Chapter 5

Izzy stood in front of the sleek glass doors of Stone Enterprises, her heart pounding in her chest. The towering skyscraper loomed over her like a giant, casting a long shadow over the bustling streets of downtown Chicago. Its mirrored surface reflected the city’s skyline, the bright morning light glinting off its pristine facade, and the sight of it made Izzy feel even smaller than she already did.

She had been here before, of course—delivering blueprints for clients, meeting with developers. But today was different. Today, she wasn’t here as an architect or a professional looking to make a deal. Today, she was here to sign away two years of her life.

Two years of marriage, she reminded herself for what felt like the hundredth time. Just two years. Then it’ll all be over.

The thought was supposed to comfort her, but it didn’t. The weight of the decision she’d made last night—alone in her apartment, staring at the bills piled high on her desk—pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe. Her conversation with Liam Stone had been brief but final. He had been calm, as always, his tone steady as he’d informed her that a contract would be ready by morning.

And now, here she was, standing outside his office, about to sign her name on the dotted line and commit to a life she never wanted.

A marriage she never wanted.

Izzy swallowed the lump in her throat and adjusted the strap of her leather bag on her shoulder, trying to steady her nerves. The sensible part of her knew this was the right decision. Ethan needed the treatments, and there was no other way to afford them. Liam’s offer was the only solution left. But the emotional part of her—the part that had always believed in love, in marriage for the right reasons—was screaming at her to turn around and walk away.

She couldn’t afford to listen to that part anymore.

With a deep breath, Izzy pushed open the glass doors and stepped into the lobby of Stone Enterprises. The interior was as sleek and modern as the building’s exterior, all polished marble and chrome, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the bright sunlight. The receptionist greeted her with a polite smile as she approached the desk.

“Good morning. How can I help you?” the receptionist asked, her tone professional but warm.

“I have an appointment with Mr. Stone,” Izzy replied, her voice steadier than she felt.

The receptionist’s smile widened slightly as she checked the computer in front of her. “Ah, yes. Miss Lakewood. You’re expected. Please, take the elevator to the 35th floor. Someone will meet you there.”

Izzy nodded, muttering a quick thank-you before making her way to the bank of elevators. Her heels clicked against the polished marble floor, the sound echoing in the large space. The pit in her stomach grew with each step, but she forced herself to keep moving.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Izzy stepped inside, pressing the button for the 35th floor. As the elevator ascended, she watched the floors tick by on the digital display, her mind racing with everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. It felt surreal, like she was walking through someone else’s life, not her own.

When the doors finally opened, Izzy was greeted by a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The 35th floor of Stone Enterprises was even more luxurious than she had imagined, with its open-plan layout, minimalist furniture, and walls of glass that offered an uninterrupted view of Chicago’s towering skyscrapers. But despite the grandeur of it all, the office had a cold, almost clinical feel—like everything was there to serve a purpose, with no room for warmth or personality.

Much like the man who owned it.

A tall, thin woman with dark hair and sharp features approached her as she stepped off the elevator. “Miss Lakewood? Mr. Stone is ready for you. Please, follow me.”

Izzy nodded, clutching the strap of her bag tightly as she followed the woman through the maze of glass-walled offices and conference rooms. Her heart pounded in her chest, each step bringing her closer to the moment she’d been dreading.

The assistant led her to a large corner office at the end of the hall and knocked once before opening the door. “Miss Lakewood is here,” she announced, her voice crisp.

Liam Stone stood behind his massive desk, his back to them as he stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. His silhouette was sharp against the light, his broad shoulders and perfectly tailored suit giving him the appearance of a man completely in control of everything around him.

“Thank you, Grace,” Liam said, his deep voice cool and composed. “That will be all.”

Grace nodded and quietly slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Izzy stood frozen just inside the doorway, her pulse quickening as the silence stretched between them. She had no idea what to say. What could she say? She was about to enter into an agreement that went against everything she believed in, and yet there was no turning back now.

Liam finally turned to face her, his expression as unreadable as ever. His gray eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her stomach flutter—though not in a good way. There was no warmth in his gaze, no hint of the man she had met briefly at the Crestmore Hotel just days ago. Today, he was all business.

“Miss Lakewood,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “I’m glad you decided to come.”

Izzy swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a step forward. “I didn’t feel like I had much of a choice.”

Liam’s gaze remained steady, unfazed by her words. He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat.”

Izzy hesitated for a moment before reluctantly moving toward the chair and sitting down. Liam remained standing for a moment longer, his eyes scanning her face as if he were trying to gauge her emotions. Then, without a word, he walked around his desk and sat down across from her, his movements smooth and deliberate.

“I trust you’ve had time to consider my offer,” he said, his voice calm and measured.

Izzy nodded, though her throat felt tight. “I have.”

“And?”

She looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. The truth was, she didn’t want to say yes. Every fiber of her being wanted to walk out of that office, reject his offer, and find another way—any other way. But the harsh reality was that there wasn’t another way. She’d run out of options.

“I’ll do it,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam didn’t react immediately. He simply studied her, his expression unreadable, as if he’d been expecting this answer all along. Finally, he nodded.

