Chapter 6 A one-year vow

Daxton Brady walked into the grand receiving room.

He wore a charcoal bespoke suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly. His presence sucked the air out of the room, dropping the temperature by ten degrees.

His executive assistant walked a step behind him, holding a leather binder containing the legal cancellation documents.

Arthur pointed to a chair opposite the couches. No handshakes. No fake smiles.

Daxton sat down. "I will keep this brief," he said, his voice strictly business. "The proposed union between our families is no longer viable."

Upstairs, hiding behind the marble banister, Amiyah let out a quiet sob.

The assistant placed the contract on the glass coffee table. "The Brady family is prepared to concede three major energy sector contracts as compensation."

Carter let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You think the Wilders care about your spare change?"

Daxton's eyes remained dead and focused. "This is my final offer. I absolutely refuse to marry a vain, manipulative woman." He was clearly talking about Amiyah.

Before Arthur could explode, Kinsley stepped out from the hallway and walked down the sweeping staircase.

She wore a simple, perfectly tailored white silk slip dress. It clung to her curves and moved like water.

Daxton heard her footsteps. He casually lifted his head.

The moment his eyes hit her face, his entire body went completely rigid.

His hand, which was resting on the armrest, gripped the wood so hard his knuckles turned stark white. Shock rippled through his dark eyes.

She walked over and sat down next to her father. She gave Daxton a polite, blank nod, pretending she had never seen him before in her life.

Daxton's gaze burned into her. His eyes tracked down her arm and locked onto the fresh white bandages wrapping her wrists. A dark, violent shadow crossed his face.

Arthur cleared his throat loudly. "Daxton, this is my biological daughter, Kinsley Wilder. She just returned to us."

Daxton's jaw tightened. He could see the gears turning in his head. The bleeding, desperate woman he saved in the rain was the true Wilder heiress.

"Since you find our family unworthy," Arthur said coldly, "sign the paper and get out."

The assistant stepped forward, holding out a silver pen.

Daxton let out a low, dark chuckle. He placed his large hand flat over the cancellation contract.

With one violent motion, he ripped the thick legal document straight down the middle.

The sound of tearing paper echoed loudly in the quiet room. Everyone stared at him in stunned silence.

Daxton tossed the shredded pieces into the trash can. He looked directly at Arthur, his demeanor completely shifted.

"There was a misunderstanding," Daxton said smoothly, leaning forward. "I was under the impression the arrangement involved someone else. Since the bride is Kinsley, the engagement stands."

Bennett, her second brother, crossed his arms. "You change your mind faster than the stock market crashes."

Daxton ignored him. His predatory gaze fixed solely on her. "What do you say, Kinsley?"

She met his intense stare. "I just got out of a terrible marriage. I am not looking to jump into another fire pit."

At the mention of her marriage, Daxton's eyes darkened. He remembered her standing in the mud.

He leaned in closer, dropping his voice so only she could hear the double meaning. "I guarantee you, my car is much safer than that fire pit."

Heat rushed to her ears. She knew exactly what he was doing.

Hubert stepped in front of her, physically blocking Daxton's view. "Do not try your Wall Street manipulation on my sister."

Daxton stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. "A compromise, then. Give me one year to date her. No business strings attached. Just me and her."