Chapter 3

A guttural scream of absolute fury ripped through the stone alcove the moment the silver pen lifted from the heavy parchment. Desmond realized his perfect inheritance trap had just shattered into a million broken pieces because of a single signature. He lunged forward with blind rage distorting his handsome features into something monstrous and unrecognizable.

Gideon did not even flinch as he snapped his fingers to summon the towering men waiting in the shadows. Two security operatives materialized and grabbed Desmond by his tailored shoulders with incredible physical force. They pinned the thrashing billionaire against the marble pillar while ignoring his venomous threats of total ruin.

"You think a piece of paper is going to stop me from taking my son Gideon!" Desmond roared while struggling against the immense restraint. "I am going to bury both of you in litigation until she begs me to take the child away from her pathetic life. You cannot buy your way out of the supreme court."

Colm retrieved the signed marriage contract with measured movements and slid it into his leather briefcase with a satisfying snap of the brass locks. He offered Desmond a polite nod that carried more lethal insult than a physical blow ever could. Gideon stepped closer to his captive rival and let a terrifying wave of dominance wash over the space.

"You lost the war before you even realized the battle had started Desmond," Gideon stated with a voice devoid of all human warmth. "If you ever approach my wife or my child again I will dismantle your holding company and leave you with nothing." He turned his back on the struggling man and focused all his attention on the woman trembling beside him.

Maren watched the security team drag her former tormentor toward the side exit while a profound sense of shock paralyzed her limbs. She had spent months suffocating under the weight of his power and now he was being discarded like common trash. Gideon stepped into her line of sight and anchored her spinning mind with his intense slate gray stare.

"Go to the court nursery and gather the boy right now Maren," Gideon commanded with an authority that left zero room for hesitation. "We are leaving this building before his lawyers file an emergency injunction to lock the state borders. You belong to my family now and we do not wait for permission to act."

Maren nodded in silence and sprinted down the corridor toward the designated room where her infant nephew slept in his carrier. She scooped the small bundle into her arms and inhaled the sweet scent of baby powder to ground her frantic nerves. Tears of overwhelming relief blurred her vision because they were escaping the clutches of a true monster.

She rushed back to the main lobby where Gideon and Colm stood waiting like impenetrable fortresses of power. Gideon noticed the way her hands shook as she clutched the baby carrier against her chest in a protective embrace. He closed the distance between them and offered a rare look of reassurance that sent an unexpected jolt through her core.

"They caught wind of the altercation and the press is swarming the front steps waiting for blood," Gideon warned while gesturing toward the glass doors. "Keep your head down and let me absorb the chaos because they will try to provoke a reaction from you. Do not let go of me under any circumstances."

Maren braced herself as the heavy brass doors pushed open and a blinding wall of camera flashes erupted in their faces. A deafening roar of shouted questions hit them like a physical wave as dozens of reporters shoved their microphones forward. Gideon reacted on pure instinct and wrapped a heavy protective arm tight around her waist to pull her flush against his side.

The sheer heat radiating from his massive frame shocked her system and made her breath catch in her throat. He carved a brutal path through the chaotic crowd using his body as a human shield to protect her and the sleeping infant. Maren leaned into his solid chest and felt a bizarre sense of complete safety amidst the terrifying media frenzy.

They reached the curb where a massive armored black vehicle waited with the back door held open by another imposing guard. Gideon ushered her inside the opulent cabin before sliding in beside her and slamming the heavy door shut. The chaotic noise of the world outside vanished at once leaving them cloaked in a thick and heavy silence.

Maren leaned back against the plush leather seat and tried to steady her erratic heartbeat while the engine roared to life. She looked over at the towering billionaire who had just altered the entire trajectory of her existence with a single signature. He was typing on a secure tablet with a ruthless focus that made her stomach twist in knots.

"We survived the ambush but the real trial begins the minute this vehicle parks," Gideon announced without looking up from his glowing screen. "My grandfather's estate executors are sitting in my penthouse living room right now waiting to evaluate the authenticity of this union. You need to act like you are madly in love with me the second those elevator doors open or we lose everything."

Maren felt the blood drain from her face as she looked down at her threadbare sweater and worn canvas shoes. She had zero experience dealing with corporate titans and even less experience faking a grand passionate romance. The vehicle sped toward the glittering skyline carrying her straight into a brand new gilded nightmare.