I thought my life was mine to control; my choices were my own. But everything crumbled when my father's desperate secrets unraveled, leaving me with one shocking truth-I was the price to pay for his mistakes. The name Kensington Creed echoed power and danger. A billionaire with a shattered past and eyes as cold as a winter night, he was as untouchable as he was feared. But behind the marble walls of his mansion, I saw the cracks in his armor-the man beneath the shadow of his tragedy. Now, I'm bound to him by a contract I didn't sign, in a marriage neither of us wants. Every step I take in his world pulls me deeper into his secrets. The life he's built is full of whispers, pain, and something else I can't quite grasp. He doesn't trust me, and I'm not sure I trust myself around him. But as I dig for answers, I realize the cost of understanding him may be higher than I ever imagined. Because in Kensington's world, love isn't a promise-it's a weapon. And I've just handed him the sharpest blade. What happens when the truth we both fear becomes the one thing that could destroy us?
Chapter 1 Lyra's Predicament
"Sit down, Lyra."
My father's command sends a shiver down my spine, and I freeze at the door. At first, my feet are immobile. His tone causes my stomach to twist and churn. With a gentle click that seems louder than it should be, the door behind me closes as I finally enter the study.
"What's wrong, Dad?" With a smaller-than-intended voice, I ask. Speaking feels weird, almost like I'm trying to wake up from an unending nightmare. His normally tidy clothing is a little rumpled, and his face is dull as if he had been up for hours worried. I already know that this will not be a typical chat.
He says it again, "Sit," in a softer but still tense voice.
My heart hammering against my ribs, I sink into the chair across from him. The only sound in the room is the faint ticking of a clock in the corner. My father's eyes don't look as they usually do when he looks at me. The eyes of the powerful man who always had things under control are hazy and far away. Something has changed.
I take a deep breath. Tell me, Dad, please. What is happening?
With a hand stroking his graying hair, he exhales deeply. His eyes move to the papers in front of him, which are strewn all over his desk like fragments of a broken puzzle. He lifts one, smoothes it out, and then turns it toward me, his hands shaking a little.
I look at the page, attempting to interpret the lines and numbers that I don't comprehend. But it makes no difference. His expression says it all.
"We're done, Lyra." His words pierce me like a hefty stone, and his voice is gruff. "The company is in ruins." Everything is gone. He seems to be seeking strength before continuing, as he leans back in his chair and briefly closes his eyes. We are overwhelmed by all of the bills, investments, and loans. There is no escape.
I look at him, speechless. My thoughts racing, and my throat tightens. I want to scream, but I can't make any noise. This is not logical.
"You're kidding, aren't you?" I attempt, speaking in a barely audible whisper, in the hopes that he will laugh and tell me it's all a horrible joke. However, his expression remains unchanged.
His eyes do not touch me as he whispers, "I wish I were." However, we have no other choices. Lyra, I've tried everything. There is currently only one option available.
Although I'm not sure what he means, I can tell by the icy fear that it's not anything I want to hear.
"What... what option?" I mumble, nearly terrified of the response.
His eyes feel heavy as he looks at me. "You must wed Kensington Creed."
I felt like I was slapped across the face by the words. I blink, finding it difficult to process what he just stated. "What?" I stutter. "Creed in Kensington? Do you wish for me to wed him?
I can't even visualize his face; all I can think of are the rumors and stories that seem too fantastical to be real. The man's name is all over, but it's always in whispers and connected to things I'd rather not consider. Rich. strong. Risky.
My father adds in a flat, resigned voice, "Lyra, this is not a request." "He alone is capable of saving us."
My hands became icy. I struggle to maintain a steady voice. But why him? Kensington Creed: Why?
My father continues in a desperate tone, "Because he can erase our debts with a single signature." He is wealthy, powerful, and well-connected. Everything is wiped clean if you marry him. Our family will live. You will, too.
My chest begins to churn with nausea. Perhaps my father's statements make too much sense, or they don't make sense at all. It's not a fairy tale here. This isn't some idealized notion of a big gesture. This is a last-ditch appeal from a man who has exhausted all other possibilities.
My voice is shaking now as I plead, "But I don't even know him." "Aside from what people say about him, I don't know anything."
His hands are on the desk as he leans forward. "Lyra, you don't have to know him. All you have to do is wed him. It's a commercial agreement. Not much more.
My heart is pounding as I shake my head. "This is not something I can do. I can't get married to a stranger. Dad, it's not just about me. This is my life. You want me to discard everything.
"Are you okay with us losing everything?" He loses it. Would you like to see me and your mother on the streets? Is it your preference?
I wince as though he had smacked me. "Not," I mumble, my eyes burning. That is not what I desire. That was never what I wanted.
My thoughts are racing. I have no idea what to do. I feel like screaming and telling him that this is too much. However, his words weigh heavily on my chest. I can't bear the weight of the implications if I say no.
"Please, Lyra," my father pleads, his voice lower now. "I've given you everything. You have no idea how much is at stake here. This can only be fixed by you. Everything we've achieved and everything we've worked for will come crashing down if you don't do this.
I can see the intense fear that has taken hold of him in his eyes. He is afraid. But I'm also afraid. I was afraid of dying and of what would happen to me and my future if I married Kensington Creed.
The words nearly escape my lips as I mutter, "I... I can't just marry him."
"You have no other option," he says. "Lyra, this is it. There is nothing else we can do.
The room is filled with dense, oppressive quiet. I am aware of the strain my father is putting on me and the weight of his expectations. The duty to protect our family. However, how can I? For a man I don't even know, how can I give up everything I am?
My father's voice is raw as he continues, "I know it's hard." However, there is no other option. It's all over if you don't marry him.
With trembling legs, I get to my feet. With my voice breaking, I mumble, "I don't know what to do."
With a gentle creak, the door behind me opens. I look around, thinking I'll see my mom when a man enters the room. Broad-shouldered and tall, with dark, piercing eyes that instantly meet mine. My throat tightens with every breath.
Kensington Street.
His presence fills the room as he stands there. He never takes his eyes off me. My heart beats faster.
"I think we need to talk, Lyra," he adds in a silky, low voice.
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