Angel never imagined she'd become a billionaire's wife-especially not by force. When Aaron Blackwood, ruthless CEO and heir to a multibillion-dollar empire, is backed into a corner, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. A contract. A marriage. A deal that should have been simple. But nothing about Aaron is simple. He's cold, calculating, and dangerously possessive. Every move she makes feels like a test, every glance a challenge. And the more she fights him, the more he seems to enjoy the game. But when secrets from his world begin to surface-whispers of enemies, betrayals, and a deadly past-Angel realizes she's not just trapped in a marriage. She's trapped in his world. And walking away might not be an option.
Chapter 1 Signed, Sealed, Trapped
Angel stared at the thick contract in front of her, her fingers tightening around the pen. Her name was already printed at the bottom of the last page, waiting for her signature. One stroke of ink, and she would no longer belong to herself. "I don't have all day," Aaron Blackwood's voice was smooth, yet laced with impatience. She lifted her gaze, meeting the cold, piercing blue eyes of the man sitting across from her. Aaron leaned back in his leather chair, his sharp jawline set in a firm line, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. He was waiting. Expecting compliance.
The dim lighting of his office did nothing to soften the intimidating presence he carried. Behind him, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the New York skyline, the city glowing beneath the night sky. The world outside was alive, full of people making their own choices. But here, in this room, Angel had none. The contract felt heavier than paper in her hands. "You agree to all terms?" his lawyer asked, flipping through the document with an air of disinterest. It was just another business deal to him. Another merger, another acquisition. Only this time, the asset being acquired was her. Angel's throat went dry. Agree? Did she really have a choice? She clenched her hands into fists beneath the table, her nails digging into her palm. A month ago, she had never imagined being in this situation. But desperate circumstances forced desperate decisions. Her sister's hospital bills had piled up. Debt collectors were knocking. She had exhausted every job opportunity, every possible lifeline. Then Aaron Blackwood had walked into her life with an offer that felt more like a trap. "Marry me, and you'll get everything you need," he had said. "Financial security, protection... but most importantly, a contract that ensures neither of us gets in each other's way." At the time, it had seemed like salvation. A chance to save her sister. But now, sitting in front of the most powerful man in New York, his sharp gaze piercing through her, Angel realized she had never truly understood what she was signing up for. "I'll give you five seconds," Aaron said coolly, checking his watch. "Sign it, or walk out that door and consider this deal off the table." Angel's fingers trembled around the pen. Walking away meant walking into ruin. Staying meant losing herself to a man who saw her as nothing more than a means to an end. Five seconds. Four. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Three. She thought of her sister, lying in a hospital bed. Two. Aaron's lips curled slightly, as if he already knew her decision. One. Angel closed her eyes, inhaled sharply, and signed her name. The moment the ink dried, she knew-her life no longer belonged to her. Scene Transition: The Wedding The following evening, Angel stood before a judge, her hands clasped in front of her as the ceremony unfolded in a cold, emotionless exchange of vows. There was no church, no guests, no flowers. Just her, Aaron, and two witnesses who looked as uninterested in the moment as the man standing beside her. She had never even worn a wedding dress. Instead, she stood in a simple black dress that Aaron's assistant had picked out for her, its fitted fabric feeling more like a straitjacket than attire for a bride. Aaron, on the other hand, was effortlessly perfect. Dressed in a tailored black suit, he looked every bit the powerful billionaire the world knew him as. If he had any thoughts about this marriage, he didn't show them. No nervousness. No hesitation. Just the same cool indifference he had shown when handing her the contract. "Do you, Aaron Blackwood, take Angel Monroe to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Aaron didn't hesitate. "I do." Her stomach twisted. "And do you, Angel Monroe, take Aaron Blackwood to be your lawfully wedded husband?" She parted her lips, but no words came out. Her throat was dry, her body rigid. This was it. Once she said those two words, there would be no turning back. Aaron's hand subtly brushed against hers. Not in reassurance, but in silent warning. A reminder that she had made her choice. "I... I do." The words barely made it past her lips. The judge gave a small nod. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." There was no kiss. No congratulations. Just silence. Angel felt a chill crawl up her spine as Aaron turned to her, his expression unreadable. His hand rested lightly on her lower back as he guided her out of the courthouse, where a sleek black car waited for them. The moment they stepped outside, the air felt different-like the city itself knew she had just crossed a line she could never uncross. Angel took a shaky breath as Aaron opened the car door for her, an unreadable look in his eyes. "Get in," he said simply. She hesitated for half a second before obeying, sliding into the cold leather seat. The door shut behind her with a finality that made her chest tighten. Aaron slid in beside her, the space between them filled with silence. Then, as the car pulled away from the courthouse, he leaned in, his lips near her ear as he whispered, "Welcome to your new life, Mrs. Blackwood." A shiver ran down her spine. And just like that, Angel realized-she hadn't just signed a contract. She had signed away her soul.
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