A contract marriage, a hidden love, and a woman forgotten. When Alina signs a three-year deal with Aiden King, she expects nothing but silence and distance. But falling in love wasn’t part of the contract. Now, as he chases another woman, Alina prepares to walk away—just when Aiden realizes she’s the one he can’t lose. "Aiden," Veronica's voice trembled, exhaustion evident beneath her polished exterior. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but—" Her composure cracked. "My father collapsed. The doctors... they don't know if he'll make it through the night." Without thinking, Aiden stood, his hand reaching for Veronica's elbow as she swayed. "When? Where is he?" "Northwestern Memorial. Mom's hysterical. The board's already circling like vultures, talking about the merger, about what happens if—" Her voice broke entirely. "I'll handle them," Aiden said immediately, his CEO mask sliding into place. "You don't need to worry about the company right now." Alina watched her husband transform into the man she'd first met—all business efficiency and protective instincts. But those instincts weren't for her. His hand steadied Veronica. His voice soothed Veronica's fears. His immediate response was to shield Veronica from additional pain. "The merger documents," Veronica whispered. "If Father dies before they're signed—" "Are in my office safe," Aiden assured her. "I'll have Harrison handle everything. Twenty thousand jobs won't disappear because of bad timing." That's when Alina understood. This wasn't about choosing another woman over his wife. This was about who Aiden Pierce was at his core—a man who'd been trained since birth to protect the empire, to manage crises, to put business before everything else. Even before asking if Veronica was okay, he'd thought of the merger. "Aiden," Alina said softly. He turned, and she saw the exact moment he remembered she existed. The guilt that flashed across his face was worse than if he'd forgotten her entirely. "Alina, I—" He looked between them, torn. "Veronica's father is my godfather. The merger—" "Will save twenty thousand jobs," she finished quietly. "I know." "I have to—" "Go." The word tasted like ash. "She needs you." What she didn't say: I needed you too. I needed you to hesitate. To look at me first. To remember that I'm your wife, even if it's only on paper. "This isn't—" he started, reaching for her with the hand that had just steadied Veronica. "A choice?" Alina stepped back, her smile brittle as champagne glass. "No, it never is with you, is it? There's always a merger, a crisis, an empire to protect. And there's always someone who matters more than the temporary wife." She'd learned the hard way that when someone shows you their priorities, you should believe them the first time.