CHAPTER THREE: THE PROPOSITION

(ELENA’S POV)

For a split second, I forgot how to breathe. The rooftop light blurred behind him, the wind caught in my hair and his words kept echoing in my head like a glitch in time.

“Marry me, Elena, be the mother to my child and your father will be saved.”

I laughed—not because it was funny but because I didn’t know how else to respond. “That’s...crazy. The most unbelievable thing I have heard all day. Did you hit your head on the railing or something?” I asked, as my voice came out louder than I had expected.

“I’m perfectly sane, and yet...”Alaric said leaning lazily against the railing. “You didn’t say no.” “This isn’t a joke.” I breathed.

“Oh, and I’m not laughing.” He said as he took a step closer, his hands still in his pocket, his expression maddeningly casual. “But I’m a practical man. I need an heir. You need money. It’s a Win-win.”

I folded my hands and shook my head. “I’m still processing the fact that a total stranger wants to put a baby inside of me.”

“A total stranger? That’s harsh.” He said with a visible mock offense. “We’ve met before. We have exchanged vows. You even wore a wedding dress.”

I glared. “ That was a photo shoot!”

“Still counts.” He said with a smirk. That infuriating one that made me want to throw something at him.

“You’ve totally lost it. You’re asking me to marry you—have your child, and what?—pretend to be in love?”

“Not pretend.” He said smoothly. “After a day with me, you wouldn't have to pretend.” I scoffed. “And this is business to you?”

He didn’t respond immediately, he just stepped closer, his voice dipping low. “Everything is business if you look at it the right way.”

My pulse skipped. Damn him. “Why do we even need an heir?”

He smiled faintly, his eyes glittering under the moonlight. “Control. My uncle wants to hand over the company to his son Xavier. And according to my grandfather’s will, the CEO must be married with an heir of their own. So, you help me win. I help you save your father.”

I blinked. “So it’s about the company. How can you be so irresponsible and uncaring as to bring a child into this world just because you want to gain control over the company? It's not just a puppy you found on the street. You know?

He didn't respond immediately he let my words wash away like an echo. Like it meant nothing to him.

“Power and survival.” He said as he gave out a smirk. “You and I have something in common, we both need something, mine happens to be the company and yours —“ his gaze softened. “—is your father lying in a hospital bed waiting for a miracle.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “You’re so good at manipulation you know? And also good at twisting

He grinned. “Charm is an underrated negotiation tool.”

“Bribery you mean?” I asked.

“Temptation.” He corrected.

God, he was so impossible, and yet he’s not entirely wrong. I did need help and $150,000 wasn’t lying around anywhere waiting for me.

But to marry him—a man like him and to carry his child, that he’s unwilling to care for...that he wants to use as a puppet to get to control the company —that thought alone makes my stomach twist in tight knots.

“I can’t,” I whispered.”I can’t just get pregnant and for someone who sees the child as nothing. That’s not me.”

For the first time, he didn’t push he looked almost...patient. “ I understand you perfectly. You’re the type of woman who likes control, structure, plans that make sense. And that’s what I’m offering.”l

“You’re offering me a chaotic life,” I said as my gaze met his.

“I’m offering freedom,” he countered. “Money, power, security—everything that Xavier thought you couldn’t become. You’ll stand beside the most influential man in the country. And Xavier will have to bow when he sees you. You want to get back at him? That’s how to get it.”

I stared at him motionless. Words caught in my throat.

He smiled softly, his voice dipping to a whisper. “Picture it, Elena, walking with me into the boardroom as my wife, Xavier’s expression will be priceless.

I can’t lie, his offer is tempting—so damn tempting. I quickly pictured the scenery: Xavier his jaw tight that perfect composure of his a bit crackly.”

I should have considered myself crazy for considering. But then Alaric said, “Your father’s surgery will be done by the best surgeon in the country no more waiting for a deposit, and no more sleepless nights for you. You could walk into that hospital and tell the doctors to commence the surgery tomorrow morning.”

My chest tightened painfully.

He stepped closer this time, a breath away. “You could sleep again. Smile again. And maybe—just maybe you could look at the world as a stepping stone.

I looked away I couldn’t let him see the tears stinging my eyes. “This isn’t right, I can’t trade my womb for money or pity.”

“Who said anything about pity?” He murmured. His voice is like velvet. “This is a contract with equal right, you get what you want, I get mine, no strings —we’ll accept the obvious ones.”

I shoot him a look. “You think this is funny?”

He chuckled softly, boyish and completely unbothered. “ A bit”

“You’re impossible.”I sprayed out.

”And yet,” he said moving closer until his breath fanned against my cheeks. “You’re still listening.” My heart looped. Damn him. Damn that voice. That's quiet. That confidence wrapped around every

“I have no idea what you think this is...” I said stepping back a little. “But, I’m not desperate...”

“You’re...you just don’t want to admit it.”

I froze.

Alaric’s gaze softened, and he smiled faintly, almost kindly. “Desperation isn’t weakness, Elena, it’s fuel. You just have to use it right.”

He was dangerous. Not in a violent way—but in that disarming intoxicating way that made reason crumble.

I turned away, staring at the glittering skyline. “You really think I’d say yes?”

“I think you will ponder all night about it. Picturing Xavier’s face when he sees you with me. Picturing your father getting the surgery and by morning you will realize that you have already decided.”

I hated how right that sounded.

“You’re awfully sure of yourself,”

“Confidence looked good on me. He fired back as he smiled.

I groaned. “You’re just unbelievable.”

”And yet irresistible.” He teased just like he has been doing since. “You should go, this conversation — “It isn't over yet.” He interrupted. “Not until you say yes.”

“Then, you’ll be wasting a long time.” I breathed.

“I’m a patient man.” He smiled knowingly.

He turned to leave but stopped abruptly like something had just occurred to him. He looked over his shoulder smirk softening into something curious. “How about this for motivation—how curious are you to find out what your sister was doing at the club that night that she went missing?”

My heart skipped. My breath caught I couldn't say anything, how on earth does he know about that? He smiled reading the expression on my face.

“Call me when you're ready.” With that, he left.