CHAPTER 1 — THE BILLIONAIRE'S PROPOSAL

Arabella's POV

“Pakakasalan mo ako.”

Napatigil ako sa pag-inom ng tubig.

For a moment, akala ko nagbibiro lang ang lalaking nakaupo sa harap ko. I mean, sino ba namang matinong lalaki ang basta na lang mag-aalok ng kasal sa isang babaeng ngayon lang niya nakilala?

Pero nang tingnan ko ang mukha niya, nawala ang lahat ng posibilidad na iyon.

Damien Kingsley.

The billionaire heir. Ang lalaking kinatatakutan ng mga negosyante, ang pangalang laman ng mga business magazine, at ang lalaking kayang bumili ng isang buong kumpanya nang hindi man lang kumukurap.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, his dark hair neatly styled, and his expression as cold as ice. His sharp eyes were fixed on me as if I were nothing more than a business transaction.

“Excuse me?” I asked, blinking several times.

He leaned back against his chair. “You heard me.”

“Pakakasalan kita?” ulit ko, halos hindi makapaniwala. “Are you out of your mind?”

His jaw tightened.

“Careful, Miss Sinclair. Hindi ako sanay na kinukuwestiyon.”

“Then you should get used to it.” I placed my glass on the table. “Hindi ako basta-bastang pumapayag sa kasal dahil lang sinabi mo.”

For the first time, a faint expression crossed his face. Hindi ko alam kung amusement ba iyon o pagkainis.

Probably the latter.

He slid a black folder toward me.

“Read it.”

Tiningnan ko ang folder bago siya muling sinulyapan.

“What's this?”

“Marriage contract.”

Napatawa ako nang walang gana.

“You're serious?”

“Very.”

Binuksan ko ang folder, umaasang may makikita akong magpapatunay na isa lamang itong napakamahal na prank.

But there was no joke.

Nandoon ang pangalan niya. Ang pangalan ko. Ang mga kondisyon ng kasal. At ang halagang nakasulat sa huling pahina na halos nagpahinto sa tibok ng puso ko.

Fifty million pesos.

“What's this money for?” tanong ko.

“Your family's debts.”

Biglang nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko.

“How do you know about that?”

“I know everything I need to know about people I do business with.”

People.

Hindi wife. Hindi partner.

People.

Parang isa lang akong bagay na maaari niyang bilhin.

Tumayo ako at mahigpit na hinawakan ang folder.

“I'm not for sale, Mr. Kingsley.”

“Sit down.”

“No.”

His eyes darkened.

“Your father's company is three weeks away from bankruptcy. Your family home is being used as collateral. And from what I've heard, your mother has been trying to borrow money from everyone she knows.”

Nanlamig ang mga kamay ko.

How dare he?

“You investigated my family?”

“I investigate everything that concerns me.”

“Wala kang karapatang pakialaman ang buhay namin!”

“Then decline my offer.”

Napatahimik ako.

He said it so casually, as if he hadn't just thrown my family's entire future into the conversation.

“Decline it,” he repeated, standing up to his full height. “Walk away, and pretend you never met me. But don't come crying to me when your family loses everything.”

I hated him.

I hated the way he spoke as if money gave him the right to control everyone. I hated his arrogant expression. Most of all, I hated that a small part of me was terrified because I knew he wasn't bluffing.

My father had made a terrible investment months ago. At first, he promised that everything would be fine. Then the calls from creditors started coming. My mother began selling her jewelry, and I took extra shifts at work just to help pay our expenses.

We were drowning.

And Damien Kingsley had just offered me a lifeline wrapped in chains.

“Why me?” I whispered.

For a second, he didn't answer.

Then his gaze met mine.

“Because I need a wife.”

“I'm sure there are thousands of women who would gladly marry you.”

“Unfortunately, I don't want any of them.”

“Then why would you want someone like me?”

His expression changed.

Just slightly.

“Because you're desperate enough to accept.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to look away before he could see how deeply he'd hurt me.

“What's the catch?”

“One year of marriage. You will live in my house, attend business functions with me, and play the role of a loving wife in public.”

“And in private?”

“In private, you stay out of my business.”

I turned another page.

“No divorce before the contract expires?”

“Correct.”

“No seeing other women?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Are you planning to get jealous, Miss Sinclair?”

“I'm planning to make sure I don't end up in a scandal because my husband can't keep his pants on.”

For the first time, he actually looked surprised.

Then he gave a cold, humorless smile.

“You have quite a mouth.”

“And you have quite an attitude.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” I stared directly into his eyes. “Why do you look at me as if you already hate me?”

The room suddenly felt colder.

For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered across his face.

Then it disappeared.

“Don't flatter yourself, Arabella. You're not important enough for me to hate.”

I should have slapped him.

Instead, I gripped the folder tighter and fought the tears threatening to fall.

“Fine.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“Fine?”

“I'll marry you.”

I hated the words as soon as they left my mouth.

But my family needed me.

And if marrying this arrogant billionaire was the only way to save them, then I'd endure it.

Even if it meant sacrificing my own happiness.

Damien reached into his jacket and placed a pen on the table.

“Sign.”

I stared at the document.

My name was already printed beside his.

One signature, and my life would never be the same again.

I picked up the pen.

“Just so we're clear, Mr. Kingsley, this marriage means nothing to me either.”

He leaned closer, his dark eyes fixed on mine.

“Good. Because I don't intend to fall in love with you.”

I signed the contract.

And just like that, I sold one year of my freedom to a man who couldn't even pretend to like me.

Or so I thought.

Because as I stood to leave, Damien caught my wrist.

His touch was firm, but not painful.

“There's one more condition.”

I looked down at his hand before meeting his gaze.

“What now?”

His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

“Never fall in love with me, Arabella.”

I pulled my hand away.

“Don't worry. You're the last man on earth I'd ever fall for.”

I walked out without looking back.

I didn't see the way his expression darkened as he watched me leave.

I didn't hear the quiet words he muttered under his breath.

“Let's hope you keep that promise.”

Because there was one thing Damien Kingsley hadn't told me.

He hadn't chosen me by accident.

And the reason he wanted me to become his wife was a secret that could destroy us both.

End of Chapter 1.