FORCED TO MARRY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE IN 9 DAYS

##CHAPTER 12- THE REAL PROPOSAL*

Margaret Alvarez had been living in Caspian's penthouse for one week.

And the house had changed.

There was laughter in the kitchen now. Margaret teaching Elena how to make her famous soup. Rowen coming over every evening for dinner, arguing with Margaret about how much salt to put. And Caspian — the ruthless billionaire — coming home at 6 PM sharp every day, because he was obsessed with his wife and couldn't stay at the office a second longer than needed.

That night, Elena was in the living room helping Margaret walk with her walker — she was recovering bit by bit every day — when Caspian came home.

"Elena, go get dressed," he said, nervous. For the first time, Caspian Sterling was nervous.

"Get dressed? For what?"

"For your husband," Margaret winked, even though Caspian had begged her not to ruin the surprise.

Caspian took Elena to the rooftop.

It was not the contract rooftop. It was different.

The entire rooftop of the Sterling Tower was covered in white roses. Fairy lights. A violinist in the corner. And in the middle — a table with two chairs and a small velvet box.

Elena gasped. "Caspian..."

Caspian took her hands. His hands were shaking.

"Elena Alvarez," he said, his voice low and serious. "The first time I married you, it was a contract. I bought you for $2 million to pay for Margaret's bills at The Langford Private Clinic. It was fake. It was on paper."

He knelt down. On one knee. The ruthless billionaire on his knee for the second time in his life — but this time not begging for forgiveness. Begging for forever.

"But the second time, I want to marry you for real. I want to make it official. Proper. The way you deserved from the beginning."

He opened the box. It was not the old contract ring. It was a new ring — a huge oval diamond, with smaller diamonds around it, simple and elegant. Her dream ring.

"I love you," he whispered. "I love you more than Sterling Industries. More than my father's name Rowen gave me. More than my own life. I am obsessed with you, Elena. I cherish you so much that I don't know how to breathe when you're not next to me."

"You already married me," Elena cried, tears falling.

"Then marry me again. For love. Not for money. Not for your mother. For us."

"Yes," Elena sobbed. "Yes, yes, yes!"

He slid the ring on her finger and kissed her like he would never stop.

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That night in his penthouse — their penthouse — after Margaret had gone to sleep in her guest room and Rowen had gone home, Caspian carried his wife — his real wife now, twice — to their bedroom.

It was their second time, but it was completely different from their first.

The first time was tender, careful, slow because she was a virgin and he was scared to hurt her.

This time was romantic and hot. It was love confessed.

He made her feel cherished, worshipped, like a queen in his arms. He whispered her name over and over, told her she was beautiful, told her she was his forever, made her feel his presence, his love, his obsession with every touch.

Elena had never felt like this — safe, wanted, deeply loved. She moaned his name, holding onto him, arching into him, feeling completely his.

He didn't stop until she was trembling, overwhelmed with love and pleasure, clinging to him and begging him softly not to stop, to stay with her.

After, they lay together for hours, sweaty, tangled, her new proposal ring sparkling on her hand against his chest.

"You make me feel..." Elena whispered, breathless, her face buried in his neck.

"I know," Caspian whispered back, kissing her hair, holding her tight like he would never let go. "You make me feel like a man again. Not a billionaire. Just your man."

She fell asleep in his arms, his official fiancée, his official wife, his forever.

Down the hall, Margaret Alvarez smiled in her sleep, hearing her daughter happy for the first time in years.

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