The Devil's Deal

Chapter 3

Ivy

Several pictures of the man and I, fast asleep, in what looked like a compromising position, were splashed all over the screen.

My jaw dropped in disbelief.

They looked terrifyingly real… and now, they were everywhere on social media.

My face turned pale as I stared at the images, barely able to contain the shock. But what left me even more stunned was how calm the man appeared, completely unbothered by the headlines or the scandalous photos.

My cheeks flushed with rage and disbelief as I snapped my gaze towards him.

“Seriously? You're just going to sit there and pretend like none of this is happening?”

He sat up slowly, still half-lost in whatever he was doing on his phone.

“You really need to take a chill pill,” he said coolly, finally lifting his gaze to meet mine. “It’s nothing to worry about. Trust me.”

My eyes widened in disbelief, as if I had just been struck hard across the face.

Nothing to worry about?

Was he being serious right now?

He seriously thought all of this was just some silly joke he could brush aside?

God, how did I let myself get dragged into this mess? I should have seen it coming… the long stares at the restaurant, the murmurs, the sudden interest… all because a rich, charming stranger had walked up to me. 

And now, I was the center of attention for something I knew absolutely nothing about. Meanwhile, the man who should have been just as disturbed was acting like I was just being dramatic.

I couldn’t afford to stay here any longer.

Soon, the press would arrive with cameras and a thousand questions… and I couldn't afford to be part of that drama. I'd had enough for the day already.

“I’m leaving,” I said quietly, changing into my dress, which was now wrinkled and soaked with the scent of panic and regret. I turned back to him with a forced smile, one that barely covered the hurt behind my eyes. “Thank you for the hospitality. It was… nice meeting you.”

“You’re leaving?” His calm, somewhat surprised voice echoed behind me.

I turned sharply, locking my gaze on him. “Yes, I’m leaving, Mr. Hawthorne. Do you have a problem with that?” My voice was sharp, colder than I intended, but I didn’t care at this point. I had more important things to worry about than being polite.

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He just stared at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. But I didn’t wait for a response either.

I made my way to the door without sparing him a second glance.

I had just wrapped my hand around the knob, already twisting it open, when his voice stopped me.

“You’re really going to walk away just like that? Even when I can help rescue your mother from that devil?”

The air felt like it had been knocked out of my lungs. I turned slowly, staring him dead in the eye to be sure I'd heard him right.

He was on his feet now.

“Yes, Ivy,” he said with a slow nod, his lips curling into a faint smile as he strode towards me. “I overheard everything. Your phone call… the cold threats.”

A wave of embarrassment rushed over me, and I lowered my head to the floor, unable to meet his gaze. He knew all along. The secret I had tried so hard to protect was now out in the open.

“Hey,” he said gently, stopping just in front of me. He reached out and took my hand, his tone soft but steady. “You don’t need to feel ashamed. I’m not here to judge or use your family’s pain against you. I’m here to help you.”

I sniffled and slowly lifted my eyes to meet his. His words echoed relentlessly in my head. They were hard to believe, but something in his gaze told me he meant them.

“Help me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, Ivy,” he repeated, firmer this time. “But I need something from you in return.”

My brows knitted in suspense, and I held my breath, bracing myself for what he was about to say.

He let go of my hand and slid his hands into his pockets, his expression unreadable. “I can change your life completely. I can get your mother out of that bondage within minutes, with just a snap of my fingers. But I need you to do one thing.”

I swallowed hard, the words burning down my throat like poison. But before I could even process it, he delivered the final blow.

“Marry me.”

I blinked, my lips parted in shock as the words sank in my head. My ears still rang with disbelief when he added something even more unbelievable.

“It’s just going to be a marriage on paper.” He whispered, circling me slowly. “You’ll have all the money you could ever need, and I in turn will finally get my family off my neck. Fair deal, I guess.”

He leaned in closer, his fingers brushing against my jaw, tilting my face up until we were just inches apart. His voice dropped to a low, quiet warning.

“But listen closely, Ivy,” he murmured, his warm breath fanning my skin. “For as long as this arrangement lasts, there will be no strings attached. This is strictly a marriage on paper... nothing more."

Then, without saying another word, he pulled open the drawer behind him, and retrieved a stack of papers, placing them gently in front of me.

“Here is the contract,” he said quietly, his eyes locking with mine. “The ball is now in your court.”