Chapter 5: An Unexpected Engagement.

Nova-Present Time…

My mind was a storm.

Nicolai’s hands cradled my face, his touch warm and steady—completely at odds with the chaos roaring inside me. He had just walked into this dinner… interrupted everything…

…and declared that I was his fiancée.

What the hell was going on?

Before I could gather my thoughts—before I could even decide whether to pull away—he leaned closer, his breath brushing my ear.

“Just follow my lead,” he murmured, low enough that no one else could hear. “I’ll handle the rest.”

I stiffened.

I should have protested. Should have said something, done something—

…but I didn’t.

And that terrified me almost as much as whatever he was about to do.

His fingers slid from my cheek to my hand, intertwining our fingers with careful familiarity. Then he turned toward my family, who sat frozen in stunned silence.

“Apologies for interrupting your dinner,” Nicolai said smoothly. “I simply couldn’t wait to see Nova. I did make her a promise, after all.” His lips curved faintly. “And please, allow me to introduce myself. I’m—”

“CEO Moreau!”

Kieran’s voice cracked through the room like a gunshot.

I flinched.

He was already on his feet, his composure shattered. Fury burned in his eyes—fury and something darker.

Hatred.

Nicolai looked at him, unfazed. Amused, even.

“Kieran Sinclair?” he said lightly. “Well, this is a surprise. It’s been a while… I believe the last time was the Burling Gala, wasn’t it?”

Something flickered across Kieran’s face—fear.

Real, undeniable fear.

“Yes,” Kieran said tightly. “It has been a while. And I would say it’s a pleasure to see you again…if not for my confusion.”

He stepped around the table, each stride sharp and deliberate until he stood directly in front of us. His eyes slid to me, dark and possessive.

“There’s no way Nova could be your fiancée.”

The air shifted.

Nicolai released my hand—only to step forward, closing the distance himself. He towered over Kieran, his presence overwhelming without effort.

“Explain something to me, Kieran,” he said, voice dropping into something quieter—and far more dangerous. “Why are you so concerned about my fiancée?”

My breath caught.

The way he said it—my fiancée—sent something strange curling through my chest.

Kieran actually stepped back.

That alone was shocking.

Before he could respond, my father jumped in, clearly desperate to regain control.

“CEO Moreau! What an honor—truly!” he said, practically glowing with forced enthusiasm.

Ass kisser.

Nicolai didn’t even look at him.

I had to bite back a smile.

“As thrilled as we are by your presence,” my father continued nervously, “I do have to ask… how exactly do you know my daughter?”

Slowly, Nicolai turned his head.

The warmth vanished from his expression.

“You mean,” he said coolly, “you weren’t aware your daughter is one of the top researchers at my company?”

Silence.

My father froze.

Because he didn’t know.

Neither of them ever cared enough to know.

“Oh—yes, of course!” he stammered quickly. “Our Nova has always been bright. I just wasn’t aware she had the opportunity to meet the CEO—”

“As exceptional as your daughter is,” Nicolai cut in, his gaze sharpening, “you didn’t think she would attract my attention?”

My father went pale.

My mother leaned forward then, her tone cold and laced with disdain.

“Mr. Moreau, forgive us—but why are you here? What exactly is your relationship with our daughter?”

Nicolai met her stare without hesitation.

“I thought I made that clear,” he said evenly. “I’m here to pick up my fiancée.”

“She can’t be your fiancée!”

Kieran’s voice rose again, sharp with disbelief.

Nicolai didn’t even blink.

“And why not?”

“Because she’s mine!” Kieran snapped. “I chose her! Through the lottery—”

“Then there must be some mistake,” Nicolai replied calmly. “Because I already asked for her hand in marriage.”

“That’s impossible!”

Tanya shot to her feet, her face flushed red.

I glanced at her—and smirked.

Nicolai’s gaze shifted to her, uninterested.

“And you are?”

“I—I’m her sister,” she said quickly, forcing a syrupy smile as she approached. “Tanya Pierce. We’re just… confused. Nova was selected by Kieran through the lottery, so how exactly could you—”

“Who said I chose her through the lottery?”

She faltered.

“I’m one of the most powerful men in the world, Ms. Pierce,” Nicolai continued, his tone almost bored. “Do you honestly believe I would rely on a system designed for the elite’s leftovers?”

Her face paled instantly.

“Then… how?” she asked weakly.

“I asked her myself,” he said simply. “I’ve been courting her for over a year.”

“That’s bullshit!”

Ethan slammed his hand on the table as he stood.

The room went still.

My gaze snapped to him—and something inside me went cold.

He wouldn’t even look at me.

“You’re lying,” he said, voice tense. “Nova was with—”

“With you?” Nicolai cut in smoothly.

Ethan froze.

“Oh, I’m aware,” Nicolai continued softly, his eyes narrowing just slightly. “Which makes this situation all the more… interesting.”

“Don’t act like you know anything!” Ethan snapped, finally meeting his gaze. “You just showed up—what, you think you can take her because you have money?”

