Chapter 4

The dark glass window rolled down completely, revealing a man with sharp, icy eyes that stared at Alessia like she was an annoying bug on the street.

He didn't wait. He opened the car door and stepped out into the heavy, pouring rain. He was tall—taller than any man Alessia had ever seen—with broad shoulders that filled up the dark night sky. His hair was slicked back, and his expensive black suit got soaked in seconds, but he didn't even blink. He didn't carry an umbrella. He didn't smile. His face was set like a hard piece of rock.

He walked straight up to where Alessia was kneeling on the wet pavement.

"Get up and get inside the car," he said. His voice was deep, loud, and so rude it sounded like a direct command from a king.

Alessia wiped the rain from her eyes, shivering as the cold wind bit into her wet skin. She squeezed her cracked phone against her chest. "What? Who are you? Why should I get into your car?"

The man's eyebrows pulled together in a tight, angry line. He stepped closer, towering over her big, heavy frame.

"Don't make me repeat myself," he barked, his voice cutting through the loud sound of the falling rain. "I don't have time to waste on a crying woman. Get inside the car now!"

His tone was so aggressive and dominant that Alessia's heart jumped into her throat. She was too tired, too broken, and too cold to fight him. Without another word, she dragged her heavy body up from the wet floor and climbed into the back seat. The man slid in right beside her and slammed the heavy door shut.

The inside of the luxury car was warm and quiet. It smelled like expensive wood and sweet cologne.

Before Alessia could even speak, the man pulled out a gold phone from his pocket and pressed it to his ear.

"Call the chief surgeon at this hospital right now," he commanded into the phone, his voice cold and sharp. "Tell him Lucien is taking full responsibility for the old man's case. Rush him into the operating room this minute. If anything happens to him, I will buy that hospital and fire everyone."

Alessia's breath caught in her throat. She turned her head quickly, staring at his side profile in total disbelief.

How does he have so much power? she thought, her heart beating fast like a trapped drum. Who is this rude, scary man? Why is he ordering the doctors around for my father?

"Where are we going?" Alessia asked, her voice shaking. "Please, I need to stay here for my father!"

"The doctors are doing their job," the man snapped without even turning his head to look at her. "Your tears will not cure his brain. Shut your mouth."

Alessia bit her lower lip, anger and fear mixing inside her stomach.

The car glided smoothly through the dark, rainy streets until it pulled up in front of a giant, glittering hotel building. The driver opened the door, and the tall man grabbed Alessia's arm tightly. His hand was large, warm, and strong like iron. He dragged her through the grand glass doors, completely ignoring the hotel workers who bowed low to the ground as he walked past.

He pulled her straight into a private elevator that shot straight to the top floor. He unlocked a massive, grand hotel room and shoved the door open, pulling her inside before locking it shut behind them.

Alessia stumbled into the middle of the room, her wet clothes dripping water onto the beautiful carpet.

The man tossed his wet suit jacket onto a leather chair. He unbuttoned the top of his dark shirt, revealing his thick neck and strong chest. He turned around, his dark eyes locked straight onto her.

"Why did you bring me here?!" Alessia screamed, her fear turning into loud anger. "What is the meaning of that nonsense you did at the hospital? Who are you? Are you one of those rich, bad gold diggers who trick poor, desperate women, sleep with them, and toss them away like trash?!"

She was still blabbing, her chest heaving up and down as she yelled at him, her wet hair sticking to her face.

"Marry me for one year," the man said suddenly.

Alessia's voice cut off instantly. Her mouth stayed half-open.

Huh? she thought, her brain completely stopping. What did he just say? Did I hear him right?

"Marry me for one year," he repeated, stepping closer to her with slow, heavy steps. "I will pay the one hundred thousand dollars for your father's brain surgery tonight, cover his recovery, and clear every single debt you have. In return, you become my wife for twelve months."

Alessia stood completely frozen. Her mind was racing like wild horses.

Is this man crazy? she asked herself, staring at his sharp face. He doesn't even know me! Why would a rich, handsome billionaire want to marry me?

Then she remembered her own body. She remembered her thick waist, her heavy arms, and the rolls of fat around her stomach. She remembered how Evander had called her ugly and useless just last night. She remembered how her best friend Liora had laughed at her size.

She saw the man staring directly at her body, his eyes moving slowly from her wet shoulders down to her waist.

He is looking at my fatness, she thought bitterly, her chest squeezing with deep shame. He is probably disgusted by me right now. He probably hates my size just like my husband does. He will soon start laughing at me.

She lowered her head, looking at the floor, wanting the earth to open up and swallow her whole.

"You are a very beautiful woman," the man said softly.

Alessia’s head snapped up. Her eyes went wide.

"Is... is that a joke?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "Don't mock me. I know what I look like."

"I don't joke," he said coldly.

He took two big steps forward, closing the distance between them until he was standing right in front of her. He was so tall that Alessia had to bend her neck back just to look at his face. He smelled so good—like rich spices and fresh rain.

He reached out his large hand and took her by her waist, pulling her heavy body flush against his hard, warm chest.

Alessia gasped out loud.

Her heart began to pound frantically against her ribs. It had been four long months since any man had touched her. Four long months since her husband had pushed her away in disgust. Her body, starved of touch for so long, instantly reacted to his heat. A strange, hot shockwave traveled from her lower stomach straight down between her legs.

She felt a heavy warmth spreading through her body. She was trembling, her breath coming in quick, short gasps as his face moved closer to hers. His dark eyes locked onto her lips. His thumb rubbed softly against the side of her hip, pressing her closer to his hard body.

He tilted his head, his warm, rough lips stopping just a tiny millimeter away from her mouth. She could feel his hot breath on her lips. She closed her eyes, her entire body melting against him, completely wet and aching for his kiss.

The man paused right at her lips, his dark eyes looking down at her flushed face.

"You are really wet for me," he whispered smoothly against her mouth.