His Proposal

I couldn't stop staring at Daniel.

"Alexander threatened you?"

He nodded.

"Yes."

My heart felt like it was being crushed all over again.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

Daniel looked ashamed.

"Because he threatened your family."

I shook my head.

"No. You're lying."

"Sophia—"

"You betrayed me in front of everyone."

"I know."

"You stood beside my sister and announced that you were marrying her."

"I had no choice."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Everyone has a choice, Daniel."

He looked down.

"I was afraid."

"Afraid of Alexander?"

"Yes."

I wanted to believe him.

I really did.

But there was something about the way he looked at me that made me suspicious.

Then my father spoke.

"Daniel is telling the truth."

I turned toward him.

"Dad?"

My father's face was pale.

"Alexander Kane has been involved with our family for years."

I stared at him.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Because I wanted you to have a normal life."

"A normal life?"

My voice broke.

"You let me spend five years with a man who was being threatened by Alexander, and you said nothing?"

My father lowered his head.

"I was trying to protect you."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

I wiped my tears.

"But nobody actually protected me."

The room became silent.

Daniel stepped toward me.

"Sophia, I never stopped loving you."

I looked at him.

Something inside me broke.

"You should leave."

"Sophia—"

"Leave."

He hesitated.

Then he walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he turned around.

"If you marry Alexander, you're making the biggest mistake of your life."

I didn't answer.

The door closed behind him.

I stood there, staring at it.

My mother came toward me.

"Sweetheart..."

I stepped away.

"I need to be alone."

I walked upstairs and closed my bedroom door.

For several minutes, I simply stood there.

Then I placed Alexander's contract on my bed.

I opened it again.

Every word seemed different now.

The ten million dollars.

The one-year marriage.

The rules.

The secrets.

And the clause about his past.

I picked up my phone.

I needed answers.

I dialed the number Alexander had given me.

He answered on the second ring.

"Yes?"

"Did you threaten Daniel?"

Silence.

Then—

"Who told you?"

"Answer me."

"Yes."

My breath caught.

"You admit it?"

"I told him to stay away from you."

"Why?"

"Because he wasn't good enough for you."

I laughed bitterly.

"You don't get to decide who is good enough for me."

"No."

His voice became quieter.

"But I can decide who is allowed to hurt you."

I froze.

There was something in his voice that I couldn't explain.

Something almost... protective.

"Why do you care?"

He didn't answer.

"Alexander?"

"I'll see you tonight."

"What?"

"Your contract."

"I'm not signing it yet."

"You will."

"You sound very confident."

"I am."

The call ended.

I stared at my phone.

That man was infuriating.

---

Two hours later, a black limousine stopped outside my house.

A driver stepped out.

"Miss Sophia, Mr. Kane is waiting."

I frowned.

"Where?"

"The Kane residence."

I almost refused.

Then I remembered my father's debt.

I grabbed my coat.

"Fine."

The Kane mansion was nothing like anything I'd ever seen.

The gates opened slowly, revealing a long driveway surrounded by perfectly trimmed gardens.

When I stepped inside, I felt like I had entered another world.

A housekeeper greeted me.

"Mr. Kane is in the study."

I followed her.

Alexander stood beside the enormous windows, his hands in his pockets.

He turned when I entered.

His eyes immediately found mine.

"You came."

"You said you wanted to see me."

"I wanted to give you something."

He walked toward his desk and picked up a small black box.

My eyebrows furrowed.

"What is that?"

"Open it."

I hesitated.

Then I took the box.

Inside was a diamond ring.

It was beautiful.

Huge.

Brilliant.

And far too expensive.

I looked up.

"What's this?"

"Your engagement ring."

I almost laughed.

"We haven't even signed the contract."

"We will."

"You really are arrogant."

"I know."

He stepped closer.

I held the ring out.

"I don't want it."

"Why?"

"Because this marriage is fake."

His eyes darkened.

"To everyone else."

I looked at him.

"And to you?"

For the first time, Alexander didn't have an immediate answer.

His gaze dropped to my lips.

My heart skipped.

Then he looked back into my eyes.

"Sign the contract."

"That's not an answer."

"It is tonight."

I stepped back.

"I need one thing from you."

"What?"

"Tell me the truth."

His expression hardened.

"About what?"

"Why did you choose me?"

He stared at me for a long moment.

Then he walked closer until there was barely any space between us.

"Because five years ago, your father took something from my family."

I frowned.

"What?"

Alexander's voice dropped to a whisper.

"And I'm going to use this marriage to take it back."

My heart stopped.

Before I could ask another question, he placed the contract in front of me.

"Sign."

I looked at the pages.

Then at the ring.

Then at the man standing in front of me.

I picked up the pen.

And signed my name.

Sophia.

Alexander took the contract from my hands.

His eyes lingered on my signature.

Then he smiled.

"Welcome to the Kane family, Mrs. Kane."

I looked at him.

"One year."

His smile disappeared.

"One year."

Neither of us knew that the moment I signed that contract...

I had just entered a war that began long before I was born.