She picked up the heavy gold pen resting next to the contract. The tip hovered over the signature line. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently she thought it might break them.

Her phone suddenly rang in her pocket, the shrill tone cutting through the suffocating silence. She pulled it out with her left hand, her fingers fumbling over the screen to answer. It was a frantic call from the ICU nurse's station. "Ms. Martin, you need to come immediately!" the nurse shouted over the chaotic background noise. "His heart stopped. We are doing CPR!"

Audriana's entire body went numb. The last wall of her resistance shattered into dust. She dropped the phone, gripped the pen, and pressed down so hard the nib tore through the thick paper as she signed her name.

Ellwood watched the ink bleed into the page. The coldness in his eyes slightly thawed. He reached over, pressed a button on his desk phone, and spoke clearly.

"Prep the helicopter. Now."

Audriana's knees suddenly gave out. The adrenaline crashed. As she started to fall toward the floor, Ellwood moved with terrifying speed. His large, hot hand clamped around her waist, hauling her flush against his chest. The heat of his body burned through her soaked clothes.

She gasped, instinctively pushing against his chest to break free.

Ellwood's arm tightened like a steel band. "You are Mrs. Maxwell now," he warned, his voice vibrating against her ear. "Get used to my touch."

Ten minutes later, they were on the roof. The roar of the helicopter blades whipped Audriana's hair into a frenzy. The freezing wind bit into her skin. Ellwood stripped off his suit jacket and threw it over her shoulders. The heavy fabric smelled intensely of him.

The helicopter lifted off, banking sharply over the stormy Manhattan skyline. Audriana stared at the man sitting next to her. He had his eyes closed, his jaw relaxed. The absurdity of the situation made her stomach churn.

They landed on the roof of Manhattan General Hospital. A team of men in dark scrubs was already waiting. They rushed past Audriana, carrying silver medical cases, heading straight for the ICU. Ellwood's private medical team.

Audriana paced the hallway outside the operating room. Her fingernails dug half-moons into her palms.

Ellwood walked up to her and pressed a hot cup of coffee into her hands. His fingers brushed against hers. A sharp jolt of electricity shot up her arm, making her flinch.

Loud footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Eston stormed around the corner, flanked by two massive bodyguards. He looked furious. "Audriana! Hand over the company seal right now, or I swear to God-"

Eston froze. His eyes landed on the tall, dark figure standing next to her. All the color drained from his face.

"Uncle Ellwood," Eston stuttered, his arrogant posture instantly collapsing.

Ellwood stepped in front of Audriana, shielding her completely. His eyes narrowed into lethal slits. "What are you doing here, Eston?"

Eston swallowed hard. "I... I came to check on Harper. And to tell Audriana she needs to stop being so ungrateful."

Audriana's blood boiled. She stepped out from behind Ellwood's broad back. She didn't say a word. She lifted the coffee cup and threw the hot liquid directly onto Eston's expensive leather shoes.

"Get out," she hissed, her voice shaking with pure rage.

Eston's face twisted in fury. He lunged forward, reaching for her wrist. "You crazy bitch-"

He didn't make it.

Ellwood's leg snapped out. His heavy dress shoe connected violently with Eston's kneecap. A sickening crack echoed in the hall. Eston let out a muffled groan and crashed to the floor, clutching his knee.

The two bodyguards flinched but didn't dare move a muscle.

Ellwood looked down at his nephew like he was looking at a dead rat. "The Martin Group is under my control now."

Eston stared up, his face pale and contorted in pain. "Why? Why would you touch that garbage company?"

Ellwood reached out and pulled Audriana tightly against his side. "Because she is my wife. Which makes her your elder. Show some respect."

Eston looked like he had been struck by lightning. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

"Throw him out," Ellwood ordered the bodyguards, his voice dripping with ice. "If he comes within fifty feet of my wife again, break his other leg."

The bodyguards hastily dragged Eston down the hall.

The red light above the operating room suddenly clicked off. Dr. Finch walked out, pulling off his surgical mask. He looked exhausted but relieved. "The surgery was a success. He is stable." Dr. Finch's smile tightened. He lowered his voice, stepping closer to Audriana. "But that mass I mentioned yesterday-we will need to address it once he is strong enough for another procedure. It has not gone away." Audriana's relief curdled in her stomach. She had almost forgotten. Almost.

Audriana let out a broken sob. Her legs turned to jelly.

Ellwood caught her before she hit the floor. He held her firmly, letting her grip his ruined, expensive shirt. She buried her face in his chest, crying out all the terror of the past forty-eight hours.

A man in a sharp suit walked up to them. Ellwood's assistant. He handed Ellwood a thick, leather-bound legal folio. Ellwood took it and pressed a heavy, watermarked contract into Audriana's hand. She looked down. It was a comprehensive marriage agreement. "Sign it," Ellwood commanded coldly. "Your signature makes our relationship legally and commercially binding as of this second. My legal team will process the official government certificates within twenty-four hours." There was no going back.

"Go home and change," Ellwood commanded, his voice returning to its usual flat tone. "We are attending the family charity gala tonight. You will not embarrass me."

Audriana wiped her eyes. She straightened her spine, clutching the thick documents. "I won't."

Ellwood stared at her stubborn, tear-stained face. The corner of his mouth twitched upward for a fraction of a second. He turned and walked toward the elevator.

Chapter 2

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