Chapter 3

River’s POV

As soon as I moved back and opened my mouth to scream for help, his hand shot forward again and covered it tightly, silencing me before any sound could leave my lips. 

“I swear I’m not here to hurt you.” He said.

I struggled hard, hitting and twisting my body, trying to get free, but his grip was too strong. He was much bigger than me, and even though I fought with everything I had, it felt like trying to fight a wall. 

My chest burned from the effort, and my heart was beating so fast it felt like it would break out of my body. I should have trusted my gut. Something about him had felt off from the beginning. 

And now here he was, in my home, in the middle of the night, holding me like this. His eyes were too calm for someone who just broke into a woman’s house.

“Be silent, River,” he whispered into my ear, his voice low but firm. “I’ll only let you go if you don’t shout.” I nodded slowly, fear tightening around my throat like a rope.

He waited for a moment, then finally let me go. I stepped back quickly, coughing as I tried to catch my breath. The way he’d held me had made it hard to breathe, and my chest ached with every breath I pulled in.

“What are you doing here?” I said, my voice hoarse. “We need to leave now, River. I think someone is after your life,” he said, his words barely louder than a whisper.

I stared at him in disbelief. “Why should I believe you?” I asked, my voice sharp with anger and fear.

“You broke into my house. How do you even know where I live? Did you follow me?” He looked frustrated but tried to stay calm.

“I’ll explain everything later. There’s no time right now.”

“Well, I’m not going anywhere with you,” I snapped. My whole body was shaking, not just from fear but from how wrong all of this felt. He was saying all the right words, but everything he was doing screamed danger.

“What if you are the one behind it all?” I said, taking another step back. He opened his mouth, but he stuttered, “Me… why would I…?” His voice trailed off, and for a second, something like guilt flashed across his face.

But then he stepped forward again and said, “Please, just trust me. We need to go now.” Before I could respond, the sound of glass shattering exploded through the house.

I froze in place, my heart leaping to my throat. It came from the living room. Someone had broken in. “What’s happening?” I asked, my voice trembling, the panic fully sinking into my bones now.

Killian’s eyes widened, and this time there was no calm in them. Only urgency. “They’re here,” he said. “We need to leave now, River. Now.” He didn’t wait for me to respond.

He ran past me into the room and reached for my baby, wrapping her in a blanket and holding her carefully. Immediately I entered, I locked the room door.

I hesitated only for a second, then grabbed the bag I had packed earlier, my hands fumbling with the straps as the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. I followed Killian to the bedroom window.

He pushed it open and helped me climb out first. I could barely breathe, my hands shaking so badly I almost dropped the bag. He handed the baby to me once he was out too, and without looking back, we ran into the streets to his car.

I didn’t know who was chasing us. I didn’t even know if I could trust the man beside me. I just knew one thing for sure—someone wanted me dead. Killian drove so fast I could barely think straight. 

And then all of a sudden he noticed the men were already following us. The tyres screeched as he turned from one street to another, trying to lose the car chasing us.

I sat in the back seat, holding my baby so tight against my chest that I was afraid I might wake her, but somehow, she stayed asleep through it all. My thoughts were all over the place.

Who were those men? What did they want from me? And why was this stranger—this man I barely knew—risking so much to help me? 

We kept driving, and the city lights slowly faded behind us until all I could see were trees and darkness. After what felt like forever, Killian looked into the rearview mirror, then finally let out a long breath.

“Finally,” he muttered like he’d been holding it in for miles. I looked behind us too. The road was empty. No headlights, no sign of the car that had been chasing us. He didn’t say much after that.

We drove a little farther, then turned off onto a dirt path deep in the woods. A small cabin came into view, hidden between tall trees. It looked like something from an old movie—quiet, far from everything. It felt like a hideout.

Killian got out of the car and opened my door. I stepped out slowly, my legs still weak, and followed him inside. The place was simple, dusty, and cold, but it was safe—or at least I hoped it was.

I sat down on the sofa while he locked the door behind us. My baby was still asleep in my arms, peaceful in a way that made me wish I could be too. I didn’t even know what to say to Killian.

He had saved me again. And all I had done was accuse him, doubt him, and push him away. I felt so guilty. But why was he helping me? How did he know I was in danger?

I opened my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it. “Oh—you go first,” he said, noticing I was about to talk. “No, you go,” I replied, too tired to argue.

“We’ll be leaving for New York first thing in the morning,” he said, like it was already decided.

“We?” I asked, confused. “Why us?”

“You were already planning to leave, right?” he said. “Well, I’ve booked a flight for both of us. I’m the only one who can keep you safe right now.” I stared at him, not even bothering to hide my confusion. 

“I don’t understand anything you’ve been saying. Who are you, really? And why are you helping me?”

“You really want to know?” He asked, with this strange look in his eyes, almost like he was mocking me.

“Yes,” I said and nodded. “I want to know.” He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.

“Well, like, you know, I’m Killian. But what you don’t know is my full name—killian Kane. I’m the first son of the Kane’s family, the real heir to the Chitox company. I’m also Rowan’s elder brother.”

My whole body went still.

I froze, unable to even blink. Rowan? No. That couldn’t be true. I dated Rowan for years. I knew everything about him—or I thought I did. He never once mentioned a brother.

Not even by accident. Had he been hiding him from me this whole time? But before I could ask, Killian continued. “I know you’re wondering why I’m helping you. So I’ll tell you.” 

“I used to be a drug addict. My father locked me away in rehab for years, said I was a disgrace and made sure I couldn’t come back. That’s how Rowan took everything. But he’s not clean either.”

“I’ve been gathering proof for years. He’s been running illegal businesses behind the company’s name. And now I have one shot to expose him and take back what’s mine. But I need a wife to do that. That’s where you come in.”

“A wife?” I said, shocked. “There’s no way I’m marrying my ex’s brother.” He held his hands up, like he expected me to say that. 

“Calm down. I’m not asking for love. My father’s will states that I have to settle down and have a family before I can take over. So I’m offering a contract marriage. Two years.”

“I will protect you and your baby. I will help you get revenge. When it’s over, we go our separate ways.”

“Why me?” I know he could get any woman he wanted. “You know everything about Rowan and the company, and you’re already tied to him in the media. If we do this, we both win.” He replied.

“And who sent those men?” I asked, even though deep down, I already knew the answer.

“Rowan”, he said. Just that one word. And suddenly, it was too much. The tears came fast. I didn’t try to stop them. I had trusted Rowan. I gave him everything.

And now… now he wanted me dead. Because I knew too much. “I know about the prison,” Killian said gently. “I know he set you up. I know what he did. But this is your chance to fight back.”

I wiped my face with my sleeve, trying to steady my breath. “Can I think about it? I’m really exhausted.”

He nodded. “Fine. But we don’t have much time.”

Then he led me down a short hallway and showed me a small room with a bed. I walked in and sat down, too tired to even undress. I heard him go back to the living room and shut the door behind him.

I placed my baby on the bed and lay beside her, finally letting my body rest. Sleep took me fast—I didn’t even have the strength to think, because deep down, I already knew what I wanted.

When I woke, the cabin was quiet. I stepped into the living room and saw Killian sitting there, like he hadn’t moved all night.

“Good morning, River,” he said.

“Good morning,” I replied, my voice calm. And then I looked him straight in the eye. “When are we getting married?”

He smiled. “When we get to New York”,

“Then let’s go. I’m ready to burn it all down.”