By noon, the entire Ashford Group headquarters was already in motion.
Assistants moved quickly through the corridors, phones ringing, heels clicking against polished marble floors. The usual controlled order of the building felt slightly off today—as if something invisible had shifted.
Lilian stood outside the elevator, her reflection staring back at her from the mirrored surface.
Three months.
She had three months to change everything.
In her last life, this day had been ordinary.
She had spent the morning preparing documents for Julian, reviewing schedules, smoothing over minor problems he didn't even notice.
She had been useful.
Invisible.
Replaceable.
This time—
She wasn't here for him.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Lilian stepped inside.
"Top floor," she said.
The assistant inside the elevator froze for a second.
Top floor?
That level wasn't for regular staff.
Not even for most executives.
It belonged to one man.
Adrian Ashford.
The real power behind the Ashford empire.
The man Julian avoided.
The man the entire family respected—and feared.
The assistant hesitated. "Miss Hart… do you have an appointment?"
Lilian didn't look at her.
"No."
The assistant swallowed.
"…I see."
No one questioned her further.
Because even if she was "just" Julian's wife—
She was still an Ashford.
For now.
The elevator doors closed.
Silence filled the space as it began to rise.
Lilian's fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
Adrian Ashford.
In her previous life, she had only seen him a few times.
Always distant.
Always controlled.
Always untouchable.
He rarely attended family gatherings.
Rarely spoke.
Rarely involved himself in anything that didn't interest him.
But when he did—
Everything changed.
And now—
She was about to walk into his world without invitation.
The elevator slowed.
Then stopped.
The doors opened.
The top floor was quiet.
Too quiet.
No crowd.
No noise.
Just a wide, open corridor with dark wood panels and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the entire city.
Power didn't need to be loud.
It simply existed.
Lilian stepped out.
The air felt different here.
Colder.
Sharper.
Every step she took echoed softly against the floor.
At the end of the corridor stood a single office.
Large.
Closed.
And guarded.
Two men in suits stood near the door.
Security.
Their eyes immediately locked onto her.
"Miss Hart," one of them said, recognizing her.
His tone was polite.
But firm.
"This floor requires authorization."
"I know," Lilian replied calmly.
"Then I'll need to ask you to leave."
Lilian stopped a few steps away.
Met his gaze directly.
"I'm here to see Adrian Ashford."
The name alone changed the atmosphere.
The guards exchanged a brief look.
"You don't have an appointment," the second one said.
It wasn't a question.
"No," Lilian said again.
"Then I'm afraid—"
"I'm here to propose a deal."
The first guard frowned slightly.
"…A deal?"
"With him."
Silence.
The words didn't make sense.
Not here.
Not like this.
Not from her.
The second guard was about to respond when—
The office door behind them opened.
The movement was quiet.
Almost soundless.
But it was enough to make both guards straighten instantly.
"Mr. Ashford."
Lilian didn't turn immediately.
She didn't need to.
She felt it.
The shift in the air.
Subtle.
But absolute.
Then she turned.
And saw him.
Adrian Ashford stood in the doorway, one hand resting lightly against the doorframe.
Tall.
Composed.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
His expression was calm.
Unreadable.
But his eyes—
Cold.
Sharp.
Observant.
They landed on her instantly.
And didn't move.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Adrian said, "Leave."
The guards hesitated.
He didn't look at them.
"Now."
"Yes, sir."
They stepped back immediately, clearing the space without question.
The corridor fell silent again.
Just the two of them.
Lilian held his gaze.
Didn't lower her eyes.
Didn't soften.
Good.
Adrian noticed.
Of course he did.
"Mrs. Ashford," he said.
His voice was low.
Controlled.
"You're on the wrong floor."
"I don't think so," Lilian replied.
A faint pause.
Not long.
But enough.
He stepped forward slightly, closing the door behind him.
The sound clicked softly into place.
"Then explain," he said.
No curiosity.
No politeness.
Just expectation.
Lilian took a step closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"I want to marry you."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
If anyone else had said those words—
They would have been thrown out before finishing the sentence.
But Lilian didn't flinch.
Didn't look away.
Didn't try to soften it.
She meant every word.
Adrian studied her.
Carefully.
Thoroughly.
From her expression.
To her posture.
To the absence of hesitation.
"You're already married," he said.
"Not for long."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Julian agreed to the divorce this morning."
That—
Was new.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Interest.
Just for a second.
Then it disappeared.
"And you came here immediately after?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Lilian didn't answer right away.
Because this part mattered.
This wasn't about emotion.
Not anymore.
This was about power.
About survival.
About rewriting everything.
Finally, she said:
"Because you're the only man in this family he can't control."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
But the silence deepened.
"He won't touch me," Lilian continued.
"Not if I'm yours."
There it was.
The truth.
Simple.
Cold.
Effective.
She wasn't asking for love.
She wasn't asking for protection.
She was offering something else.
A position.
A move.
A calculation.
Adrian stepped closer.
Now they were only a few feet apart.
Close enough for her to feel the pressure of his presence.
Close enough to understand—
This man was dangerous in a way Julian had never been.
"You're asking for a contract marriage," he said.
"Yes."
"And what do I get?"
Lilian met his eyes.
Didn't hesitate.
"Me."
Another silence.
Then—
A faint shift in his expression.
Not amusement.
Not approval.
Something sharper.
"You're not enough," he said.
Blunt.
Direct.
True.
In her last life—
Those words would have destroyed her.
Now—
She smiled.
"Not yet," she said.
A beat.
"But I will be."
That—
Finally—
Caught his attention.
Not her beauty.
Not her desperation.
Her certainty.
Adrian looked at her for a long moment.
As if reevaluating everything.
Then he asked:
"Why now?"
Lilian's eyes didn't move.
"Because this is the last time I'll be weak enough to need you."
Silence.
Then—
Very slowly—
Adrian Ashford smiled.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Dangerous.
"Interesting."
He turned slightly.
Walked back toward the office.
Stopped at the doorway.
And said:
"Come in."
Lilian didn't hesitate.
Because she knew—
The moment she stepped inside—
Everything would change.