“Very well. I’ll have my legal team prepare the contract.”

Izzy felt a rush of panic at the word “contract.” This was really happening. She was about to sign away two years of her life to a man she barely knew, in exchange for money—no, for Ethan’s life.

Liam opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a thick folder, setting it down in front of her. “The terms are fairly straightforward. A two-year marriage, during which time we will maintain the appearance of a genuine relationship. In return, I will provide full financial support for your brother’s medical expenses, as well as any other personal expenses you may incur.”

Izzy stared at the folder, her heart pounding in her ears. It felt so clinical, so cold. She was about to sign a contract to marry someone. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

“There are, of course, certain conditions,” Liam continued, his tone businesslike. “You’ll be required to attend events with me—dinners, charity functions, business meetings—anything that would be expected of a wife in the public eye.”

Izzy nodded, though the word wife still felt foreign to her in this context. She was going to be Liam Stone’s wife. Not in the way she’d ever imagined being someone’s wife, but still—a wife.

“And,” Liam added, his gray eyes locking onto hers, “there will be no romantic or physical relationship between us. This is strictly a business arrangement. Do you understand?”

Izzy felt a wave of relief at his words, though she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because the idea of being romantically involved with someone as cold and distant as Liam made her skin crawl. Or maybe it was because it made the arrangement feel less… real.

“I understand,” she said softly, her voice shaky but steady.

Liam leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap as he regarded her carefully. “Good. Then we’re in agreement.”

He opened the folder and slid a thick stack of papers across the desk toward her. “The contract outlines everything we’ve discussed. You’ll have the opportunity to review it with your own legal counsel, of course. But I assure you, everything is in order.”

Izzy stared at the stack of papers in front of her, her mind racing. This was it. Once she signed this contract, there would be no going back. She would be tied to Liam Stone for two years, bound by a legal agreement that had nothing to do with love or affection and everything to do with business.

But Ethan… her mind whispered, reminding her of the real reason she was doing this. This wasn’t about her. This was about saving her brother, about giving him a chance at life.

With trembling hands, Izzy reached for the contract. She flipped through the pages, her eyes skimming over the legal jargon and clauses that outlined every detail of the arrangement. The language was cold and impersonal, but the terms were clear. Liam would pay for Ethan’s medical expenses—everything, from hospital stays to the most experimental treatments. In exchange, she would act as his wife, attending events and fulfilling the public role of Mrs. Stone.

It sounded simple on paper, but Izzy knew it was anything but.

Her hands shook as she reached the final page, where the line for her signature awaited. She could feel Liam’s eyes on her, watching her carefully, but he said nothing.

This was it.

Izzy hesitated, her pen hovering over the paper. Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to sign her life away, marry a man she didn’t love—or even like—for money?

But then she thought of Ethan—of the way he looked at her, so trusting, so hopeful. He was counting on her. And if she didn’t do this, she would lose him.

Her hand steadied.

With a deep breath, Izzy signed her name on the dotted line.

The moment the pen left the paper, she felt a strange sense of finality settle over her, as if a door had just closed behind her, locking her into a path she couldn’t turn away from. It was done. She was now—legally, at least—bound to Liam Stone.

Liam leaned forward and took the contract from her, glancing at her signature before adding his own. His movements were smooth, controlled, and he didn’t so much as flinch as he completed the process that would tie them together for the next two years.

Once he was finished, he set the contract aside and looked up at her, his gray eyes as unreadable as ever. “Congratulations, Mrs. Stone,” he said, his voice calm and devoid of any warmth. “Our arrangement is now official.”

Izzy’s stomach twisted at the sound of the name. Mrs. Stone. It felt foreign, like a title that didn’t belong to her, one she hadn’t earned. She wasn’t really his wife. Not in any meaningful way. But from this day forward, the world would see her as exactly that.

“Is there anything else I need to know?” she asked quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Liam shook his head. “Everything you need to know is in the contract. My assistant, Grace, will send you a detailed schedule of upcoming events. You’ll also be provided with access to a private account for any personal expenses.”

“Right,” Izzy murmured, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on her.

Liam stood, signaling the end of their meeting. “I suggest you prepare yourself for the media attention. Once the news of our marriage is made public, you’ll be under a great deal of scrutiny. But I’m confident you’ll handle it well.”

Izzy nodded, though the thought of being thrust into the public eye made her stomach turn. She hated the idea of being watched, judged, and analyzed by strangers. But that was part of the deal, part of the price she had to pay.

Without another word, Liam walked around the desk and opened the door for her. “Grace will show you out.”

Izzy stood slowly, her legs feeling weak as she made her way to the door. She paused for a moment, glancing back at Liam. His expression remained cold, detached, as if this whole process had been nothing more than another business transaction for him.

Maybe it was.

“Thank you,” she said softly, though the words felt empty.

Liam gave her a small nod. “I’ll see you soon, Mrs. Stone.”

Izzy swallowed hard, then stepped out of the office, her heart pounding in her chest as the door closed behind her.

It was done.

She was Mrs. Liam Stone.

And there was no turning back now