The Heiress Contract

Chapter 8

Sylvie left her father’s office.

One second she was staring at the contract papers that promised to steal two years of her life, and the next, her legs were moving on their own, carrying her out of the room, down the hallway, away from her father’s voice, away from Zade’s cold stare.

Her vision blurred. Her chest felt tight and her breath came shallow.

By the time she reached the elevator lobby, tears were already sliding down her cheeks, hot, angry and disbelieving tears.

She pressed her palms against the nearest wall and bent her head, swallowing a sob.

'How could he do this to me? How could my own father decide my future like a transaction? How could he offer me up?' she thought to herself.

But deep down she kind of understood what was on ground.

The elevator dinged softly behind her.

And then...

"Miss Wilfred"

It was Ryan

His voice steady and controlled as always. She didn’t look at him. She didn’t want him to see her crying.

But he saw. Of course he saw.

Ryan approached slowly, each step careful as if afraid one wrong movement would break her completely. He stopped a respectful distance away.

Why him? Why did it have to be him here? The one man who never softened?

She inhaled sharply. "You heard everything?"

"I stayed close." he admitted. "In case things escalated.'

"It did escalate." she snapped, her voice trembling. "My father just… it feels like he is trading me."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally Sylvie whispered, "Do you think I’m overreacting?"

"No."

The response was immediate.

Her throat tightened again. "I just… don’t understand how he could do this."

Ryan exhaled slowly. "He believes he’s protecting the company."

"And sacrificing his daughter is worth it?"

Ryan didn’t answer. His silence was the answer.

Sylvie looked away. Her voice softened. "Ryan… do you ever think about marriage?"

"Not in the way you mean."

She gave a shaky laugh. "I just feel like… if I’m going to marry someone, shouldn’t it be because we love each other? Isn’t that the point?"

Ryan’s expression changed. Barely. A flicker at the corner of his eyes. "Love complicates things," he said quietly.

"But it’s supposed to," Sylvie insisted, wiping her cheek again. "It’s supposed to mean something."

Ryan stared at her, his voice low. "Love is a weakness"

"How? Do you even believe in it?"

He hesitated. For the first time since she met him, he hesitated.

Then:

"No."

The word dropped between them like a stone.

Ryan continued, "Duty is cleaner. Simpler. It keeps people alive. Love… makes people reckless."

Love makes people reckless? Coming from a man like him it almost sounded like a confession. Or a warning. She wasn't surprised.

"So I’m supposed to go through life without love?"

"You’re not me," Ryan said quietly. "But I’m telling you my truth."

For a moment they simply looked at each other, her eyes red with heartbreak, his eyes dark and steady with truths he never spoke before.

Sylvie inhaled shakily. "Maybe Zade isn’t that bad."

Ryan’s head turned to her sharply.

" I have to help my father," she whispered. "The company… the workers… everyone depends on it." She looked down at the floor. "What if this is my duty? What if… someday I even grow to like him?"

He quickly looked away.

She pushed herself to her feet slowly. "I think I’ve made up my mind."

"This isn’t about what I want," she said, her voice quiet now. "It’s about saving the people who’ve worked for my family their whole lives. It’s about not being selfish." She straightened her shoulders. "I’m going to do it."

She turned and walked away. Ryan followed.

The elevator dinged again.

The doors opened.

Zade stood inside looking calm as ever. As if he had already predicted this moment.

His eyes slid over to Sylvie.

"Have you made your decision?" he asked softly.

Sylvie swallowed hard. "I’ll sign it."

Zade stepped forward, offering his hand.

Not for a handshake, for her.

Like he expected ownership.

Sylvie hesitated, then placed her hand in his.

Zade turned her wrist slightly and lifted her hand to his lips

His mouth brushed her skin.

"Welcome, fiancée."

Ryan's jaw tightened with a force he didn’t understand.