Getting into the room, I froze.
There he was—Alexander Blackwood—standing in front of me, half-naked, with only a towel loosely wrapped around his waist.
My eyes widened, and I immediately turned my gaze elsewhere, feeling my cheeks burn.
"Oh, you're here." His deep voice pulled me back to reality. He didn't even look fazed as he ran a hand through his damp hair. "Give me a moment."
Before I could say anything, he turned around and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me standing in the middle of the luxurious suite, my heart still pounding from the unexpected sight.
The room was grand—marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, and furniture that screamed power and wealth. A massive chandelier hung above, casting a golden glow on the expensive decor.
A few minutes later, he came out, fully dressed in a crisp white shirt and black dress pants. He looked dangerously handsome, like a king stepping onto his throne.
"Okay, let's begin." He sat down on the couch like it was a throne, his expression calm yet unreadable.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay composed. "So, what do you want?"
He leaned back, crossing his legs. "I need your help."
That caught me off guard. Alexander Blackwood, one of the most powerful men in the country, needed my help?
"You may have been wondering why I decided to say you were my wife that day," he continued, his gaze sharp.
I nodded slowly. "Yes. You could have just walked away. Why go that far?"
His jaw tightened. "That woman who was with me that day—she's the woman my family wants me to marry."
I frowned, remembering the elegant woman who had clutched his sleeve so desperately.
"I would have married her," he admitted, his tone colder now. "But then, I discovered that she and my cousin had planned everything. She was only marrying me so she could steal company secrets and hand them over to him."
My eyes widened in shock. "She… what?"
"She betrayed me before the marriage even happened." His voice was bitter. "So, I refused to marry her. But my family is still pressuring me to settle down. They want me to marry for business, not love."
I scoffed. "That sounds like a drama plot. This isn't a movie; it's real life."
A ghost of a smirk appeared on his lips. "That's what you think. But in my world, business and family are the same thing. And I don't trust anyone anymore."
I folded my arms. "So, what does that have to do with me?"
His dark eyes bore into mine. "When I saw you that day, I had a different idea. Instead of letting my family force me into a loveless marriage, I decided that I would have a contract marriage with you."
The room fell into silence.
Then—
"HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"
I burst into laughter, unable to hold it in. "Excuse me, but I think you watch too many movies. You seriously expect me to believe this?"
His expression didn't change. "It's unbelievable, which is why I chose you."
I stopped laughing. "Huh?"
"You have no connections to my family, no personal interest in my wealth, and—" he paused, his voice softening slightly, "—I know about Liliana's heart condition."
My breath hitched.
"What did you just say?"
"I know she's sick. I know you've been doing everything you can to get her treatment, but the best doctors are out of reach." His voice was calm, yet firm. "I can help you. I have access to the best heart doctors in the world. I can make sure she gets the treatment she needs."
I stared at him, my hands trembling slightly.
"You—" My voice was barely above a whisper. "You researched me?"
"I always investigate the people I do business with," he replied smoothly. "And this contract marriage will benefit both of us. Your children will finally have a father, and you won't have to struggle alone."
My children.
Liliana.
Liam.
I thought about the past few weeks—how they kept asking me when their "Daddy" was coming home. How they had been so excited when Alexander showed up that day, believing he was their father.
I thought about Liliana's condition—how I had spent sleepless nights researching treatments, desperate for a miracle.
This man could give me that miracle.
But could I trust him?
Did I have a choice?
My fingers curled into fists. "Okay," I finally said, my voice barely steady. "Where's the contract?"
Alexander's lips curled into a smirk. "There is no contract."
I blinked. "What?"
"This kind of arrangement can cause a lot of problems later," he explained. "A simple contract isn't enough."
I frowned. "Then how do you expect me to believe you?"
He leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto mine. "We're going to legally register our marriage."
My heart skipped a beat. "What?"
"Our marriage certificate will show that we've been married for the past five years. It will say that we got married after you gave birth."
I felt dizzy. "That's… that's lying."
He didn't even blink. "That's protecting ourselves."
Before I could respond, there was a sudden knock on the door.
Alexander's gaze darkened. "My brother is outside. He's going to come in with reporters, trying to expose me for having an affair and make my personal life a mess."
I felt my stomach drop. "Wait—what?!"
He picked up a file from the table and held it out to me.
"Before that happens," he said, "I want you to sign this."
I hesitated. "What is it?"
"This will prove that we've been married for five years. If the media tries to say I'm having an affair, they'll look like idiots when I reveal that you're my legal wife."
My fingers trembled as I reached for the file.
This was insane.
This was dangerous.
But if I signed this paper…
Liliana could get the best treatment in the world.
Liam could have the father he had been longing for.
And I… I would be tied to a man I barely knew.
I took a deep breath—
And signed.