Vows of fortune

Vows of fortune

RaReMe

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Adrian Drake, a driven and emotionally guarded billionaire, faces a life- changing challenge: marry by his thirtieth birthday or lose control of his family's company to his deceitful cousin, Julian. Sophia Bennett, a determined woman, has her own problems , her father has been wrongfully accused of embezzlement, and she must find a way to clear his name before their family's reputation is destroyed forever. When Adrian offers Sophia a marriage contract that would give her the financial stability to care for her ailing father, she reluctantly accepts. What begins as a business arrangement soon turns into a passionate battle for justice and love.

Chapter 1 One

The Offer

The hospital exuded a stark, antiseptic smell that seemed to cling to the very walls, creating an atmosphere that felt both sterile and profoundly depressing. In the far corner of the private room, Sophia Bennett sat rigidly, her back straight against the chair, her eyes fixed intently on the man lying unconscious in the bed before her. Each shallow breath he took echoed in her mind, amplifying the weight of the silence that enveloped them both, as she wrestled with a tumult of emotions that surged within her. Machines beeped in a steady rhythm, tubes snaked into his arms and the silence in between was deafening. Richard Bennett her father was once a titan of industry but is now a mere shadow of his former glory. It had been an abrupt stroke. The even quicker fall from grace. After an hour her phone vibrated for the fifth time. Board Update: Urgent action is necessary. She didn't open it. She already knew what was happening, lawyers circling like vultures, assets frozen, and investors pulling out. She lacked funds, power, and a plan. The door opened. "I apologize this floor is for... she began but stopped when the man entered the room as if he were the owner. Adrian Drake. He appeared more like a striking cover model straight out of a high-fashion magazine like Vogue than the formidable CEO of a multibillion-dollar corporation, standing tall with an air of confidence that was accentuated by his dark, chiseled features. His immaculately tailored charcoal suit clung perfectly to his frame, exuding an aura of elegance and sophistication that seemed almost out of place in the corporate world, drawing the admiration of those around him and leaving a lasting impression that transcended his professional title. Sophia however was furious.. A man with the ability to destroy what was left of her family was hiding behind those stormy grey eyes along with a cunning mind. Slowly she stood. "You shouldn't be here." With his eyes darting momentarily to her father he said calmly. " I go wherever I want to." Her eyes narrowed to a silt. "Say what you came to say, then leave." "I have a proposition," he said. Ignoring the hatred in her glare, he took a folded piece of paper out of his coat pocket and placed it on the side table. "You need money and I need a wife." Sophia blinked severally in surprise. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?" "There is a contract," he declared. "Short-term marriage. Legal.Public. You play the role of a devoted wife. In exchange, I will fund your father's treatment. And I will ensure Bennett Enterprises continues to operate." Her jaw dropped. "Is this a joke?" "No. The solution is strategic." He moved a step nearer. "My grandfathers will contain a clause. I must get married by the time I turn thirty. Which is Forty days from now. If not, my cousin Julian will get everything." "The same Julian who falsely accused my father of stealing from Drake Global?" Adrian's face remained expressionless. "Yes. That's why I need someone who presents a clean image. Someone who in all likelihood wouldn't marry me for financial gain. That is who you are. " Sophia's laughter was bitter. "You're crazy." "Possible. But in all seriousness, we need to act fast." Her eyes were blazing as she took a step closer. "Why not a socialite or model who genuinely wants the position of a wife instead of me?" "Because drama is not what I want. I want to keep it private. You need to save. The media respects my name. Both of us will gain from it." She felt her heart beating. "To preserve my father's legacy, do you think I would marry you?" "I believe you already realize that you have no other choice." It struck like a slap. Worst of all it was the truth. Every bank investor and bit of pride she had, was gone. The air was choked with silence. The machines continued to beep despite the raging conflict between them. She whispered, "I don't intend to commit myself to a man like you." Adrian's eyebrow went up. " Fine. Do whatever you want. And watch your father's remaining assets dismantled by the board and angry investors." As he turned to go he stopped. "You have just twenty-four hours to make up your mind. The contract will be sent over by my lawyer. Then the deal goes away." His scent, his threat, and the flicker of temptation that repulsed her were all gone when he walked out. *** That afternoon Sophia stood with a storm in her chest in Bennett Enterprise's lobby. The board meeting was a nightmare. The board of directors who were supposed to be her father's supporters quickly proposed restructuring, suggesting liquidation and even worse selling the company outright. She had left the meeting with a pounding headache and trembling hands. They weren't going to wait for her dad to get better. Her assistant came running up holding a folder. "He is back." Sophia's stomach fell out. "Who?" "Adrian Drake. He is in your father's office. With a muttered curse she walked with heels clicking like a gun as she strode to the door. Adrian occupied Richard Bennetts's desk as if it were his own. He had the assurance of someone who had already won as he flipped through a file. "You're not ashamed," she yelled. "Well, you're here," On the table, she threw the folder. "My answer is no. I will not marry you." He chuckled. "Your response is causing a delay. You need this, Sophia." "You're so full of yourself, Adrian." He smirked. "Let's then discuss logistics. "You marry me. You have full financial support. The greatest medical care in the world will be provided to your father. Your company will get a second chance. And my grandfather's empire becomes mine." "No intimacy," she declared. "Not a single one." "No drama with the press." "We will control the narrative," he assured. "And after it ends, we will both go our separate ways," she said. "Definitely," he said smoothly. "No strings." Sophia gazed at him. It was insane. And yet, her father's face so still and so pale flashed before her eyes. She imagined that the media would destroy him. There were traitors in the boardroom. Everything he built over the years was slowly deteriorating. She hated Adrian but she hated seeing her father's company collapse even more. Reaching into his briefcase he took out a heavy envelope. Sophia glanced over at the label. Bennett-Drake marriage contract. She felt a knot in her stomach. "I will expect your answer by midnight," he said as he dropped it on the desk. As she reached for it, he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Welcome to the negotiation."

