The Contract Bride of a Ruthless Tycoon

oom, each word cracking under fear as if he could barely hold himself together. "They said

reaking loose. "What do you mean inside? Lucas, how did they get inside the apartment?" Her voice dropped, sharp

you're the daughter," the man said, his tone calm but laced with a quiet menace that

ou shouldn't be in our home. If you have business, you speak to me, not by breaking into som

lowly. "That's interesting. This stopped being your home the moment your father

tening with desperation she could no longer hide. "We can

harper. "This is no longer about time. It's about consequences.

, uneven and terrified in the background. "Leave him out of this,"

to me. I'm the one you

fact, you're the reason we haven't done anything irreversi

? In what context?" she demanded, her voice quieter now bu

if savoring the moment. "Dominic Blackwell," he said, and the name hit like a shockwa

?" she asked, though something deep inside her already fe

ee, men like him don't deal in charity. Everything has a price. And from

ng to be traded," she said, anger breaking through her fear. "I

inality that silenced her instantly. "The only thing left is whe

eper into her bones. "And if I don't?" she asked quietl

op talking... and start collecting. And tru

sitation she had left. Elara closed her eyes briefly, then opened them with a new, hardened

on. "Find him. Speak to him. Convince him. Or we

ne wen

aking as he stepped into the doorway. "You can't actually be thin

her chest. "I don't have a choice," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes as she slipped

eaking as he stepped closer. "You don't know what he'

ed violently. "Maybe I don't," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisp

rowing slightly as Elara approached the desk with controlled urgency. "Mr. B

on coursing through her veins. "Tell him Elara Hart is here," she said,

eptioni

phone. "Sir... she's here," she said quietly, then listened. A pause followed, an

he mirrored walls. Fear, determination, and something dangerously close to anticipation flickered i

aster than

found herself face to face with Dominic Blackwell. He stood near the window, his presence fi

meet his gaze even as her heartbeat thundered in her ches

slowly as he moved closer, his eyes scanning her with quiet intensity. "You wal

slightly under the weight of his presence. "You already know

away from her. "Careful," he murmured, his voice dr

ay. "Then tell me the price," she said quietl

rned and picked up a document from his desk. He walked back slowly, d

down at the paper. "What is it?"

ne year. You follow my rules. You live under my terms.

nded violently. "

idn't change. "T

lowly reached for the pen. "And

his eyes locking ont

dy trembling under the weight of the decision. "You

is voice dangerously soft. "I'm asking you to

the pen towa

I f

ttom of the page, her breath catching sharply in her throa

e stepped even closer. "That," he said slowly, his voice low and absolu

ly as she looked up at him

his voice dropping into so

. "So I know you understand ex