Rain splattered against the windows of the Harper family estate as Emily Harper smoothed the creases of her navy skirt and adjusted the collar of her white blouse. The air inside the grand living room was thick with tension, her mother’s favorite lavender incense doing little to mask the storm brewing outside—or inside.

She was home for the weekend, reluctantly. Her family had summoned her under the guise of a family dinner, but Emily had learned to suspect ulterior motives when it came to anything involving her mother.

"Sit down, darling," her mother, Cassandra Harper, said, voice like silk laced with command. "We have something important to discuss."

Emily’s father, William Harper, cleared his throat from behind his newspaper. Her younger brother, Sean, sat slumped in an armchair, eyes glued to his phone, uninterested in the proceedings.

With a sigh, Emily sank onto the edge of the velvet sofa. "What is it now? Another charity gala you need me to host? Or a new intern job I didn’t ask for?"

Her mother smiled tightly. "You’re twenty-six, Emily. You’ve had two jobs in four years, no long-term relationship, and no sign of settling down. It’s time you start thinking about your future."

"My future is just fine," Emily said, crossing her arms.

"You need security," her father chimed in, lowering the paper. "And you need someone who understands responsibility."

"And who exactly would that be?" Emily said, more sharply than intended.

A moment passed before Cassandra gave a meaningful glance toward the staircase. "Come in, dear."

Emily’s brow furrowed.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Then, a tall, broad-shouldered man in a gray tailored suit stepped into the room. His presence instantly shifted the atmosphere. His jaw was clean-shaven, hair impeccably styled, eyes cool and unreadable. Emily blinked, recognizing him from a photograph her cousin had once shown her.

"Emily, this is Alexander Blackwood," Cassandra said, her voice taking on a reverent tone. "Your cousin Ava's brother-in-law."

Emily stood slowly. "The billionaire?"

"I’m not fond of the title, but yes," Alexander said, his voice smooth like dark whiskey.

She frowned. "What is he doing here?"

Alexander stepped closer, hands clasped behind his back. "I’m here because your parents proposed something… unconventional."

Emily glanced between them. "You’re joking."

"We want you two to marry," Cassandra said bluntly.

Silence fell. Even Sean looked up from his phone.

Emily let out a dry laugh. "You’ve officially lost your minds."

"It’s not what you think," Alexander interjected. "It’s a business arrangement. Three years. You keep your independence, I keep mine."

"Why would a billionaire need a fake marriage?" she asked.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. "My company’s expansion into Europe requires familial stability to secure the largest shareholder deal of my career. They want assurance I'm 'settled.'"

Emily shook her head. "This is ridiculous. I don’t even know you."

"That’s not entirely true," Alexander said. "I’ve read about your work in youth education reform. It’s admirable."

"Flattery won't save this," she snapped.

Cassandra stepped forward. "Emily, listen. This could solve everything. You’d have financial freedom, privacy, security—"

"And I’d be selling myself like a prize cow!" Emily stood, voice rising. "I won’t be bought."

"No one’s buying you," Alexander said calmly. "I’m offering a contract. There would be rules, boundaries. No pressure. We live our lives as we wish."

Emily turned to him, incredulous. "Why me?"

He paused. "Because you’re not easily impressed by wealth. That makes this easier to manage."

"And that’s supposed to be a compliment?"

He shrugged. "Take it how you will."

Cassandra sighed. "It’s a business opportunity, darling. One with generous compensation. At the end of the term, you walk away with enough to do whatever you want."

Emily’s pulse hammered in her ears. "You want me to be your convenient wife for three years. That’s your grand plan?"

Alexander nodded. "Yes."

"Do I at least get time to think?"

"You have until Friday," Cassandra said.

"It’s Tuesday!" Emily cried.

"We have a lot of preparations to make," William added. "The wedding would be simple, quiet. No media."

Emily turned to Alexander, who met her gaze without flinching. His confidence was irritating—no, infuriating.

"You don’t even know if I snore."

"I have a guest wing with soundproof walls," he said dryly.

She opened her mouth, then closed it. The audacity. The nerve. The absolute gall.

And yet…

What would three years of security mean? A chance to fund her own education initiative? Get out from under her family’s thumb? Travel, finally write her book, support her own causes?

It felt like selling out. But maybe—just maybe—it was buying in.

"I'm not agreeing to anything," she said firmly.

"I wouldn’t expect you to," Alexander said. "But consider it. You’ve got more to gain than you think."

He handed her a sleek envelope and turned without another word, disappearing down the hallway.

Emily stared at the letter in her hand, her heart racing.

She wasn’t a fool. She didn’t believe in fairy tales. And yet, something in his steady gaze unsettled her. Not romantic attraction—not yet—but something else. Curiosity? Defiance?

The storm outside grew louder, wind howling like a warning or a promise. Maybe both.

"Is it really that bad?" Sean muttered, still watching from the couch.

Emily sank back into the sofa, staring at the sealed proposal. "It might be worse. It might be the beginning of something I can’t walk away from."

The rain drummed harder as the fire crackled. The Harper estate had hosted many secrets, but this might be its most unbelievable yet.

And Emily Harper, always the rebel, might just become the billionaire’s bride—on paper, of course.

At least for now