The Marriage Gamble

e was like a storm front moving into the room-suffocating, dark, and inevitable. She forced he

ys, but when they settled on her, something flickered-something sharp, assessing. He was sizing her up. Not like an adversary

sted game had her gra

remain steady. "I didn't expect to see you here. Or rather,

churn. It wasn't the charming smile of a man trying to win favor. It was the gr

" he said, his voice smooth, unhurried. "Giv

uncomfortably, looking between them as if he were waiting for the explosion. The remaining relatives who had bothered to show

bitter on her tongue. Nathaniel Jameso

e asked, crossing her arms in front of

blade. "Your inheritance, o

gling to maintain her composure. Every instinct screamed at her to tell him to leave, to walk out of

her had made

aid, her voice cold, cutting

ldn't think about them. Not with Nathaniel standing there, so composed, as if he

nother step forward, "that's no

ther set up, Nathaniel. I'm not some pawn in his ridicul

s nothing to do with feelings." He glanced at the lawyer, who was still standing awkwardly near the desk, then back to her. "It's

about control. Every deal, every decision he'd ever made had been calculated to protect his empire, to keep his wealth and inf

voice trembled slightly. "I don't need his money.

hers. "Not just money, but control over Drake Enterprises, over every asset and investment your fami

e money. It was the principle, the manipulation, the idea that her life was once

id firmly. "Not by you, not by my gran

ne's bullying you, Lena. This is business. You know that better than anyone. You can walk aw

company-everything her father had tried to shield her from would fall directly into Nathaniel's hands. She clenched

t afford to lose control. N

nded, her voice sharp. "What's in it for you,

omething unreadable. Then it was gone, replaced

marry, or the estate goes to my family. I inherit either

d her eyes.

word hanging in the air between them like a blade. "Control over the Drake legacy. Our families have been at war for decades,

dark eyes locked on hers. Lena could feel her heart hammering in

"isn't about us. It's about legacy. And if you walk away, you're handi

ould win. The legacy her grandfather had built would become his. Everything her father had tried to

she couldn't deny that the stakes were higher than just her pride. If she walked away, s

t like a trap, an impossible choice with no good outcome. But Nathaniel was right about

nk," she said final

long moment, then nodded o

at had already started to run. He turned, casting a

If you do decide to say yes, I expect you to come to the negotiation table

ked out, the heavy wooden door cl

ing

er mind, cold and unf

was willing to admit. And if she agreed to this, she was w