The deal with the Devil

Chapter 1: The Offer The hospital smelled like bleach and dying hope. “48 hours, Ms. Kade,” Dr. Lin said, not meeting my eyes. “Without the surgery, your brother won’t make it.” $200,000. I had $312 in my bank account. My hands shook as I gripped the edge of the bed where Liam lay unconscious. 19 years old, and the hospital was about to let him die because I was poor. “Please,” I whispered. “There has to be something—” “There isn’t.” The door opened before I could answer. Damian Vale walked in like he owned the air in the room. Tall, black suit, face carved from ice. CEO of Vale Industries. My brother’s boss. The man who fired Liam last month and blamed him for losing a 10 million dollar deal. He didn’t look sorry. He looked annoyed I was here. “What are you doing here?” I snapped, stepping between him and Liam. “Get out.” He glanced at my brother, then at me. His jaw tightened. “You’re Ava Kade,” he said. Flat. Final. “Liam’s sister.” “As if you don’t know.” “I know you need money.” He pulled out a folder and dropped it on the chair. “I can give you 200k by tonight.” My breath caught. “Why? What’s the catch?” Damian stepped closer. Too close. His eyes pinned me in place. “Marry me,” he said. “Six months. Public husband and wife. No questions, no feelings. At the end, you get the money. I get my inheritance.” “You’re insane.” “Insane is letting your brother die over pride.” He leaned down, voice low enough that only I could hear. “Sign the contract, Ava. Or I let him die.” Tears burned my throat. I hated him. I hated how calm he was about it. But Liam was dying. I grabbed the pen. Damian watched me sign, then smirked. “Good,” he said. “The wedding is tomorrow. Don’t make me regret this.” He leaned down one last time, and whispered: “You’re mine now. Act like it.” --- The contract felt like it burned through the paper. Six months. That’s all I had to survive being married to the most hated man in New York. No touching. No feelings. Just pretend for the cameras, get the money, save Liam, and get out. “Why me?” I asked, my voice shaking. “You could hire an actress.” Damian tucked the signed contract into his inner pocket like it was a weapon. “Because you’re desperate,” he said simply. “And because you won’t fall for me.” I wanted to slap him. “You don’t know me.” “I know enough,” he replied. “You’d sell your soul for your brother. That makes you predictable. And predictable people don’t fall in love with their jailer.” Jailer. Right. He turned to leave, then stopped at the door. “One more thing,” he said without looking back. “If you try to run, I’ll make sure Liam never walks again. Don’t test me.” The door clicked shut. I sank to my knees beside Liam’s bed, clutching the copy of the contract. My hands were shaking too hard to hold it steady. Tomorrow I was marrying Damian Vale. Tomorrow my brother would live. And tomorrow, my life was over. ………………………….