Married To The Famous Devil

Chapter 2: Cold Calculations

CLAIRE'S POV

I didn’t sleep that night. How could I? My mind kept racing back to the proposal Lucas Knight had thrown at me like a lifeline—and yet, it felt more like a noose tightening around my neck.

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the weight of the world pressing down on me, and tried to push the image of that contract out of my mind.

I’d never imagined I’d be in a position where I’d have to consider selling my soul to save my family. But there I was. The very idea of marrying a man like Lucas—a man who saw the world through the lens of profit and control—made my stomach churn. But my father’s health was deteriorating every day. His stress was getting to him, and my mother was doing everything she could to hold it together, but she was only one person. We couldn’t keep going like this.

The Bennett family company had been a cornerstone of my life since I was a child. I’d spent my summers running through the hallways of our office building, listening to my father talk about the legacy they were building. It wasn’t just a company—it was our history. Our future. And now, it was crumbling. Fast.

I couldn’t let that happen. I had to find a way.

The next morning, I met with my parents in the kitchen. I could see the worry etched in their faces—lines of age, of fatigue, of defeat. My mother looked at me with those sad, pleading eyes, and I felt the weight of her hopes and dreams resting on my shoulders.

“We’re running out of options, Claire,” my father said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve tried everything. I… I don’t know what else to do.”

His words sliced through me like a knife. “I know, Dad. But there has to be another way.” I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears. I couldn’t afford to break down now. Not when they needed me more than ever.

“We’ve been here before,” my mother said softly, placing a hand on my arm. “And we always get through it.”

I nodded, but even I didn’t believe it anymore. We were out of time. And the idea of telling them about Lucas’s offer made my stomach turn. I couldn’t do it—not yet. They’d never go for it. They’d never let me marry a man like him, not for any reason.

So I kept the truth to myself. Instead, I offered a weak smile. “I’ll think of something, I promise.”

I left their house an hour later, my mind more chaotic than ever. I didn’t have a plan, but I knew I couldn’t keep waiting for some miracle to save us. I had to make a decision.

Lucas’s office felt colder than it had the day before, the sharp steel of the desk, the cold glass windows, all serving as a constant reminder of what I was about to do. As soon as I stepped inside, his piercing gaze snapped to mine. There was no warmth, no comfort—just that unnerving, calculating stare.

“You’ve come to a decision,” Lucas said, his voice smooth and implacable.

I didn’t know what to say at first. I wanted to yell at him, tell him to go to hell for making me even consider this twisted arrangement. But I had no choice. I couldn’t let the company go under. I couldn’t let my family lose everything they’d worked for.

“I’ve thought about your offer,” I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to remain calm. “And I… I’m willing to accept. But only because I have no other choice.”

His eyes never wavered as he regarded me, his face a perfect mask of indifference. “Good. I knew you’d come to your senses.”

I couldn’t help the bitter taste that rose in my throat. “This is business, right?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “No strings attached. No feelings. Just a contract.”

Lucas’s lips curved into the faintest smile, but there was nothing warm about it. “Exactly. This isn’t about feelings, Claire. This is about survival—for you, and for your family.”

I nodded, trying to steady my breath as the weight of what I was about to do sank in. I’d signed contracts before, but none like this. None that would bind me to a man like Lucas Knight.

He slid the paperwork toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. “We’ll be married tomorrow,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “No time for any romantic notions. I don’t need a wife who will expect anything more than the bare minimum. You’ll play your part, and I’ll save your company. That’s the deal.”

I picked up the pen, my hand shaking as I signed my name. It was just a signature. Just a piece of paper. But it felt like I was signing away my freedom, my dignity. Everything I’d ever believed in.

The weight of the pen in my hand felt heavier than the contract itself. This was the moment I’d lost the right to turn back.

“You’ve made the right choice,” Lucas said, his voice soft but full of that familiar arrogance.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

His eyes flickered over me, assessing me with that cool, calculated gaze. “Tomorrow, we’ll make it official. And remember, Claire—you’re not in control here. Not anymore.”

Cliffhanger: As I stood there, the reality of what I’d just done slowly started to hit me. Tomorrow, I would be married to a man I barely knew—bound by a contract, not love. And the cold smile Lucas gave me was the last thing I saw before the door clicked shut behind me.