Chapter 4

AMELIA

I stared at the ring. It sparkled like it had been plucked out of a fairytale, but this wasn’t a fairytale.

Everyone was waiting. Ethan looked like he was about to explode. His father, my father-in-law, just stared, his expression was unreadable.

I could feel my heart drumming in my ears. This wasn’t just a proposal. It was a choice. A power move.

Did I love Rafael?

No.

Did I enjoy that night with him? More than I should have.

Did I want to watch Ethan burn with betrayal after everything he’d done to me?

Hell yes.

I took a breath, then let my fingers fall into Rafael’s open hand.

“Yes,” I said.

A collective gasp filled the room. Rafael slipped the ring onto my finger and stood, grinning like he just won a game.

He kissed my hand, then whispered, “You wouldn't regret it, sweetheart.”

I turned to Ethan with a smile that could cut glass. The look on his face was priceless. I could feel his confusion and defeat radiating like heat waves off his skin.

After the event, everyone had something to say. Of course it wasn't what they expected, but for the sake of love, or at least the illusion of it they congratulated us anyway. The cameras were everywhere, flashing like we were some royal couple.

My father-in-law wasn’t so pleased at the switch, but he decided that if it was what I wanted, then so be it. He gave me a stiff nod and asked that I meet him briefly before I left the reception.

Later that evening, Ethan burst into my room, slamming the door behind him like a spoiled child.

“What the fuck was that, Amelia?”

I barely flinched. I had been expecting this. “That was a proposal. Do you need me to explain any further?”

“You made a fool of me!” he barked. “You’re supposed to marry me, Amelia!”

“Oh, spare me,” I said, standing up to face him. “You brought your mistress to our engagement dinner, to our home. You spat on me, humiliated me, made it clear I was nothing but a pawn. So don’t cry when someone else moves the board.”

His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw ticking with rage. “You’ll regret this. You don’t know Rafael like I do. You think he wants you? He just wants to win. And when he’s done with you...”

The door swung open, interrupting him mid-threat. Rafael stood in the doorway, calm as ever, with that arrogant gleam in his eyes.

“She’s not your problem anymore, Ethan,” Rafael said. “Move on.”

“You’re both insane,” Ethan muttered, pushing past him as he stormed out. “You’ll regret this. You both will.”

Rafael looked at me and smirked. “That went better than I expected.”

*************

RAFAEL

“You really want to get her, don’t you?” Kelvin, my right-hand man, asked, leaning against the doorframe.

I smirked, tapping a pen on my polished desk. “Yes. Whatever it takes.”

Kelvin’s eyes narrowed. “What about your brother, Ethan?”

I let out a low chuckle. “Ethan has already lost by being a bitch to her. He only made things easier for me.”

"I’d make her mine," I thought to myself.

And I did.

The look on Ethan's face as he walked out of the room was pure bliss. The air felt better without his whining voice in it.

"Hello, wife to be..." I said, reaching out to hold her waist, pulling her gently against me.

She grinned, her eyes glinting. "That sounds nice, husband to be."

I looked at the bed, then back at her. "Should we do what lovers do?" I asked, voice dipping as I leaned in to kiss her.

She leaned closer to me too, and before I could think much about it, we were in a deep, seductive kiss.

I pressed her against me, savoring every curve of her very round and plum bum. Her body fit into mine perfectly like a puzzle piece I didn’t know I’d been missing.

My hand went to the back of her dress and pulled her zip down. The hands of her dress fell to reveal her big breasts, full, soft, and even better than I remembered them.

I kissed her neck and watched as she reacted to it. She let out sharp breaths, little gasps. My hands unhooked her bra as my tongue teased her nipples. She let out a soft moan, her hand pulling me closer, her nails scraping my skin.

I slid my hands down, and dipped my fingers into her panties, but she suddenly held my wrist and pulled it away.

She pushed me toward the bed and climbed on top of me, kissing me again. Her lips were hot and commanding. My mind ran wild. I was prepared for her to ride the hell out of me. I could feel my dick bulging harder in anticipation.

But then, Amelia reached out and pulled something from under her pillow. She handed me an envelope, and almost immediately, she stood up and began getting dressed.

“Amelia, what are you doing? What’s this?” I asked, confused, glancing down at the brown envelope resting in my hand.

She met my gaze steadily. “It’s a contract for our marriage,” she said evenly.

I was shocked and a bit impressed. I’d known Amelia was smart, but I hadn’t expected this level of calculation. Regardless... “Can’t we do this after? I’m all hard.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Rafael, but we can’t do anything else if we don’t sign that.”

“Fuck." I sighed, adjusting my pants. "That’s evil, you know?”

She just nodded, acting a little bit sorry, but I knew damn well she enjoyed doing this.

“So... a contract?” I repeated, trying to get my mind off my dick. “What do you mean?”

She took a slow breath. “I’m not sure what this marriage would mean to you, Rafael… but your father asked that we sign that before we can go ahead to get married.”

I opened the envelope slightly, eyes darting over the terms outlined within.

“Amelia... what on earth is this?”