Chapter 8: Never

The words dropped between us like a bomb. For a moment, I simply stared at Alex,I was sure i had misheard. Then a sharp, incredulous laugh escaped my lips.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious.” His tone carried no humor yet no hesitation.

“You’ve lost your mind.” I shook my head, backing away as though distance might undo the ridiculous statement i had just heard. “I came here because you offered me a place to stay for one night and not to be trapped in one of your twisted games,” I paused, “You do know the failed marriage you talked about is between i and your younger brother, what would your family say?”

“This isn’t a game,” Alex said, stepping closer, his voice was steady and deliberate. “You’re cornered, Olivia. Your family abandoned you. The Summers scandal ruined your reputation. You have no money, no allies, no safety. And last night proved just how vulnerable you are. This is really not the time to worry about what my family would say. Be selfish, let’s take care of you first.”

“I don’t need—”

“You do,” he cut in  sharper now. “You need protection. Stability. A way to reclaim what you’ve lost. And I can give you that.”

My throat tightened. I wanted to argue, to spit in his face and call him arrogant, but the truth in his words pressed against me like a weight i couldn’t shake. He was right, i needed protection and stability. Before meeting him, i was going to live silently with Sallie, restarting my life. But the thoughts of Veronica getting away with her schemes still haunted me. If i was to take back everything i lost, i needed Alex. 

Still, I lifted my chin, and flash my eyes. “And what do you get out of this supposed arrangement? Don’t tell me you’re suddenly some kind of savior.”

A small smile tugged at his lips, though it held no warmth. “I don’t do charity, remember? I gain, too. My family has been pressuring me for months. They also want stability. Family optics. The kind of image only marriage can provide. A wife who is respectable, poised, and capable of carrying the Wilson name. And you, whether you believe it or not,fit that role….of course, asides your scandal”

I scoffed. “Respectable? My name is in dirt, Alex… well thanks to Veronica, i wouldn’t even be talking about a failed marriage. Everyone saw me disgraced at the wedding. They’ll laugh the moment you stand next to me.”

“They’ll laugh,” he agreed,  his voice  was calm. “Until they realize the woman who walked away from Eric Wilson is now married to his elder brother, the one who actually holds the reins of the family empire. Then they’ll stop laughing and start wondering how powerful you must be to stand beside me.”

My stomach churned. His logic was ice-cold, every word cut through my pride. And the worst part was that it almost made sense.

I wrapped my arms around myself, shaking my head. “You’re insane. Even if I considered this… arrangement… people would see right through it. They’d know it’s fake.”

“Not if we play it right.” His gaze was unwavering, unflinching. “You’ll be protected. Your name will be rebuilt. You’ll have resources, allies, and safety. In exchange, I get exactly what I need: the image of a stable man with a wife beside him.”

“And my feelings?” i snapped with a breaking voice. “My life? Does any of that matter, or am I just a pawn in your perfect plan?”

For the first time, something flickered in his eyes-something softer, something almost vulnerable, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. “You’re not a pawn. You’re a partner. But I won’t sugarcoat it, Olivia. This isn’t about love. This is business. Survival, for both of us.”

The words stung, though i wasn’t sure why. Love. The word felt like ash on my tongue, reminding me of Henry’s promises, of the Summers’ betrayals, of everything i had lost.

I turned away, pacing around the living room. My mind was now a storm. A part of me wanted to scream that i’d rather rot on the streets than bind myself to a man who saw me as a contract. Another part was quiet but persistent, and whispered that he was offering me the only lifeline i had left.

Images flashed in my mind: the Summers’ cold glares, my father’s voice disowning me and Veronica’s satisfactory look as i left, the men who had grabbed my bag in the dark, the fear that had clawed at my chest. Then Alex’s hand reached out, steady and strong, pulling me back to safety.

My fists clenched. “You think you can buy me. That’s what this is.”

“I’m offering you a choice,” Alex said, his voice tempered like a steel. “The chance to stand again, instead of being crushed by the people who want to see you ruined. But yes, it’s transactional. I won’t pretend otherwise.”

My eyes burned. I was trying  not to blink as tears were threatening to fall though i refused to let them fall. “You’re cold. Colder than I thought possible.”

“Cold,” he echoed quietly. “Or realistic.”

The silence stretched and was thick with tension. My pulse thundered in my ears. Every part of me screamed to reject him, to hold on to the last shred of pride i had left. Accepting his offer felt like the right thing to do. But i wanted more- more than just a contract marriage. I thought harder, the pros and cons of what the offer was going to be. Marriage? and might be forever. I sighed heavily, i was still young and not about to let a lifetime contract marriage take away my chances of finding love in future. I knew it was impossible for us to build something more, he already made it clear- he saw the marriage as a business, where we both benefit from. Looking at the bright side, i could give up revenge and find Sallie, starting a new life and putting everything behind me. Less drama.

I faced him at last, with fire blazing in my eyes. “I would rather starve than marry you for convenience. I don’t care about your family, your empire, or your schemes. You don’t own me, Alex Wilson. Not now, not ever”

My voice rose, fierce and trembling.I was doing this- rejecting the offer, i couldn’t take back my words now. “Never.”