Claimed by the Billionaire

Chapter 3: The Marriage Contract

The deafening gunshot echoed through the night.

The balcony glass shattered into thousands of glittering pieces.

Before Brittney could even scream, Alexander wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to the floor, shielding her with his body.

Another shot rang out.

Bang!

The bullet struck the stone pillar just inches away.

"Stay down," Alexander ordered, his voice calm despite texit. Nobody leaves this estate."

"Yes, sir!"

The guards disappeared into the darkness.

Only then did Alexander look down.

"Brittney... are you hurt?"he chaos.

Within seconds, the mansion's security alarms blared.

Heavy footsteps thundered through the hallway.

Alexander's head of security, Ethan rushed onto the balcony with several armed guards.

"Mr. Knight!"

"The shooter escaped through the east garden," Alexander said without looking away from Brittney. "Seal every

She stared at him, still shaking.

"N-No..."

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Alexander gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"You're safe."

For reasons she couldn't explain, those two words made her break down completely.

She buried her face against his chest and cried.

Alexander hesitated for a brief second before wrapping his arms around her.

"It's over," he murmured.

"No one is going to hurt you while you're with me."

An hour later...

The mansion had become a fortress.

Security officers searched every corner of the estate while detectives examined the shattered balcony.

Brittney sat quietly in the living room, wrapped in a blanket.

Margaret placed a cup of warm tea in front of her.

Alexander entered, his expression unreadable.

"The police are asking questions," he said.

She looked up.

"Do... do they know who did it?"

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"They'll investigate."

"But I already know one thing."

"What?"

"They weren't trying to kill me."

Her face turned pale.

"They were aiming at you."

Silence filled the room.

"Me?" she whispered.

"But why?"

Alexander didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he placed a thick brown envelope on the coffee table.

"I've been looking into your background for weeks."

Her eyes widened

"Weeks?"

He nodded.

"I didn't expect us to meet like this."

Slowly, he opened the envelope.

Inside were photographs...

Old newspaper clippings...

Legal documents...

And one faded picture of Brittney as a little girl.

She picked it up with trembling fingers.

"I've never seen this before."

"You were eight years old."

"My parents died when I was nine."

Alexander looked at her carefully.

"That's what you've always believed."

Her heart stopped.

"What are you saying?"

"Your parents' accident wasn't an accident."

The room suddenly felt colder.

"They were murdered."

Brittney stared at him in disbelief.

"No..."

"They were involved in a business partnership with my father years ago."

She slowly shook her head.

"You're lying."

"I wish I were."

He slid another document toward her.

"This case was buried."

"They erased almost every record."

"But someone has started looking for you again."

She looked at the file.

Every page carried one message.

Target: Brittney Carter.

Her breathing became uneven.

"This... this can't be real."

Alexander's voice softened.

"I wouldn't lie to you about something like this."

He stood and walked toward the fireplace.

"For years, I've been searching for the people responsible."

"They're powerful."

"They have money."

"They have influence."

"And now..."

"They know I've found you."

She looked at him, terrified.

"So what happens now?"

Alexander turned to face her.

"There are only two choices."

"You disappear."

"Or..."

"You stay beside me."

He walked back to the coffee table.

From another black folder, he removed a thick stack of papers.

He placed them directly in front of her.

She frowned.

"What is this?"

Alexander met her gaze.

"A contract."

Her heart skipped.

"What kind of contract?"

He spoke without hesitation.

"A marriage contract."

The room fell silent.

Margaret nearly dropped the tray she was holding.

Even Ethan looked stunned.

Brittney stared at Alexander as though she had misheard him.

"...What?"

"For one year," Alexander continued calmly.

"You'll become my legal wife."

"My wife?"

"Yes."

She stood so quickly that the papers scattered across the floor.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"We barely know each other!"

Alexander didn't flinch.

"I know exactly what I'm asking."

"And I know exactly why."

She shook her head repeatedly.

"This is crazy."

"Maybe."

"But it's also the safest option."

He picked up the papers and handed them back to her.

"Read it."

Still confused, she glanced through the first page.

CONTRACT MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

Duration: One Year.

Condition One: Brittney Carter will legally marry Alexander Knight.

Condition Three: Alexander Knight will guarantee her safety twenty-four hours a day.

Condition Four: All of Brittney's debts and financial burdens will be settled immediately.

Condition Five: Either party may end the agreement after one year... unless both choose to remain married.

