Ugly Bride, Ruthless Groom: The Ultimate Power Couple

"Stay right where you are if you want to make it out alive."

A dagger pressed cold and hard against her skin. Caitlin White glanced up and met the gaze of the blood-soaked stranger who had just barged into her car and now held her at knifepoint.

Both froze, tension crackling between them, when shouts echoed from just outside the window.

"Where did that bastard go? Who saw where he ran?"

"He's bleeding bad! There's no way he got far. Check every car in this parking lot!"

Caitlin noticed the stranger's grip falter for a split second, his knuckles whitening around the knife. In that instant, she seized his wrist and twisted her body onto his lap.

Shawn Harris' stare grew colder as he pressed the dagger harder on Caitlin's throat. "Do you have a death wish?"

A thin line appeared on her skin, blood oozing out. Fearless, her eyes flicked down to the blood seeping through his shirt. "Maybe. Or maybe you're not in any shape to threaten me. Who's really about to die here?"

Shawn pressed the dagger even harder, eyes burning with threat. "Try me. See what happens."

As the voices and footsteps outside crept closer, Caitlin shrugged out of her jacket and yanked open her shirt, sending buttons flying across the seats.

Her shirt half down and with bare skin exposed, she straddled Shawn's lap and faced him head-on.

Shawn abruptly loosened his grip on the dagger, his face etched with confusion. What the hell was she trying to pull?

Before he could react, Caitlin closed the gap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him full on the mouth.

This reckless woman actually had the guts to do that... Rage flashed in Shawn's eyes, and he nearly shoved her off his lap until a whisper in his ear made him pause.

"If you want to get out of this in one piece, just go with it."

Having a stranger force a kiss on him had Shawn ready to snap. Despite his injuries, the urge to kill this woman burned in his chest.

Caitlin ducked low and grazed his Adam's apple with her teeth. She slipped open the buttons at his collar, and when her fingers traced over his skin, a tremor ran through Shawn. A sly, satisfied grin crept across her lips.

"Ugh!" A sharp breath escaped Shawn, caught between pain and something far less rational, his chest heaving.

Suddenly, the rear door flew open.

"Ah!" Caitlin reacted instantly, clutching Shawn's neck and spinning around with panic in her eyes. "What are you doing? Who are you people?"

The men outside took one look at Shawn, face hidden in Caitlin's chest, and Caitlin herself, clothes askew and trembling. They rolled their eyes and slammed the door shut.

"Forget it! Just a couple fooling around. Keep looking!"

As their voices faded into the distance, Shawn wasted no time pushing Caitlin off his lap. "Get away from me."

At that moment, the driver's door opened and someone slid inside. Shawn tensed, knife raised and ready.

"Caitlin!" Leland Simpson, who had just jumped into the car, stopped short at the scene in front of him. "What on earth is happening here?"

Caitlin slid off Shawn's lap, shot a sideways glance at him clutching his wound, and flashed a crooked grin. "It's nothing. Just get us moving."

Without wasting time, the car rolled out of the lot. Shawn reached into his jacket, produced a blood-splattered business card, and held it out. "You pulled me out of a tight spot. What do you want for it?"

Wrinkling her nose, Caitlin snatched the card from his hand. She shook a crimson pill from a glass vial and pressed it into his palm. "Take this. Now."

After a moment's hesitation, Shawn swallowed the pill, eyes still locked on Caitlin.

A smirk played at her lips. "Not even a second thought? What if I'd slipped you poison?"

He didn't bother answering, simply slumping back in his seat. Caitlin looked over at Leland, who was gripping the wheel. "Drop him somewhere near a hospital. Make it quick."

"On it, Caitlin."

Once they had ditched Shawn at the nearest clinic, Leland caught Caitlin's eye in the mirror as she started applying makeup. "You sure that guy won't cause us trouble? Remember, you're only in Aleginia to pick up your mom's things and cut ties with the Whites. Don't go making more trouble for yourself."

Studying her own reflection, Caitlin looked pleased. "Don't worry. Nobody's going to recognize me now."

The stunning woman from before had vanished, replaced by someone nearly invisible, thanks to Caitlin's skillful makeup.

A wide brown birthmark covered most of her right cheek, dots of pigment scattered across her skin. Thick black glasses finished the transformation, making her blend in as just another face in the crowd.

Feeling a bit triumphant, Caitlin's hand drifted to her neck out of habit, but she paused, her fingers searching for something that wasn't there.

Her smile faded as she realized her necklace was gone.

When she remembered the man who had nearly strangled her, her expression turned cold. "I save his skin, and he thanks me by lifting my necklace? Unbelievable."

Leland glanced over, concern in his voice. "What happened, Caitlin?"

She brushed her fingers along her empty neck and shook her head. "It's nothing. Take me back to the White family residence."

