The Billionaire Marriage of Convenience

her hair, but she hardly noticed. Everything felt unreal, like a bad dream she couldn't wake up from. A place t

iction. The years behind bars. The betrayal by the man she had loved and trusted, and the betrayal

her mother, her face creased with worry, walking toward her. The woman had aged since

said, wrapping her arms around her daughter. Jade's tears,

d her. "It's over now, Jade. You'

ould

e surface, the real reason behind her

s supposed to be the one person who never turned his back on her. Instead, he had betrayed her in t

et away from the memories that were now strangling her

-

ee filling the air. Her fingers drummed nervously against the edge of the table as she wait

yes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. He was everything she had imagined-handsome, powerful, compose

hat unsettled her. Jade opened her mouth to speak, but the words got stuck. His presence was suffocating

his voice low and controlled.

crisp and untouched. "I have a proposition

n eyebrow. "I

nd that your situation is complicated, and I'm aware of the betrayal you've experienced. But I also kn

curiosity piqued. "Wha

ou need security, a fresh start, and someone to help you put your life back together. I've studied your case, Jade. I know your history an

" Her voice was incredulous, even though she knew the answer. Th

mutual needs, nothing more. A way to keep the pressure from my family off my back and to

e cool eyes, what kind of trauma had turned him into this man who saw everything as

ady despite the storm of emotions within her. "Wh

are things I've sworn off. But my mother doesn't understand that. She's been pressuring me for years, trying to set me up wit

is was a man with a past-a past that haunted him,

ity out of sheer necessity felt wrong. But at the same time, there was something in his eyes-a vul

le. We live as husband and wife in name only. You'll have access to the funds you need to get your life back on track. I'll p

rint that would come back to haunt her. It was as straightforward as it co

" she whispered, her hand tremb

tant. "Just trust me, for now. We'll go through with this and see where it takes

ns. This was her way out, a lifeline thrown to her when everything else had failed.

e pen, and with one quick motion,

etly, looking up to

ed, Jade knew her life wou