London goodnight

The offer she couldn't refuse

Chapter 5: The Offer She Couldn't Refuse

Ava barely slept.

The contract sat on her kitchen table like a loaded weapon, its crisp pages reflecting the pale morning light. Every time she looked at it, her stomach tightened.

Marry Ethan Blackwood.

One year.

Fifty million pounds.

The words felt unreal.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and stared out the window of her tiny London flat. Rain streaked down the glass, blurring the city beyond.

Her phone rang.

It was the hospital.

Ava's heart immediately dropped.

"Hello?" she answered, gripping the phone tightly.

"Miss Moore, we're calling regarding your brother's treatment."

Her breath caught.

"We need confirmation of payment within forty-eight hours. Without it, we may have to postpone the next phase of treatment."

The room spun.

"Postpone?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid so."

After the call ended, Ava sank into a chair.

Tears burned her eyes.

She had already sold nearly everything she owned. Her father's savings were gone. The bank wanted her apartment. The hospital wanted money she didn't have.

And now there was only one option left.

The contract.

The impossible, ridiculous contract.

A knock sounded at her door.

Ava froze.

Nobody visited her anymore.

She opened the door and found a man in a black suit standing there.

"Miss Moore?"

"Yes?"

"I'm here on behalf of Mr. Blackwood."

Her heart skipped.

The man handed her a small envelope.

Inside was a business card.

One address.

One time.

No message.

No explanation.

Just a simple instruction.

7:00 PM.

Blackwood Tower.

Ava stared at the card.

The decision had been made for her.

---

Blackwood Tower dominated London's skyline like a king overlooking his kingdom.

Glass.

Steel.

Power.

Everything about it screamed wealth.

Ava felt completely out of place as she stepped through the revolving doors.

The receptionist immediately stood.

"Miss Moore?"

Ava blinked.

"Yes."

"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

Of course he was.

Within seconds, she was escorted to a private elevator.

The ride to the top floor felt endless.

When the doors opened, she found herself in an office larger than her entire apartment.

Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city below.

And standing beside them was Ethan Blackwood.

He looked devastatingly handsome in a charcoal suit.

Power seemed to radiate from him naturally.

When he turned toward her, Ava felt her pulse betray her.

"You came."

She crossed her arms.

"Don't sound surprised."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I wasn't."

The silence stretched between them.

Finally, Ethan gestured toward a chair.

"Sit."

Ava remained standing.

"I have questions."

"I assumed you would."

"Why me?"

His expression didn't change.

"You already asked that."

"And you never answered."

For a moment, Ethan looked away.

Something unreadable flashed across his face.

Then it disappeared.

"Because you're exactly what I need."

"That isn't an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

Ava clenched her jaw.

She hated mysterious men.

She hated arrogant men.

Unfortunately, Ethan Blackwood was both.

He walked to his desk and opened a file.

"Your brother's treatment."

Ava immediately stiffened.

"What about it?"

"I spoke with the hospital."

Her eyes widened.

"You what?"

"They confirmed the amount needed."

Anger flashed through her.

"You had no right."

"Perhaps not."

"But I did it anyway."

Ava couldn't believe him.

This man simply moved through life doing whatever he wanted.

No permission.

No apologies.

Nothing.

Ethan placed a document on the desk.

"If you sign the contract tonight, the hospital receives full payment tomorrow morning."

Ava stared at him.

Her heart hammered painfully.

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

The room felt smaller.

Hotter.

More dangerous.

Because suddenly this wasn't theoretical anymore.

This was real.

One signature.

And her brother would be safe.

One signature.

And her life would belong to Ethan Blackwood for an entire year.

"What happens after the year ends?" she asked quietly.

"We divorce."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

His answer should have reassured her.

Instead, it hurt for reasons she didn't understand.

Maybe because something about Ethan felt anything but simple.

Maybe because she sensed secrets hiding beneath his calm exterior.

Maybe because every instinct warned her that getting involved with him would change her life forever.

"Why do you need a wife?" she asked.

This time Ethan hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then he said, "My grandfather left conditions in his will."

Ava frowned.

"A will?"

"To inherit control of the company, I must be married."

Now things finally started making sense.

"That's why."

"Partly."

"Partly?"

Again, that unreadable look crossed his face.

"There are other reasons."

Ava groaned.

"Of course there are."

His mouth twitched.

Almost like he was trying not to laugh.

It was the first genuinely human reaction she'd seen from him.

And somehow it made him even more dangerous.

Because for one brief second, she forgot she was supposed to dislike him.

---

Later that evening, Ethan drove her home.

Neither of them spoke much.

London lights blurred past the car windows.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

That bothered Ava.

It should have been uncomfortable.

Instead, she found herself stealing glances at him.

At his strong jaw.

At the way his hands rested confidently on the steering wheel.

At the faint scar near his temple.

A scar she'd never noticed before.

"What happened there?" she asked suddenly.

Ethan glanced at her.

"Where?"

"The scar."

His expression immediately hardened.

Old pain flickered in his eyes.

"Nothing important."

Translation:

Something very important.

Ava knew better than to push.

The rest of the journey passed quietly.

When they arrived at her building, Ethan stepped out and opened her door.

A simple gesture.

Yet somehow unexpectedly gentlemanly.

She climbed out.

Neither moved away.

For a strange moment, they simply stood there.

Looking at each other.

The city seemed to fade into the background.

Ava became aware of everything.

The rain.

The cold air.

The sound of her heartbeat.

And Ethan.

Especially Ethan.

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

A tiny movement.

But she noticed.

Heat rushed through her body.

Then Ethan stepped back.

The moment shattered instantly.

"Goodnight, Ava."

His voice sounded lower than usual.

"Goodnight."

She turned and hurried toward her apartment.

Only once she reached the door did she dare look back.

The car was still there.

And Ethan was still watching her.

---

Inside the car, Ethan waited until she disappeared from sight.

Only then did he allow himself to breathe.

This was becoming dangerous.

Far more dangerous than he had planned.

Because Ava Moore wasn't supposed to matter.

She was supposed to be a solution.

A temporary arrangement.

A contract.

Nothing more.

Yet every time he looked at her, the walls he'd spent years building began to c***k.

And that was something he could not afford.

Not again.

Never again.

His phone rang.

The screen displayed a familiar name.

Victoria Sterling.

Ethan's expression darkened.

He answered.

"What do you want?"

Victoria laughed softly.

"I heard you've found yourself a fiancée."

News traveled fast.

Too fast.

"What about it?"

"You always were predictable, Ethan."

His grip tightened on the phone.

"Be careful."

"Or what?" she challenged.

Silence.

Then she delivered the words that made his blood run cold.

"Does Ava know what happened to the last woman who wore your ring?"

The line went dead.

Ethan sat frozen.

For the first time in years, genuine fear entered his eyes.

Because if the truth came out—

Everything would be destroyed.