Elara's POV
"I found out what Cain's hiding."
I freeze in front of the mirror, diamond earrings halfway to my ears. Sage's voice on speakerphone sounds terrified.
"What are you talking about?"
"The secret Vivienne threatened to expose. I did some digging, called in favors from my journalist ex-boyfriend." She takes a shaky breath. "Elara, three years ago, Cain's company was investigated for corporate espionage. Stealing trade secrets from competitors. The case was dropped mysteriously, records sealed, but—"
"But what?"
"The company he supposedly stole from? It was Winters Pharmaceuticals. Your family's company. Right before your grandmother died."
My stomach drops. "That's impossible."
"Is it? Think about it. Cain's been obsessed with destroying your family for years. What if he married you to get inside information? What if this whole thing—the protection, the contract, everything—was just about revenge?"
"No." But my voice shakes. "He wouldn't—"
"Elara, the gala tonight? Vivienne's planning to announce it publicly. She has documents, witnesses, everything. She's going to paint Cain as a criminal and you as his accomplice."
The room spins. "When?"
"During the charity auction. Midnight. You have four hours."
She hangs up, and I stare at my reflection.
The woman looking back at me wears a black designer gown that cost more than my café's monthly rent. Diamonds at her throat and ears—Cain's family jewels, he said. Hair and makeup professionally done.
I look like I belong in his world.
But maybe I'm just another pawn in his game.
"Ready?" Cain appears in the doorway, devastating in his tuxedo.
I turn, studying him like I'm seeing him for the first time. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
His gray eyes sharpen. "About what?"
"About why you really married me."
For a moment—just a heartbeat—something flickers in his expression. Guilt? Fear?
Then it's gone. "We should go. We're already late."
He's hiding something. Sage was right.
But I let him take my hand anyway, because I need to know the truth. And the only way to get it is to walk into that gala and face whatever Vivienne's planning.
Seattle's elite fill the ballroom like peacocks showing off their feathers. Everyone turns when we enter, whispers spreading like wildfire.
"Is that really Elara Winters?"
"She married Cain Ashford?"
"The Ice King finally took a wife?"
Cain's hand at my waist is possessive, pulling me closer. "Ignore them," he murmurs. "You're worth ten of everyone here."
But I can't ignore them. Because there, by the champagne fountain, are Marcus and Vivienne.
Marcus in a custom tuxedo, looking like the golden boy he pretends to be. Vivienne in white—always white, like she's the innocent one—dripping in jewelry.
They see us. Vivienne's face goes pale, then red. Marcus's jaw clenches.
"Showtime," Cain says, steering me straight toward them.
Every step feels like walking toward an execution.
"Marcus. Vivienne." Cain's voice could freeze fire. "How... unexpected to see you here."
"Cain." Marcus forces a smile. "Congratulations on your marriage. We were all so surprised."
"I'm sure you were." Cain's hand tightens on my waist. "Especially since you tried to kill my wife three days before the wedding."
The people around us gasp. Conversations stop.
"That's a serious accusation," Marcus says, but sweat beads on his forehead. "Do you have proof?"
"I have seventeen witnesses, security footage, and a ballistics report matching the bullets to a rifle registered to your uncle Victor." Cain smiles, and it's terrifying. "Want to hear more? In front of all these witnesses?"
Marcus goes white.
Vivienne recovers first, linking her arm through Marcus's. "My sister always was dramatic. Making up stories for attention." She looks at me with fake pity. "Elara, I know you're angry about Marcus and me, but this is embarrassing. Accusing people of attempted murder?"
"I'm not accusing," I say calmly. "I'm stating facts."
"Facts?" Vivienne laughs. "Like the fact that your new husband is a criminal?"
Here it comes.
"What are you talking about?" someone in the crowd asks.
Vivienne's smile is venomous. "Cain Ashford was investigated three years ago for corporate espionage. He stole pharmaceutical secrets from Winters Industries—our family company. The case was sealed, but I have proof." She pulls out a folder, waving it like a weapon. "Documents showing he paid off investigators, destroyed evidence, and covered up his crimes."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Cain doesn't even blink. "Interesting story."
"It's not a story," Vivienne says. "It's the truth. And Elara knew. She married him anyway, making her complicit. They're both criminals."
"Proof," Cain says. "You keep saying you have it. Show everyone."
Vivienne opens the folder triumphantly.
Then her face goes slack.
The folder is empty.
"Looking for these?" Nate appears from the crowd, holding different documents. "The real investigation files? The ones showing that Winters Pharmaceuticals tried to frame Cain Ashford after he discovered they were producing counterfeit medications? The ones proving your mother Patricia paid off the investigators to bury the truth?"
