Ivy stared once again at the note in her hand. You're not his wife. You'A knock came again.
Before she could even answer, the door opened.Two men walked in. One in a suit holding a briefcase. The other—Damian.Her stomach dropped."I hope you slept well," Damian said, "We have business."
"The man with the briefcase nodded at her. "Ms. Lane, I'm Mr. Voss. Mr. West's attorney. Please sit."She didn't move.
"Why is there a contract if we're already married?" she asked.
"You're not legally married yet," Damian said. "That happens after you sign."
Ivy stared at the leather folder placed in front of her. Thick papers. So many lines. So many rules.
"What's in it?" she asked.
Damian spoke calmly. "You'll stay by my side for one year. You'll say nothing to the press. You'll follow instructions. In return, your brother will walk free, clean record, protected."
She looked up at him. "You want a robot or a dog."
"No," he said coming close to her,"I just need someone who can make the world believe I am in love.she could feel his body heat so close.
Ivy tried to pull away, but she didn't move fast enough. Damian leaned down and whispered near her ear.
"If you're smart, Ivy, you'll stop asking why… and start learning how to survive.
Ivy forced her voice out. "I want proof Liam is alive."
Damian gave a small nod to the lawyer. The man handed her a tablet.A video played.
Liam. Dirty, tired, scared—but alive. Sitting on a cot in a small room. Holding a newspaper with today's date.Tears burned her eyes.She signed.Then Damian signed next.
The lawyer packed up the documents and left without a word.Now they were alone.Husband and wife.
Ivy stood. "So now what?"
"Now," Damian said, walking toward her slowly, "we make the world believe this isn't a deal."
Her breath caught as he stepped into her space. "We take photos. Smile. Touch. Pretend we're in love."
"And after that?"
His gaze dropped to her mouth. "We stop pretending".
He moved closer to her about to—but stopped, just inches away.
His voice was low. Dangerous. "Tell me to stop, Ivy."
She broke into a cold sweat. She didn't speak.He pulled back first.His voice was cold again. "I didn't hear you say it."
"I didn't have to," she whispered.He walked away.
- - - -
And just like that ,they were on a rooftop. Lights. Cameras. A fake priest. Vows whispered for the press.
They stood side by side while drones flew above them, filming every perfect angle.
Ivy smiled. Damian's hand pressed gently against her waist. His lips touched her cheek for a photo. It felt electric—and empty.This wasn't a wedding. It was a war.
Later, When she got to the penthouse,she hurriedly took off her dress not minding any damge since it wasn't even a real wedding anyways.
She wanted answers.She searched the wardrobe for something to wear—but a small shape caught her eye.
A flash drive. Taped to the back wall.She yanked it free.
She plugged it into the tablet Damian left behind.A video of Liamplayed.
But not the calm version from earlier.He was chained to a chair. Bleeding. Screaming.
"Please—please tell Ivy not to trust him—he's not saving me—he's using her—"
The screen went black.Her knees gave out.And behind her, the door creaked open agai
Ivy didn't turn around right away.The door had creaked open—but there were no footsteps.
Her brother had screamed her name. Begged her not to trust Damian.
"Turn it off," came a quiet voice behind her.She jumped.It was Damian.He was already inside the room, door closing behind him.
"How long were you there?" she asked, standing fast and hiding the tablet behind her.
His face was unreadable. "Long enough."
Ivy stepped back. "What is that video, Damian? Why is my brother chained like an animal? Why did you lie—"
"I didn't lie." His voice was low. Calm. Dangerous. "That footage is old. I told you he was safe now. I never said he wasn't hurt before."
"You showed me a fake video earlier," she said. "You had this one hidden—"
"Stop." He moved close to her. "You can't change your mind now. That means you either play by the rules, or you disappear. Like the last girl who asked too many questions."That stopped her cold.
"What girl?"He didn't answer.He cupped her chin.
His eyes searched hers. "You're not ready for the truth. Not yet."Ivy's breath caught.
"Then why marry me?" she whispered. "Why bring me into this if I'm not ready?"
He leaned closer.His mouth close to her ear.
"You don't know how much danger you take with you."
"I don't believe you," she said.
"You will," he whispered.
His lips brushed her cheek, just lightly.Then he left.
---
Her eyes some how wouldn't allow her sleep.She didn't even try.
Instead, Ivy checked her room again . She checked under the mattress, behind the shelves, under the carpet.
That's when she found the very small camera.She may have missed it.
She pulled a chair, climbed up, and yanked it loose.
For a second, she stood there holding it, her chest burning with fear and rage.
They were watching her.But who it be. Damian or someone else.
A knock at the door made her freeze again.She quickly hid the camera and opened the door halfway.It wasn't Damian.It was Grey.
He smirked. "Missus West. Still alive. Good."he came in before she could block him.
"You saw the video right" he said quietly. "The real one."Ivy's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"
"I left it for you."
Her heart stopped.
"Why?"
"Because you deserve to know the truth," Grey said. "Damian didn't marry you to save your brother. He married you because of something only you have—"
He glanced over his shoulder.
"Look, If he finds out I—"
A voice cut through the hall. Cold. Sharp."Step away from my wife."
Grey rolled his eyes and backed off. "Careful, Ivy. You're in a cage, not a palace."He walked away.Damian didn't look at her. Just stared at Grey until he was gone.Then his eyes turned to her.
"What did he say to you?"
"Nothing," Ivy lied.
But he didn't believe her and she knew it."You don't lie well, Ivy."
She tilted her chin up. "Then maybe you shouldn't have picked me."Their eyes locked. Fire and ice.He reached out—slow, careful—and touched her waist. The touch was soft. Intimate. She gasped softly.His mouth was near hers now.
"I'm not done talking ".
"I didn't think we were," she whispered back.But just when it felt like he would kiss her—
He stepped back because his phone buzzed.
He checked it. His face changed
"Stay in this room. Don't touch anything. And for God's sake, don't trust anyone who smiles too easily."
Then he left again. Ivy locked the door behind him.Her heart still pounding.But not from fear.She turned back toward the room—only to find her suitcase had been opened.And inside it, on top of her clothes, was a single photograph.A woman.With Ivy's face.Only… it wasn't Ivy.
And someone had wri
tten across the top in red ink: AVA DALE: DEAD