Chapter 2 THE PIECE OF FORGIVENESS

Ivy's pov:

Ivy Sinclair sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. The screen still showed Ethan's name-his number flashing on the caller ID. She had already hung up on him once, but the call kept replaying in her mind, as if his voice had somehow woven itself into her thoughts.

"Marry me," he had said. "One year. No feelings, just business."

Her chest tightened. The memory of those words, cold and clinical, made her stomach turn. How could he even ask her that? After everything he had done? Ethan Blackwood, the man who had ruined her family's company, the man who had destroyed everything she knew, now expected her to marry him. To be his wife. For money. For a project she had worked so hard to build.

She wasn't sure what was worse-the audacity of his proposal or the fact that, for a split second, the idea of it didn't seem entirely impossible.

Ivy shook her head, trying to clear the thought. She had every right to hate him. She had every reason to never want to speak to him again, much less marry him. The way he had taken her father's company, the way he had watched it crumble under his decisions, was unforgivable. And yet... here she was, still thinking about it.

The money. The fifty million dollars.

She had spent years building her own investment firm from the ground up, clawing her way through a world that had once been dominated by men like Ethan Blackwood. She had worked harder than anyone to prove she was worthy of her place in the industry. But the project she had been dreaming of-the one that could change everything-was slipping away. She needed capital, more than she had ever needed anything before.

Fifty million dollars was the kind of money that could turn her vision into reality. It could give her the resources to create something that would last, something that could finally put her on the map as more than just the daughter of a fallen businessman. It could give her the power to stand on her own two feet, independent from the shadow of her father's failure.

But was it worth it? Was it worth the cost of marrying Ethan?

Her hands clenched into fists as she thought of him. The way he had walked into their lives years ago, charming and confident, only to tear everything apart. He had made decisions that hurt her family in ways that could never be undone. She could still remember the day her father's company had gone bankrupt-the day her entire world had come crashing down. Ethan had been at the center of it all, a cold businessman with no care for the lives he was affecting.

And now, here he was, asking her to become his wife for a year in exchange for money. Fifty million dollars. She could almost hear her father's voice in her head, telling her to never accept a deal that came with such a heavy price.

But then again, her father wasn't around anymore. She was alone, and the world didn't care about her grudges. It cared about results, about power, about what you could build with the resources you had. And right now, the only thing that could give her what she needed was that fifty million.

Ivy paced the room, running a hand through her hair. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. On one hand, marrying Ethan would be a betrayal of everything she had worked so hard to overcome. It would mean putting her pride aside and admitting that, perhaps, she still needed him in some way. But on the other hand, it would give her the opportunity to create something bigger than herself, to put her father's failure behind her once and for all.

She stopped in front of the window, looking out at the city below. The lights of the city shimmered in the distance, a reminder of everything she had yet to achieve. She could almost taste the success that was within her grasp-if only she could find a way to make it happen. Fifty million dollars. That kind of money could make all the difference.

"Why does it have to be him?" Ivy whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

She had built her life without him. She had fought to get where she was without his help. And yet, here she was, considering the very offer that would tie her to him, even if only for a year.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Ethan, no doubt. She didn't want to read it. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction. But her fingers moved of their own accord, unlocking the phone. The message was short, to the point.

"Ivy, think about it. This is your chance."

She stared at the screen, the words echoing in her mind. "Think about it." Was this her chance? Or was it just another trap, another way for Ethan to win?

Her heart ached as she thought of everything she had lost. Everything her family had lost. Was it worth it to accept this deal? Was the money enough to bury her hatred for him?

Ivy closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath. She knew what she had to do. She couldn't let pride and anger hold her back. She couldn't let her hatred for Ethan control her future.

With a final, deep breath, she set her phone down. There was still time to make a decision. But one thing was clear: the choice wouldn't be easy.