Prologue

"No! I'm not going to marry her, " Tyler uttered his refusal in a contained tone, suppressing his annoyance to seep through his voice. 

His jaw was set, lips were pursed and his hazel eyes were steely yet he looked incredibly gorgeous.

He's absolutely a gorgeous man, a head turner everywhere he goes. 

"Yes, you will," his cousin grinning as he replied to him, walking around him while standing straight. 

"You're kidding me," despite the urge to yell, he controlled himself. 

Deep within, he wanted to wipe that sickening grin out of his cousin's face but he couldn't. 

How could he do that to his superior? To General Max Hudson, the revered military general. 

"I'm serious!" The grin on Max's face was no more, he stopped from annoying him. "By marrying her, we are killing two birds with one stone," he patted Tyler's shoulder. 

"We can find other ways to accomplish our mission," Tyler  straightened up his military uniform.  

"Think about this as your service to the nation," Max knew his weakness, Tyler is patriotic and would do anything for his country. 

He loved his country so much that he joined the military despite his father's objection. 

"We must identify the mole among our ranks so we could totally quell the rebellion, we can't let them overthrow the government," Max said clenching his fists. 

In order for them to do the mission they need her. However there were traitors within the military and her life would be in danger. 

If the traitors come to know who was helping them and succeeded in eradicating her, it would be impossible to do a cleaning within the military. 

And that would be hard for them to put an end to the rebellion that was threatening to topple down the government. 

By marrying her, no one will think that she was the one who was helping them. 

"But Sofia will come back from the States, she only signed a one year contract and after her contract she'll quit ballet and we'll get married," Tyler was between a rock and a hard place. 

He loved his country and made a promise that he would protect it at whatever cost. On the other hand, he made a promise to Sofia since they were young to marry her one day. 

"Your marriage will only be on paper. You can divorce her when we've accomplished our  mission. Moreover, think about your inheritance." 

Tyler has to meet the conditions that were set by his father before he could have his inheritance. 

He has to marry; he can marry anyone but Sofia. His father's aversion to Sofia baffled him. He maintained his stance against Sophia even on his deathbed. 

Furthermore, he has to marry before or on his 30th birthday. And if he fails to marry by that time, his inheritance will go to his young and sickly half brother and that'll be squandered by his step mom. 

All the things his father put up with his sweat and blood will be reduced to nothing.

He had only 36 hours left to meet his father's conditions. 

Tyler paced back and forth while Max watched him calmly. "Is she beautiful?" 

Tyler hadn't met her yet as it was Max who was her direct contact. 

Max smirked. "Why do you think I'm confident that you'll divorce her after we've accomplished the mission and won't fall for her." 

He came to a stand still and looked at Max. "So she's an ugly duckling." 

Max pinched his nose bridge looking intently at his cousin. "Yes." 

He wouldn't be worried about breaking his promise to Sophia.

"Okay, I'll marry her," for his country's sake and inheritance he's going to marry her. 

Once again, Tyler saluted and left Max's office.