Chapter 4 The Billionaire's Proposal

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Laurent... but according to our records, you're already married."

The words hit Isabella harder than Daniel's betrayal ever had.

She stared at the courthouse clerk across the counter, her fingers tightening around the pen she had used to sign what she thought was the final document tying her to Daniel.

"What did you say?" Her voice sounded distant. Not her own.

The clerk adjusted her glasses nervously. "You signed a legally binding marriage certificate approximately fifteen minutes ago."

Silence roared in Isabella's ears.

Married.

No.

That wasn't possible.

She had just finalized her divorce. She had negotiated her dignity back with cold precision. She had walked away from Daniel Hart with her head high.

She was free.

"I signed divorce papers," Isabella said carefully. "I triple-checked the names."

"Yes," the clerk replied, swallowing. "But there were two documents requiring signatures under the surname Hart. A processing error... and you signed the second file in the stack."

Isabella's pulse spiked.

"And that file belongs to-?"

A low, familiar voice answered from behind her.

"To me."

She froze.

Alexander Laurent stood there as if he had stepped out of a tailored storm.

Immaculate black suit. Controlled expression. Eyes like sharpened obsidian.

The most powerful man in the city.

The man she had bumped into earlier outside the courthouse.

The man whose contract she must have accidentally signed.

"This isn't funny," Isabella said, turning to face him fully. "Fix it."

Alexander's gaze didn't waver. "It's already registered."

Her heart pounded.

"No."

"Yes."

---

This had to be a nightmare.

Hours ago, she had been a betrayed wife.

Now she was someone else's.

And not just anyone.

Alexander Laurent.

The billionaire CEO whose name dominated headlines.

The man is rumored to crush competitors without blinking.

She felt heat rise in her chest.

"I want it annulled," Isabella said immediately. "Now."

Her voice was steady.

But inside?

Panic.

Humiliation.

Exhaustion.

Hadn't she endured enough for one night?

Divorced at midnight.

Married by accident before dawn.

If Daniel found out-

A cold shiver ran through her.

Why did that thought even matter?

He had replaced her with Sophia before their marriage was even legally over.

Sophia.

With her smug smile and suspicious pregnancy.

Isabella pressed her palm against her lower abdomen unconsciously.

Don't think about it.

Don't hope.

Not tonight.

"I'm afraid," Alexander said calmly, "that annulment isn't so simple."

She laughed bitterly. "It's a clerical error."

"It's a registered marriage under state law. Legally binding."

His tone wasn't apologetic.

It was measured.

Strategic.

As if he had already calculated ten moves ahead.

Suspicion flickered in her chest.

"Did you know?" she asked quietly.

His eyes darkened.

"Knew what?"

"That I would sign it."

A pause.

Too brief.

But not nonexistent.

---

They moved to a private conference room inside the courthouse.

Glass walls.

Closed door.

No witnesses.

Isabella crossed her arms.

"Explain."

Alexander removed his watch slowly, deliberately, placing it on the table.

"I require a wife," he said.

Her mouth fell open.

"I'm sorry?"

"My grandfather's will includes a clause. I must marry and produce an heir within one year to maintain controlling shares of Laurent Global."

The name carried weight.

Power.

An empire.

"And you thought," Isabella said slowly, "I'd be a convenient solution?"

"You are intelligent. Educated. From a respectable background. No criminal history. No scandals." His gaze swept over her calmly. "And you were about to be single."

Humiliation burned her cheeks.

"You make it sound like a job interview."

"In a way, it is."

Her stomach twisted.

"I just walked out of a three-year marriage where I gave up my career to build someone else's dream," she snapped. "And you think I'm going to sign up to be your strategic wife?"

"I think," he said evenly, "you're stronger than you realize."

The words caught her off guard.

She looked at him sharply.

"What do you want from me?"

"One year," he replied. "Public marriage. Appearances. Dinners. Family functions."

"And in return?"

"You regain your career. I'll invest in any venture you choose. Full funding. Full autonomy."

Her breath hitched.

Temptation flickered.

She had sacrificed everything for Daniel's startup.

Watched it grow.

Watched him take credit.

Watched him replace her.

Revenge stirred quietly in her veins.

"You're using me," she said.

"Yes."

The honesty stunned her.

"And you'll use me too," he added softly.

A dangerous understanding passed between them.

Power imbalance.

But also opportunity.

"Why not pick someone else?" she asked.

"There is no one else I trust to survive my world."

That sounded almost protective.

Or manipulative.

She couldn't tell.

"I don't trust you," she said.

"You don't have to," he replied. "Just sign."

He slid a contract across the table.

One year.

No romantic obligations.

Strict confidentiality.

Financial compensation beyond imagination.

Her pulse pounded.

This was insane.

But what waited outside this room?

Daniel's smug victory.

