Marry Me Instead

7

Chapter 7 — An Equal

“Marry me.” The words settled over the room like the final move of a chess match. Evelyn didn’t speak. She simply looked at Sebastian Hawthorne, searching his face for the slightest hint of amusement. There was none, just the same composed expression he’d worn since she’d walked into his office.

Several long seconds passed before she finally found her voice.

“…Excuse me?”

“I asked you to marry me.”

His tone was as calm as if he’d suggested rescheduling a meeting. Evelyn blinked once. Then twice. She had expected many things from this meeting. A business proposal. An acquisition. Perhaps even a warning. Marriage had never crossed her mind.

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

“This isn’t a joke.”

“No.”

“Nor is it a romantic proposal.”

A fraction of a second passed before he answered.

“No.”

Oddly enough…That was the answer she found most reassuring. Evelyn leaned back in her chair, studying him carefully.

“You’ve known me for less than an hour.”

“Correct.”

“Our families are on opposite sides of one of the country’s biggest scandals.”

“They are.”

“Your younger brother left me at the altar.”

“Yesterday.”

His answers remained short and Precise. Evelyn let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“You really have an answer for everything.”

“I prefer to prepare.”

“I noticed.”

She folded her arms.

“Then tell me something, Mr. Hawthorne.”

His dark eyes met hers.

“Why me?”

This time…Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked back to the coffee station near the windows. He poured himself another cup of black coffe only after setting the cup on the table did he speak.

“Because you’re the best candidate.”

Evelyn stared at him.

“…Candidate?”

“Yes.”

She almost laughed again. “I’ve been called many things in the last twenty-four hours.”

“But never a candidate for marriage.”

“It isn’t meant as an insult.”

“I’m aware.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“But it isn’t exactly flattering either.”

Sebastian regarded her evenly.

“I wasn’t trying to flatter you.”

There it was again. That frustrating honesty. He wasn’t rude. He simply saw no value in decorating his words.

“You asked why you.”

He continued.

“So I’ll answer.”

He began counting on his fingers.

“You have credibility in the business community.”

“You understand corporate governance.”

“You’ve spent years managing Sinclair Group.”

“You maintain your composure under public pressure.”

“And despite yesterday’s events…” He paused. “You still attended this meeting on time.”

The room fell quiet. Those weren’t compliments about her beauty or kindness or resilience. They were observations. Professional. Objective. As though he were evaluating a potential business partner.

“You’ve reduced me to a résumé.”

“No.”

His answer came immediately.

“I’ve evaluated your capabilities.”

Evelyn held his gaze.

“And your conclusion?”

“My conclusion is that you’re one of the few people capable of standing beside me.”

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

“Beside you?”

“Not behind me.”

“Not in front of me.”

He spoke with complete certainty.

“Beside me.”

For reasons she couldn’t explain…Those two words affected her far more than any romantic declaration ever could. Not because they were affectionate. But because they were respectful. Sebastian continued.

“I don’t need someone to manage my household.”

“I don’t need someone to impress the media.”

“And I certainly don’t need someone who says yes to everything.”

Evelyn remained silent.

“I need an equal.”

Neither of them spoke. The office seemed impossibly still. Finally…Evelyn broke the silence.

“And what makes you think I’d agree?”

Sebastian looked toward the black folder resting on the table between them.

“I don’t.”

He slid it across the polished surface until it stopped in front of her.

“Which is why…”

His voice remained calm.

“I prepared a proposal instead of making a promise.”

Evelyn lowered her eyes. Embossed across the front of the folder were four simple words.

CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE AGREEMENT.

She rested her fingertips lightly on the cover.

“…A contract.”

“Twenty-seven pages.”

She looked up in disbelief.

“You counted?”

“I drafted it.”

Evelyn smiled. A genuine one.Somehow…That was the most Sebastian Hawthorne answer she could have imagined. Evelyn looked from the folder…to Sebastian. Then back again.

“…Twenty-seven pages.”

“Twenty-eight.”

She looked up.

“You just said twenty-seven.”

“I added a clause this morning.”

