Chapter 1 THE DEAL

Ethan's Pov:

Ethan Blackwood sat at his polished oak desk, his fingers resting on the edge of the papers scattered before him. The tall glass windows of his office offered a panoramic view of the city below, but today, even the sprawling metropolis felt distant. He stared blankly at the documents in front of him, his mind racing with one thought: how to fix everything before it was too late.

His grandfather's ultimatum was clear and unyielding. If Ethan didn't marry within a month, he would lose everything-the family empire, the businesses he had carefully built over the years, and his place in the legacy his grandfather had crafted. It was as though all of Ethan's hard work, every sleepless night and every risky decision, had been leading up to this. And now, it was all hanging by a thread.

"Get married, or lose it all," his grandfather's cold voice echoed in his mind.

The thought of it made Ethan's stomach churn. A marriage, he scoffed. He had no desire for a wife, especially not one he didn't choose. But he had no choice. The family name, the businesses, the wealth-it was all intertwined with a single decision. And that decision, much to Ethan's distaste, was to find a bride in the next thirty days.

He pushed back from his desk, pacing the room as the weight of his responsibility pressed down on him. His eyes flickered across the room, landing on the photo frame on the shelf-an image of himself and Ivy Sinclair, once his closest friend. Her laughing eyes, her wild curls, the way she used to challenge him in every debate they had. It seemed like a lifetime ago, before the betrayal, before the fallout that had torn their lives apart.

Ivy.

She was the only woman who could possibly help him now. His former best friend turned bitter rival. He knew she despised him-how could she not? He had destroyed her family. His ruthless business decisions had left Ivy's father bankrupt and her family's once-thriving company in ruins. Ivy had tried to move on, to rebuild her life and her career. But Ethan had seen her rise, from a shattered girl to a powerful woman in the world of investment, and he couldn't help but respect her for it.

But that didn't change the fact that she hated him.

He reached for his phone with a heavy sigh. If she would even agree to talk to him, it would be a miracle. But he had no other choice. His empire depended on it.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before Ivy's voice finally came through, cool and clipped. "Ethan."

"Ivy," he replied, his voice steady despite the nerves gnawing at him. "I need your help."

There was a silence on the other end of the line. Ethan could practically hear her assessing the situation, the tension building. It had been years since they last spoke. Too much time had passed for forgiveness, and Ethan knew it.

"I'm listening," Ivy said finally, though her tone was far from warm.

"I need a favor," Ethan continued. "Actually, it's more than a favor. I need you to marry me."

The words hung in the air, heavy and absurd. He could already feel her anger building. He braced himself for the inevitable rejection.

"Marry you?" Ivy's voice was tight with disbelief. "Are you out of your mind, Ethan? After everything that happened, you think I would just agree to something like that?"

"Ivy," he cut in, his voice firm, "it's not what you think. I'm not asking for love. I'm asking for a business arrangement. A contract. You pretend to be my wife for one year. No emotions, no strings attached. In exchange, I'll fund your project-the one you've been working so hard to build."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Ethan could almost feel the shock radiating through the silence. He knew it was a lot to ask, but this was the only way.

"Fifty million dollars, Ivy," Ethan added quickly. "Fifty million for your dream project. You can finally take your vision to the next level."

Ivy was silent, and for a moment, Ethan feared she might hang up. But then, finally, her voice came through, quieter now, but no less sharp.

"You want me to marry you. For one year. And then what? You think I'll just walk away after that, with fifty million in my pocket, and forget everything that happened?"

"I don't expect you to forget," Ethan replied, his voice softer now. "I know what I did. I know how much I hurt you. But this is a chance for you to get everything you've dreamed of, and I... I don't have another option."

Another silence followed. Ethan could hear the weight of her thoughts on the other end of the line. He knew this wasn't easy for her. It wasn't easy for him either.

"Fine," Ivy finally said, her voice cold but resolute. "One year. And after that, we go our separate ways. No feelings. No complications."

Ethan felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. "Thank you. I'll have the paperwork ready."

"Don't think this means anything to me, Ethan," Ivy warned, her voice steady but laced with bitterness. "This is strictly business. Nothing more."

Ethan's lips twitched into a small smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."