The café was nearly empty when Lila Hart wiped the last table, her arms aching and feet sore from a double shift. Outside, the city buzzed with life—cars honking, people laughing, lights flashing—but none of it reached her. Her world was quieter. Heavy. Drowning in hospital bills and fear.
Her phone buzzed in her apron pocket. A text from the hospital: “Your brother’s condition is stable for now, but we need to discuss the cost of the next surgery.”
Lila’s fingers tightened around the phone.
Stable. But for how long?
She tossed the rag aside and headed toward the back, but the manager’s voice stopped her. “Hey, Lila! Someone’s waiting for you outside.”
She frowned. “Who?”
The manager shrugged. “He didn’t give a name. Just said he wanted to talk.”
Curious and a little anxious, Lila stepped outside into the night. A sleek black car was parked at the curb. Leaning against it was a man in a tailored black suit, hands in his pockets, sharp eyes locked onto her.
She froze.
Ethan Blackwood.
The billionaire. The cold-hearted CEO of Blackwood Enterprises. She’d served him coffee once—he hadn’t smiled, hadn’t spoken much, but had watched her with unsettling intensity.
Now he was here. For her?
“Miss Hart,” he said smoothly, pushing off the car. “We need to talk.”
Lila blinked. “About what?”
“Get in the car.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Her voice was firm, but her heart was racing.
His gaze didn’t flinch. “It’s not a threat. It’s a business proposal. One you can’t afford to ignore.”
Something in his tone—calm but commanding—made her legs move. Against her better judgment, she got into the car.
Inside, it smelled like leather and money. The silence was thick as they drove through the city, ending at the top floor of a luxury hotel. He led her to a private suite—polished floors, glass walls, city lights glowing below.
Still, Lila stood tall. “What do you want from me?”
Ethan faced her, expression unreadable. “Marriage.
She almost laughed. “Excuse me?
“A contract marriage,” he clarified. “One year. You’ll live with me, attend social events as my wife, and bear my child.”
Her stomach turned. “You’re insane.”
“I’m practical,” he said calmly. “My grandfather’s will states I must marry and produce an heir within the year to keep control of the company. I have no interest in love, and I don’t have time for games. I need someone who understands the terms.”
Lila stared at him, shocked. “And you chose me? A waitress?”
“You’re quiet. Discreet. And desperate.”
Her jaw clenched. “Don’t pretend you care.”
“I don’t,” he said simply. “But I can offer you ten million dollars.”
Her breath caught.
Ten million.
That kind of money could pay off her debts, buy her brother’s surgery, and give them a fresh start. Still, she shook her head. “This is crazy. I’m not some... womb for hire.”
“You’d be my wife. Legally. You’d live in comfort, want for nothing. And when the year ends, we walk away.”
“And what happens if I say no?”
He stepped closer, eyes sharp. “You won’t.”
Lila’s hands trembled at her sides. “And the child? You’d just take them?”
“No. You’d raise the child. Or not. That’s up to you. I don’t want custody. I just need proof of an heir.”
She turned away, pacing to the window. The city lights blurred through her tears. This wasn’t a proposal—it was a transaction. But ten million dollars...
She thought of her brother hooked up to machines. The hospital begging for payments.
“I’d have to live with you?” she asked softly.
“Yes. Public appearances matter. And I don’t do scandals.”
“What about rules?”
“I have many,” he said. “You’ll follow them. No lies. No outside relationships. No interference in my business. You’ll respect my privacy.”
“No touching?” she asked bitterly.
Ethan’s lips barely moved. “Only what’s necessary to fulfill the contract.”
A cold shiver ran down her spine. “You’re heartless.”
“I prefer efficient.
She turned to face him, voice steady despite the storm inside her. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
His brows lifted slightly. “Just like that?”
“No one’s offering to save my brother. You are. So yes, Mr. Blackwood—I’ll marry you.”
For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Surprise? Regret? She couldn’t tell.
“Then the wedding is Saturday,” he said, walking to a drawer and pulling out a thick envelope. “Here’s the contract. Review it. Sign it. And don’t be late.”
Lila took the envelope with trembling hands. Her world tilted on its axis as she walked back into the night.
The deal was made.
She had just sold herself to the coldest man in the city.
And she had no idea what it would cost her soul.