MARRY ME

LOLA'S POV

I know something is wrong the moment I wake up.

Ethan isn't in bed, which isn't unusual. But there's something different in the air today. A tension I can feel even before I open my eyes fully.

I get up slowly, my body still aching from the beating two days ago. The bruises on my ribs and stomach have bloomed into ugly purple and yellow marks. At least they're hidden under my clothes.

Just like Ethan planned.

I get dressed carefully, choosing a long-sleeved shirt and pants that cover everything. Go downstairs to start breakfast.

Ethan is already in the kitchen, which is strange. He never gets up this early. He's sitting at the table with his coffee, scrolling through his phone, and there's a smile on his face.

That smile makes my stomach drop.

He's happy. Ethan is never happy unless something bad is happening.

"Good morning," I say quietly, moving toward the stove.

"Morning." His voice is almost cheerful. "Sleep well?" I don't know how to answer that. It feels like a trap.

"Yes. Do you want your usual breakfast?"

"Sure. Why not?" He takes a sip of his coffee, still smiling. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

Beautiful day. Ethan has never commented on the weather in four years of marriage.

Something is very wrong.

I make his breakfast with shaking hands. Set his plate in front of him carefully.

"Thank you." He actually thanks me. Looks up at me with that smile. "You know what, Lola? I'm in such a good mood today."

"That's... that's good."

"It really is." He cuts into his eggs. "I made a decision yesterday. A big one. Life-changing, really."

My heart starts pounding. "What kind of decision?"

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough." He takes a bite, chewing slowly. "Let's just say things are going to be very different around here. Very different for you especially."

I stand by the counter, trying not to show how terrified I am.

Ethan finishes his breakfast, still in that disturbingly good mood. Gets up, pats me on the head like I'm a dog, and walks away whistling.

Whistling.

I've never heard him whistle in my life.

The rest of the morning crawls by in agonizing tension. Ethan keeps smiling. Keeps humming. Keeps looking at me with this satisfied expression, like a cat that caught a mouse.

I clean the house even though it's already spotless. Anything to keep my hands busy.

By noon, I'm so tense I feel like I might shatter.

"You know what I love about today?" Ethan says from the doorway.

I don't answer.

"I love watching you clean and cook, knowing that soon, very soon, you won't be my problem anymore."

My hands still. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, you'll see. Patience, Lola."

He walks away laughing.

I won't be his problem anymore.

What does that mean?

The doorbell rings at two o'clock.

"Get that, would you?" Ethan calls, and there's a laugh in his voice.

My legs feel like lead as I walk to the door. Every instinct screaming that something terrible is about to happen.

I open the door and Ocean Moretti is standing there. He's wearing a dark suit, his expression grim. Two large men stand behind him. And his eyes, those storm-gray eyes, are filled with anger and something else.

"Mr. Moretti." My voice barely works. "I... I...we weren't expecting you."

"I need to speak with you and Ethan. Both of you. Now."

"Of course. Please come in." We move to the living room. Ocean looks at me.

"Sit down, Lola. This concerns you."

I sink onto the couch, gripping my hands together.

Ocean stands in the center of the room, fury radiating from him.

"I'm going to ask you a question, and Ethan you better answer me truthfully. Did you file for divorce yesterday?"

The world stops.

Everything inside me goes cold.

Divorce?

No.

I look at Ethan, desperately hoping I misheard.

But Ethan's smile widens.

"Yes," he says. "I did."

The room tilts. I can't breathe.

"You..." I can barely form words. "You divorced me?"

"Filed the papers yesterday morning. It's official."

I can't process this. I can't understand.

"Do you understand what that means, Lola?" Ocean's voice cuts through my panic. "In our world, do you know what happens to divorced women?"

I nod, jerky and disconnected.

"The collection crew," I whisper. "They come within seventy-two hours."

"That's right."

The collection crew. Men who make divorced women disappear. Dead or worse.

"You have about sixty hours left," Ethan says cheerfully.

Sixty hours.

Two and a half days.

That's all I have left to live.

Black spots dance at the edges of my vision.

"Why?" I'm crying now. "Why...why would you do this?" Why would you do this to me? What did I do to you?

"Because you embarrassed me." Ethan leans forward. "And now you get to pay for it."

"You're having me killed."

"I'm following the rules."

Ocean moves suddenly, fists clenched. But he forces himself under control.

Then he turns to me.

"Lola. Look at me."

I drag my eyes up to his face.

"There's a way out. One way. But you need to hear it from me."

"What?" My voice is barely audible.

"The only loophole is if another man claims you first. If someone marries you before the seventy-two hours are up, you're protected."

I stare at him, trying to understand. "But... no one would marry me."

"That's why I spent the last twenty-four hours trying to find someone. I contacted forty-three men. Offered money, favors, protection." His jaw tightens. "Not one would agree."

The words hit like physical blows. Not one.

"They're all afraid of me," Ethan says smugly.

"So there's no way out." My voice is hollow. "I'm going to die."

"I didn't say that."

Ocean takes a step closer. Closer still.

And then he kneels down. Gets on one knee in front of me.

"There's one man who will marry you. One man who isn't afraid of Ethan's retaliation. One man who has the power to protect you."

I'm staring at him, my mind struggling to comprehend.

"Lola." His voice is soft. "Will you marry me?"

The world stops.

Everything stops.

I can't breathe. Can't think.

Marry him?

Marry Ocean Moretti?

"What?" The word comes out choked.

"WHAT?!" Ethan explodes. "You can't be fucking serious!"

Ocean doesn't look at him. His eyes stay on mine.

"I know this isn't ideal. I know I'm not what you would choose. I'm too old, I'm your ex-father-in-law." He pauses. "I'm offering you survival. A way to live past the next sixty hours. I will never hurt you. This marriage will be for protection only. You'll be safe."

Marry Ocean Moretti or die.

Those are my choices.

"This is fucking insane!" Ethan is pacing. "You can't marry my ex-wife!"

"She's only your ex-wife because you threw her away." Ocean's voice turns to ice. "You filed for divorce to have her killed. So yes, I'm going to marry her."

He looks back at me. His expression softens.

"I need an answer, Lola. We're running out of time. Will you marry me?"

Marry him.

Become Ocean Moretti's wife.

But at least I'll be alive.

"I..." My voice shakes violently. Tears stream down my face. "I don't... I can't..."

"I know this is terrifying. But in sixty hours, the collection crew will come. This is the only other option."

He's right.

But the enormity of what he's asking...

I look into his eyes and see something I never saw in Ethan's. Sincerity. Compassion.

He's offering me life.

"Yes." The word comes out broken. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Ocean's eyes close briefly. Relief crosses his face.

"Okay. Pack a bag. You're coming with me right now."

"NO!" Ethan lunges forward, but security blocks him. "You can't take her!"

"She doesn't belong to you anymore." Ocean's voice could cut glass.

He turns back to me.

"Go pack, Lola. Now."

I force my legs to move. Stand. Walk toward the stairs.

This is really happening.

I'm really going to marry Ocean Moretti.

Behind me, Ethan is screaming. But Ocean's voice remains calm.

"She's under my protection now. If you touch her, I'll destroy you. Son or not."

I'm halfway up the stairs when reality hits.

I just agreed to marry Ocean Moretti.

Oh god.

What have I done?