005

Ava

I stared at him, my mind refusing to process everything all at once. Roman’s expression remained unreadable, as if he had just proposed a business deal rather than something that would alter the course of my entire life.

I let out a shaky laugh, disbelief creeping into my voice.  

“You must be out of your mind.”

Roman didn’t flinch.  

“On the contrary, Ava. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

I shook my head, stepping back, needing distance.  

“Why? Why would you even suggest something like this?”

Roman exhaled slowly, as if he had expected my reaction. His fingers grazed the rim of his whiskey glass before he set it down on the bar with a soft clink.  

“I need an heir.”

I blinked.  

“And?”

His sharp gaze locked onto mine.  

“My father has a legacy—a multi-billion-dollar empire that he intended for me to inherit. But there’s a catch. The board of directors refuses to recognize me as the rightful successor unless I prove I have a stable future. That means a wife and an heir. And if I don’t, it all goes to my brother.”

A cold chill ran down my spine.  

“And you think I’m the perfect candidate?”

His lips curled into a smirk.  

“You’re single, smart, and most importantly—you hate Tristan as much as I do.”

Hate.  

Yes, I hated Tristan. I hated him for betraying me. For shattering my trust. For humiliating me without remorse.

But was I really willing to go this far?

I breathed sharply, crossing my arms.  

“So, let me get this straight. You want me to marry you, give you a child, and in exchange… I get revenge?”

Roman inclined his head.  

“Exactly.”

I should have walked away. I should have laughed in his face and told him he was insane.  

But instead, I found myself considering it.

Because what did I have left to lose?  

Nothing.  

And if I played this right… I had everything to gain.

I took a step forward, searching his expression for any sign of deception.  

“If I agree… I have conditions.”

His smirk deepened.  

“I expected nothing less.”

I inhaled deeply, steeling myself.  

“First, this marriage is purely a contract. No emotions. No romance.”

His expression didn’t change, but something in his gaze darkened.  

“Understood.”

“Second, I will not be controlled. I make my own decisions, and I don’t answer to you outside of this agreement.”

A flicker of something—annoyance? Amusement?—flashed in his eyes.  

“That depends. If your decisions interfere with our arrangement, I will intervene.”

I narrowed my eyes.  

“Fine. But you won’t dictate my life.”

His jaw ticked, but he nodded.  

“Continue.”

“Third,” I pressed on, voice firm, “we will not share a bedroom.”

That one seemed to bother him. His fingers tightened around his glass, and a slow, deliberate smile tugged at his lips.  

“We’ll see.”

My pulse spiked.  

“No, we won’t. That’s non-negotiable.”

He chuckled, low and deep.  

“You’re setting all these rules as if you don’t realize what you’re agreeing to, Ava. You’re going to have my child. Do you expect that to happen without… physical intimacy?”

Heat rose to my cheeks, but I refused to let him see how much he affected me.  

“We’ll do what’s necessary, but that’s it. No extra touching, no unnecessary closeness. Strictly business.”

Roman exhaled, shaking his head with an amused glint in his eyes.  

“You really think you can keep me at arm’s length for a year?”

I lifted my chin.  

“Yes.”

He stepped closer, his cologne wrapping around me like a vice, his body heat licking at my skin.  

“You underestimate our chemistry, Ava.”

I swallowed hard but didn’t move.  

“And you underestimate my willpower, Roman Vale.”

His gaze burned into mine, something dangerous crossing in the depths of his dark eyes. Then, just as quickly, he sighed and stepped back.  

“Okay. No shared bedroom. For now.”

A small victory played on my lips, but I wasn’t done.  

“Fourth,” I continued, ignoring the way my heart was racing, “when this contract ends, you’ll let me go. No strings attached. No complications.”

Roman studied me for a long moment before nodding once.  

“Agreed.”

Relief flooded through me.  

“Good. I think with all that, I’ll be fine.”

But before I could revel in my small sense of control, he took a step forward again, invading my space until I had no choice but to look up at him.  

“My turn,” he murmured.

I stiffened.  

“What?”

His smirk was pure sin.  

“I have conditions too.”

I exhaled slowly.  

“Of course you do.”

He lifted a finger.  

“First, you will move into my house. No arguments.”

My stomach dropped.  

“What? No, I just said—”

“You can have your own bedroom, Ava,” he interrupted smoothly, “but you will live under my roof. My wife will not be living separately from me. It wouldn’t make any sense, would it?”

I opened my mouth to argue, but I caught the glint in his eyes—he wouldn’t budge on this. Clenching my jaw, I forced myself to nod.  

“Alright.”

Roman’s smirk widened.  

“Second, you will attend every public event as my wife. I don’t care if it’s a business gala, a charity function, or a Sunday brunch. You will be by my side.”

I inhaled sharply, hating that he was already pushing back.

“Third,” his voice lowered, growing more intense, “No other men. If we do this, you belong to me.”

My breath hitched, an unexpected shiver running through me.  

“I don’t belong to anyone, Roman.”

His fingers brushed my jawline, featherlight, but the touch sent a bolt of electricity through me.  

“In this arrangement, you do.”

My heart thundered, but I refused to let him see my reaction. Instead, I stepped back, breaking his touch.  

“Anything else?”

He studied me for a long moment before murmuring,  

“Yes.”

Then, in one swift movement, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

My stomach dropped.

Oh, God.  

Not now.  

Not like this.

All eyes turned toward us. I could barely process what was happening as he flipped the box open, revealing a stunning diamond ring.

My breath caught.

“Marry me, Ava,” he said, voice dark, intense.  

“And let’s r

uin your ex-husband together.”

Everything inside me screamed that this was madness.

But another part?  

The broken, vengeful part of me?  

It whispered, Say yes.