Married for a moment, Loved for a lifetime.

uder than anything around her. She stepped out onto the 41st floor of Blackwell Enterprises, he

t the front desk b

y, almost with pity, motioning toward the d

wallow

, every surface spotless. And at the very end of it all, behind those closed doors, waited the man she hadn

ocuments, desperation, and one final thread of dignity. S

ell didn't e

ed inconvenience. His features were sharper than she remembered-his jaw more defined, the lines around his eyes deeper, colde

ithout emotion, eyes

er chin. "You

yone has a choice, Aria. You just

ty-but not the familiar sting of his voice. Not the w

id, forcing her voice steady. "

something that wasn't qui

and slid a thick folder ac

t it without

is t

s arms. "A contract. You m

aze locked onto the contract on his desk. Damon sat like a statue, wai

en planning this?" sh

ent your father's company fell into flames-flames he lit with lies and fraud. I thought y

do with embarrassment-it was fury, sha

anything about m

mother's in a private hospital with mounting bills. I know your brother's missing again, likely in tr

-marriage-will make you feel better? Like vengeance ta

dark, expensive, intoxicating. "This isn't about feeling better.

ly to her lips, then f

this wasn't about pride anymore. It was about survival. She thought she'd buried that cha

u?" she asked finall

but it wasn't a s

sted into rivalry, affection warped into cold transactions. Sh

ad it,"

se the longer you hesitate, the more d

t. Not because he was cruel

er world narrowed into black

for nin

o promises

between salvati

ckwell was ho

hadn't even read the fine print yet, but she already felt the we

equired. Shared residence mandatory. Clause 7: All media inquiries will be managed by Blackwell E

art skip a beat-and not i

t's what this is? A façade to

My investors need stability. A reckless bachelor CEO doesn't inspire much confidence. A married ma

't matter. Like her heart hadn't been shattered when

play house with the i

ed in his eyes. "I did

ia gripped the pen tighter, trying to

osure. No explanation. You vanished. And now you'

t he didn't respon

ering you a lifeline. You need me, Aria. Do

mother's condition had worsened. Her bills were snowballing.

asked quietly. "You'll pay the hospi

tation. "Full coverage. For as

y before he could see. This wasn't about emotion

ross the line before

t with a soft snap that sounded more like a tr

d smoothly. "W

m. "We're not ev

er and pulled out a velvet box. Inside was

Blackwell," he said, his voice coo

ring onto her finger. It was heavier than she expected-to

es. Just a signature and a diamo

ut Damon ignored her. He had already moved to his phon

le an appearance at tonight's gala.

want to parade me in front of your elite aud

ever breaking. "Of course. What's the poin

not a

ife now, Aria. Even if only on paper. And wives stand beside

ped her. "You reall

, here y

d've slammed the door on his twisted game. But instead, she stood there, in his

wing the lump in her thr

will pick you up at six. A stylist will a

rifting down her body-not with

omething less.

d. "I'm not here

your mother's life.

ith a folder. "Mr. Blackwell, the media relea

hand. "Se

ped. "You already

g obvious. "The news will break within the

Her enemies. Everyone. And they'd all think she ma

would kno

re if that made i

ing out at the skyline. "Play your role, Aria. Be the dot

tight, fingers cu

at you've started,"

't turn

do

ent of champagne and old money thick in the air. Aria stood at the top of the marble

chosen, tailored, and delivered within three hours. Everything about he

n't bel

like a man who had just won the world, she forced her spine straight and

Black

tunning woma

the rumor

the weddin

ou married a

ip through a storm. She smiled, posed, waved-everything he instru

iety buzzed like bees in desi

you were taken!" purred

harp navy tux, his tone anything but si

fake smile and venom-laced compliment. Damon's grip never loosen

ere strangers

the refreshment table, a soft

ri

ire bod

ace with a man she hadn't seen in th

ped to the glittering ring on her f

ed her mouth-but Damon was already beside her,

"She's mine now. I sugg

rkened. "Does sh

slow. Dangerous. "

n turne

it

st

lammed agai

me that night, Aria