Soon enough, a maid led Caitlin to the threshold of the living room, where shouting echoed through the halls.

A porcelain vase shattered against the floor as her half-sister, Emma White, let loose, voice rising above the chaos. "I'm not marrying him! Dad, I'd rather disappear than get tied to that wheelchair-bound Harris guy!"

Aydan White, Caitlin's father, retorted with a cold glare, "Enough! The Harris family calls the shots in Aleginia, and Shawn-even if he's stuck in a wheelchair-is still the dream match for half this city!"

Emma's words came out between sobs. "But he's barely hanging on! Why do I have to babysit someone who's not going to last?"

Aydan slammed his fist onto the table. "I don't want to hear another word! This is settled!"

Emma retorted, voice shaking, "Forget it! I'm not volunteering to be his nurse! Pick someone else!"

Eavesdropping just outside, Caitlin realized a perfect opportunity for her to stay in Aleginia had landed in her lap. A sly smile tugged at her lips.

She strode into the room and raised her voice so no one could miss it. "If you're looking for a bride for some wheelchair-bound guy, I'll do it!"

Aydan's gaze landed on Caitlin standing quietly at the edge of the living room. She was dressed in faded jeans and clutching a battered tote, and her hair was parted into two lopsided braids. He scowled but didn't say a word.

Emma's voice rang out, dripping with disdain. "Dad, who let this weirdo in?"

"That's enough out of you," said Aydan, his tone sharp. "She's your sister, whether you like it or not."

Emma jerked upright in disbelief. "You're serious? This is the so-called sister from the middle of nowhere? She's a total disaster."

With a cold smirk, she twirled her freshly painted nails and gestured toward Caitlin. "Figures she's broke, looks a mess, and only wants money. If she's so eager to marry that dying Harris, why not hand her over?"

Aydan's features hardened. Tracking Caitlin down had always been about her mother's inheritance, but maybe sending her to the Harris family would bring even more benefits.

The arrangement would keep the Harris partnership intact and Caitlin under his watch in Aleginia.

Eyes narrowing, Aydan made his decision. "You can marry into the Harris family, but every last thing your mother owned stays with us. Understand?"

Caitlin let out a peal of laughter, as though he'd just told a great joke.

She wandered further into the room, dropped herself onto the couch across from them, and took a long drink from a water glass. "You're missing something here. You came crawling to me, so I'll be the one calling the shots."

"You backwoods trash! You should be grateful we're giving you this chance. Why do you think you get to make demands?" Emma retorted.

Caitlin grinned. "If it's such a big opportunity, why don't you take it yourself?"

Emma's lips curled in anger, and she clung to Aydan's sleeve. "Dad! Are you just going to let her say that?"

Aydan let out a harsh laugh. "The Harris family runs this city. We're already giving you more than you deserve. Who are you to bargain with us?"

Caitlin arched an eyebrow, setting the glass down with a soft clink. "So that's a no? Well, by all means, let Emma walk down the aisle."

Emma spun around, her voice rising again. "Dad, you can't do this to me! I won't marry him!"

"Enough!" Aydan snapped, his glare silencing her on the spot. He stared hard at Caitlin.

Despite her thrift-shop clothes and plain appearance, those eyes were the spitting image of her mother's.

Something about the way Caitlin met his gaze took him back in time, and a shiver ran down his spine. He sprang up from his seat.

Caitlin lounged back, unbothered, holding his stare without a trace of fear.

"Talk," said Aydan, never looking away. "What are your terms?"

"Simple." She raised two fingers. "First, I want every single thing my mother left behind. Second, I want twenty percent of White Group's shares."

Emma jumped to her feet. "You must be insane! Twenty percent? What are you smoking?"

Aydan's eyes stayed locked on Caitlin as he mulled it over. "The best I can do is ten percent. That's my final offer."

Caitlin laughed, tipping her head at him. "You're really going to argue over twenty percent? Fine by me. You've got another daughter ready to play bride. I'll pass."

Aydan's jaw worked in frustration. "Fine. You get twenty percent. I'll have it transferred today."

His eyes narrowed as he added, "But don't even think about your mother's things. Those stay with us."

Caitlin's grin faded, replaced by a harsh glare that locked onto Aydan.

It was obvious she wouldn't be reclaiming her mother's belongings-at least not yet.

Aydan probably meant to hold them over her head to make sure she stayed in line.

If that was the case, then she would make the White family find out the hard way what it meant to try to leash someone who was determined to settle old scores.

A faint smirk crossed Caitlin's lips. "Have it your way. Let's put everything in writing."

Papers signed and share certificate in hand, Caitlin got to her feet and waved the document with a hint of swagger. "Looks like I'm done here."

Aydan cut her off. "Wait. The Harris family doesn't tolerate games. I'll drive you myself."

