CHAPTER FOUR

"Would you be willing to be my wife for one year?"

For a moment, I was sure I had heard him wrong.

I stared at Liam Kingsley, He stared right back calm, unbothered, as if he had just asked me to pass him a glass of water.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"No." His expression didn't change.

I laughed, a short, disbelieving laugh.

"Oh, you're serious."

"I don't joke around."

I looked around at the expensive furniture, maybe rich people really did live in a different world, because nothing about this conversation made sense.

"Let me get this straight, you want me to marry you." I pointed at myself.

"For one year." He added.

"And you don't think that's insane?"

Liam folded his hands on the desk. "I think it's practical."

I almost laughed again. How can Marriage be Practical?

"What exactly is wrong with you?"

For the first time, amusement flickered across his face, then it disappeared instantly.

"My grandfather's will."

I blinked.

"My grandfather left conditions." He stood and walked toward the window. "The old man believed family men make better leaders."

I frowned. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Everything." He slipped a hand into his pocket.

"To gain full control of Kingsley Holdings, I must be married."

I stared at him. There had to be more.

"There are other women in Blackthorn, marry one of them."

He turned around, and his eyes settled on me.

"I don't want a real marriage."

The room fell silent, something about the way he said it made my heart skip. A real marriage

"I need a wife." He paused. "Not a relationship."

Understanding slowly dawned. A contract, nothing more nothing less.

I crossed my arms. "And what happens after one year?"

"We divorce." The answer came immediately as though he'd already planned everything.

I stared at him, trying to figure out if he was joking and unfortunately, he wasn't.

"You are insane."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Mr. Kingsley—"

"Liam."

"I'm not calling you Liam."

"Fine." His expression remained calm.

I rubbed my temples, as a headache was already forming.

"Why me?" I finally asked.

That was the real question. Out of every woman in the city, why me?

Liam returned to his seat. " Because you have no husband."

I rolled my eyes. "Wonderful! What a qualification."

"You also need a fresh start."

My jaw tightened. "I don't need your pity."

"This isn't a pity." His voice remained even. "It is an observation."

I hated how often he said that. 

He opened his drawer, pulled out a document and slid it across the desk. "Read."

I looked at it, then at him, then back at the document. I picked it up and my eyes widened almost immediately. Monthly allowance, housing, medical coverage, travel expenses, and yearly bonus. The figures alone nearly gave me a heart attack.

I looked up. This can't be serious, Five million monthly, That was more money than I had ever imagined earning, and he was offering it for a fake marriage.

My grip tightened on the papers. "What exactly would I have to do?"

"Attend public events, appear beside me when necessary, and maintain the appearance of a normal marriage."

I narrowed my eyes, I didn't trust it… not for a second.

"What about living arrangements?"

"We'll share a residence."

My eyes widened.

"There are separate wings, there will be privacy and boundaries."

Liam sighed. "You haven't heard all the terms."

I stood up and the chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"I just got out of a terrible relationship." My voice shook despite my efforts. "I was cheated on."

I swallowed hard. "My entire life is being dragged across the internet, and your solution is another fake relationship?" I pointed at the contract.

Silence stretched across the room, and for the first time, Liam studied me like a person.

Then he spoke quietly.

"This arrangement benefits both of us, You gain protection and financial stability.”

"I— I don't need them.”

That was a lie, because I cared. But accepting his offer felt like selling what little dignity I had left.

Liam stood up slowly. The air in the room shifted immediately. He walked around the desk and stopped a few feet away from me.

"Think carefully Miss Quinn."

My pulse quickened.

"You are currently unemployed, and you are at the center of a public scandal. Whoever started it isn't finished."

That got my attention. I looked back at him immediately. But that didn't mean I was marrying him.

"No."

His brows lifted slightly.

"No Mr Kingsley,  I can't." I handed the contract back. "Thank you for the offer."

His eyes dropped briefly to the papers, and for a second, disappointment flashed across his face.

Without waiting for another word, I turned and walked out.

The moment I got home, I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto the couch. Liam Kingsley was insane, that was the only explanation. One year of marriage, five million monthly. Who proposed things like that?

“Billionaires apparently.” I laughed.

I buried my face in a pillow then my phone rang.

I answered without checking.

"Hello?"

"Miss Nora Quinn?"

"Yes."

"This is Kingsley Holdings."

I sat upright immediately, maybe Liam had come to his senses and this was an actual job offer.

"We've forwarded the marriage contract to your email."

I nearly dropped the phone.

"Delete it," I screamed 

"Excuse me?”

"I am not interested." Then I hung up immediately.

The next few days became a routine. Wake up, search for jobs, submit applications, and attend interviews. By the end of the week, I had applied everywhere. Foundations, Nonprofits, Private companies, Corporate offices. Anywhere that matched my experience.

I refused to think about Liam and his ridiculous proposal, or the contract sitting unread in my inbox.

Everything would work out. It had to. I was qualified, hardworking and experienced. Sooner or later, someone would hire me. At least that was what I kept telling myself. Until my phone rang three days later.

"Hello?"

"Miss Nora Quinn?" 

The caller sounded uncomfortable, and my stomach tightened immediately.

"Yes."

"We regret to inform you that we've decided to move forward with another candidate."

My heart sank, another rejection, the fifth this week.

"May I ask why?"

There was a pause, then— "It's company policy."

The call ended.

I stared at the phone, something felt off. An hour later another email arrived. Application declined.

Then another, and another.

My chest tightened, this wasn't normal. I opened my laptop and refreshed my inbox. My pulse quickened. Every application and opportunity was gone.

Then my phone rang again, one of the HR managers from a company I had interviewed with.

Hope sparked briefly.

"Hello?"

The woman hesitated. "Miss Quinn, we are sorry we won't be hiring"

My grip tightened. "Why?"

"Your qualifications were excellent."

I frowned. "Then why was I rejected?"

Silence.

"Someone contacted senior management and raised concerns about your reputation."

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

The woman sighed. "I'm sorry." The call ended.

I sat frozen. Someone was doing this, someone wanted me to be unemployed and ruined.  And for the first time since leaving Kingsley Holdings, Liam's words echoed inside my head.

“You are currently unemployed, whoever started this isn't finished.”

A chill crawled down my spine, then my phone buzzed. A new email, my fingers trembled as I stared at the screen. The subject line contained only four words. My offer still stands.