Mistakenly became Mr. Alexander's wife

ghts of the upscale lounge danced in soft, golden hues. The sound of chatter and clinking glasses filled the air, but it b

-eyed woman who had always managed to make Emma feel less than enough. And now, Derek had chosen her. Announced i

ar Derek's voice in her head from the night he had broken up

e. I need something... more

anything. Was that what she was to h

n't the type to get drunk and wallow, but tonight-tonight, she needed to forget. She needed the whi

voice cut through her haze, a

ing his eyes. "Yeah, mak

hung in loose waves around her face. Her makeup, done meticulously earlier in the evening, was starting to smudge around her eyes, making her look more tired than sh

to herself, raising the glass as

convincing," a deep vo

it that screamed money. His dark hair was tousled just enough to look effortless, but his sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes told her

t didn't reach her eyes. "I'

e he gave a small nod, as if accepting her answer

, curious despite herself

sent an odd shiver down her spine. "N

l doing?" she murmured, m

ing his full attention back to her. "What about you?

her glass. "Let's just say my ex-boyfriend

w, clearly intrigued. "T

tter. "Oh, it's a story all r

yes unsettling. "Funny thing about trying to

e darkness swirling inside her. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was ju

was. And then, out of nowhere, he says he needs something easier, someone more... stable. Next thing

mile, but it wasn't one of amusemen

. "Doesn't f

simply, his voice firm in a w

er at Michelle, anger at herself for caring so damn much. She lifted her glass to he

muttered, reach

er hand, setting it down carefully. His fingers brushed against he

w down," he suggested

g blue eyes of his seemed to see straight through her, and for a

e asked, her voice ba

ied her, as if weighing his words carefully. "Let'

t caught her off guard, and before she knew what she was doi

d back in his chair and gave a small, almost imperceptible s

ry there, something dark and painful, and part of her wanted to know mor

creen, and her stomach tw

d up the phone and swiped to

end of the line, and Emma's heart sank. "I

e gut, and for a moment, she couldn'

nd of financial fraud. But Emma, you know you

pulse quickening. "Wh

hear the tears in it. "It's Derek, Emma. H

urse. The pieces started to fall into place-the sudden breakup, the engagement to Michelle, and now this

d for a moment, the room seemed to tilt. She braced he

ce was small, pleading.

ice low and dangerous. "I'l

er mind spinning. Everything was falling apart. And

her thoughts, and she looked up to find hi

weight of everything pressing do

then leaned in slightly. "D

er of help-was the final straw. Emma's composure c

ice shaky. "Derek-my ex-he's the one behind i

darkened, his jaw cle

er laugh. "Yeah. Th

ng something. Then, without warning, he reached into his pocket and pu

down," he said, his voice low and se

't know this man, didn't even know his name, but some

as she read the name on it. "Alexander Mason," she mu

itch at the corner of his mouth-a smile that never fully formed. "I think y

g in like a slow burn. Alexander Ma

ho rarely made public appearances but was known for controlling an empire much larger than Derek's. He wasn't just rich;

said, her voice barely above a

most dismissive, as if the distinction mattered. "

ulse racing. "Why a

d in closer, his presence almost suffocating in its intensity. "And because I know what it fe

e there was someone on her side for once-but something about Alexander made her uneasy. He was too calm, too calc

e asked, her voice sha

a long sip of his scotch before setting the glass down and meeting her eyes

e was always a price with men like him.

e air between them seemed to thicken with something unspoken, something dangerous. "

her throat felt tigh

aid, his voice as smooth and

t. She blinked, sure sh

f he were asking her for a simple business deal. "Marry me, and I'll make sure your

echless. This was his p

arry me?" she asked, dis

er. Someone who isn't afraid to stand by me in public, to help smooth over some..

t even know this man, and now he was asking her to marry him? To g

sked again, her

er replied, his gaze unwavering. "And I have

ple about this. She opened her mouth to say something

as she saw a text from her mother:

, because of Derek. Because of the man she had once loved, the man w

rry a man like him, even if it meant saving her father? What would her life look like if she a

rek win, letting her father rot

f I say no?" sh

of here, and your father stays where he is. Derek continues his life, unsca

der that without his help

r, her decision looming over her like a storm cloud. She could

ut of blackmail, tied to a man who saw her as nothing more than a pawn i

ander's gaze head-on. "Fine," she said, her voice stead

on a game only he knew they were playing. He stood up, but

eat of his breath on her skin. "I'll have my lawyers draft the papers. We

e, but she held her ground. She had made he

into the crowd, Emma sat there, staring

she just