CHAPTER ONE - THE CONTRACT
955 Words
Amelia Hart woke up in a strange bed with a terrible headache.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, trying to remember where she was.
Then she noticed the expensive white sheets.
The enormous bedroom.
The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
And the man's black suit lying across a nearby chair.
Her heart began to race.
She slowly looked down.
She was wearing nothing but the sheet covering her body.
“Oh my God.”
Memories came rushing back.
The charity gala.
The champagne.
The man with cold gray eyes who had watched her from across the room.
Damian Blackwood.
The ruthless billionaire CEO.
Amelia squeezed her eyes shut.
This couldn't be happening.
She remembered dancing with him.
She remembered their conversation.
She remembered his hand around her waist.
After that, everything became blurry.
She climbed out of bed and quickly searched for her clothes.
Her dress was crumpled on the floor.
One shoe was beneath the bed.
The other was near the door.
She had just grabbed her handbag when the bathroom door opened.
Damian stepped out.
He was dressed in black trousers and a white shirt, his dark hair slightly messy.
His eyes met hers.
Neither of them spoke.
Amelia's cheeks burned.
“I should leave.”
Damian's expression remained unreadable.
“You can.”
She hurried toward the door.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
Damian walked toward the desk and picked up a black folder.
“Before you leave, read this.”
Amelia frowned.
“What is it?”
“A contract.”
She opened it.
Her eyes widened.
Marriage.
Six months.
She looked at him as if he had lost his mind.
“You want me to marry you?”
“Yes.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“My grandfather's will requires me to be married within thirty days. If I fail, I lose control of my company.”
Amelia stared at the pages.
“And you picked me?”
“You don't want my money.”
“You don't know what I want.”
“I offered you money last night. You refused.”
She remembered.
He had tried to give her his card.
She had pushed his hand away.
She hadn't known then that refusing him would lead to this.
Damian stepped closer.
“Your sister needs surgery.”
Amelia's breath caught.
“How do you know about Lily?”
“I had you investigated.”
Anger flashed through her.
“You had no right.”
“Maybe not. But I can pay for her surgery.”
She looked down at the contract.
Six months.
A fake marriage.
Enough money to save Lily.
Then she could walk away.
“What are the rules?”
“No interfering in each other's personal lives.”
“Separate rooms.”
“Agreed.”
“No sleeping together.”
His eyes darkened.
“Agreed.”
“And after six months, we're done.”
“Completely.”
Amelia stared at the signature line.
Her sister's face appeared in her mind.
She picked up the pen.
“This is only business.”
“Of course.”
She signed.
Damian signed immediately after her.
Amelia released the pen.
For some reason, her hands were shaking.
She had just married the most dangerous man in New York.
And she barely knew him.
She turned toward the door.
Her phone suddenly rang.
“Hello?”
It was Lily.
“Amelia…”
Her voice sounded frightened.
“What happened?”
“I found something about Damian Blackwood.”
Amelia's heart began pounding.
“What?”
“I found an old photograph.”
“Of what?”
“Your mother.”
Amelia froze.
“My mother died when I was a baby.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“She was standing beside Damian's father.”
Amelia couldn't breathe.
“That's impossible.”
“Amelia, there's more.”
“What?”
Lily hesitated.
“There was a little girl in the photograph.”
Amelia's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
A loud crash sounded through the call.
Lily gasped.
“Someone's here.”
“Lily?”
“I have to go.”
“Lily!”
The call ended.
Amelia stared at her phone in horror.
Behind her, Damian suddenly spoke.
“What happened?”
She turned.
“He knows about my mother.”
Damian's face changed.
“What did you say?”
“My mother. Lily found a photograph of her with your father.”
For the first time, Damian looked genuinely shaken.
“Show me.”
Amelia handed him the phone.
He stared at the screen.
Then his expression went completely cold.
“Where did you get this?”
“Lily found it.”
Damian looked at Amelia.
“Your mother isn't dead.”
Amelia shook her head.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Her heart pounded.
“What does your father have to do with my mother?”
Damian didn't answer.
His phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
A man's voice came through the phone.
Damian's face went pale.
“What?”
He ended the call.
Amelia stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Damian looked at her.
“The hospital was attacked.”
Her blood ran cold.
“Lily?”
“They're looking for someone.”
“Who?”
Damian's eyes locked onto hers.
“You.”
Amelia's breath caught.
Before she could respond, Damian's phone rang again.
He answered.
A voice whispered something.
His expression changed completely.
“She's pregnant.”
Damian slowly looked at Amelia.
His eyes widened.
And the world stopped.
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