Something sharp flickered in Nicolai’s eyes.

“No,” he said quietly. “I think I can take her… because she chose me.”

Silence.

Thick. Heavy. Suffocating.

Ethan’s expression twisted.

“That’s not true,” he said, turning toward me now. “Nova… tell him.”

My heart thudded.

Tell him what?

That you and my sister betrayed me?

That I was being sold off like a transaction?

I tilted my head slightly.

“And say what, exactly?” I asked softly.

Ethan stiffened.

“You can’t be serious,” he muttered. “After everything—”

“After everything?” I echoed.

My voice was calm.

Too calm.

“You mean after finding out you’ve been sleeping with my sister?” I added, just loud enough.

Tanya sucked in a sharp breath.

“Nova!” she snapped. “This isn’t the time to be petty—”

“Petty?” I laughed under my breath. “That’s what you’re calling it now?”

“You’re twisting this!” Ethan shot back. “You left—you moved away—you don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly,” I cut in.

Silence dropped again.

Dangerous.

Nicolai’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.

Grounding.

Steady.

Then, he glared at Ethan and my parents.

“Tell me something, Adams… does Nova know the full truth?”

I froze.

The full—what did that even mean?

I glanced at Ethan. He’d gone ghost-white.

“I… I don’t know what you’re—”

“Let’s not be coy here, Adams,” Nicolai cut in smoothly, his voice edged with steel. “You mean to tell me none of you informed my fiancée of the real reason she was placed into the lottery?”

“Just what the hell are you talking about, Moreau?!”

My brother snapped, trying to maintain sharpness and failing.

Nicolai didn’t even spare him a glance.

My father’s face began to pale. They knew. They all knew. A cold dread seeped into my chest as I stepped forward.

“What is Nicolai talking about?” I demanded. “What truth—”

“We have no idea what—”

“Your sister is pregnant.”

The room went silent.

Nicolai’s gaze shifted to me, something raw—something almost gentle—flickering in his eyes.

“With your ex-fiancé’s baby,” he continued. “That’s why they forced you into the lottery. The Pierces were never actually selected. They’ve been lying about Tanya being engaged for over three years to keep her out of it. They cut a deal with Sinclair—volunteered your name in exchange for a brokerage deal with his father’s trucking company.”

My stomach twisted violently.

The air felt too thin, too heavy all at once. My knees threatened to give out, and heat burned behind my eyes.

Tears.

They slipped free before I could stop them.

“You… you all willingly sold me… to a monster?” My voice cracked, splintering apart. “Just so Tanya could—”

The words wouldn’t come. They lodged in my throat, suffocating.

“Don’t make it sound so despicable! We were only—”

“You sold your daughter to a man known for putting women in the hospital,” Nicolai thundered, his voice reverberating through the room. “And you don’t think that makes you despicable?!”

His restraint snapped, the words cutting like a blade.

I couldn’t speak.

I’d always known my parents didn’t love me. Didn’t care for me the way they did her. I told myself for years that it didn’t matter—that I didn’t need them.

But this? This wasn’t neglect. This was destruction.

“I want to leave.”

The words barely escaped, fragile and hollow.

My hand gripped the sleeve of Nicolai’s shirt, clinging to it like it was the only thing keeping me upright.

He looked down at me. Something flickered in his eyes.

Guilt?

Without a word, he nodded, pulling out his phone and sending a quick message. Moments later, Aaron stepped into the room.

“Sir.”

“Aaron,” Nicolai said calmly, though the tension in the air hadn’t faded, “please take my fiancée to the car.”

Aaron inclined his head, his expression softening as he turned to me.

“It’s good to see you again, Ms. Pierce.”

I managed a faint smile.

We turned to leave—only for my mother’s voice to break through, sharp with panic.

“Wait! She can’t go! Nova—either you marry Kieran Sinclair or your grandmother—”

“Aaron.”

Nicolai’s voice was quiet.

Deadly.

He stepped closer to me, my own eyes still wide, my body trembling. His lips curved into a faint, reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly. “I’ll take care of everything.”

My breath caught. The words sent something electric through me—sharp, unfamiliar, overwhelming. I nodded, barely aware of the motion, and took one last look at the people in that room.

The people who had betrayed me. Who had sold me without hesitation. Then I turned away. And I left.

Out in the hallway, the air felt different—but the weight in my chest remained. As we walked, something twisted inside me, uneasy and uncertain.

“Wait—shouldn’t we…” I hesitated, glancing back toward the room. “Will Mr. Moreau be okay?”

Aaron smiled calmly, as if none of this worried him in the slightest.

“Not to worry, Ms. Pierce. I assure you… my boss will be just fine. Come, let’s get you to the car.”

I followed him into the parking deck, my thoughts spinning in every direction at once.

This wasn’t how I imagined the night ending. Not even close. But more than that…there was something else. Something I didn’t understand. Something I had never felt before.

And that—

That terrified me most of all.