CHAPTER 1

AMARA BELLROSE

I was sitting on the floor beside my bed with several fabric samples, color palettes, and printed floor plans scattered around me. My laptop was open on the small table in front of me, displaying the digital version of the design I had been working on since that afternoon. I had been so focused on arranging the living area of the luxury villa I was designing that I had completely lost track of time.

Designing had always been the one thing I genuinely enjoyed. I liked taking an empty space and imagining what it could become. I liked choosing the right furniture, figuring out how natural light would enter a room, and making sure that every detail had a purpose. It was not simply something I did because I needed a career. It was something I had chosen for myself, which was probably one of the reasons my father never took it seriously.

I reached for another pencil and leaned closer to the sketch in front of me. The seating arrangement still looked wrong, so I erased one section and started drawing again. I was almost finished when my bedroom door suddenly opened without a knock.

I did not have to look up immediately to know who it was.

Selene had always been comfortable entering my room whenever she wanted. She had been living in this house for years, but sometimes she acted as though she had owned it longer than I had. Her mother, Sarah, was not any different. Since they became part of our family, they had slowly made themselves comfortable in every corner of the Bellrose household.

“Are you still working on that design?”

I finally looked up and saw Selene standing near the door with her mother behind her. Selene was wearing a fitted white dress, and her hair was perfectly styled even though it was still several hours before dinner. Sarah looked equally polished in a dark silk blouse and tailored trousers. I looked down at my loose shirt and jeans before looking back at them.

“I am,” I answered as I placed my pencil beside the sketch. “I have been trying to finish this before dinner.”

Selene walked farther into the room and looked around. Her eyes moved over the fabric samples, the sketches on the floor, and the small models displayed on my desk.

“You have been doing this for hours, Amara. I honestly don't understand why you keep spending so much time on something that is not even part of the family business. Father already told you that you could have a position in Bellrose Holdings. You would have an office, a proper salary, and access to everything you need. Why do you insist on struggling with this little design company?”

I looked at her calmly. I had heard the same argument from her many times, so none of it surprised me anymore.

“Because I enjoy it. I know Father offered me a position in the company, but I have already told him that I want to build my own career. I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to do something that I actually enjoy.”

Sarah walked toward my desk and picked up one of my sketches. She studied it for a few seconds before giving it back to me with a small smile.

“Your father is not trying to stop you from doing what you enjoy. He simply wants you to think about your future. You are a Bellrose, Amara. You have access to opportunities that most people would never have, and yet you insist on making things difficult for yourself. There is nothing wrong with accepting help from your family.”

“I know there isn't,” I replied while taking the sketch from her. “I just don't want to depend on the family name for everything I accomplish.”

Selene crossed her arms and leaned against the side of my desk.

“That is exactly what I mean. You make it sound as if accepting help from the family is something embarrassing. If Father gives me an opportunity, I will accept it. I don't see the point of making life harder just to prove that I can do everything alone.”

“I don't think accepting help is embarrassing,” I said. “I simply want to know that whatever I accomplish came from my own work. If my company succeeds, I want to know that it happened because my clients liked my designs and trusted me, not because they felt obligated to work with a Bellrose.”

Selene smiled in a way that made it clear she disagreed with me.

“You always have an answer.”

“I usually have an answer when someone asks me a question.”

Sarah sighed softly.

“This is what I have been telling your father. You are becoming too independent for your own good.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I didn't realize independence had become a problem.”

“It becomes a problem when you refuse to listen to people who are trying to help you,” Sarah replied. “Your father worries about you. Since your mother died, he has done everything he could to give you a comfortable life. He wants you to have stability, and yet you continue to push away every opportunity he offers.”

I looked at Sarah for a moment before lowering my gaze to my desk.

“I appreciate everything Dad has done for me.”

She gave me a knowing look.

“Do you really?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should start showing it.”

I smiled politely.

“I'll keep that in mind.”

Selene picked up one of the miniature furniture pieces from my desk and turned it between her fingers.

“I still don't understand what you see in this.”

“That is a scale model.”

“I know what it is.”

“Then you understand.”

She looked at me with mild irritation.

“You don't have to be sarcastic.”

“I wasn't trying to be.”

Sarah glanced at the clock on my wall before speaking again.

“Your father wants everyone downstairs before dinner. We have something important to discuss tonight, so please don't make him wait.”

I nodded.

“I'll be there.”

Selene did not move immediately. She looked at me again, then at the design spread across my desk.

“You should change first. Father invited some important people, and I don't think you should come downstairs looking like that.”

I looked down at myself.

“Like what?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I am wearing clothes.”

Selene sighed.

“You really don't care, do you?”

“I care about a lot of things. My clothes just aren't one of them.”

She shook her head before following her mother toward the door.

“Just change, Amara. For once, try to make things easier for everyone.”