Inside the car, he passed her a file. "Everything you need to know about the Harris family is in there. Learn it, and don't bring trouble back to our doorstep."

Caitlin flipped through the folder, only pausing when she spotted a photograph of Shawn tucked into the section about him.

So, fate had decided they'd meet again-this time, under very different terms.

Inside the folder, Caitlin pieced together the Harris family tree. Shawn's grandfather, Harold Harris, had married twice.

His first wife died young, soon after giving birth to two sons. That same year, Harold remarried and later had a third son and a daughter with his second wife.

Tragedy struck fifteen years ago when the eldest son from the first marriage died during a risky business trip abroad. That eldest son was Shawn's father. The spotlight faded from Shawn after that. Sickly and disabled, people whispered that he wouldn't make it past twenty-eight. Within the family, he was all but written off.

The battle for inheritance had only grown uglier as each ambitious member tried to claim the top spot. From the reports, Harold's younger grandsons all seemed stronger contenders than Shawn.

Yet, the morning's ambush outside Aleginia proved Shawn was far tougher than anyone believed. He'd held his own-hardly the helpless invalid described in the file.

"Miss White." Aydan's assistant, Liam Davis, broke the silence. "Garrett Harris-Harold's third grandson-has supported White Group for years. We expect you to cooperate with him once you're part of the Harris family."

Caitlin snapped the file shut. "Everyone's already scrambling for alliances? Dad, maybe pick your side a little more carefully, or you'll wind up with nothing."

Aydan snapped, "Watch your mouth. I'm warning you-cross Garrett and you're finished."

Caitlin's smirk told him exactly how much that threat mattered.

He started to say more, but something in her steady look made him pause.

For just a moment, the daughter from nowhere had a presence that rattled even him.

Meanwhile, on the third floor of the Harris family residence...

"Mr. Harris, everyone who spotted you in the parking lot earlier has been dealt with. No one's going to blow your cover," Maverick Price said.

Shawn reclined in his wheelchair, dressed in black, looking far removed from the violence of the day. He toyed with a necklace-a hexagram ruby, flawlessly cut-that had belonged to the woman who saved him.

The ruby pendant had been shaped into a six-pointed star, the stone clear and bright, the work on it unlike anything he had seen.

Besides, after he took the pill she gave him, his health actually improved. The necklace and the pill-these two items made Shawn realize the woman was not ordinary.

"There are still witnesses in Aleginia," Shawn said quietly.

Maverick blinked, and then nodded. "I'll track down every last one, sir. Nothing will lead back to you."

Without a word, Shawn placed the necklace in Maverick's hand. "Find out who owned this."

"Yes, sir." Maverick hesitated. "If we track her down, do you want her gone? She's a loose end."

Shawn rolled the ring on his finger, replaying the image of the woman's teasing stare. His voice didn't waver. "Find her and bring her here. I'll handle the rest."

"Understood." Maverick then continued, "The White family should be arriving with your new bride any minute. What's the plan?"

Shawn shrugged. "Give her a once-over. Just make sure she survives her first day under my roof."

"Got it." Maverick nodded and left.

Meanwhile, outside the Harris family residence, the White family's car pulled up.

Aydan stepped out to a warm greeting from the butler. "Welcome, Mr. White. Ma'am, this way please."

Inside, Betsy Harris appeared, extending a hand in welcome. "Mr. White, it's nice to see you."

Aydan beamed, spotting Betsy. "Miss Harris, you didn't have to meet us at the door."

Betsy's eyes flicked over to Caitlin. So this was the White family's offering? Not what they'd expected. Clearly, the White family had sent a stand-in, but in Betsy's mind, someone like this unattractive woman was a perfect fit for her cousin Shawn.

Betsy's smile never faltered. "So this is Emma? She looks nothing like the photographs. Quite a surprise, isn't it?"

Aydan nudged Caitlin forward, voice booming. "This is my eldest, my pride and joy! As long as it's a White daughter, that's good enough for the marriage, right?"

How shameless. Betsy almost rolled her eyes at him. Even so, she had no intention of calling him out. "Of course, Mr. White. We'll look after her from here."

Aydan grinned in relief, and then shot Caitlin a sharp glance, murmuring through clenched teeth, "Do not screw this up. One mistake and you're finished."

Unbothered, Caitlin met his glare with a look of pure boredom before facing Betsy. "Which room is mine?"

"Show her to her quarters," Betsy instructed the butler.

As Caitlin and the butler made their way upstairs, Nikolas Harris stepped out, watching her leave. "Seriously? That's who the Whites sent over? I thought Shawn was getting someone stunning."

Betsy's lips curled in amusement. "Oh, Nik, don't be rude. She's just new here."

Nikolas sneered, "I can't wait to watch her make a fool of herself in front of everyone at the dinner tomorrow."