site Alex, Melissa's hands folded in her lap and her head spinning with a thousand thoughts she couldn't cont

voice was quiet, the force behind it was obvious. Dalton wo

ire. The pressure was building, and she could sense it closing in on her as well. But thi

as almost a whisper, but her eyes remained

me. Should you not marry me, Dalton will complete what he has started.

at stake: her career, her autonomy. But could she truly wed him? Could she sacrifice

don't know whether I can do this," she said softly, the doubt in her voi

have any options. His voice was calm and conclusive. "You eith

was apparent, growing with every passing second. The room was thick with unsa

ined in her seat. "So, this is it? I either marry

make it sound so dramatic," he remarked, his lips twisting into

ad spent years developing a profession on her own terms. But suddenly, confronted w

an only, " Her voice wave

. Melissa, I'm not looking for love; I want loyalty, Melissa

ed her to him even as she tried to back away. Every time she attempted

he leaned forward a little. Meliss

and despite all, she couldn't overlook it. But was this attraction

ts flowing in through the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated the dimly lighted chamber. Feeling little and unsure, she sat

dow. Even without staring straight at him, she c

now, this isn't simple for me." Trying to calm herself, she gazed

were softer; the typical chill in them vanished for a minute. He

g a lot. But you are more than simply a component in this ga

at if I can't take it? The intensity of her feelings made

ief moment, the hardness in his expression shattered and she

ered gently, his voice so intense it made her heart race

e space between them closed. Soft yet electric, the

the sort of entanglements Alex was proposing. But in that instant, the attraction between them

ase. The talk of the town was Alex and Melissa's engagement. The media was bombarded wi

ard, every look directed her way, made her feel more exposed and more vulnerable. What about Alexander? Everywhere, standing tall and proud in fron

the last week. Though a darkness fell over her first, it was a text from her attorney. Looking

s constant, something beneath

a gulped. "I don't know what I'm doing any more, A

eyes fixed on hers. "You are doing wha

isn't simply a marriage; you're asking me to marry you. It's a commercial

ssa, this is not only about the wedding; It's about

e air, so heavy they

an unfamiliar number. Her gaze fixed o

e. "Just because you've struck a deal w

h sank as the qu

ouse exuded an unsettling tension, and Melissa couldn't shake the impression that something ter

already sense the pressure building, the world's probing eyes on her. Though she had

from her attorney: "Dalton's men have been fol

he always present danger, the impending threat of Dal

. He must have just come back from a conference. As he went towards her, the slight scent of his pe

n't know whether I can do this," she remarked, h

oftened. You have no say. Your d

with annoyance. "But I can't help but feel like I'm dr

th his fingertips, and the contact caused her hea

a, you'll get through it." I

xiety eating at her gut. She could not get rid of the impressio

An anonymous text said, "You're making a p

x and caught his gaze. She murmured, the question be

nally. You are now my property. I will keep you

east only grew. Now she could not turn back. There was no avoidi