Clara Hayes' father's company is on the brink of being liquidated, and with no other options, she agrees to marry Max Thornfield in a contract marriage. The arrangement seems simple at first: Max helps secure the future of the company, and Clara gets the financial security she desperately needs. But Max is distant and cold, treating the marriage as nothing more than a business deal. As Clara begins to settle into this new, lavish world, she starts to notice strange signs that Max is hiding something-something dangerous. Her suspicions grow when she begins receiving anonymous phone calls, warning her that Max's world is much darker than she thought. Despite dismissing these warnings at first, Clara can't shake the feeling that she's being drawn into a much bigger web of lies and crime. When Sophie, Max's ex, reappears, it only deepens the tension. Sophie isn't just a blast from the past-she's determined to win Max back and isn't shy about stirring trouble between him and Clara. As Sophie manipulates Clara, planting doubts about Max's true intentions, Clara digs into his past and uncovers a trail of criminal activity. The deeper Clara gets, the more she realizes that her contract marriage with Max is not just about business-it's about survival in a dangerous world she never knew existed. As her feelings for Max begin to grow, Clara has to decide if she can trust him or if his secrets will destroy everything they've built. Max, torn between his growing feelings for Clara and his criminal past, struggles to keep her safe. But the more he pushes her away to protect her, the more Clara pushes back, determined to uncover the truth. With Sophie's manipulation and the cryptic warnings from the informant, Clara must decide whether to stay in a marriage built on lies or risk it all to uncover the truth. As Clara and Max face their challenges, they must decide if their love can survive the tension, the lies, and the dangerous world they are now tangled in-or if it's doomed from the start.
Chapter 1 The proposal
Clara Hayes' life was nothing like she'd imagined it would be at twenty-eight. Gone were the dreams of a flourishing family business, or of ever finding love with someone who would fight for her. No, all that was left now was the cold, hard reality that her father's company, the one she'd worked tirelessly to keep alive, was slipping through her fingers.
She stared at the letter in front of her-the final blow to her already crumbling world. The legal firm had written to inform her that the company would be liquidated unless she married by the end of the month. The terms were clear: she had to marry someone of high social standing, someone with wealth and power. If she didn't, she would lose everything.
Her father's last wish: "Marry, save the business." It seemed so simple in the moment. But now, staring at the harsh consequences of his expectation, Clara wanted to scream. How could he have set her up for this? A marriage of convenience, to someone who would view her as nothing more than a pawn.
The door to her office burst open, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. In walked the last person she ever expected to see.
Maxwell Thornfield, the ruthless CEO of Thornfield Enterprises-an empire in every sense of the word. Tall, with sharp features and an aura of authority that made even the strongest quake in his presence. His reputation preceded him: cold, calculating, and driven by one thing-business. He didn't believe in love. Hell, he probably didn't even know what love was.
He was also the last person Clara would've chosen to marry, even under the most desperate of circumstances. But here he was, stepping into her life like a storm.
"Clara," Max's voice cut through the tension in the room, his dark eyes fixed on her. He didn't look surprised to see her in distress. Of course, someone like him was always prepared for a crisis. "I know you're struggling to figure this out. But I think we both know what needs to be done."
She met his gaze, refusing to back down. "And what would that be?"
Max's lips curled into a slight smirk, though there was nothing playful about it. He wasn't here to comfort her. He was here to make a deal.
"You need a husband, and I need to protect my family's legacy. A mutually beneficial arrangement, don't you think?" His words were cold, detached-just like him.
Clara felt her pulse quicken, her emotions swirling like a storm inside her. She wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what he was proposing. A contract marriage. A cold, emotionless union of convenience.
"How is it beneficial for me?" Clara demanded, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain calm. "What do you gain from this?"
Max took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You'll save your company. The terms of your father's will are clear, and if you don't meet them, it's all gone. As for me, I'll secure my inheritance and ensure no one questions my position in the company. In return, we'll keep up the appearance of a happy marriage, and you'll get the protection you need."
The words stung. He made it sound so clinical, so precise, like they were just two business partners joining forces. Nothing personal. Nothing emotional. But that was exactly what she needed, wasn't it? A way out. A solution. Even if it meant selling her soul for a contract.
"And what do you want in return?" Clara's voice barely cracked as she pushed back, her anger mixing with the crushing weight of helplessness.
Max tilted his head slightly, his eyes scanning her face as though he were studying a piece of art. "You get to keep the business. I get the respectability that comes with being married. It's a simple transaction, Clara."
Her heart pounded, her mind racing. Was this really her only option? Was she really about to sign away her dignity for the sake of a company that was already slipping from her grasp?
For a moment, the world around her seemed to disappear. It was just the two of them in the room, the tension thick in the air. Max's eyes never left hers, unwavering, as if daring her to turn him down. But he wasn't offering her much of a choice.
Clara swallowed hard, her throat dry. "And if I refuse?" she asked, her voice quieter now, a flicker of defiance still burning inside her.
Max's expression didn't change. "Then you'll lose everything."
She met his gaze, a spark of fury igniting within her chest. But beneath the anger, there was something else-a twisted sense of necessity. She didn't have time to waste on pride or principles. If she didn't act fast, she'd lose everything her father had worked for.
Max took a step back, his eyes still locked on hers. "We can arrange the details later. But if you want to save your family's legacy, this is the only way."
Clara looked at him, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. He was right. This was her only option. But as she signed her name at the bottom of the agreement, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was signing away something more than just her independence. She was about to marry a man who would never love her, a man who could destroy her without a second thought.
But she had no choice.
As she placed the pen down, Max's lips curled into a cold smile. "Welcome to the Thornfield family, Mrs. Thornfield."
Clara fought the urge to vomit as she forced herself to look up at him, her heart sinking. This wasn't a fairytale. This was a business transaction. And she was about to spend the rest of her life with a man who would never care for her-no matter how hard she tried to make him.
The deal was done. And there was no going back.