Bound by Decree

The Clock is Ticking

(Angela’s POV)

The moment John pulled up to William Briggs' estate, I knew my life was never going to be the same again.

Everything felt like it was moving faster—faster than I could keep up with. My mother’s message kept reechoing in my head. “You have to marry William before the deal is signed. Before tomorrow evening. That’s the only leverage we have left. The only thing that can stop this.”

I wasn’t sure which terrified me more.

William met me at the door. His right arm was in a sling, but there was nothing weak about him. He looked steady. Ready. Like he already knew why I’d come.

“Well, well,” he said with a crooked smile, stepping aside. “Angela Kings at my doorstep. I must be dreaming.”

“I’m not here for small talk,” I said. “Can we talk inside? There’s no time to waste.”

He nodded and led the way into the house.

Inside, the house was quieter than I expected. No staff, no noise—just a fire crackling low and the scent of something tantalizing lingering in the air. William motioned for me to sit, but I stayed standing.

“I got a message,” I said, my voice low. “From my mother.”

His brow lifted. “Your mother?”

“She’s alive.” The words still felt strange coming out of my mouth. “She says I have to marry you. Not next week. Not later. Before tomorrow evening.”

William didn’t look surprised. “Why?”

“Because my uncle is planning to sign a deal tomorrow evening. A deal that will crash my company’s stocks and cut me out completely. She says our marriage is the only way to stop it. To keep control.”

William leaned back against the edge of the sofa. “So you’re here so that we can get on with the marriage?”

“I’m here to save what rightfully belongs to me. To survive,” I answered. “Even if it means marrying someone like you.”

His jaw tightened. “Alright then, we don’t have time to debate this. If this is the move that stops the bleeding, we make it.”

There was a pause between us—long, heavy.

I hated how practical he sounded. Like this was just a contract, not a life. But deep down, I knew he was right.

I took a breath. “Let’s do it. Tonight.”

He blinked. “Let’s do what tonight?”

“Let’s get married tonight” I responded.

“Are you sure about this?” He muttered.

“No,” I whispered. “But I have to be.”

By 8:00 p.m., his family had arrived. William’s father looked like he ruled executive meetings with an iron glare. His mother was colder—well-dressed, distant. Extended relatives filtered in like they were used to last-minute instructions.

No plenty questions were asked. It was as though everyone saw it coming.

I sent a message to just a few—my trusted team at Kings Enterprises and my closest friend, Rose. (Though I knew Rose wouldn’t be here; she’d left two days ago for a work conference in California.) I didn’t tell my uncle. He’d learn the hard way. And Jonathan? I couldn’t bring myself to tell him.

After what I’d seen at his townhouse—the blonde woman, barefoot in his shirt—I couldn’t face him. I couldn’t ask for explanations or apologies. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe it wasn’t. But today, I didn’t have the luxury of hoping.

I told myself I had no time for heartbreak.

I slipped into a simple white dress John had rushed to fetch from my home. William had managed to find a ring at the nearest jewelry store. No bouquet, no grand plan—just a sharp, steady sense of purpose.

We stood before a local registrar, brought in quietly to keep things under wraps. He didn’t smile. He barely spoke. His voice was flat as he read the words that would bind us—legally, irrevocably.

When he asked if I took William Briggs as my husband, I answered without hesitation:

“Yes.”

When he asked William, his reply was just as sure:

“I do.”

The moment the ceremony ended, I released a breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

Later, just past 10 p.m., my phone buzzed.

I stepped away from the small group of guests and checked it.

Another message flashed on my phone—urgent, from one of my trusted allies inside the company.

“Your uncle’s moved the contract signing up. It’s happening tonight. Less than thirty minutes from now.”

They’d already confirmed what my mother had warned me, so I’d asked them to watch Silas closely. Every step he took, every move he made—they were feeding me the details.

My heart skipped a beat. Time was running out faster than I’d hoped.

He wasn’t waiting for tomorrow?

“William!” I called, running back into the parlor.

He was at my side in seconds.

“He’s signing tonight. We have to stop him. Now.”

We didn’t wait.

William grabbed his coat and his car keys. I changed into something simpler and we rushed out.

It was almost midnight when we stormed into the Kings Enterprises’ private boardroom.

I pushed open the heavy doors with a bang that echoed through the halls.

And there he was.

Silas.

Sitting at the head of the table.

Holding a pen.

And across from him, a man I didn’t recognize, sliding a thick folder of documents across the glittering table.

I stepped in, heart racing.

“Stop,” I said, voice stern. “That contract is no longer valid.”

My uncle looked up, startled.

William stepped beside me. His presence alone spoke volumes.

The room went still.

My uncle’s hand froze, the pen hovering just above the dotted line.

He blinked once, confused.

Then his gaze dropped to my left hand.

The ring sparkled under the overhead lights.

His face changed.

Confusion became anger.

“Angela... what have you done?”

And just like that, I smiled.

“I saved the company.”

The men beside my uncle gathered their files and slipped out in silence, like shadows retreating at dawn.

For a moment, I thought I could finally breathe.

Then my phone buzzed. A message.

From Jonathan.

Hey Angie, my cousin said someone stopped by the house earlier. Said she looked like you. If it was, I’m sorry I missed you. I’ve been tied up—got pulled into an emergency court hearing. No warning. Just got out.

My hands turned to ice—and that was the last thing I knew before the world slipped out from under me.