Chapter 1 The Debt Collector
Lena Hart sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her fingers trembling as she clutched the crumpled medical bill in her lap. Her younger brother lay unconscious beside her, his skin pale, his breathing shallow.
Another bill. Another threat.
"Miss Hart," the nurse said gently from the doorway, "if the payment isn't made by Friday, we'll have to discontinue treatment."
Lena's stomach sank. She couldn't cry again-not here, not in front of her brother.
"I understand," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible.
Outside the ward, she leaned against the cold wall and closed her eyes. She had tried everything-student loans, scholarships, even crowdfunding. But nothing came close to the kind of money she needed to keep her brother alive.
She wasn't just broke.
She was desperate.
And desperate people made dangerous decisions.
By nightfall, Lena was walking through the marbled lobby of Valtore Industries, the towering building in the heart of the city owned by the man she once hated most-Dominic Valtore.
The name alone made her skin crawl. Cold, ruthless, filthy rich-and powerful enough to make people disappear.
He was the devil in a tailored suit.
And she was walking right into his lair.
"Mr. Valtore is expecting you," the receptionist said without meeting Lena's eyes. "Top floor."
Lena's pulse quickened with every step the elevator took upward. When the doors finally opened, she stepped into an office bathed in shadows, lit only by the city skyline behind a massive desk.
And there he was.
Dominic Valtore.
Seated like a king on a throne, a glass of whiskey in one hand, indifference in his eyes.
"Miss Hart," he said, his voice smooth and cutting, "What a surprise. I never expected you'd crawl back."
Lena flinched, but she stood tall. "I'm not here to beg."
"Oh?" His lips curved into something close to a smile. "That's unfortunate. Because begging is what gets you what you want, sweetheart."
She gritted her teeth. "I need a loan. Just for a few months. I'll repay-"
"I don't lend money to liars."
Her breath caught. "What?"
"You swore you'd never set foot near me again. And now you're here, broke, desperate, and... still proud." He stood and walked toward her slowly, like a predator stalking his prey. "But lucky for you, I have an offer."
Her chest tightened. "What kind of offer?"
"A marriage contract."
Lena blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You marry me. Publicly. For one year. No questions asked."
She took a step back, stunned. "Why would you want that?"
Dominic's smile faded. "Revenge."
The word dropped like ice down her spine.
"I want to ruin someone," he said. "And having you by my side will make that a lot easier."
Lena shook her head. "I'm not a tool."
"No," he said, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear without permission, "You're a pawn. But you're the perfect one."
Her hand trembled. "You're insane."
"Possibly. But if you walk out now, your brother dies. If you sign that contract," he nodded toward the thick folder on his desk, "he lives."
Tears burned behind her eyes. It wasn't a choice-it was a sentence.
"What do you get out of it?" she asked quietly.
Dominic leaned in so close she could feel his breath. "The pleasure of owning you."
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the glass-walled office, but Dominic didn't flinch. Instead, he laughed-a dark, dangerous sound.
"I knew you hadn't changed."
She turned to leave, rage and humiliation boiling in her chest.
But then her phone vibrated.
Unknown Number: "Prepare 50,000 by Friday or your brother's treatment ends."
She stared at the screen, her knees weakening.
Dominic walked back to his desk. "You have until midnight to decide."
Lena looked at the contract again.
Her name was already printed on the last page.
All it needed was a signature.
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