CHAPTER ONE

I checked my time for the fifth time in ten minutes. Five-thirty. I sighed lightly as I shut down my computer and leaned back in my chair. Around me buzzed with the usual late-afternoon activity, but my attention had been elsewhere all day. On my phone, on Ethan. One message that had changed everything.For months, I had been walking around with a heartache filled with unanswered texts, ignored calls, and unending excuses I made on his behalf, that had piled up until breathing felt exhausting.Mrs. Sophia noticed."Nora."I looked up to find her standing at my office door. With brows drawn together. "You're leaving already?"I nodded quickly. “Do I have your permission?”She smiled "Of course. I'm just surprised you actually took my advice for once."I laughed softly. For weeks, she'd been telling me to take time off to clear my head, but rest wasn't what I wanted. I wanted Ethan, I wanted answers, I wanted the man I love to remember I still existed.My phone buzzed, Ethan's message w

CHAPTER TWO

The comments kept multiplying every time I refreshed the page. More people laughed at the worst night of my life. My thumb hovered over the screen as I scrolled aimlessly."She really thought she could compete with Elara Hart?""Three years and he still chose Elara. That says everything.""Someone please tell her dignity is free."A sharp pain spread through my chest. I locked my phone immediately, but the words remained stuck in my head. A sob rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down.No, this couldn't be the end, there had to be an explanation, something I didn't know. Three years didn't just disappear overnight.I thought about every birthday, late-night call, unending promises, and the future we planned together. I had built my life around Ethan Whitmore. Even my job at Hart Foundation had been his idea.He was the one who encouraged me to apply, and even celebrated when I got accepted.Everyone knew we were together at the Hart Foundation, everyone. A fresh wave of tears blurr

CHAPTER THREE

I stared at the text on my phone for what felt like the hundredth time.Mrs. Sophia: Nora, please come to my office.My thumb hovered over the screen for a while. I took a deep breath and stood up.The moment I did, the elevator doors opened and Elara stepped out. Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked through the office like she owned the building. Heads turned immediately.Elara smiled brightly. "You are all invited to my wedding in two weeks!"The office erupted with Cheers, and excited voices. Then Elara's eyes found mine and a smile spread across her face, not a friendly one."Oh, Nora."The room grew quieter."You should start shopping for something nice to wear." She tilted her head. "So security won't mistake you for an uninvited guest and throw you out."Laughter erupted. Not everyone laughed, some looked uncomfortable, others looked away, I caught pity in some eyes.Laura didn't even bother lowering her voice. "You really acted foolishly in that video."I gripped

CHAPTER FOUR

"Would you be willing to be my wife for one year?"For a moment, I was sure I had heard him wrong.I stared at Liam Kingsley, He stared right back calm, unbothered, as if he had just asked me to pass him a glass of water."Have you lost your mind?""No." His expression didn't change.I laughed, a short, disbelieving laugh."Oh, you're serious.""I don't joke around."I looked around at the expensive furniture, maybe rich people really did live in a different world, because nothing about this conversation made sense."Let me get this straight, you want me to marry you." I pointed at myself."For one year." He added."And you don't think that's insane?"Liam folded his hands on the desk. "I think it's practical."I almost laughed again. How can Marriage be Practical?"What exactly is wrong with you?"For the first time, amusement flickered across his face, then it disappeared instantly."My grandfather's will."I blinked."My grandfather left conditions." He stood and walked toward the

CHAPTER FIVE

For the first time since leaving Kingsley Holdings, I opened the email Liam's secretary had sent. I wasn't planning to accept the offer, I just wanted to see how ridiculous it was.The moment the contract loaded, my eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. I read the first page, then the second… I went back to the first page because I was sure I had misunderstood something.A fifty-million-dollar deposit upon signing, a five-million-dollar monthly allowance, a luxury estate in Blackthorn, medical coverage, personal security, and five hundred million upon completion of the contract.My mouth slowly fell open."DAMN!"Surely this had to be a joke. Who pays someone this much to pretend to be a wife? I snapped my laptop shut.He must be insane or maybe rich people simply live in a different reality. Either way, I wasn't selling myself.I grabbed my bag and headed out. If the major companies didn't want me, I would try smaller firms. Someone out there needed an employee.The first company r

CHAPTER SIX

The sound of my phone dragged me out of a restless sleep. I groaned and blindly reached for it.Without opening my eyes, I put it on silent and buried my face deeper into the pillow. Two seconds later, it rang again. I frowned. Whoever was calling this early clearly had no respect for human life. I collected the phone from the bedside table."This call better be important," I muttered.Silence greeted me. I pulled the phone away from my ear and checked if the call was still connected.It was."Hello? If nobody speaks, I'm hanging—""My driver will arrive in five minutes."I froze. That voice, cold, deep and controlled. Every trace of sleep vanished instantly."Mr. Kingsley?""Get ready."The line went dead. I stared at the screen for a while…"Good morning to you too."I dropped the phone onto the bed, and with a groan, I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the bathroom.Twenty minutes later, I was dressed and ready.Before leaving, I checked the locks again and again. The thoug