Sophia's fake baby bump.

Pitying whispers.

And maybe-

Just maybe-

A secret is growing inside her.

If she were pregnant...

She needed security.

Control.

Leverage.

Alexander watched her silently.

As if he already knew she was considering it.

Her phone buzzed.

Daniel.

Of course.

She ignored it.

It buzzed again.

Then a message.

Daniel: "We need to talk. Sophia isn't feeling well. Don't cause trouble."

Isabella's nails dug into her palm.

Don't cause trouble?

After everything?

Alexander noticed her expression shift.

"Ex-husband?" he asked.

"Yes."

"He still believes you belong to him."

The statement wasn't a question.

Jealousy flickered in Alexander's eyes.

Subtle.

But real.

And it sent an unexpected tremor through her.

"You don't know anything about us," she said.

"I know he underestimated you."

That struck deeper than she expected.

"He'll regret it," Alexander added calmly.

A chill ran down her spine.

That wasn't an empty threat.

He meant it.

And for the first time since the divorce, she didn't feel powerless.

Her phone buzzed again.

This time from Lily.

Lily: "Did you leave already? I just saw Daniel storming into the courthouse."

Her heartbeat spiked.

"He's here," she whispered.

Alexander stood immediately.

"Then decide now."

Her mind raced.

If Daniel saw her-

He would twist the story.

He would humiliate her again.

Or worse.

Sophia would.

"You said one year?" Isabella asked.

"Yes."

"And then we walk away."

"If you wish."

His eyes held hers.

Steady.

Intense.

Like he was offering her not just protection

But a weapon.

Slowly, deliberately-

She signed.

Alexander didn't smile.

But something in his expression softened.

"Welcome to the Laurent family," he said.

The door handle rattled.

Daniel's voice echoed down the hallway.

"Isabella!"

Too late.

Alexander placed his hand at the small of her back.

Warm.

Possessive.

Her breath caught.

"This way," he murmured.

---

They exited through a private side corridor.

Marcus Reed was already waiting near a sleek black Rolls-Royce.

Everything felt coordinated.

Planned.

"You arranged this," Isabella accused quietly as they walked.

"I arrange everything," Alexander replied.

Daniel's voice grew louder behind them.

"Isabella!"

She turned.

And there he was.

Breathless.

Angry.

Eyes blazing.

He stopped short when he saw Alexander's hand on her back.

"What the hell is this?" Daniel demanded.

Alexander's expression turned glacial.

"Good evening."

Daniel ignored him, staring at Isabella.

"What are you doing with him?"

The audacity.

She lifted her chin.

"I'm leaving."

"With him?" Daniel scoffed. "Since when?"

"Since I became his wife."

Silence.

Utter.

Stunned.

Daniel's face drained of color.

"That's not funny."

"It's not a joke."

Sophia appeared behind him, clutching her stomach dramatically.

"Daniel... what's happening?" she whispered, eyes wide as she looked at Alexander.

Recognition dawned.

Laurent.

Power.

Money.

Opportunity.

Jealousy flashed across her face.

"You can't do this," Daniel said to Isabella, stepping forward. "You're my wife."

"Was," she corrected calmly.

"And now?" he demanded.

Alexander opened the car door for her.

"Now," Isabella said, meeting Daniel's gaze without flinching, "I belong somewhere else."

She slid into the car.

The door shut.

Daniel stood frozen on the courthouse steps.

Watching.

As Alexander walked around the vehicle.

Before getting in, Alexander paused.

His eyes met Daniel's.

A silent warning.

A declaration of war.

Then he entered the car.

The engine purred.

The Rolls-Royce pulled away.

Inside the car, silence stretched between them.

Isabella stared ahead.

Her heart is racing.

What had she done?

Alexander broke the silence.

"There's something else you should know."

Her stomach tightened.

"What?"

"My grandfather requested a medical examination for proof of fertility."

Ice slid through her veins.

"What do you mean?"

"It's required within thirty days," he said evenly.

Her hand moved instinctively to her abdomen again.

She swallowed.

"I might already be pregnant."

The car slowed abruptly.

Alexander turned toward her slowly.

"Isabella," he said quietly.

"Yes?"

"Is it mine?"

Her breath stopped.

Outside the window-

On the sidewalk-

Daniel stood staring at the departing car.

His eyes filled not with anger.

But with something far more dangerous.

Realization.

And suspicion.

Short Recap

Isabella discovers she accidentally married billionaire Alexander Laurent due to a courthouse mix-up. Instead of annulling it, Alexander proposes a one-year contract marriage to secure his inheritance. Tempted by power and revenge, Isabella agrees-just as Daniel witnesses her leaving with Alexander. The chapter ends with Isabella revealing she might already be pregnant, leaving Alexander-and readers-shocked.