Fake Marriage

, for Ethan. The logical part of her knew why he'd proposed it. Ethan needed someone stable, someone who could offer him a mother's love, even if tempora

eone without love, know

tood in front of the mirror, tugging her sweater down as if smoothing the fabric could settle the whirlwind

pulling her from her thoughts. It wa

ing to know how the billiona

ch about her job at the Hale estate, let alone the proposition Alex had thrown

ly. Belle: Meet at The Gr

ate. Claire: Uh-oh. This sound

e grabbed her bag an

fee machines that provided an oddly comforting background noise. Isabelle spotted Claire right away,

lid into the seat across from her. "You'v

avoiding her friend's pierc

sparkling with curiosity. "Girl,

dored the little boy, how he had grown so attached to her. Then, she explained Alex's offer-the contra

d, Claire's mouth was h

ed back in her chair, eyes wide. "H

again. "It's not real. It's just for a year, for

And you're considering this? Belle, this is insane. You can't marry

Ethan... Claire, I don't know what to do. He needs stability, and Alex is right

own life for a year to live with a guy who's as emotionally available as a block of ice. You'll get hurt, Belle. What if th

urface. "I don't know what to do. Part of me thinks this could be good fo

about Ethan, and you've always had a huge heart. But you need to think about yourself too

ved. But what weighed on her the most was Ethan. Could she really walk away from him? Could she liv

ment, then sighed. "You're

dmitted. "I don't know wha

ueezing her hand. "Just promise me one thing-don't let him turn you into

riend always offered. But even as they talked about other things,

teps echoing through the massive foyer as she entered. Ethan was waiting for h

She scooped him up, holding him tightly, her heart squeezing pai

buddy?" she asked, tryin

with Legos! And Daddy said we could go

give him false hope if she decided not to accept

of his head. "Let's build something a

er and excitement temporarily distracting her from the heavy decision that loome

. Her nerves buzzed under her skin as she approached t

s deep voice cal

, papers strewn across the surface, his laptop glowing in front of hi

it?" he asked, getting

and stepped inside, closin

s chair, his sharp gaz

smile, the way he'd asked her to be his mommy. Her heart ached with the weight

voice firm despite the swirling unce

a flicker of something in his eyes-relief, mayb

ings. This is for Ethan. I won't lie to him, and I won't pretend this is somethin

though there was a distant edge to

as she said it. "I'm not going to be just another part of y

You'll have everything you need. This isn't about control,

idn't have the strength to argue. Not now. She'd

d for a moment, Isabelle felt the full weight of what she had just agreed to. This man-cold, distant, p

, his voice low but confide

at, the dea