7. The Engagement Trap

ALEXANDER:

“Drive faster!” My voice cut through the silence inside the car. James’s hand tightened across the steering wheel immediately.

“Yes, Sir.”

“How much longer?”

“Ten minutes, Sir.”

I nodded. My gaze drifted back toward the city streets and before I could stop it, memories started pushing into my head again.

Three years ago. My father’s office.

“You’re getting married,” My father said the moment I took a seat across from him.

My hands clenched at my side.

“No. I told you…”

Samuel Banks barely looked up from the papers in front of him. “I already chose the girl.”

I shook my head, anger burning through me. “I said no.”

My father hit his hands on the table, “You don’t get to say no.”

“For the last time, I am marrying Rowena.”

I still remembered the tightness in my chest whenever I said her name back then. Rowena. Beautiful and elegant. Mine. Or at least she had been until she disappeared and humiliated me in front of everyone.

But even after that humiliation, I still loved her because I knew something must have happened. She wouldn’t just leave just like that. Not after nine years together.

My father leaned back in his chair slowly. “If you want control of my empire, you will marry the girl I chose. You need to stop embarrassing this family. It’s time you forget about her.”

My jaw clenched so hard it hurt then the office door opened and Harper walked in. Soft caramel skin. Long dark brown hair. Big hazel eyes. She looked too bright for my mood that day.

Too alive like someone who believed the world was still kind. I disliked her immediately.

She smiled the moment she saw me. “Hi.”

I took my eyes away from her and said nothing. Her smile faltered awkwardly.

Good.

Maybe she would realize quickly that this entire arrangement was a mistake. But she stayed standing there twisting her fingers together nervously while my father introduced us like we were discussing a business merger instead of marriage.

“This is Harper Campbell.”

I barely glanced at her.

“And this,” my father continued, pointing at me. “Is my son Alexander.”

Harper nodded, turning to me. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Again, I did not answer. What exactly was I supposed to say? Hello, thank you for helping my father ruin my life?

Then my father placed two ring boxes and a thick folder onto the desk. “Sign.”

I frowned. “What’s in the folder?”

My father started explaining something about agreements, family obligations, inheritance protections…

I stopped listening halfway through. I was angry. Tired and done with this entire conversation.

So, I grabbed the pen and signed the papers without reading them properly. Funny. Seems I had a habit of doing that.

Then I slid the folder toward Harper.

“Sign it.”

She blinked at me nervously. “Shouldn’t I read it first?”

“Let’s just get this done with,” I snapped. My tone came out sharper than I intended. Her throat bobbed. She signed anyway. Desperate. Of course she was. Most people would do anything for the Banks name.

Then my father handed us the rings. No wedding guests. No vows. No flowers. Just the three of us standing inside his office while Harper slid a ring onto my finger with trembling hands.

I barely touched her during the exchange because even then, she already felt temporary to me.

Afterward, my father looked directly at Harper and said calmly. “Your mother’s hospital bills will continue to be paid. Your family’s debt will also disappear as agreed.”

A small laugh came out of me. Money. I shook my head. Just like every other woman. She married me because she needed something. Because nobody loved Alexander Banks the man. They loved the money. The power. The name.

Only Rowena had loved me before all that mattered.

The car suddenly jerked violently. I snapped back to reality instantly. “What the hell was that?”

“Fuck,” James cursed under his breath. “Sir… I think there is a problem with the engine.”

“You think?”

Smoke curled faintly from the front hood. My irritation exploded immediately. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

James parked at the side of the road quickly. I shoved the door open and stepped outside. The cold wind hit my face.

James rushed out after me. “Let me call another vehicle immediately.”

I raked my hands through my hair. It would take like twenty minutes for one of the drivers to bring another car. Absolutely not.

I looked ahead toward the crowded streets. Westbridge Avenue was not far now. I could walk faster than waiting for another car.

Without another word, I started moving.

“Sir?” James called in shock before hurrying after me.

What if Harper disappeared again? What if this was my only chance? The thought tightened something ugly in my chest.

“She needs to explain herself,” I muttered more to myself than anyone else. James struggled to keep up beside me.

“I’ve been thinking… maybe she found out…” James said, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Found out what?”

“About you and Rowena,” he said, voice low.

I stopped walking. People brushed past us on the sidewalk while I stared at him in disbelief. “What are you trying to insinuate?”

His face turned pale.

“No, sir…I didn’t mean…” James stuttered. “I was only suggesting maybe she misunderstood the situation.”

Misunderstood?

There was nothing to misunderstand. Yes, I slept with Rowena. But Harper was still my wife. Men in my position had affairs all the time. That did not mean their wives disappeared overnight.

And Harper knew exactly who I was before marrying me. So, why act surprised now?

I resumed walking again. Faster this time. The silence between us turned heavy afterward.

My assistant wisely stopped talking.

Good.

Because I was already irritated enough. By the time we reached Westbridge Avenue, frustration pulsed through my entire body.

“Search everywhere,” I ordered immediately. They searched every shop. Side streets. Hotels.

Nothing.

No Harper.

Hours passed and still nothing. James came running toward me. “Maybe we should stop for today.”

“No.”

“We can continue tomorrow.”

“I said no.”

But even as I answered, reality pressed heavily against me. Harper was gone again. I stared across the crowded street silently while a cold wind pushed against my suit jacket. Then suddenly…

“Wait!” I screamed at James. “Stop the search.”

James’s eyes narrowed. “Sir?”

I turned toward him calmly. “Prepare a public announcement.”

“For what?”

“My engagement.”

Realization flashed across his face instantly. “To Miss Rowena?”

“Yes.”

The word tasted strange in my mouth but useful. Very useful. Because Harper was emotional.

She hated Rowena. Always had and once she saw headlines announcing my engagement?

Once she saw another woman taking her place permanently?

She would come back.

I smiled. Of course she would. Harper loved me too much not to.