Chapter 4 — The Terms

• Caroline’s POV
• I did not touch the contract.
• For several seconds, I simply stared at it.
• Lucian stood across from me, calm and composed, as though he had not just proposed a one-year marriage to a woman whose brother had died less than two days ago.
• My mother sat beside me, looking between us with confusion and fear.
• “Caroline,” she whispered.
• I picked up the contract.
• “I want to read this alone.”
• Lucian’s expression did not change. “You have until tomorrow morning.”
• I looked up sharply. “Excuse me?”
• “Tomorrow morning, I expect your answer.”
• “You expect?”
• “Yes.”
• I laughed without humor. “You really do think you can order people around.”
• “I don’t think it.”
• “Of course you don’t.”
• I took the contract and walked toward the stairs.
• “Caroline,” my mother called.
• “I’ll explain everything.”
• It was a lie.
• I had no idea how I was going to explain any of this.
• I entered my bedroom and shut the door behind me. For a moment, I leaned against it and closed my eyes.
• Daniel was dead.
• My family was drowning in debt.
• A dangerous billionaire had appeared in my life.
• And he wanted me to marry him.
• I walked to my desk and placed the contract in front of me.
• We were required to attend public events together. We had to appear united. We were expected to show loyalty toward one another and maintain the image of a real married couple.
• I turned the page.
• We would live together.
• My mouth fell open.
• “No.”
• I kept reading.
• A shared residence.
• Joint public appearances.
• Family events.
• Business functions.
• Travel when necessary.
• The contract even included a clause about photographs.
• Lucian and I were expected to behave like a married couple whenever the public was watching.
• I dropped the pages onto the desk.
• This was not a marriage.
• It was a performance.
• A very expensive, legally binding performance.
• I picked up the contract again.
• Then I reached the clause that stopped me completely.
• Lucian Varr could not touch me without my consent.
• I read it twice.
• Then a third time.
• There were no exceptions.
• No implied consent.
• No allowance for public appearances.
• Nothing.
• My consent was required.
• I leaned back in my chair.
• That was unexpected.
• Lucian was arrogant, controlling, and terrifyingly confident. I had expected him to treat the contract like another weapon.
• Instead, he had specifically included a clause protecting me from him.
• Why?
• I continued reading.
• His enemies would not be permitted to harm me.
• I stopped.
• His enemies.
• The phrase reminded me of what he had said downstairs.
• “If you become my wife, they will care about you.”
• I hated how much sense it made.
• Being married to Lucian Varr would make me a target.
• But refusing him might leave my mother exposed to the debt Daniel had created.
• I looked at the final page.
• There was one signature.
• Lucian Varr.
• He had already signed.
• Of course he had.
• I stared at his name for a long moment before leaving my room.
• My mother sat silently across from him.
• When I entered, both looked at me.
• “Well?” Lucian asked.
• I held up the contract.
• “There are rules.”
• “There are.”
• “You expect us to live together.”
• “Yes.”
• “Attend events together.”
• “Yes.”
• “Pretend to be loyal to each other.”
• “Not pretend.”
• I narrowed my eyes.
• “Publicly, then.”
• “Publicly.”
• “And the marriage has to appear real.”
• “Yes.”
• I placed the contract on the table.
• “Why?”
• Lucian said nothing.
• I stepped closer.
• “Why me?”
• His expression became unreadable.
• “My brother was desperate. He came to you. He offered me as collateral. Fine. But you could have demanded money. You could have taken property. You could have destroyed my family.”
• “I could have.”
• “Instead, you want me.”
• His silence answered nothing.
• I felt frustration rising.
• “Why?”
• Lucian looked at me.
• “Because I said so.”
• I stared at him.
• “That is not an answer.”
• “It is the only answer I am giving you.”
• I laughed sharply.
• “You are unbelievable.”
• “So I have been told.”
• “Did Daniel know you wanted this?”
• Lucian’s face hardened.
• “That question is irrelevant.”
• “It is not irrelevant to me.”
• “Your brother made an agreement with me.”
• “And now he is dead.”
• A brief silence fell.
• Something moved through Lucian’s eyes.
• It disappeared so quickly that I almost missed it.
• Regret?
• No.
• I couldn’t imagine Lucian Varr regretting anything.
• “Did you kill him?”
• My mother’s breath caught.
• Lucian’s gaze turned cold.
• “No.”
• I studied his face.
• I was a detective.
• I knew how to read people.
• But Lucian was difficult to read.
• He did not fidget.
• He did not avoid my eyes.
• He did not become defensive.
• He simply looked at me as though my accusation had been expected.
• “Then tell me what happened.”
• “No.”
• My patience snapped.
• “You walk into my home, threaten my family’s future, demand that I marry you, and refuse to explain anything.”
• “I am offering you a way out.”
• “You call this a way out?”
• “Yes.”
• “You’re insane.”
• “Perhaps.”
• I grabbed the contract.
• “Tomorrow morning?”
• “Yes.”
• “And if I say no?”
• Lucian stepped closer.
• “You will be responsible for the debt.”
• “And my mother?”
• “She will be responsible for hers.”
• Then his gaze dropped to the contract in my hand.
• “Read it carefully.”
• “I already have.”
• “No. You read the words.”
• His eyes returned to mine.
• “Now understand them.”
• He turned and walked toward the door.
• I watched him leave.
• Before stepping outside, he paused.
• “Caroline.”
• I looked at him.
• “Do not mistake my patience for kindness.”
• Then he left.
• I stood in the silent room, the contract clutched in my hand.
• I had spent my life believing every problem had an answer.
• Every crime had a motive.
• Every lie had a weakness.
• But Lucian Varr was not a problem I could solve.
• He was a locked door.
• And somehow, Daniel had left me standing in front of it with the key in my hand.