Chapter 1 The silent deal

Arielle's POV

My fingers trembled as i cradled the chipped porcelain teacup, the bitter warmth doing little to soothe my restless mind. The Hayes estate felt colder than ever, shadows pooling in every corner like secrets waiting to be uncovered.

My mother's voice floated down the hallway-soft, urgent, but carefully guarded.

"Arielle, come here, please."

I followed, footsteps hesitant, heart pounding. In the grand drawing room, my parents sat stiffly on the leather sofa, faces unreadable.

"We need to talk," my father began, voice tight. "About... your future."

My stomach knotted. "What do you mean?"

My mother exchanged a glance with my father, then reached into her purse. She pulled out a thick envelope, sealed with an embossed black insignia I didn't recognize.

"We've come to an agreement," my mother said, voice steady but cold. "One that will save the Hayes name."

My brow furrowed. "What kind of agreement?"

My father cleared his throat. "It's a marriage proposal-from Damien Blackwood."

My heart stuttered. Damien Blackwood-the reclusive billionaire whose name was whispered in boardrooms and tabloids alike.

"We haven't told you before because..." my mother's voice faltered. "We wanted to protect you from the pressure."

"But why me?" My voice cracked. "I don't even know this man."

My father looked away. "Because it's the only way. He approached us, not you. The contract is ready. The wedding-soon."

My world tilted. I gripped the envelope like a lifeline and a noose all at once.

"You're giving me away without asking?"

My mother's eyes were sharp. "This isn't about you. It's about the family."

I swallowed hard. The truth was clear: I was a pawn in a game I didn't want to play.

And the stranger i was meant to marry? He hadn't even met me yet.

I sank into the velvet armchair, the weight of the envelope heavy in my lap. The glossy black seal bore a twisted emblem-a serpent coiled around a diamond-symbol of the Blackwood empire.I traced it with trembling fingers, feeling the cold edge of inevitability.

My family's downfall hadn't come overnight. It had been years in the making-a slow bleed of debts, failed investments, and betrayals from those they once trusted.

My father, once a respected businessman, had made risky deals to save our legacy. Deals that didn't pay off. Now, his pride was the last thing left to crumble.

My mother's sharp eyes softened briefly as she sat beside me. "We've been drowning, Arielle. Every day there's another bill, another threat. The creditors aren't patient."

I looked up, voice barely a whisper. "But why a marriage? Why with Damien Blackwood? He's... untouchable."

My mother sighed. "Exactly why he's the answer. Damien controls more than just money. His influence can buy time, silence enemies, and keep us safe."

"But he didn't come to me. You made this decision-without me."

My father's jaw tightened. "We didn't want to burden you. We thought it was best you hear it from us."

I clenched my fists. "I'm not a bargaining chip."

My mother's gaze was unwavering. "You're the last hope, Arielle. We don't have the luxury of waiting for a perfect solution."

The room fell silent, the air thick with things left unsaid.

My mind raced with questions. Who was this Damien Blackwood? What kind of man agreed to marry a stranger for a business deal? Would he be cruel? Cold? Dangerous?

Most terrifying of all - what if I find myself wanting something from him i never expected?

The envelope's weight felt like chains around my wrists.

And as the sun dipped below the horizon, I knew one thing:

My life was about to change forever.