"Unbroken Vows" Lina Carter has always prided herself on being independent, determined to prove her worth in the male-dominated business world. But when her family's empire is on the line, she faces an impossible choice: sacrifice everything to marry the one person she can't stand or lose the future she's worked so hard for. Enter Caden Blackwood, the cold, calculating billionaire CEO of a rival company. He's built his empire from the ground up, determined to earn the approval of his demanding father. When the two are forced into a fake relationship to secure their families' business interests, neither expects the sparks that fly between them. Caden's icy demeanor hides a past filled with betrayal and heartbreak, while Lina's tough exterior masks her fear of being controlled. As their faux engagement becomes more real than either of them anticipated, secrets unravel, emotions flare, and the lines between business and pleasure blur. In the game of love, can they both win? Or will their broken pasts keep them from the future they never saw coming?
Chapter 1 The Arrangement
Lina Carter stood at the edge of the glittering ballroom, watching as her family mingled with business tycoons and high society elites. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, but it all felt distant to her. She couldn't escape the oppressive weight of her family's expectations, the way they always seemed to push her toward the "perfect" future-a future that wasn't her own.
Her mother, elegant and poised, caught sight of her from across the room and waved her over. Lina straightened her posture, putting on the mask of the dutiful daughter, the heir to Carter Enterprises. But inside, she was suffocating.
"Lina, darling, there's someone I'd like you to meet," her mother said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Lina followed her mother, her heels clicking on the marble floor, and found herself face-to-face with a tall, imposing figure-Caden Blackwood.
Caden Blackwood. CEO of Blackwood Enterprises. The name alone carried weight, a symbol of power and control. His icy blue eyes met hers with an air of casual detachment, as though he were sizing her up like a business deal rather than a person.
"Miss Carter," he said, his voice smooth, but with an underlying coldness. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Lina offered a polite smile, though she could feel the tension building in the pit of her stomach. She knew all too well what this meeting was about. Another set-up, another attempt to merge the two families' businesses through her marriage. She had heard the rumors, the whispers about her mother's persistent matchmaking efforts.
"You as well, Mr. Blackwood," she replied, her tone polite but distant.
Her mother's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I'm sure you two have much in common, especially with the business ventures both our families are involved in. You should spend some time getting to know each other."
Lina's stomach churned. It wasn't just about business. It was about her life, her future, being arranged by others, as if she had no say in it.
The evening wore on, but Lina couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in a gilded cage. Caden Blackwood didn't help. His silence was like a wall, and every word he spoke seemed to reinforce the coldness that radiated off him. There was a sense of mystery about him, a hidden pain that she couldn't quite place.
And then, the moment she had been dreading arrived. Her mother approached her again, this time with a knowing smile.
"Lina, darling," her mother began, "Caden and I were just talking, and we think it's time you two... started an arrangement. A public relationship would do wonders for both of your families. A union between Blackwood and Carter Enterprises could solidify our positions in the market, don't you think?"
Lina's heart sank. She hadn't imagined it would happen so soon.
Caden glanced at her, his gaze unreadable. "I'm sure we could make it work. It's a simple arrangement. Nothing more."
Her blood ran cold at his words. It wasn't a proposal of love, but of convenience. Business. Power. Control.
Lina looked at her mother, who was already nodding in approval, as though everything had already been decided.
"A perfect match," her mother said, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Lina's chest.
The weight of the situation pressed down on her, suffocating her. Was this what her life had come to? A business deal disguised as a relationship? A future where her heart no longer mattered?
"I'll... think about it," Lina finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Caden gave her a tight-lipped smile, his demeanor calm and collected, like everything was already in motion. "There's no need to think about it, Miss Carter. It's already decided."
And with that, the foundation for their fake relationship was set.
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