Vivienne's mouth opens and closes like a fish.
"Or maybe," Nate continues, "you want everyone to see these—financial records showing the Chen and Winters families have been embezzling from their own companies for twenty years. Bank accounts in the Cayman Islands. Shell corporations. Money laundering."
Marcus tries to grab the documents, but Cain blocks him with one look.
"Touch them," Cain says quietly, "and I'll break your hand."
The ballroom is dead silent.
"This is fabricated," Vivienne stammers. "Lies—"
"Eleanor Winters' testimony." Nate pulls out another document. "Written three weeks before she died, detailing everything she discovered about your family's corruption. Notarized, witnessed, legally binding. She left it with Cain's lawyers, with instructions to release it if anything happened to her granddaughter Elara."
My grandmother. Protecting me even after death.
Tears burn my eyes.
"You wanted a public reveal?" Cain addresses the crowd. "Here it is. The Chen and Winters families are criminals. They've stolen millions, murdered anyone who discovered their secrets, and tried to frame me when I got too close to the truth." He looks at Marcus. "Touch my wife again, threaten her again, even breathe in her direction—and I'll destroy everything your family built. That's not a threat. It's a schedule."
Marcus lunges at him.
Cain doesn't move. Security appears instantly, grabbing Marcus before he can throw a punch.
"Get him out," Cain says calmly.
They drag Marcus away, screaming threats. Vivienne runs after him, her white dress trailing behind like a surrender flag.
The crowd erupts in whispers, phone cameras flashing.
We won. Publicly, completely, devastatingly.
So why does my heart feel empty?
Because Sage was right—Cain was investigating my family. He did marry me as part of his revenge.
Everything between us was a lie.
"We should go," I say quietly.
"Elara—"
"Don't." I pull away from him. "Not here."
The car ride home is silent.
Inside the penthouse, I finally turn to face him. "Was any of it real?"
"What?"
"Us. This." I gesture between us. "Or was I just another move in your revenge game?"
"Elara, you don't understand—"
"Then make me understand!" My voice breaks. "Did you marry me to hurt my family? To get information? To—"
"I married you because I've been in love with you for three years!"
The words explode into the silence.
Cain runs his hands through his hair, destroyed. "I saw you at an art gallery opening. You were laughing with your mother, so alive, so beautiful. I couldn't look away. When your mother died, I investigated. Found out about the murder, the conspiracy, everything. I've been protecting you from the shadows ever since."
"You investigated my family—"
"To protect you! They were going to kill you next, Elara. I needed evidence to stop them. The marriage contract, the timing—yes, it was strategic. But my feelings?" He steps closer. "Those were never fake. Not for one second."
I want to believe him. God, I want to.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Because I'm terrified," he says quietly. "Every day, I'm terrified they'll hurt you. That I'll fail like I failed my parents. That loving you will get you killed. But I can't stop. Even though I should push you away, I can't stop loving you."
My heart hammers. "Cain—"
His phone buzzes. Then mine.
We both look.
It's a video message from an unknown number.
I click play, and my blood turns to ice.
It's Sage. Tied to a chair, gagged, terror in her eyes.
A voice—Marcus's voice—speaks from off-camera: "You humiliated us tonight, Ashford. Now we're even. Your wife wants her friend back? Come to Winters Estate. Alone. You have one hour, or we kill her."
The video cuts to black.
Then another text: "P.S. - We know about Lily too. She's already on her way here. Bring Elara. Let's finish this as a family. - M.C."
Lily. Cain's sister. They have her too.
"It's a trap," I whisper.
"I know." Cain's voice is deadly calm as he pulls out his phone. "But we're walking into it anyway."
"They'll kill us."
"Probably." He looks at me, gray eyes blazing. "But I'm not letting them hurt the people I love. Not again."
He grabs car keys and a gun I didn't know he had.
"Stay here," he orders. "Lock the doors. I'll bring them back."
"No." I grab my own phone. "You said we're partners. You don't get to protect me by walking into death alone."
"Elara—"
"One year, remember? For better or worse?" I meet his eyes. "This is the worse part. Let's survive it together."
For a moment, he just stares at me.
Then he kisses me—hard, desperate, real.
"If we die tonight," he says against my lips, "know that loving you was worth it."
We head for the door.
My phone buzzes one more time.
A photo of the Winters Estate.
And standing in front, smiling at the camera, is Patricia Winters.
Holding a gun to Sage's head.