Chapter 5 Marry me Miss Valdez

The club was one of the most exclusive and luxurious in the city. Its reputation alone made Grace hesitate as she stepped out of the taxi.

A man in a crisp suit approached her. "Miss Valdez?"

She froze, studying him with suspicion.

The man seemed to notice her hesitation and smiled politely. "Mr. Divine is waiting for you on the 15th floor."

Still wary, Grace nodded and followed him inside. The elevator ride felt endless. When the doors finally opened, she was greeted by the soft gleam of glass doors leading to an indoor pool. Behind those doors, two guards stood stoically. They exchanged a glance with the suited man, nodded, and stepped aside.

The moment Grace entered, her breath caught.

In the center of the pool, a man cut through the water with fluid precision, every movement smooth and powerful. It was as if the water bowed to his command. He wore only black swim trunks, his bare upper body glistening under the soft lights. Muscles rippled across his arms and torso, perfectly defined.

Alpha Nelson Divine.

As he stepped out of the water, droplets cascaded down his chest. His dark hair was wet, strands falling lazily across his forehead. He looked effortlessly powerful and-Grace blushed furiously-undeniably attractive. She quickly averted her gaze, letting her hair fall forward to hide her face.

A low chuckle made her glance back up. "You're cute when you blush."

Her heart hammered painfully in her chest. How embarrassing.

"Sit down," he said, his tone turning serious. "We need to talk."

By the time Grace settled into a chair opposite him, Alpha Nelson had slipped into a bathrobe and reclined lazily, exuding confidence.

"Mr. Divine, I... I really can't explain what happened," she stammered. "I was drugged. I didn't know someone would set me up like this, and-"

"Calm down," he interrupted, his voice smooth yet firm. "I'm not going to bite you."

Grace swallowed, her senses still on high alert. She wasn't a fool-safety always came first, just as her mother had taught her. If something went wrong, she'd find a way out.

"Are you that afraid of me?" Nelson asked, eyebrow raised.

"Of course, I am," Grace blurted. "You're Alpha Nelson Divine, the president of the Divine Group. The only son of the richest family in the world. A prodigy. A legend. Of course, I'm scared!"

A laugh rumbled from his chest-deep, unforced. "Those are just titles, Miss Valdez. At the end of the day, I'm human."

With a snap of his fingers, the suited man returned, placing a file on the table before exiting without a word. Grace stared at the document, dread settling deep in her stomach.

Is this where he offers me money to disappear?

"I know this may sound crazy," Nelson began calmly, "but I want us to get married. For real."

Grace's head shot up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What?"

"It'll be a contract marriage," he explained. "Three years. Once the contract ends, you'll be free to go your own way, and I'll go mine."

The words sent her spiraling. "Why?" she croaked.

Nelson's expression hardened. "I don't need to explain myself. But I will say this: it's mutually beneficial. Your family's situation isn't great. Your brother has been out of school for months. Your mother's addiction has spiraled-so much so that she's now battling lung cancer. All your income is going toward her treatment, yet she still beats you and calls you a disappointment."

Grace flinched, his words slicing through her like a knife. Of course, he'd done his research. Alpha Nelson Divine doesn't act without knowing everything.

Tears stung her eyes as she stared at the file on the table. Her nails bit into her palms as she clenched her fists. "That doesn't mean I'll marry you," she whispered.

Nelson said nothing, only held out a handkerchief. "Don't make a rash decision. Think it over."

She took the handkerchief reluctantly, wiping her tears before hurrying out of the pool house.

The cool night air hit her, but it did little to calm the storm raging in her chest. Just as she neared the club's exit, a familiar voice broke through the noise.

Victor.

Her ex-boyfriend stood only a few feet away, his arm draped possessively around Cindy Rodriguez-Grace's old rival. Cindy's beauty was undeniable: her perfect curves, flawless skin, and radiant smile practically glowed in the dim light.

Victor leaned down to whisper something in Cindy's ear, making her giggle and lean closer to him.

Grace's stomach twisted painfully as she glanced down at herself-her dry, rough skin, her worn-out clothes. Compared to Cindy, she felt invisible. Powerless.

Why suffer when you can benefit?

Her mother's words echoed in her mind, though they were meant for an entirely different context.

She turned abruptly, her feet carrying her back into the pool house before she could talk herself out of it.

Alpha Nelson was still lounging by the pool when Grace stepped inside.

"Mr. Divine," she said firmly, her voice steady, "let's get married."

A ghost of a smile tugged at Nelson's lips before it quickly vanished. "What changed your mind, Miss Valdez?"

She met his gaze head-on. "You're right. I need to take care of my family. And... there are scores I need to settle."

"Fair enough." He leaned forward, his tone sharp. "But remember: this is a contract marriage. Three years. And in that time, you are not allowed to fall in love with me."

Grace scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Trust me, Mr. Divine, that won't be an issue."

Nelson smirked faintly, rising to retrieve the document from the table.

Grace followed, pulling a pen from her bag. Without hesitation, she signed her name on the dotted line.

When it was done, she set the pen down, her fingers trembling just slightly.

"Welcome to the Divine family, Mrs. Valdez," Nelson said, his voice laced with finality.

For the first time in days, Grace felt the weight of her decisions settle squarely on her shoulders.

Three years. How long could that really be?