Her hands trembled.

She looked up.

"You'd do all this... for me?"

Alexander's expression softened for the first time.

"I'm asking you to trust me."

"And if I refuse?"

He held her gaze.

"Then I'll still protect you for as long as I can."

"But I can't promise I'll always get to you in time."

The memory of the gunshots flashed through her mind.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Alexander took one final step closer.

His deep voice was steady.

"I'm not asking because it's convenient."

"I'm asking because it's the only way I know to keep you alive."

He placed a silver fountain pen beside the contract.

"Take the night."

"Tomorrow morning..."

"I want your answer."

Brittney looked down at the signature line.

Then back at the man standing before her.

One signature...

Could change her life forever

Brittney's fingers hovered over the silver fountain pen, but she couldn't bring herself to touch it.

The room was silent.

Alexander stood a few feet away, giving her space. He wasn't pressuring her. He simply waited.

Finally, Brittney looked up.

"What if I sign this... and fall in love with you?"

Alexander's calm expression faltered for the first time.

For a brief second, surprise flickered across his face.

Then he answered honestly.

"That isn't part of the contract."

She let out a soft, bitter laugh.

"Exactly."

She closed the folder.

"I've already given my heart to the wrong man once."

"I don't know if I have the strength to risk it again."

Alexander slowly walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city.

"The contract isn't asking for your heart."

"It only asks for your trust."

She watched his broad shoulders stiffen.

"And yours?" she asked quietly.

"Can you trust me?"

Alexander turned.

"I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't."

Their eyes met.

For the first time...

Neither of them looked away.

Just then, a sharp knock interrupted the moment.

Ethan entered with an urgent expression.

"Sir..."

Alexander frowned.

"What is it?"

"We've found something."

"What?"

"The shooter left a vehicle behind."

"And inside it..."

Ethan placed a small evidence bag on the table.

It contained a gold engagement ring.

Brittney's heart nearly stopped.

She recognized it instantly.

It was the ring Ryan had placed on her finger only a few months ago.

"How...?" she whispered.

Alexander's gaze darkened.

"Is it yours?"

She nodded slowly.

"I left it at the restaurant after I caught him cheating."

Ethan took a deep breath.

"We also recovered fingerprints."

Alexander's voice became cold.

"Whose?"

Ethan hesitated.

"The results aren't complete..."

"But one name has already come up."

Brittney held her breath.

"Ryan."

The room fell silent.

Her knees weakened.

"No..."

"He wouldn't..."

Alexander stepped forward and caught her before she fell.

"You don't know that."

"He may have betrayed me..."

She whispered through trembling lips.

"But he wouldn't try to kill me."

Alexander didn't answer.

Instead, he handed Ethan another file.

"Show her."

Inside were photographs taken earlier that evening.

Ryan...

Standing beside a man in a black suit.

The same black serpent emblem was pinned to the man's tie.

Brittney stared at the photos in horror.

"This can't be real..."

Tears welled in her eyes again.

"Everything I believed..."

"...was a lie."

Alexander gently closed the file.

"I know this is a lot."

"But you don't have to face it alone anymore."

His words settled over the room like a promise.

After several moments of silence, Brittney picked up the silver pen once more.

Her hand trembled.

She looked at Alexander.

"If I sign..."

"You promise you'll never lie to me?"

Alexander didn't hesitate.

"I promise."

"And you'll protect the people I care about?"

"I will."

She took a shaky breath.

"Then..."

The tip of the pen touched the paper.

She slowly wrote...

Brittney Carter.

Alexander looked down at the signature.

A rare smile crossed his face.

"Welcome to the Knight family, Mrs. Knight."

Before Brittney could react...

rang.

He answered immediately.

"Ethan?"

A panicked voice came through the speaker.

"Sir!"

"We have a serious problem."

Alexander's expression changed instantly.

"What happened?"

"The news just broke."

"Every media station in the country is reporting your marriage."

"They're saying it was planned for months..."

"And..."

"They've just released a photo of Brittney entering the mansion."

Alexander looked toward the television.

Breaking News flashed across every channel.

BILLIONAIRE ALEXANDER KNIGHT SECRETLY MARRIES MYSTERY WOMAN.

Brittney covered her mouth in shock.

"But... we haven't even had the wedding yet."

Alexander's eyes narrowed.

"Someone wants the entire world to know she's with me."

"And that means..."

He turned toward the security monitors.

"They're about to make their next move."