The signature

I couldn't sleep. The pen rested on my table like it was waiting for me... I kept staring at my father's photograph, asking myself what he would do. Pride wouldn't save Vale Industries. My employees needed salaries, not promises. Before sunrise I made my decision.I returned to Ashford Group with the signed contract tucked inside my bag. My hands were cold, but my steps were steady. This wasn't love. It was survival.Caelan was already waiting when I entered his office. He looked at me for a long moment before his eyes dropped to the contract in my hands. 'You've decided,' he said.'I have.' My voice barely shook. 'I'll marry you.'He didn't smile. He simply nodded, as though he had expected that answer all along. Somehow that annoyed me. 'You're not even surprised?' I asked.'I was hoping you would choose your company,' he replied calmly. 'You did.'I placed the signed contract on his desk. 'Don't make me regret this.''I'll keep every promise in that agreement, Mrs... Miss Vale.' He corrected himself smoothly.For the first time, I noticed something strange. Beneath all the coldness in his eyes was exhaustion, the kind that couldn't be hidden by expensive suits or billion-dollar companies.The legal team entered, and the paperwork moved quickly. Everything felt unreal. I signed more documents than I could count. Before leaving, Caelan handed me a small velvet box.'What's this?''Your wedding ring.'I froze.'Already?''Our wedding is in three days. The media will be invited.'Three days.I walked out feeling as if the ground had disappeared beneath my feet. Maya nearly dropped her coffee when I told her. She argued with me for almost an hour, warning me that no billionaire offered help without wanting something bigger in return. I wanted to disagree, but deep down I shared the same fear.That evening I returned to the factory. The workers greeted me with hopeful smiles, unaware that I had just agreed to marry a stranger to save their jobs. Seeing them laugh together reminded me why I couldn't turn back.As I prepared to leave, I noticed a black luxury car parked across the street. The windows were tinted. It had been there for nearly twenty minutes.A man stepped out just as I reached my own car.'You're Miss Neria Vale?''Yes.'He smiled, but it never reached his eyes.'Congratulations on your engagement to Mr. Ashford.'My heart skipped. 'How do you know about that?'He leaned closer. 'Be careful who you marry.'Before I could ask another question, he slipped a sealed envelope into my hand and drove away.With trembling fingers, I opened it.Inside was a single photograph.It showed Caelan standing beside a young woman... wearing a wedding dress.On the back, someone had written five chilling words.He has lied to you.

My fingers tightened around the photograph until the edges dug into my skin. I couldn't breathe. The woman beside Caelan wore a white wedding dress, and although the picture was slightly blurred, there was no mistake about the man standing beside her. It was him.'He has lied to you.'Those words echoed inside my head all the way home.I placed the photograph beside the contract and stared at both for a long time. Which one was the lie? The marriage? The deal? Or the man himself?I barely slept.The next morning, I arrived at Ashford Group without an appointment. Evelyn looked surprised to see me.'Miss Vale?''I need to speak to Mr. Ashford. Now.'A few minutes later, I was standing inside his office again. Caelan looked up from his laptop. His expression remained calm until I threw the photograph onto his desk.'Explain this.'His eyes fell on the picture. For the first time since I met him, something flickered across his face. Not panic. Recognition.'Where did you get this?''Answer my question first.'He picked up the photograph and quietly examined the back.'Someone wants you to doubt me.''Were you married before?'His silence lasted only a few seconds, but it felt endless.'No.''Then why is there a picture of you with another bride?''Because photographs don't always tell the truth.'I laughed bitterly.'That's your explanation?'He met my gaze without looking away.'If I wanted to deceive you, I wouldn't bother explaining anything. Trust me long enough for me to uncover who sent this.''Trust?' I repeated. 'You investigated my entire life before offering me a contract, yet you're asking me to trust you?'He sighed.'You're right. I don't deserve that yet.'His answer caught me off guard.'I can't tell you everything today,' he continued quietly. 'Not because I'm hiding another wife, but because revealing it now would put you in danger.'My heartbeat quickened.'Danger from who?'Before he could answer, someone knocked sharply on the office door.Evelyn rushed inside, looking pale.'Sir... the press somehow knows about the wedding. Reporters are gathering outside the building.'Caelan immediately stood.'Keep Miss Vale inside. No one lets the media reach her.'I frowned.'How did they even find out?'Neither of us had an answer.Minutes later, shouting echoed from outside the building. My phone started vibrating nonstop. Unknown numbers. News alerts. Social media notifications.Someone had leaked our marriage contract.And the first headline made my blood run cold."Billionaire CEO Buys Himself a Wife."Everything was falling apart before the wedding had even begun.