I smiled at her.

“I'll consider it.”

The door closed behind them, and I immediately returned my attention to my work. I knew exactly what Selene wanted me to do. She wanted me to feel embarrassed about the way I dressed, the work I chose, and the fact that I did not fit into the image of the perfect Bellrose daughter she had created for herself.

I had stopped taking it personally a long time ago.

I finished the final section of my design before saving everything on my laptop. After cleaning the fabric samples from the floor and arranging my sketches into a folder, I finally changed into a simple black dress and went downstairs.

The dining room was already prepared when I arrived. My father was seated at the head of the table, while Sarah sat beside him and Selene sat across from the empty chair meant for me. There were several dishes on the table, and my father looked more serious than usual.

I took my seat.

“Sorry I'm late.”

My father looked at me.

“You are always working.”

“I was finishing something.”

“You could have finished it tomorrow.”

“I could have, but I wanted to finish it tonight.”

He sighed but did not argue further. Sarah gave him a reassuring smile before turning her attention to me.

“Amara, your father has something important to discuss with all of us.”

I looked at my father.

“What happened?”

“Nothing is wrong,” he said. “I simply want everyone to understand what is going to happen within the family over the next few weeks.”

Selene suddenly looked more interested. My father reached for his glass of water before continuing.

“You all know about the negotiations between Bellrose Holdings and Westbrook Holdings.”

I nodded.

“Yes. The resort development.”

“Correct. The Westbrooks are prepared to invest a significant amount into the project, but they want a stronger relationship between our families before they finalize the agreement.”

I already knew where this was going.

“What kind of relationship?”

My father looked at Selene.

“Marriage.”

Selene immediately stopped eating. Sarah placed her fork on the table. My father continued as though he had not noticed their reactions.

“Tristan Westbrook is the heir to the Westbrook family, and his father wants the marriage to strengthen the business relationship between the two families. It would benefit Bellrose Holdings significantly, and it would also protect the future of several projects we are currently negotiating.”

Selene stared at him.

“Why are you looking at me?”

My father frowned.

“Because you are the obvious choice.”

Selene shook her head.

“No.”

Sarah immediately turned toward her.

“Selene, listen to your father first.”

“I already know what he is going to say. He wants me to marry Tristan.”

My father nodded.

“That is exactly what I am saying.”

Selene pushed her chair back slightly.

“I'm not marrying him.”

The room became quiet. My father looked at her with disbelief.

“You haven't even met with him properly.”

“I have met him before. I know what kind of person he is, and I don't want to marry someone simply because our families think it will be good for business.”

“This is not only about business.”

“It clearly is,” Selene replied. “You just said that the marriage is necessary for the agreement.”

My father rubbed his forehead.

“You are being immature.”

“I am not being immature. I have a boyfriend.”

Sarah looked at her daughter.

“Selene, you know that Chris is not suitable for this family.”

“I don't care whether you like Chris or not. He is my boyfriend, and I love him.”

My father gave a humorless laugh.

“Chris does not have the stability or the reputation to become part of this family.”

“You don't know him.”

“I know enough about him.”

Selene looked frustrated.

“I am not going to leave him just because you want me to marry a billionaire I barely know.”

My father became quiet for a moment. Then Selene looked across the table at me. I immediately noticed the change in her expression. She had stopped arguing.

She was thinking.

“Actually,” she said slowly, “there is another option.”

I looked at her.

“What option?”

She smiled.

“Amara.”

I frowned.

“What about me?”

Selene turned toward my father.

“Why does it have to be me?”

My father stared at her.

“What are you suggesting?”

Selene shrugged casually.

“Amara is single. She is a Bellrose. She doesn't have a boyfriend, and she already understands how important the family business is. If the Westbrooks want a Bellrose woman, then she can marry Tristan.”

I stared at her, certain that I had misunderstood.

“Selene, stop joking.”

“I'm not joking.”

Sarah looked at me with an expression I could not quite understand. My father remained silent and I looked directly at him.

“Dad, you are not seriously considering what she just said.”

He did not answer immediately. My heart began beating faster as I watched his expression change from uncertainty to consideration.

“Amara,” he said calmly, “Selene has a point.”

I slowly put my fork down.

“What point?”

My father looked directly at me.

“If Selene refuses to marry Tristan, then you will take her place.”

I stared at him, unable to process what he had just said. I had expected my father to dismiss Selene's suggestion, but instead, he had accepted it as though I were simply another name on a business agreement.

“Dad, I think you misunderstood me. I asked what point she was making, not whether you were actually going to agree with her.”

“I understood you perfectly.”

I looked from my father to Selene, who was now sitting quietly with a satisfied expression on her face.

“You want me to marry Tristan Westbrook?”

My father nodded.

“Yes.”

I could not stop myself from widening my eyes as I stared at him across the table.