CHAPTER ONE

The Proposal

Lily's Pov

"Your father's debt is now yours, Miss Morgan. You have seventy-two hours, or I start with your sister's fingers."

Vincent Shaw's threat from this morning still rang in my ears as I stood outside Hunt Hotels Corporation. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. Three million dollars. I didn't have three hundred.

The envelope in my pocket felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. Inside was a contract marriage proposal from Alexander Hunt himself. I didn't know why a billionaire would want someone like me, but I was out of options.

Sophie needed me. That was all that mattered.

I pushed through the glass doors into a lobby that screamed wealth. I looked down at my worn flats and wanted to disappear.

"Miss Morgan?" A woman in a tight skirt appeared. "Mr. Hunt is waiting. Twentieth floor."

His office door was open. Alexander Hunt stood at the window, tall and broad-shouldered in a black suit. He didn't turn around when I entered.

"You came." His voice was ice.

"Yes, Mr. Hunt."

"Sit."

I sat in the chair across from his massive desk. He finally turned, and I forgot how to breathe. Dark eyes, sharp jaw, face that belonged on magazine covers.

"My grandmother is dying," he said flatly. "She wants me married. You need money. I need a wife for appearance. This is a business transaction."

He slid a thick contract across the desk.

"Two years. You live in my penthouse. Attend events as my wife. In private, we're strangers. Separate bedrooms. No emotional attachment. When my grandmother dies or the contract ends, you get three million dollars and we divorce."

Three million. Vincent would disappear. Sophie would be safe.

"You'll sign an NDA. Tell no one about our arrangement. Don't embarrass the Hunt name." His eyes met mine, empty and cold. "Understand?"

"Yes."

"You move in this weekend. The wedding is Saturday. Small ceremony."

I stared at the contract. Page after page of legal terms that essentially said I was selling myself.

"One more thing." Alexander's voice dropped lower. "I have a girlfriend. Cassandra. She'll remain in my life. You don't question it. You don't interfere. Clear?"

The words punched the air from my lungs. A girlfriend. He'd keep seeing her while married to me.

Of course. Why would someone like him ever want someone like me?

"I understand," I whispered.

"Good. Sign."

I picked up the pen with trembling fingers and signed my name.

Lily Morgan.

Soon to be Lily Hunt. On paper only.

Alexander took the contract without looking at me. "Saturday. Courthouse. Two PM. Don't be late."

"Yes, Mr. Hunt."

"In public, call me Alexander. We need to look real." He turned back to his window, dismissing me. "That's all."

I stood, throat tight, eyes burning.

At the door, his voice stopped me.

"Miss Morgan."

I turned, foolish hope flickering.

His dark eyes were completely empty. "Don't expect anything beyond what's in that contract. I don't do love. I don't do feelings. You're a solution to a problem. Nothing more."

The hope died.

"I understand."

I left his office and heard him on the phone immediately.

"Cassandra? It's done. Dinner tonight at our usual place."

His assistant rushed over with a small box. "Mr. Hunt wanted you to have this. For Saturday."

Inside was a ring. Plain gold band. Simple. Like me.

I slipped it on as the elevator descended, this cold metal circle binding me to a man who would never see me.

My phone buzzed. Unknown number.

"Tick tock, Miss Morgan. Seventy-two hours. Don't disappoint me. Your sister has such delicate hands. -VS"

Vincent.

The elevator doors opened. A woman stepped in before I could exit. Tall, elegant, perfect. Expensive perfume surrounded her like armor.

She saw the ring on my finger. Her eyes widened, then her red lips curved into a smile that made my skin crawl.

"You must be the nobody Alexander bought for his grandmother." She extended a manicured hand. "I'm Cassandra Vale. His girlfriend."

I couldn't move. Couldn't speak.

She leaned closer, her smile sharpening. "Let me be very clear about how this works. Alexander is mine. He's always been mine. You're just temporary help. A paid servant playing dress-up. When his grandmother dies, you'll disappear like you never existed. But until then, stay out of my way and know your place."

The elevator reached the lobby. Cassandra walked away, heels clicking on marble.

I stood frozen as the doors started to close.

A hand caught them. A man in a suit stepped in. Kind eyes, gentle smile.

"You okay?" he asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine."

He glanced at my ring. His expression shifted to something like pity. "You're Alexander's fiancée. I'm David Chen. His CFO." He sighed. "Listen, I don't know your situation, but Alexander Hunt is not an easy man. Whatever you're getting into, just... be careful."

"Why are you warning me?" I whispered.

David's expression turned sad. "Because someone should. If you ever need help, my number's in the company directory. I mean it."

I walked outside into the cold air, my future sold, my heart already breaking.

I pulled out my phone to call Sophie, to hear her voice, to remember why I was doing this.

Before I could dial, it rang. Vincent Shaw's voice slithered through the speaker. "I heard you had a very important meeting today, Miss Morgan. I hope you made the right choice. Because I'm looking at your sister right now through her apartment window."

"I signed the contract!" My voice cracked. "I'm getting the money. Just leave her alone!"

"Three days, Miss Morgan. The clock started this morning at eight AM." The line went dead.

My phone buzzed. Text from an unknown number.

"Penthouse address and security codes attached. Move in Friday evening. Your old life ends in four days. -Alexander Hunt"

I looked up at the glass tower above me, at the penthouse that would become my prison.

My phone rang. Sophie.

"Lily? Are you okay? Is everything alright with the job interview?"

I closed my eyes. Sweet Sophie. She had no idea I'd just sold myself to save her.

"Everything's fine, sweetheart. I got the job. We're going to be okay now."

"Really? Oh Lily, that's amazing!"

Her joy killed me.

"Yeah. Something good." I swallowed the sob trying to escape. "I love you."

"Love you too!"

I hung up and let one tear fall. Just one. Then I wiped it away.

No more crying. I made my choice.

In four days, I would marry a man who hated me, live with him and his girlfriend, and pretend to be happy.

But Sophie would be safe.

That was enough. It had to be enough.