When my mother's life hung in the balance, I didn't hesitate. I signed his contract-a marriage bound by rules, void of emotions. Lucas Kane, the cold and calculating billionaire, needed a wife for his business empire, and I needed the money to save my family. I thought I could handle it. Play the role, follow the rules, and keep my heart out of it. But Lucas isn't just ruthless-he's magnetic and unpredictable, and beneath his steel-gray gaze, I see glimpses of a man burdened by secrets he'll never share. Then the cracks in his perfect facade began to show. A whispered name in the dead of night. A locked room he forbids me to enter. And a warning from his ex-fiancée that makes my blood run cold: "I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into. He'll destroy you like he destroyed me." I was prepared for a loveless marriage. I wasn't prepared for the lies. And now, I can't shake the feeling that the man I'm falling for is hiding something that could shatter me. But the worst part? I think I'm about to find out.
Chapter 1 THE PROPOSAL
"You don't have a choice."
The words pierced the quiet like glass shards, and I froze. For the last thirty minutes, I had hardly heard him talk, and suddenly his quiet, methodical, and almost aloof voice struck me in the chest.
I glanced up from the glass of water I was holding, still acting as if I were drinking it, but in reality, I had been having trouble swallowing for the last several minutes. My pulse felt irregular, and my throat was constricted. I didn't think he would be that... icy.
Lucas Kane sat on the other side of the slick, shiny table, touching the edge of a folder softly. His customary immaculate suit, which was a dark blue tone, gave him an even more menacing appearance if that was even possible. I felt as if he could see right through me because of the intensity with which his gray eyes engaged mine. They were acute and inscrutable.
"I don't think I understand." My voice sounded weak and little, just like I felt. I scanned the pricey conference room in the hopes that someone would intervene and provide an explanation. But we were alone. There was a lock on the door. They had shut the windows.
There was no way out.
His face remained the same as he sat back in his chair. "You need funds. I need a wife. A convenient marriage with no conditions. I'll take care of all your needs in return for your assistance. The medical expenses for your mother. Everything, even your debts.
His comments lingered thick and oppressive in the air. I was unable to breathe for a while. It was an innocent meeting to discuss a social work project I had been enthusiastic about, and I had come here to explore possible employment. However, Lucas Kane had little interest in helping others. He just wanted a bargain that would keep me with him for the rest of my life.
My heart started pounding. "This is... crazy. You're proposing marriage to me. An agreement. Are you serious? I couldn't control my resentful laughter. "You're not even someone I know."
"I understand." He spoke with such ease as if it were completely irrelevant. It doesn't matter, however. My money is needed by you. I need a public persona. I'll get what I need, and you'll get all you need.
It was disconcerting how coldly efficient his remarks were. This wasn't only a suggestion. Inconvenient packaging, this was an ultimatum. Nevertheless, I couldn't deny the uneasy sensation that this could be my only choice.
The oppressive weight of all I'd promised my mother, the medical costs that were mounting more quickly than I could keep track of, and the creditors hammering at my door were all on my mind. All I had left was her. And I was prepared to go to any lengths to ensure her well-being. Anything.
I could hardly look him in the eyes as I said, "You're offering me money." "For what? A document stating that I am your spouse?
"Exactly."
My stomach rumbled. The thought seemed incorrect, as if a world other than mine were engulfing me. I never thought my life would reach this point when I would be sitting across from one of the city's richest men and hearing him see marriage as a commercial deal.
"Why me?" With a shaky voice, I whispered. "There has to be another person-someone more appropriate for this type of... arrangement."
Lucas's eyes narrowed as he arched a brow. "Why don't you? You need the money, and you're dependable and skilled. That is not a source of shame.
I tried to quiet the raging thoughts in my head by closing my eyes for a moment. A convenience marriage. An agreement. I could act like it was something else, like I had any other option, but I knew in my heart that this was the way things were. Pride had no place here. Fantasy had no place here.
As if he could read my mind, he continued, "You'll have to sign a contract." "All legal matters will be handled by us. It is only a formality and not a true marriage. We'll lead our own lives. Nobody will even be aware of the reality.
"Just us."
There was a little curve to his lips, a hint of enjoyment. "That's the concept."
A weird knot started to grow in my gut. I didn't think my life would turn out this way. I had never imagined that I would one day be seated across from someone like Lucas Kane, and I was struck by the icy, calculating manner in which he viewed everything and everyone in his immediate vicinity.
Yes, he was giving me a way out. But at what price?
"How can I be sure that I can trust you?" With a foul taste in my mouth, I eventually asked.
"Your trust is not necessary for me. All you have to do is your share. You are free to go if you so want. I won't stop you. My skin pricked at the coldness of his words. But be aware that you would lose everything if you say no to this offer. The health of your mother. Your future. Everything will be gone.
I took a deep breath. His finality crushed me as the weight of his words lingered in the air. He was telling the truth. I was unaware of how much debt I had accrued and how much I had sacrificed for my survival.
My life's greatest responsibility had just been laid upon me by Lucas Kane.
"I... I can't simply..."
His voice was deep and authoritative as he interrupted, "Don't think too long, Sophia." "You can't take this choice lightly. However, it is up to you to decide.
I blinked, attempting to suppress the threatening tears. I had put a lot of effort into getting here and creating a life that was mine, but suddenly it seemed like everything I had ever worked for was falling apart beneath the pressure of this calculating, cold offer.
I needed to decide. And now I needed to create it.
I murmured, my words tasting strange as they came out of my lips, "I'll... do it."
A grin that just reached Lucas's eyes curled upward on his lips. "All right. I'll draft the documentation. You'll sign tomorrow morning.
Feeling the weight of the contract he had just committed me to, I stood as he did. For a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker-something I couldn't identify-when his eyes met mine. However, it vanished, hidden under the dispassionate, icy exterior he wore like a second skin.
The meeting room door opened behind me as I turned to leave. When I saw the towering lady standing in the doorway, staring at Lucas with a look of both familiarity and contempt, my heart almost stopped.
"Lucas," she murmured, her tone brimming with scorn. "You seem to have discovered a new toy."
The room became cold at the sight of the lady. Who was she? Why had she come here?
And why did I feel as if everything in my universe was about to fall apart?
End of Chapter 1