CHAPTER 2 — THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAL
1160 Words
CHAPTER 2 — THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAL
Serena couldn’t sleep.
Damian Cross’s words kept repeating in her head.
“Marry me.”
She had spent the entire night staring at the black card he had given her.
It was still sitting on her bedside table.
She picked it up again.
There was only one thing written on it.
DAMIAN CROSS
CEO, CROSS INTERNATIONAL
And beneath it was a phone number.
Serena laughed bitterly.
“How did my life become this?”
Just yesterday, she had been an engaged woman planning her wedding.
Now her fiancé had betrayed her, her family was in financial trouble, and a billionaire wanted to marry her.
It sounded like something from a ridiculous movie.
Her phone suddenly rang.
“Hello?”
It was her mother.
“Serena, you need to come to the hospital.”
Serena immediately sat up.
“What happened?”
There was silence on the other end.
Then her mother’s trembling voice answered.
“It’s your father.”
Serena’s heart dropped.
“What happened to Dad?”
“He collapsed this morning.”
Serena didn’t ask another question.
She grabbed her bag and rushed out of the house.
⸻
The hospital smelled of disinfectant.
Serena ran through the hallway until she saw her mother sitting outside a private room.
“Mom!”
Her mother stood immediately.
Serena grabbed her hands.
“What happened?”
“He was at the office when it happened.”
Her mother’s eyes were red from crying.
“The doctors said the stress has affected his heart.”
Serena’s face went pale.
“Can I see him?”
Her mother nodded.
Serena entered the room.
Her father was lying on the hospital bed with an oxygen tube beneath his nose.
The strong man she had always known suddenly looked fragile.
“Dad…”
His eyes slowly opened.
“Serena?”
She walked to his side and held his hand.
“I’m here.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he whispered,
“I’m sorry.”
Serena shook her head.
“Don’t say that.”
“I failed you.”
“No, Dad.”
He squeezed her hand weakly.
“The company…”
Serena looked away.
Her father continued.
“We’ve lost almost everything.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“How bad is it?”
He hesitated.
“If I can’t find the money within a few days, the company will be taken from us.”
Serena’s heart sank.
“How much?”
Her father gave her the amount.
Serena couldn’t breathe.
It was more money than she could ever imagine having.
She lowered her head.
“I’ll find a way.”
Her father looked at her sadly.
“There is no way.”
Serena didn’t answer.
But as she left the hospital room, one name came into her mind.
Damian Cross.
She took out the black card.
Her fingers trembled as she dialed the number.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Serena.”
She froze.
“You knew I would call?”
“I was expecting you.”
She closed her eyes.
“Where are you?”
“My office.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Come.”
⸻
Thirty minutes later, Serena stood outside Damian’s office.
The receptionist opened the door.
“He’s waiting for you.”
Serena walked inside.
Damian stood beside the enormous glass window overlooking the city.
He didn’t turn around.
“You came.”
Serena crossed her arms.
“Don’t act like you knew I would.”
“I did.”
She hated how calm he was.
“My father is in the hospital.”
“I know.”
Serena’s eyes narrowed.
“You know everything, don’t you?”
Damian finally turned.
“I told you. I know everything that matters.”
She took a deep breath.
“You said you could save my father’s company.”
“I can.”
“What do you want in return?”
Damian walked toward his desk.
“You already know.”
Serena’s stomach tightened.
“The marriage.”
“Yes.”
“For one year?”
“One year.”
“And you’ll pay all my father’s debts?”
“I’ll save his company.”
Serena stared at him.
“What happens after the year?”
“We divorce.”
“And that’s it?”
“That is the agreement.”
She studied his face.
There wasn’t a trace of emotion.
“Why me?”
Damian’s eyes darkened.
“Because you’re a Bennett.”
Serena felt a chill run through her.
“You keep saying that. What did my family do to you?”
“That’s not your concern.”
“It becomes my concern if you’re asking me to marry you.”
Damian was silent.
Serena stepped closer.
“I won’t marry a stranger who refuses to tell me the truth.”
For the first time, Damian’s expression changed.
He looked almost angry.
But his voice remained calm.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Your family destroyed mine.”
Serena stared at him.
“My father would never do that.”
“Everyone says that about their family.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Perhaps.”
He walked to his desk and picked up a document.
Then he placed it in front of her.
“A contract.”
Serena looked down.
Her heart began beating faster.
Damian pointed to the final page.
“Read it.”
She picked it up.
One year.
Separate bedrooms.
No interference in each other’s personal lives.
No public scandals.
No revealing the terms of the agreement.
And after twelve months, the marriage would end.
Serena slowly looked up.
“This is insane.”
Damian’s eyes remained fixed on her.
“So is losing everything.”
She looked back at the contract.
Her father’s face came into her mind.
The hospital.
His weak voice.
“I’m sorry.”
Serena’s eyes filled with tears.
She hated Damian.
She hated the situation.
But most of all, she hated that she had no other choice.
She picked up the pen.
Damian watched silently.
Serena signed her name.
Serena Bennett.
The moment the ink touched the paper, Damian’s expression became unreadable.
She pushed the contract toward him.
“There.”
Damian signed beneath her name.
Then he closed the folder.
“The wedding is in three days.”
Serena’s eyes widened.
“Three days?”
“Yes.”
She stood.
“I need time.”
“You’ve already made your decision.”
Damian walked toward her.
He stopped inches away.
“From this moment forward, Serena Bennett, you are my wife.”
Her heart pounded.
She looked into his cold eyes.
And suddenly wondered if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Because she didn’t know that Damian Cross had been waiting twenty years for this moment.
And marrying her wasn’t the end of his revenge.
It was the beginning.
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