Chapter 1 The Proposal

Lucy Taylor adjusted her coat as the cold wind of New York whipped across her face. The large, marble steps leading up to Ashcroft Enterprises were as intimidating as the man she was about to meet.

"Are you sure about this, Lucy?" Jackson Taylor, her father, asked for the hundredth time.

Lucy gave him a quick nod, though her heart was sinking with every step closer to the towering building. "I don't have much choice, Dad. We need this."

Jackson's face was worn with guilt. "I should have managed things better."

"No, Dad. It's not your fault," Lucy reassured him. "Isabel... she..."

She trailed off, the reminder of her stepsister's greed choking her words. Isabel had backed out of the arranged marriage at the last minute when she discovered that the young billionaire CEO, William Ashcroft, was bound to a wheelchair. Now, the burden fell to Lucy.

Lucy didn't want to be here. She wasn't prepared to be anyone's wife, let alone William's. But after Isabel's refusal, William had given them an ultimatum: either one of the Carson sisters married him, or he'd make sure their father's business collapsed entirely.

The deal was too good for her family to pass up-and too awful for Lucy to ignore.

"Just go in and be yourself," Jackson encouraged. "This isn't about you. It's about the family."

Lucy nodded again, though doubt gnawed at her. She wasn't sure she could do this. But her father's hopeful expression gave her the push she needed. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the towering skyscraper, feeling like she was walking into a lion's den.

The elevator ride to the top floor was long, giving her too much time to second-guess herself. She could still back out. She could run. But where would that leave her family? She straightened her back, reminding herself of the task at hand.

As the elevator doors slid open, she was greeted by the sight of a vast office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan. And there, in the center of it all, sat William Ashcroft.

The first thing she noticed was his eyes-cold, piercing blue that seemed to see straight through her. He was even more handsome in person than the pictures in the magazines had suggested. His brown hair was neatly styled, and he exuded power even while seated in a wheelchair.

"So," William said without preamble, "you're the replacement."

Lucy flinched slightly at the bluntness of his words but quickly recovered. "I suppose I am."

He raised an eyebrow. "You don't sound very enthusiastic."

"I didn't come here for myself," Lucy replied, her voice steady. "I came for my family."

There was a long pause as William studied her. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything immediately. Finally, he spoke again, his tone clipped. "I'm not interested in love. I assume you know that."

Lucy nodded. "I understand."

"Good." He leaned back in his chair, looking almost bored. "This is a marriage of convenience, nothing more. You do your part, and I'll do mine. Keep up appearances. Attend functions with me. Beyond that, we don't need to interact more than necessary."

The coldness in his voice was almost palpable, but Lucy had been prepared for this. She knew this wasn't about romance or affection-it was about survival, for both of them.

"I can do that," she agreed, keeping her voice as neutral as possible.

William's gaze sharpened. "You're different from your sister."

Lucy clenched her jaw, fighting back the bitterness that rose at the mention of Isabel. "Yes, I am."

"Isabel was shallow," he continued, his tone disdainful. "She wanted my money and my status. But she didn't have the guts to follow through when she saw me."

"I'm not Isabel," Lucy said firmly, her eyes meeting his.

William gave her a long, assessing look before nodding slightly. "We'll see."

There was a brief silence, and Lucy used it to gather her thoughts. She couldn't let him see how nervous she was. This marriage wasn't about her feelings, and it wasn't about William's either. It was about saving her father's company, about keeping her family afloat in a sea of debt.

But despite all that, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder what had made William Ashcroft so bitter. There had to be more to the story than what she'd heard.

"I'll have my assistant draw up the necessary paperwork," William said, interrupting her thoughts. "You'll sign, and we'll make the arrangement official."

Lucy blinked. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." He turned back to his desk, dismissing her without another word.

As Lucy made her way out of the office, she felt an odd mix of relief and dread. The deal was done, and soon she would become Mrs. Ashcroft. But as much as she wanted to save her family, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into something far more dangerous than she realized.

---

Back at the Taylor household, Isabel was lounging on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. She glanced up when Lucy entered, her expression a mix of boredom and disdain.

"So, did you seal the deal?" Isabel asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Lucy ignored her, taking off her coat and hanging it on the rack. She didn't have the energy to deal with her stepsister's barbs right now.

Isabel smirked. "You know, you could at least try to act excited. You're marrying a billionaire, after all."

Lucy shot her a look. "Isabel, you were supposed to marry him."

"Yeah, well, I wasn't going to marry a cripple," Isabel said with a dismissive wave. "But good luck with that."

Lucy's hands tightened into fists, but she didn't respond. She wouldn't give Isabel the satisfaction of seeing her angry. Instead, she headed upstairs to her room, needing a moment to breathe.

As she sat down on her bed, She was really going to marry William Ashcroft. The cold, calculating man who had barely looked at her during their conversation. The man who had been hurt so deeply that he no longer believed in love.

And yet, despite everything, Lucy felt a strange flicker of curiosity. There had been something in his eyes-a glimmer of vulnerability beneath the ice.

Maybe, just maybe, there was more to William than what he let the world see.

---

A week later, Lucy stood in front of the courthouse, wearing a simple white dress. The day had arrived much sooner than she'd expected, and now she was moments away from becoming Mrs. William Ashcroft.

Her father stood beside her, looking both proud and apologetic. "You're doing the right thing, Lucy."

She nodded, though her stomach was in knots. "I hope so."

As they stepped inside, the cool air of the courthouse greeted them. William was already there, seated in his wheelchair, looking as composed as ever. He glanced at Lucy briefly before turning his attention back to the officiant.

The ceremony was quick, almost clinical. Vows were exchanged, papers were signed, and before Lucy even had time to process it, she was William's wife.

As they walked out of the courthouse, William turned to her, his expression unreadable. "There's a charity event next week. You'll be expected to attend."

Lucy blinked, still reeling from the whirlwind of events. "Of course."

"And remember," he added, his voice dropping slightly, "this is just business."

Lucy swallowed hard. "I understand."

But as she watched him wheel himself toward the waiting car, she couldn't help but feel that this was more than just business. And whether she liked it or not, she was now a part of it.