egan will understand. She has to. This

rb the weight of what has just been placed before them. The air in the room feels

here's no going back now. The only thing he knows for certain is that he's tied

na's

d filled with an unusual tension, "we n

a weight in their expressions, a solemnity that made her uncomfortable.

ther before he spoke again. "We've receiv

d run cold. She had heard rumors about their wealth, their business emp

e trembling slightly. "Your father's business-it's

" Her voice came out sharper than she intended, her conf

fore meeting hers again. "The Caldwell family... they're offe

. "Marry their son?" She shook her head, the absurdity of it

't have any other choice. This marriage, it's our lifeline. The debts

. If you don't do this, we lose everything. I might lose the company,

he felt the walls of the room close in. The thought of marrying someone she didn't know, someone she'd never even met, fel

It's only for a year. Just a year, and then you can go back

e, made her feel like her future, was slipping through h

orrow. "We don't ask for much, Anna. This is the only way we can s

. Her family's future rested in her hands. She could feel

r mind racing. Could she really sacr

arents were still waiting, thei

te the turmoil inside. She didn't want to, but there wa

ing up in her eyes as she reached for

side, a storm was brewing.

Donald

pacing in front of the building for what felt like hours, her frustration growing w

r voice sharp, cutting th

ack of papers in front of him, looked up. His face immediately stiff

the papers aside and stood up, a deep breath escap

clicking loudly against the floor as she moved toward him. She stopped

voice laced with disbelief. "What is this rum

he sighed deeply. He ran a hand through

ice." He took a step closer to her, trying to offer her some kin

ut she let out a sharp laugh. "A busine

heritance to me on the condition that I had to marry some A

rds fell flat. He leaned closer to Megan, "Look I

u tell me sooner,

s is just temporary. Once the year is over, everything goes back t

And what about her? You're going to live with her for a year. What happen