At 7:58 AM, a sleek black Maybach pulled up outside my apartment building, its dark windows reflecting the grey morning sky.

I stood in the living room holding a single suitcase. Maya stood next to me, holding Theo’s hand.

"Be careful, Amy," Maya whispered, pulling me into a quick hug. "Call me as soon as you get there."

I knelt in front of Theo, forcing every bit of panic off my face.

"Mommy has to go work on a big project for a little while, okay?" I kissed his cheek, holding him tight for as long as I could. "Auntie Maya is going to stay with you, and I’ll be back in a few days."

"Will you bring me a dragon toy?" Theo asked, his dark eyes wide.

"I promise," I choked out, forcing a smile.

I stood up, took a deep breath, and walked out the door without looking back.

Downstairs, a driver in a suit stood by the open door of the Maybach. He gave a small bow as I walked up. "Mrs Rhodes? Mr Rhodes is waiting for you at the residence."

Hearing that name—Mrs. Rhodes—felt like a cold weight dropping onto my chest.

I got into the back seat, and the door shut with a soft thud, shutting out the rest of the world. As the car pulled away, I watched my normal life disappear through the window.

The game had started. And the stakes were higher than Lucian Rhodes could ever guess.