The offer

FALINE POV

The phone kept ringing.

I stared at the screen, unmoving.

Unknown number.

But I didn’t need to guess.

I knew exactly who it was.

Sierra.

For a brief moment, something twisted in my chest. I remembered that place the cold floors, the suffocating walls, the way time seemed to stop.

Prison wasn’t survival.

It was slow death.

She must be terrified right now.

Alone.

Broken.

Calling for help.

My thumb hovered over the screen.

Then I declined the call.

Silence filled the room again.

“Who was that?” Kage asked, dropping onto the couch beside me.

I locked my phone and placed it face down.

“Sierra.”

He stilled.

“She’s probably struggling by now,” I added coldly.

The words tasted bitter but I forced them out anyway.

Kage ran a hand through his hair, restless.

“She’s going to call again,” he said. “You should answer her.”

I turned to him sharply.

“Are you serious?”

He hesitated.

“She needs us, Faline.”

I laughed a harsh, humorless sound.

“Needs us?” I snapped. “She never needed us before.”

“That’s not-”

“Stop thinking with your feelings,” I cut him off. “She doesn’t love you, Kage. She never did.”

That hit him.

I saw it in the way his shoulders dropped.

“She was going to throw us out,” I continued. “And now look where she is.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

“Turn off your phone,” I said finally.

He looked at me.

“Do it.”

After a moment, he sighed and switched it off.

Good.

I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently.

“We’re better off without her,” I said softly this time.

“She always had to be the center of everything. Even as kids.”

I leaned back against the couch.

“We don’t know anyone named Sierra.”

Kage nodded slowly.

“We never did.”

“Good,” I whispered.

“Now go get me a beer.”

As he walked away, I glanced at my phone one last time.

The screen was dark.

Just like the past we were burying.

SIERRA POV

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall.

Waiting.

Hoping.

For something anything.

But deep down…I already knew.

They weren’t coming.

Mabel appeared at the bars, her expression unreadable.

“You’ve got a visitor.”

My heart skipped.

Then I saw him.

“Nash…”

Relief hit me so hard it almost hurt.

He stood beside Mabel, holding a grocery bag, dressed in one of his perfectly tailored suits like he had just stepped out of another world entirely.

A world I no longer belonged to.

“What happened to you?” he asked the moment he saw my face.

I forced a smile.

“I got into a fight.”

His hand lifted, brushing gently against my cheek.

I winced.

His jaw tightened.

“You lost,” he said quietly.

“Very funny.”

He passed me the bag through the bars.

“What did you bring me?” I asked, already opening it.

“Ramen. Sandwiches. Juice.”

I didn’t even wait I started eating immediately.

“You have no idea how bad the food is here,” I muttered between bites.

He watched me, concerned.

“You still haven’t told me what you did.”

I slowed.

Then sighed.

“I stole something.”

“Sierra…” His voice softened. “You could have asked me for money.”

“It’s not about money.”

“What did you steal?”

I met his eyes.

“The blue diamond.”

Shock flashed across his face.

“What?”

I looked away.

“Don’t tell Dad,” I said quickly. “Or Chloe. Or Juliet.”

“I’ll get you out,” he said firmly. “I’ll be your lawyer.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t understand. I’ve been doing this for years. There’s evidence everywhere.”

He went quiet.

“I’m mad at you,” he said finally.

“I know.”

My voice cracked slightly.

“I hate it here.”

The words came out weaker than I intended.

“How long have you been here?” he asked.

“A day.”

His eyes widened.

“You’ve been here one day and already got into a fight?”

I shrugged weakly.

“I make fast impressions.”

Despite everything, a small smile tugged at his lips.

“I’ll come see you every week,” he said, gripping my hand through the bars.

“You don’t have to ask.”

I squeezed back.

“I wish I could hug you,” he added quietly.

“Don’t get soft on me,” I teased.

He glanced at his watch.

“I have to go.”

“Already?”

“I’ll come back,” he promised. “And I’ll stay longer.”

“And bring ramen.”

He shook his head, smiling.

“Of course.”

Then he was gone.

And just like that I was alone again.

Anna returned later, slipping into the cell with a grin.

“Your brother is hot,” she said. “Is he single?”

I rolled my eyes.

“He’s married.”

She pouted dramatically.

“Tragic.”

ARES POV

The car came to a smooth stop.

Molly unbuckled her seatbelt before I could even reach for it.

“I can carry my own bag, Dad,” she said.

I exhaled.

She was growing up too fast.

“Alright,” I said. “Go ahead.”

We walked up to the house, and I knocked.

The door opened almost immediately.

“Grandma!” Molly ran into Maria’s arms.

“Oh, look at you,” Maria beamed. “You’ve grown again.”

Her eyes shifted to me.

“Ares.”

I nodded politely.

“I’m just dropping her off for the weekend.”

She studied me for a moment.

“I heard you caught that thief,” she said. “That woman deserves to pay for what she did to my daughter's memory.”

Eliana.

The blue diamond was exhibited in her honour.

Even now, her name carried weight.

Pain.

Memory.

“I’ll make sure she does,” I said quietly.

Molly hugged me tightly before I left.

“See you Monday, Dad.”

“See you, princess.”

I had barely driven off when my phone rang.

Grandfather.

I answered.

“I need you in my office. Now.”

“I have a meeting-”

“Cancel it.”

The line went dead.

I clenched my jaw.

Twenty minutes later, I was standing in his mansion.

Everyone was there.

My parents.

Waiting.

it was an ambush.

“Ares,” my mother said, pulling me into a hug.

I barely responded.

“Sit,” my grandfather ordered.

I did.

“What is this about?” I asked.

He leaned forward.

“You’ve changed since your wife died.”

I stiffened.

“And that’s because you’re alone.”

“I’m not doing this,” I said flatly.

“You don’t have a choice.”

My eyes narrowed.

“If you are not married within three months,” he said calmly, “you lose everything.”

Silence.

“The company,” he added. “Your inheritance.”

Rage simmered under my skin.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’ve never been more serious.”

My father spoke up.

“Think about your daughter.”

“I am thinking about my daughter,” I snapped.

I stood abruptly.

“I’m not marrying anyone.”

“Then prepare to lose everything,” my grandfather said.

I paused at the door.

“You have 24 hours.”

That night, I stood by the window in my office, staring out at the city.

Three months.

Or I lose everything.

The company.

My daughter’s future.

Eliana’s legacy.

I exhaled slowly.

If he wanted a wife…

Then I would give him one.

But not out of love.

Out of necessity.

My mind drifted back to a prison cell.

To a girl with fire in her eyes.

A criminal.

A survivor.

A woman with nothing left to lose.

A slow smirk spread across my face.

“Sierra Nevada.”

Perfect.