Chapter 4: The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal

Dominic Sterling’s words followed me long after I left his office.

Your husband isn’t the only person who has been keeping secrets from you.

I had spent the previous day discovering that the man I loved had another wife, and now a stranger was suggesting that my grandmother had also hidden something important from me.

I turned toward Dominic, refusing to let him see how unsettled I was.

“What exactly are you suggesting?”

He closed the folder in front of him.

“Your grandmother knew your marriage to Alexander would eventually become a problem.”

I frowned.

“That’s impossible. She died before I married him.”

“Your grandmother died eighteen months ago, Miss Laurent. Your marriage certificate was issued two years ago, according to the date you’ve given us.”

I stared at him.

“Are you saying she knew Alexander was deceiving me?”

“I’m saying she suspected he wasn’t the man you believed him to be.”

He opened another folder and removed a sealed envelope.

“This was left with my father shortly before her death. He was instructed to give it to you when you were ready to assume control of Laurent Holdings.”

My hands trembled slightly as I accepted it.

My name was written across the front in my grandmother’s familiar handwriting.

I opened the envelope carefully and removed a single sheet of paper.

My dearest Isabella,

If you’re reading this, it means you’ve finally reached the point where you must stand on your own. I hope the people you chose to trust treated you kindly, but if they didn’t, remember that your name carries a history you should never be ashamed of.

There are things about the Laurent family that I couldn’t tell you while I was alive. Trust carefully, especially those who appear to know more about your future than you do.

And never allow anyone to make you feel that you are not worthy of love.

My eyes filled with tears.

“Why didn’t she tell me all this herself?”

Dominic watched me quietly.

“Perhaps she wanted you to discover the truth at your own pace.”

I folded the letter and placed it inside my handbag.

“Thank you for giving this to me, but I still don’t understand the marriage proposal.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“Let’s discuss business.”

Dominic explained that Laurent Holdings and Sterling Global had been connected through a long-standing agreement between our families.

The agreement involved a major development project that both companies had been preparing to complete, but my grandmother’s death had left the Laurent side without an active representative.

“I need a controlling shareholder who understands the value of the company and is willing to protect it,” he explained.

“And you believe marrying me will achieve that?”

“Marriage would establish a stronger alliance between our families. It would also prevent certain individuals from attempting to take advantage of your sudden return to the business world.”

I studied his face.

“You’re a billionaire. Surely you can find someone else to marry.”

“I could.”

“Then why me?”

His eyes remained fixed on mine.

“Because your grandmother trusted me, and because I believe you are capable of becoming the woman she intended you to be.”

I almost laughed.

“You’ve known me for less than an hour.”

“That doesn’t mean I haven’t heard about you.”

Something about the way he said it made me uncomfortable.

“What else do you know?”

“That you spent six years with Alexander Vance, that you helped raise his daughter, and that you walked away when you discovered the truth.”

I looked down at my hands.

“I don’t see how any of that makes me suitable for marriage.”

“It tells me you are loyal. Perhaps too loyal, but that can change.”

I lifted my eyes.

“Mr. Sterling, I don’t want another man deciding what is best for me.”

“Then don’t let me decide for you.”

He pushed a document across the desk.

“Read the proposal. You can reject it if you wish.”

I picked it up.

The agreement included financial independence, protection of my inheritance, and a clearly defined division of responsibilities between us. There would be no obligation to surrender control of my company, and neither party could force the other into personal intimacy.

At the bottom was a proposed marriage duration of two years.

“Two years?” I asked.

“That’s the initial agreement.”

“And what happens afterward?”

“We decide whether we want to remain married.”

I placed the document on the desk.

“You make marriage sound like a business contract.”

“Because that’s what I’m offering you.”

He paused before adding, “I won’t pretend to be in love with you, Isabella. I expect the same honesty from you.”

For some reason, his honesty unsettled me more than Alexander’s lies ever had.

I returned to Michael’s office later that afternoon.

He was reviewing some documents when I entered.

“How was your meeting?”

“Complicated.”

I placed Dominic’s proposal on his desk.

“Did Grandma really intend for me to marry him?”

Michael removed his glasses.

“She never instructed you to marry anyone, Isabella. But she did believe Dominic was the right person to help protect Laurent Holdings.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about their agreement earlier?”

“Because your grandmother asked me to wait until you were ready to claim your inheritance.”

I sat down.

“Everyone seems to know something about my life except me.”

Michael gave me a sympathetic smile.

“Your grandmother wanted to protect you.”

I looked at the proposal again.

“Do you think I should accept?”

“That decision belongs to you. But I would advise you to understand every condition before signing anything.”

I nodded.

For the first time since discovering Alexander’s betrayal, I felt that I had a choice.

I wasn’t going to let another person control my future.

Meanwhile, across the city, Alexander was becoming increasingly irritated.

He had called me several times, but I hadn’t answered.

When Vanessa entered his office that evening, she found him staring at his phone.

“Still trying to reach your little wife?”

Alexander shot her an annoyed look.

“She’s being unreasonable.”

Vanessa sat across from him.

“Let her go. She’ll come back when she realizes she has nowhere else to go.”

“I know Isabella. She can’t survive without me.”

Vanessa smiled.

“Then why are you worried?”

Before he could answer, his assistant entered without knocking.

“Sir, there’s something you need to see.”

Alexander frowned.

“What is it?”

The assistant placed a tablet on his desk.

A business announcement filled the screen.

STERLING GLOBAL AND LAURENT HOLDINGS PREPARE FOR A MAJOR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE.

Below the headline was a photograph of Dominic Sterling.

Alexander stared at it.

“What does Laurent Holdings have to do with this?”

His assistant hesitated.

“The new controlling shareholder is expected to be announced tomorrow.”

Vanessa leaned closer to the screen.

Then her face went pale.

“Alexander…”

He turned toward her.

“What?”

She pointed at the photograph of Dominic.

“That’s the man your wife was meeting today.”

Alexander’s expression changed.

“How do you know?”

Vanessa swallowed.

“Because I know exactly who Dominic Sterling is.”