Married To The Billionaire Stranger

ery. She stared at the stack of cash, her fingers tracing the familiar patterns, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. It was enough. Enough to buy her mother a

hed straight to the hospital room, the money a tangible weight in her purse, but hadn't been able to bring hersel

against the crisp white sheets, a thin tube disappearing into her nostril. Amaka's chest ros

scanning Zara's face with a shrewdness born of years of friendsh

the collision, the intense gaze of Darius Kane, and the unexpected delivery of the money. She omitted, however, the st

m's surgery? And wants to meet you? Zara, this sounds like something out of one of those romance novels Mama Nkechi r

temples. "He said it was a 'proposal that benefits both partie

s her life. If this man, whoever he is, can provide the help you need, then you have to at least hear him

t drumbeat in her ears. She couldn't afford the luxury of suspicion, not whe

r than she felt. "I'm taking this to Dr. A

se of gratitude towards the enigmatic Darius Kane, even as a knot of apprehension tightened in her stomach.That night, sleep was a distant luxury. Zara lay on her thin mattress in her modest Surulere apartment, the city's nocturnal symphony of generators and distant traffic a muted lullaby. Her mind replayed the scene a

esilience and ambition. That betrayal, long before Emeka, had taught her to lock her heart away, to never be vulnerab

and composed. It was one of her own designs, sleek and modern, designed to project confidence she didn't quite feel. She needed to look the part, to proje

. The bustling, chaotic streets of her neighborhood gradually gave way to wide, tree-lined avenues, manicured

nchecked power. It was an architectural marvel, intimidating in its sheer scale. Inside, the lobby was a cathedral of marble and poli

e penthouse floor, Miss Okafor,"

his hands. She clutched her small handbag, her knuckles white. Be strong, Zara. Be smart. Don't let him see your desperation.The elevator doors opened onto a private foyer that was as breathtaking as it was intimidating.

, with an intelligent gaze and a faint, almost imperceptible air of amusement about him. He was dressed in a sharp, modern suit, less formal than Darius's, but equally well-ta

undeniably luxurious. Dark wood, polished metal, and rich leather created an atmosphere of understated power. A

ngsilhouette against the brilliant Lagos skyline. He didn't turn immediately, seemingly absorbed in the view, or perhaps delibe

ly, he

er feel both scrutinized and strangely aware. There was no warmth in his expression, only a cool, unwavering focus. He was even more striking in this setting, the aura of wealth and authority around him amplified by the opulence of his

in her hands. "I appreciate your... generosity with my mother

and purposeful. He sat, gesturing to the chair opposite him with a slight incline of his

smirk that did nothing to soften the chill in his eyes. "Very well. Let's not waste

s death, he stipulated a clause in his will. To secure my full control over Kane Enterprises – a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate, I assure you – I must be married. A real marriage, not a paper

e weather. "My manipulative stepmother, Lady Caro, is vying for control, and she will stop at nothing to se

mind raced. A forced marriage for corporate

do with me?" she managed, h

You have a pressing financial need that I have already demonstrated I can meet. And you are, if you'll forgive my candor, attractive enough to be a convi

empire. In return, I will provide full financial support for your mother's medical treatment, clearing all outstanding debts and guaranteeing her long-term care. I will also provide

ffice. Her mother's life. Her dreams, resurrected. All for a marriage of convenience to a

barely a whisper. "What does that... entail?" The

same roof. We will make public appearances as a married couple. We will maintain the façade of a normal marriage. There will b

wn Zara's spine, despite the heat that suddenly flared in her cheeks. He spoke of in

not a proposal for love. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement. You gain financial security, your mother's life

. "The prenuptial agreement. My lawyers have drafted it. It's ironc

ffering her salvation, at an unbearable price. Marrying a stranger. Living under his roof. And the chilling implication of a "consummated" marriage.Her heart screamed in protest. Her spirit

t desperation. Independence against survival. The fear of vulnerabilit

ssing. There was no escape. She was trapped between a rock and a hard pla

voice strained but clear. "I'

in his eyes. He didn't press. He didn't need to. He knew, just as Zara kne