LOGINI didnāt answer immediately.Richard watched me with the patience of a man who already knew the outcome.My mind wasnāt in his office anymore.It was at home.In that house.That prison.My stepmotherās sharp voice.My stepsisterās mocking laughter.The small store room I slept in despite being the one who paid most of the bills.If you lose this job, donāt come back here.Her words echoed loudly in my head.For years, I had endured it quietly, telling myself that one day, I would leave that house with dignity.Not chased out.Not insulted out.But walking out proudly.And nowā¦That chance was sitting right in front of me.Dressed in an expensive suit.Offering me a contract instead of pity.I wiped my tears quickly and looked at Richard.āIf I agree⦠I have conditions.āOne of his brows lifted slightly.āGo on.āāI donāt want to feel like a charity case. I want this written clearly as a business agreement. I want my own room in your house. My own privacy. And after one year, you donā
āYouāre fired.āāYou have two options, Scarlet,ā Richard said calmly.āWalk out of this office unemployedā¦āāā¦or walk out as my wife.ā******Those were the first words my billionaire boss ever said to me.And the next words changed my life forever.āUnless you agree to marry me.ā*******When a desperate mistake at work costs her everything, she expects to be fired by the ruthless CEO everyone fears.Instead, he offers her a contract."Marry me for one year."No emotions. No questions. No love.Just a signature that will save her job, her family from debt, and her reputation.He needs a wife to secure a powerful politicalābusiness alliance that will determine the future of his empire.Itās strictly business. Strictly contractual. Strictly no feelings.Until possession, jealousy, and forbidden attraction begin to break every clause they signed.And when the alliance is threatened, Scarlet realizes she was never just a convenient brideā¦She was a pawn in a dangerous game between powerf
Adrian gasped. āThereās a league?āDamian tapped his nose. āSecret one.āEmery laughed, the sound warm and bright, surprising even herself. Damian looked at her then really lookedāand something eased in his chest.She was smiling again.Not the tired, forced one from the past.A real one.And he knew he would spend the rest of his life protecting that smile.āMom!āEthanās voice approached from behind them.Ethan and Patricia walked toward the picnic blanket, carrying extra fruit and drinks. Patriciaās eyes softened the moment they landed on Emery.āYou look peaceful today,ā her mother said.āI feel peaceful,ā Emery admitted quietly.Patricia squeezed her hand with the kind of apology only a mother could giveāno words, but years of regret, guilt, and love pressing into a single touch.Ethan plopped down beside Adrian.āWant me to show you how REAL h
The mansion doors burst open.Uniformed officers stormed in, followed by two detectives. Their flashlights slashed through the dim hallway like blades.Clara froze at the doorway, her hair wild, makeup streaked, eyes darting like a trapped animal.Owen stood behind her, pale as chalkāhands trembling, sweat dripping down his forehead.Emery instinctively stepped backward, breath catching in her throat.Claraās gaze locked on her instantly.āYou,ā she hissed.Damian surged forward.āStay away from her.āClara laughed ā a high, broken, hysterical sound.āOh, look. The loving husband. The knight. How pathetic.āDamianās jaw clenched, but he didnāt react.He positioned himself protectively in front of Emery.Gabriel moved to her side, steady and quietly watchful.The lead detective lifted a file.āClara Bennett. Dr. Owen . You are both under a
Evening,The car was silent on the way.Too silent.Emery glanced at Gabriel once or twice.āAre you okay?ā she asked.He forced a smile.āFine. Just work.āBut his fingers tapped against the steering wheel ā nervous.His jaw was tense ā deliberate.Something felt off.But she pushed it aside.Until the car slowed⦠and Emery looked out the windowā¦Her breath left her body.Because she knew this road.She knew that curve.She knew that black iron gate.Damian Coleās mansion.She shot up in her seat.āGabrielāwhy are we here?āHe parked.Killed the engine.Then turned to her, eyes slightly pained.āBecause you deserve answers, Emery.āA beat.āAnd because you deserve peace.āHer heart pounded.āNo. No, Gabriel, take me home. Pleaseā¦ā
The hospital was too quiet. Gabriel lay still, his arm stitched and wrapped, a thin line of blood staining the gauze. Emery sat beside him, eyes red and sleepless. She hadnāt said a word since the fight. Every time she tried, her throat closed up because it wasnāt just fear anymore. It was guilt. āYou shouldnāt have come,ā Gabriel said, voice rough. Emery blinked. āYou really think Iād sit back and wait to hear you were dead?ā āIt was a trap,ā he muttered. āThey wanted to draw you out.ā āAnd you think I care about that?ā she snapped. āI care that you almost got yourself killed!ā He sighed, turning his face toward the ceiling. āClara knows how to use people. Sheās not doing this alone.ā Her pulse jumped. āThen who is she doing it with?ā He hesitated, eyes flicking toward her. āDr. Owen.ā Emery froze. āā¦Owen?ā
For a moment, Damian didnāt breathe. Then he shot up from his chair, his hand slamming against the desk so hard the whiskey glass toppled, shattering to the floor.āPregnant?ā His voice roared through the room. āDonāt you dareādonāt you fucking dare stand there and tell me that lie!āClara flinched
That night, Damian sat in the back of his car, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His head leaned against the cool leather, his eyes hollow.Clara sat beside him, her hand resting delicately on her stomach. She looked the part of a glowing mother-to-be. But inside, Damianās soul was empty. He hadnāt
Meanwhile, at Damianās family estate, Clara was seated comfortably beside Damianās mother, playing her part to perfection. She dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief, her voice trembling just right as she said, āIām just worried about Damian. Heās⦠distracted lately. And that girl, Emery⦠I do
.........The sun streamed through the tall curtains, spilling across the room in golden warmth. Emery stirred, blinking against the brightness. The first thing she felt was Damianās arm wrapped snugly around her waist, holding her as though even in sleep, he refused to let her







