THE IMPOSSIBLE PROPOSAL
848 Words
“About the marriage?”
Amara stared at her father.
For a moment, she thought she had heard him wrong.
“What marriage?”
Her father didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at Damian.
Damian's expression remained unreadable.
That frightened her more than anything.
“Dad,” Amara said slowly, “what are you talking about?”
“Not here.”
He glanced around the ballroom.
“Come with me.”
Amara followed him toward a private room at the back of the hotel.
Liana tried to follow, but Amara shook her head.
“Wait here.”
She entered the room and closed the door behind her.
Her father was already standing beside the window.
“Sit down.”
“I don't want to sit down.”
“Amara.”
“No. You just told me there's something about a marriage after I spent the last five years trying to stay as far away from Damian Cross as possible.”
Her father's shoulders dropped.
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
He turned toward her.
“The Vale Group is in serious trouble.”
Amara's anger disappeared.
“What happened?”
“We lost two major investors last month. Our biggest supplier has terminated our agreement. And the bank has given us thirty days to settle a debt we cannot currently afford.”
She stared at him.
“How bad is it?”
“Bad enough that if we don't find a solution, we could lose the company.”
Amara slowly sat down.
“But we can fix it.”
“I've been trying.”
“And Damian?”
Her father's silence was answer enough.
“No.”
“Amara—”
“No.”
She stood again.
“You cannot possibly be suggesting that I marry him.”
“I am.”
Her heart pounded.
“Absolutely not.”
“There is a reason.”
“I don't care what the reason is.”
“The Cross family has offered to rescue the company.”
Amara laughed bitterly.
“Of course they have.”
“They will clear the company's debts and restore the investors.”
“And what do they want in return?”
Her father looked directly into her eyes.
“You.”
The room seemed to shrink.
Amara couldn't breathe for a second.
“You're asking me to marry Damian Cross because his family wants to save our company?”
“It's not simply about the company.”
“Then what is it about?”
Her father hesitated.
“The past.”
Amara's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Before her father could answer, the door opened.
Damian walked inside.
Amara immediately stood.
“You.”
He closed the door behind him.
“I told you I would see you again.”
She glared at him.
“I didn't expect you to come with a marriage proposal.”
“Neither did I.”
“Then why are you here?”
Damian looked at her father.
“Because our families have reached an agreement.”
Amara folded her arms.
“I haven't.”
Damian looked back at her.
“You haven't been asked yet.”
She scoffed.
“Fine. Ask.”
He took a step toward her.
“Marry me.”
The words landed between them like a bomb.
Amara stared at him.
Then she laughed.
“You've lost your mind.”
“Probably.”
“You think I would marry you?”
“No.”
His answer surprised her.
“I think you would do anything to protect your family.”
Her smile disappeared.
Damian continued.
“And I think you're about to discover that this marriage is bigger than either of us.”
“What does that mean?”
“You'll find out.”
Amara stepped closer.
“I swear, Damian, if this is some kind of revenge—”
“It isn't.”
“Then what is it?”
His eyes held hers.
“Six months.”
“What?”
“Six months of marriage. Then we're free.”
Amara stared at him.
Six months.
A contract.
A fake marriage.
It sounded insane.
But then she remembered her father's words.
The company was in danger.
Her family's entire future was at stake.
She hated Damian.
She hated his family.
But she couldn't watch her father lose everything.
Damian extended a folder toward her.
“The contract.”
Amara didn't take it.
“What happens if I refuse?”
His expression hardened.
“Then the Vale Group collapses.”
She finally took the folder.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She opened it.
The first line made her stomach twist.
Marriage agreement between amara and Damian.
She looked up at him.
“You planned this.”
Damian's eyes darkened.
“No, Amara.”
He stepped closer.
“Someone planned this long before either of us knew.”
And for the first time that night, Amara realized something terrifying.
Their families weren't simply forcing them to get married.
They were hiding something.
Something big enough to make two enemies become husband and wife.
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