“…”

For a brief moment, Evelyn wondered if he was serious. Judging by his expression… He was. She opened the folder. The first page was simple. There were no romantic declarations. No poetic promises. Only a title.

CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

Beneath it were two names. Sebastian Hawthorne, Evelyn Sinclair

She turned the page. Instead of legal jargon, the first paragraph read:

Purpose of Agreement

To establish a temporary legal marriage that protects the interests of both parties while preserving each individual’s autonomy, reputation, and business interests.

She read the sentence twice. Then looked at him.

“You’ve been planning this.”

“For several hours.”

“Several hours?”

“My assistant began drafting it after your press conference.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

“So before inviting me here…”

“I wanted to know whether the proposal was feasible.”

“…And?”

“It is.”

She couldn’t decide whether to be impressed or offended. Perhaps both. She continued reading.

Clause One

The marriage shall remain legally valid for two years unless both parties mutually agree to dissolve it earlier.

She frowned.

“Two years?”

“The market needs stability.”

“So does the Hawthorne family.”

He said it so matter-of-factly that she couldn’t argue. She turned another page.

Clause Two

Neither party shall interfere with the other’s personal freedom, career, finances, or private decisions except where public appearances or legal obligations require cooperation.

Evelyn looked up.

“So we’re free to live our own lives.”

“Correct.”

“You won’t tell me how to run Sinclair Group.”

“No.”

“And I won’t interfere with Hawthorne Capital.”

“You won’t.”

She nodded slowly. Reasonable. Very reasonable. Then she reached the next clause.

Clause Three

Both parties agree to attend all major corporate, family, and public events together unless extraordinary circumstances prevent attendance.

She almost smiled.

“So we’ll have to pretend.”

Sebastian shook his head.

“No.”

Her brows lifted.

“A married couple appearing together isn’t pretending.”

“It’s fulfilling expectations.”

That…Actually made sense. She hated that it made sense. Turning another page, she found the next clause.

Clause Four

Any business decision involving Sinclair Group or Hawthorne Capital that may significantly affect the other party must be discussed before action is taken.

Evelyn rested her chin lightly against her hand.

“You expect transparency.”

“I expect communication.”

“There is a difference.”

“There is.”

For the first time, she noticed something unexpected. Every clause protected both of them. None favored Sebastian. None favored herself.

It was…Balanced. Almost unnervingly so. She closed the folder.

“I expected something far more restrictive.”

“I dislike unfair contracts.”

His answer was immediate.

“A contract only works if both parties benefit.”

Silence settled between them. Finally, Evelyn asked the question that had lingered in her mind since the proposal.

“What do you gain from marrying me?”

Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked back toward the windows overlooking the city. For several moments, he simply watched the traffic far below. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than before.

“My return to the Hawthorne family has already begun.”

Evelyn listened.

“If I return alone…”

“My father controls the narrative.”

“If I return married…”

“He loses that advantage.”

She frowned.

“So this is about your family.”

“In part.”

“And the other part?”

He turned to face her.

“My enemies know how to attack a man.”

A pause.

“They don’t know how to attack a partnership.”

The words lingered in the air. Not a husband. Not a wife. A partnership. Evelyn slowly stood. She walked toward the window until she stood beside him.

For the first time since they’d met…Neither of them was sitting across from the other. They stood side by side, looking out over the city.

“You’ve thought this through.”

“I have.”

“And if I say no?”

Sebastian’s expression remained calm.

“Then I’ll wish you good luck.”

She turned to him.

“That’s it?”

“I’m making you an offer, Miss Sinclair.”

“Not issuing an ultimatum.”

“If you refuse…”

“I’ll destroy the contract.”

“And we’ll both walk away.”

Evelyn searched his face. There was no pressure. No manipulation. No attempt to convince her emotionally. The decision…Was entirely hers.

For perhaps the first time in years…Someone had placed a choice in front of her without trying to make it for her. She looked down at the contract in her hands. Then back at Sebastian.

“…I have questions.”

The corner of Sebastian’s mouth lifted ever so slightly.

“I was hoping you would.”

Outside the windows, the city continued moving as though nothing had changed.

But inside the office…The future of two powerful families had quietly begun to shift.