Chapter 1 The Contract

Lena Prescott sat in the modest, softly lit study of the Prescott family house, nervously tracing the edge of the marriage contract in front of her.

The room, filled with the aroma of ancient leather and the ticking of a grandfather clock, appeared to press in on her, each tick seeming like a countdown to her demise.

She'd read the text a dozen times, but the words still felt strange, like if they were from someone else's life rather than her own.

She looked at the framed images on the mantle, which depict brighter times. Her parents smiled and held her and her brother James tight. They were no longer with them, having died in an accident when Lena was eighteen. All she had left was James.

"Lena, are you listening?" James' words sliced through her thoughts and brought her back to the present. He sat across from her, his face a mixture of concern and resolve.

Lena looked up at him, her heart heavy. "I'm sorry, I... I just can't believe this is happening."

James reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His grip was firm, reassuring. "I know this isn't what you wanted. It's not what I wanted for you either, but we're out of options. If we don't do this, we'll lose everything. The business, the house... We won't survive."

Lena swallowed hard, the reality of their situation settling like a stone in her stomach. The Prescott family business, a once-thriving company that her father had built from the ground up, was on the brink of collapse.

Years of bad investments and economic downturns had left them drowning in debt. And now, their only chance of salvation lay in the hands of Adrian Calloway, the man she had once loved and who now despised her.

"I don't understand why it has to be me," Lena whispered, her voice trembling. "Why does Adrian want to marry me? He hates me, James. You know that."

James sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't know, Lena. Maybe it's some twisted way of getting back at you, or maybe it's something else entirely.

But whatever his reasons, this is our only way out. If you sign that contract, the debt is wiped clean. You and I can keep the business and the house."

Lena's hand shook as she picked up the pen, her mind racing. She had loved Adrian once, so deeply that it hurt to even think about him now.

They had been so close, inseparable as teenagers. But that was before Victoria, Adrian's younger sister, had died. A night that had shattered their lives and their friendship forever.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Lena's voice was barely a whisper as she stared down at the contract.

James's grip tightened on her hand. "I'm sorry, Lena. I wish I could do something, anything, to fix this. But we're out of time. If you don't sign this, everything Mom and Dad worked for will be gone."

Lena closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. She thought of her parents, how proud they had been of their family and their business.

They had always believed in her, always supported her dreams. And now, she was about to give up everything she had ever wanted for a life she hadn't chosen.

"I'll do it," she finally said, her voice hollow. "I'll marry him."

James's face was a mix of relief and guilt. He pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close. "Thank you, Lena. You're saving us."

But Lena didn't feel like a savior. She felt like she was signing her life away.

As she signed the contract, each stroke of the pen felt like a nail in her coffin. She was committing herself to a man who hated her, who blamed her for a tragedy she couldn't even remember. A man who, despite their shared past, now looked at her with nothing but cold disdain.

When she finished, she pushed the contract away, unable to look at it any longer. The deal was done. She was bound to Adrian Calloway in a way that she had never imagined, and the thought of it made her stomach churn.

"Lena," James began, his voice gentle, "I know this is hard, but maybe... maybe it won't be as bad as you think. Maybe once you're married, things will change."

Lena gave him a sad smile, not believing a word of it. "Maybe," she lied, though she knew that nothing would change Adrian's mind. He had made it clear that this marriage was a business transaction, nothing more. A way for him to save her family while simultaneously punishing her for a crime she couldn't even remember committing.

As James left the room, Lena stayed behind, her gaze fixed on the contract she had just signed. She knew that her life was about to change forever, and not in the way she had once dreamed.

There would be no fairy tale ending, no happily ever after. Only a cold, loveless marriage and the constant reminder of the hatred Adrian held for her.

Lena stood and walked over to the window, staring out at the darkening sky. Somewhere out there, Adrian was waiting for her, ready to claim her as his wife. And as much as she tried to brace herself for what was to come, Lena couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking straight into a trap.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see James standing in the doorway, his expression filled with concern.

"Lena, are you okay?" he asked, stepping into the room.

She nodded, though the weight in her chest told her otherwise. "I'll be fine, James. Don't worry about me."

James hesitated, then pulled her into another hug. "I'm so sorry, Lena. I wish things were different."

Lena hugged him back, grateful for his presence. "Me too, James. Me too."

As they stood there, the weight of what she had just done settled over Lena like a dark cloud. She had sacrificed her dreams, her freedom, and her heart to save her family. And in doing so, she had bound herself to a man who would never love her, who would only ever see her as the enemy.

And as Lena lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, the reality of her situation sank in. She was no longer Lena Prescott and she had no idea how she was going to survive this.

She was soon to be Lena Calloway, the wife of a man who would stop at nothing to make her pay for the sins of the past.