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"Let's get married," Mia declares, her voice trembling despite her defiant gaze into Stefan's guarded brown eyes. She needs this, even if he seems untouchable. Stefan raises a skeptical brow. "And why would I do that?" His voice was low, like a warning, and it made her shiver even though she tried not to show it. "We both have one thing in common," Mia continues, her gaze unwavering. "Shitty fathers. They want to take what's ours and give it to who they think deserves it." A pointed pause hangs in the air. "The only difference between us is that you're an illegitimate child, and I'm not." Stefan studies her, the heiress in her designer armor, the fire in her eyes that matches the burn of his own rage. "That's your solution? A wedding band as a weapon?" He said ignoring the part where she just referred to him as an illegitimate child. "The only weapon they won't see coming." She steps closer, close enough for him to catch the scent of her perfume, gunpowder and jasmine. "Our fathers stole our birthrights. The sole reason they betrayed us. We join forces, create our own empire that'll bring down theirs." A beat of silence. Then, Stefan's mouth curves into something sharp. "One condition," he murmurs, closing the distance. "No divorces. No surrenders. If we're doing this, it's for life" "Deal" Mia said without missing a beat. Her father wants to destroy her life. She wouldn't give him the pleasure, she would destroy her life as she seems fit. ................ Two shattered heirs. One deadly vow. A marriage built on revenge. Mia Meyers was born to rule her father's empire (so she thought), until he named his bastard son heir instead. Stefan Sterling knows the sting of betrayal too. His father discarded him like trash. Now the rivals' disgraced children have a poisonous proposal: Marry for vengeance. Crush their fathers' legacies. Never speak of divorce. Whoever cracks first loses everything. Can these two rivals, united by their vengeful hearts, pull off a marriage of convenience to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs? Or will their fathers' animosity, and their own complicated pasts tear their fragile alliance apart?

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