Chapter 1 The bargain

I had just settled into the comfort of my small apartment when my phone rang. The piercing sound broke through the calm silence like a knife, and I stared at the screen, sighing at the familiar name flashing across it. Charles Sinclair. My father.

We hadn't spoken in weeks, not since our last argument that ended in me storming out of the Sinclair estate. I debated letting the call go to voicemail, but I knew better. Ignoring him never made things easier. If anything, it only prolonged the inevitable.

With a resigned sigh, I picked up the phone.

"Hello, Dad," I said, keeping my voice even.

"Aurora," his tone was sharp, as always. Not a greeting, not a trace of warmth. Just my name, spoken like it was a command. "I need you to come to the estate. Now."

I frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. "It's late. Can't this wait until morning?"

"No, it cannot," he snapped, leaving no room for negotiation. "Be here in thirty minutes. Don't make me send someone to fetch you."

Before I could respond, the line went dead.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at the blank screen as frustration bubbled up inside me. Typical Charles Sinclair. Always barking orders, always expecting obedience.

For a fleeting moment, I thought about defying him. But I knew that wasn't an option-not with my father. Charles Sinclair didn't take no for an answer, and going against him was like trying to fight a tidal wave. You'd drown before you made any progress.

Grabbing my coat, I headed out into the chilly evening air. My apartment wasn't far from the Sinclair estate, but every step toward that house felt like walking into a trap.

The Sinclair estate was as grand and imposing as ever, its tall gates and sprawling gardens a testament to the wealth and power my father had accumulated over the years. But to me, it had never felt like a home.

A maid opened the door before I could knock, her face carefully neutral as she ushered me inside. The warmth of the house did little to ease the cold knot of anxiety forming in my chest.

"He's waiting for you in the study," she said quietly, before disappearing down the hall.

The study. Of course. That room had been the setting for countless lectures, arguments, and ultimatums over the years. Whatever my father had to say tonight, I knew it wasn't good.

Pushing the heavy door open, I stepped inside.

Charles Sinclair sat behind his massive oak desk, the picture of authority. His graying hair was perfectly combed back, his tailored suit impeccable. He looked up as I entered, his sharp blue eyes narrowing.

"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

I didn't move. "What's this about, Dad? You dragged me out here in the middle of the night for what?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to my bait. "Sit," he repeated.

Reluctantly, I crossed the room and sank into the chair, my arms crossed. "Well? I'm here. What's so important?"

For a moment, he didn't speak. He just studied me, his gaze assessing, like I was a piece on a chessboard he was trying to position. Finally, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together.

"Our family is in trouble," he began, his voice calm but heavy with implication. "The company is facing challenges-serious challenges. We're on the brink of collapse."

I blinked, caught off guard. "What kind of challenges?"

"The kind that could ruin everything," he said, his tone clipped. "And I've found a solution."

I frowned. "Okay... what does that have to do with me?"

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "I've arranged a marriage for you."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I thought I'd misheard him. "You... what?"

"You'll marry Daemon Reynolds," he continued, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. "His family's company, Reynolds Pharmaceuticals, has the resources to save ours. This alliance will secure our future."

I stared at him, disbelief and anger swirling inside me. "You can't be serious. You expect me to marry some stranger for a business deal?"

"He's not a stranger," my father said dismissively. "You've met him before."

"I don't care if I've met him!" I snapped, rising to my feet. "This is insane, Dad! You can't just decide my life for me!"

His expression hardened. "I'm not deciding your life, Aurora. I'm saving this family. And whether you like it or not, you have a responsibility to uphold."

"No," I said, my voice trembling with fury. "I won't do it. Find another way to save the company, because I'm not your pawn."

His gaze turned cold, his lips pressing into a thin line. "This isn't a request, Aurora. The papers are already being drawn up. The wedding will take place in a month."

My heart pounded in my chest as his words sank in. This wasn't a joke. He was serious. Dead serious.

"You're unbelievable," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You can't force me into this."

"Oh, but I can," he said, standing to his full height. "And I will. Unless you want to see everything your mother worked for destroyed."

The mention of my mother was a low blow, and he knew it. My mother had been the heart of this family, the glue that held everything together. Losing her had been devastating, and the thought of her legacy being ruined...

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "I hate you," I whispered, turning and storming out of the room.

I didn't stop until I was outside, the crisp night air biting at my skin. My mind raced, torn between anger and disbelief. How could he do this to me?

And then another thought struck me, freezing me in place.

Daemon Reynolds.

The name tugged at a distant memory, one I couldn't quite place. But I knew this much-Daemon wasn't just any man.

He was dangerous.