Bound by debt ,married by fate

The aroma of jollof rice filled the dining room as laughter echoed around the table. Crystal smiled faintly, watching her younger brother argue over the last piece of chicken. For a moment, everything felt right — safe, even. Their family hadn’t been this happy in weeks. It felt like a rare breath of peace. Then the phone rang. Her father reached for it casually, still chuckling. But as he listened, the color drained from his face. His hand trembled slightly. The room fell silent. “What is it, Dad?” Crystal asked, her heart already racing. He looked up slowly, eyes wide and empty. “We’re... bankrupt. The company. Everything. It’s gone.” Silence. Crystal’s stomach twisted. Just like that, their lives shifted. The home, the cars, her school fees — all hanging by a thread. Her mother’s hand gripped the table tightly, knuckles white. As if on cue, another call came through. And that’s when *he* called. The one man Crystal had sworn never to speak to again — Alexander Kane(Aiden), the arrogant CEO her father once worked for. He didn’t waste time. *“Marry me,”* he said, voice cold and sure. *“It’ll fix your family's mess.”* Crystal laughed bitterly. “You think this is a joke?” But it wasn’t. This was only the beginning. ---