Chapter 3: The Contract That Binds Us

I flipped to the last page and my eyes locked on the final paragraph.

"Read it out loud," Alexander said, arms crossed as he watched me from across the room. "I want to hear you say it."

My throat went dry. "Any attempt to annul or dissolve this marriage within the first five years triggers an immediate penalty clause. Full dissolution of the Voss-Harrington merger, personal liability for all lost profits estimated at two hundred and fifty million dollars, and public disclosure of all financial records from both families."

Alexander took a slow step closer. "Keep going."

I gripped the papers tighter. "The signatories agree that the marriage must appear legitimate for public and business purposes. Any evidence of fraud or separation will activate automatic asset forfeiture. Your father signed this on behalf of Sophia. Now it has my name."

"Exactly." He snatched the contract from my hands and tossed it onto the table. "You’re not just my wife on paper, Emma. You’re locked in. Five years minimum unless I choose to let you go. And right now I don’t feel very generous."

I sank back onto the sofa, legs weak. "Five years? That’s insane. People don’t stay married that long just because of business."

"Normal people don’t," he said. "But we’re not normal. You made sure of that when you put on the dress."

I looked up at him. "So what now? We just pretend forever?"

Alexander poured himself another drink but didn’t offer me one this time. "No pretending when we’re alone. Here are the rules. Listen carefully because I won’t repeat them."

He started counting on his fingers.

"Rule one. Separate bedrooms. You sleep in the guest suite. I don’t want to see you after ten at night."

"Rule two. No touching. Not even accidental. You stay on your side of any room we’re both in."

I laughed, but it came out bitter. "You touched me on the dance floor earlier. You unzipped my dress ten minutes ago."

"That was before I read the fine print again," he shot back. "Now I know exactly how dangerous you are."

"Dangerous?" I stood up fast. "I’m the one trapped here with a man who hates me."

He ignored that and kept going. "Rule three. You stay out of my business. No questions about Voss Global. No talking to my assistants. No showing up at my office. You’re a ghost in my life."

I crossed my arms. "And what do I get out of this wonderful arrangement?"

"You get to keep your family from bankruptcy," he said flatly. "You get my last name and all the money that comes with it. Spend it quietly. I don’t care what you buy as long as you don’t embarrass me in public."

My chest felt tight. "You really think I did this for money?"

Alexander walked around the sofa until he stood right in front of me. "I don’t know why you did it. That’s what scares me. People who make big sacrifices usually want something bigger in return."

"I wanted my dad to stop crying," I said quietly. "That’s it. I didn’t plan to trap you."

He stared at me for a long moment. "Too late. We’re both trapped."

The ocean waves crashed outside the windows. The sound filled the silence between us.

I picked up the contract again and pointed at another line. "This part says we have to attend events together. Galas, board dinners, press stuff. How do we do that if I’m supposed to be a ghost?"

"We act," he said. "You smile when cameras are on. You call me darling in front of my grandmother. Then you disappear the second we get home."

I shook my head. "Your grandmother already looked at me like she knew something was off."

"Victoria notices everything," he admitted. "But she also knows how important this merger is. She’ll keep quiet as long as we look happy in public."

I rubbed my arms even though the room wasn’t cold. "And Marcus? Your best friend? He kept calling us lovebirds."

"Marcus thinks this is funny for now," Alexander said. "He’ll get bored when he sees how real it is."

I walked to the big window and stared at the dark water. "This is crazy. We’re talking like this is a business deal instead of a marriage."

"It is a business deal," he replied. "You turned it into one the moment you said ‘I do’ in your sister’s place."

I turned back to him. "Then maybe we should both find a way to end it without losing everything."

Alexander’s laugh was low and sharp. "There is no way. I had my lawyers go over every line before the wedding. This contract is tighter than a prison cell."

He stepped closer again. "One more rule. If you ever try to contact Sophia or bring her back into this, I will destroy your family so fast you won’t have time to blink."

My eyes stung. "You’d really do that?"

"Try me," he said softly. "I protect what’s mine. Right now that includes the merger. And unfortunately, that includes you."

I swallowed hard. "I hate you."

"Good," he answered. "Hate keeps things clean. No confusion."

He glanced at his watch. "It’s late. Go to your room. The one on the left. Mine’s on the right. Don’t come out until morning."

I didn’t move. "What if I can’t sleep?"

"Not my problem."

I picked up the train of my dress and started toward the hallway. My bare feet were cold on the marble.

"Emma," he called after me.

I stopped but didn’t turn around.

"Tomorrow we fly back to the city," he said. "You’ll move into my penthouse. Same rules apply there. Don’t make me remind you."

I nodded once and kept walking.

The guest bedroom door clicked shut behind me. I leaned against it, heart still racing. The white dress felt like chains now.

I had five years of this ahead of me. Five years of cold rules and colder eyes.

But as I finally unzipped the dress completely and let it fall to the floor, I heard his footsteps stop right outside my door.

He didn’t knock. He didn’t speak.

He just stood there.

For a long time.