THE BABY BEHIND THE CONTRACT

CHAPTER ONE The silence in the lawyer’s office pressed on her like a weight. The kind that came right before everything fell apart. Amara Benson sat stiffly in the cracked leather chair, her fingers clenched tightly around the edge of her purse, refusing to look at the man across from her. Her father’s lawyer cleared his throat, trying again. “Miss Benson, I know this is overwhelming, but your father’s estate is… insolvent. The debts” She raised a hand, cutting him off. Her throat burned. “I heard you the first time. ” The room blurred for a second. She blinked it away. She wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not in front of this man. Not in front of any man again. Three months ago, she buried her father. Now she was watching the last piece of him disappear his house, their memories, everything he’d spent a lifetime building. All of it, gone. All because of a debt she didn’t know existed until he died. She stood slowly, as if the weight in her chest moved harder. “I’ll figure it out, ” she muttered. “Amara, ” the lawyer said gently, house will be seized. ” “you have until the end of the month to pay what’s owed, or the Her jaw clenched. “Then I guess I have twenty-eight days to perform a miracle. ” She walked out without looking back. The sun outside felt too bright for the storm in her chest. Her heels hit the pavement with purpose, but each step felt heavier. Her phone buzzed for the fifth time in a row.Mum. Mum. Mum again. She answered, finally. “Amara, where are you? The man came again today. He said if we don’t pay soon, they’ll auction the house. They’re serious this time. ” Amara rubbed her forehead. “I know, Mum. I’m working on it. ” A pause. “You’re not working, baby. You haven’t had a job in months. And we’re drowning. We can’t even afford your sister’s school fees next term. ” “I said I’ll fix it!” The sharpness in her voice startled her. Her mother went quiet. Amara’s stomach knotted instantly. “Mum… I’m sorry. I… I’ll call you back. ” She ended the call, throat tight, lungs aching. She had nothing left but pride, And even that was starting to crack. She walked until her feet hurt, stopping in front of a place she hadn’t been in years. Blackwell Tower. The glass building loomed, daring her to come closer, like it knew she didn’t belong. Cold. Ruthless. Just like the man who owned it. Liam Blackwell.Her fingers twitched at the name. She should’ve walked away. Instead, she found herself inside the elevator, heart hammering as it climbed thirty floors. What was she even doing here? The last time she saw Liam, he ruined her father’s company with a single press release. She hated him. With everything in her. But desperation made you consider things you once swore you never would. The receptionist stared when Amara stepped off the elevator. Maybe it was the way she stood shoulders squared, like she belonged there. Or maybe it was the look in her eyes. Unbreakable. Until Liam Blackwell broke her. “Do you have an appointment?” the woman asked. “No. But tell him Amara Benson is here. ” The woman flinched at the name, but picked up the phone. Two minutes later, Amara was walking into Liam Blackwell’s office like she hadn’t spent the last three years cursing his name. The room was dim and sleek. Minimalist. Masculine. Liam stood with his back to her, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city. She forgot, for a moment, how tall he was. How cold he always felt, even without saying a word. He turned. Amara inhaled sharply.Time had only sharpened his tailored suit, stubble-lined jaw, and ice in his grey eyes. He looked like power wrapped in temptation. He didn’t smile. Liam Blackwell didn’t do softness. “I heard you were broke, ” he said. She flinched. Just slightly. “I heard you were still an arrogant bastard, ” she replied. His lips twitched. Almost a smile. Almost. He stepped closer. “To what do I owe the honor, Benson?” She hated that her last name sounded like a curse on his tongue. Amara swallowed her pride. “I need your help. ” “Interesting, ” he murmured, circling her like a predator. the man who once tried to destroy my company?” “And why would I help the daughter of She stared at him. “Because you’re not just ruthless. You’re calculative. And I think you’ve already decided what you want from me. ” Silence. Then “Yes, ” he said. Her heart skipped. She was bluffing. Just trying to hold her ground. He stepped closer again.Too close. “I have a proposal, ” he said. She laughed bitterly. “You want to buy my silence? Or my body?” His eyes darkened. “Neither. You’re not that interesting. ” That stung more than she wanted to admit. He turned to his desk, picked up a black folder, and tossed it toward her. She caught it clumsily. She opened it. Scanned the contents. Then froze. “You want me to marry you?” Liam didn’t flinch. “One year. Public marriage. In exchange, I’ll clear every debt your family owes. Plus five million dollars. ” Her knees buckled slightly. She grabbed the edge of the desk to steady herself. This had to be a joke. She let out a shaky laugh, but it caught in her throat. “This is insane. ” He chuckled low. Humorless. “Insane? No. Just realistic. You’re broke. ” She looked up, eyes wide. “Why me? Why now?” Liam’s voice was cool too calm for what he was saying.“I need to secure a major merger. Investors are watching. They want to see stability, a wife, a family. You clean up well. You can fake the act. And most importantly, you hate me too much to fall for anything stupid. ” Her hand trembled against the paper. This was hell. This was him playing god again. “You destroyed my father, ” she said quietly. “He destroyed himself, ” Liam replied, voice like steel. “I just moved the pieces. ” She stared at him for a long time. Her skin burned. Her heart pounded. “How long do I have to decide?” He leaned in slowly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You have twenty-four hours. After that, the offer disappears along with your house. ” Amara blinked. Once. Twice. And realized She had just stepped into the fire.