The rain poured relentlessly over the city, turning the streets into rivers of shimmering light. Ava Carter clutched her worn handbag tightly as she hurried toward the bus stop. Her shoes were soaked, her hair clung to her face, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders.
Another twelve-hour shift at the café had ended, and tomorrow promised to be no different.
At twenty-two, Ava had learned that life was never fair. After losing both her parents in a tragic accident, she was left with nothing but unpaid debts and a small apartment that barely kept the rain out. Every day was a battle to survive.
Still, she smiled.
She believed that as long as she refused to give up, tomorrow might finally be better.
Her phone buzzed.
It was a message from the landlord.
"Miss Carter, if your rent isn't paid by tomorrow afternoon, you'll have to move out."
Ava closed her eyes for a moment.
"I'll find a way," she whispered, even though she had no idea how.
Just then, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside the pavement, its polished body reflecting the city lights. It looked completely out of place in her neighbourhood.
The rear door opened.
A man dressed in an expensive black suit stepped out, holding a large umbrella.
"Miss Ava Carter?" he asked politely.
Ava frowned.
"Yes... Who are you?"
"My employer wishes to meet you."
She blinked in confusion.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
"We never make mistakes."
Before she could respond, another figure emerged from the luxury car.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and impossibly handsome. His tailored charcoal suit fit him perfectly, and his piercing dark eyes carried the confidence of someone who always got what he wanted.
The air around him seemed to change the moment he stepped forward.
He looked at Ava as though he had finally found something he had been searching for.
"I'm Ethan Kingsley," he said calmly.
The name hit her like lightning.
Everyone knew Ethan Kingsley.
The billionaire CEO of Kingsley Group.
The youngest billionaire in the country.
The man newspapers called cold-hearted and untouchable.
Ava swallowed nervously.
"What do you want with me?"
Without answering immediately, Ethan reached into his jacket and handed her an old envelope.
"Open it."
Confused, Ava carefully unfolded the yellowed paper.
Her eyes widened.
It was a handwritten agreement signed over twenty years ago by her late father and Ethan's grandfather.
At the bottom were the words that made her heart stop.
"Our grandchildren shall be united in marriage when they come of age."
"This... this has to be a joke," Ava whispered.
"It isn't," Ethan replied.
"My grandfather's dying wish was that I honour this promise."
Ava shook her head.
"I've never heard of this before."
"I know."
"So why should I believe it?"
"Because it's real."
She looked up, anger flashing across her face.
"I'm not marrying a stranger because of an old piece of paper."
For the first time, Ethan smiled.
It wasn't warm.
It was the smile of a man who loved a challenge.
"I wasn't asking."
Ava's temper exploded.
"And I'm not accepting!"
She shoved the document back into his hands and turned to leave.
Before she had taken three steps, Ethan's deep voice stopped her.
"If you walk away tonight..."
She hesitated.
"...your landlord will evict you tomorrow, your debts will double within a month, and the people threatening your family's property will finally take everything your parents left behind."
Ava slowly turned around, shock written across her face.
"How do you know all that?"
"Because I've already investigated you."
Fear mixed with anger inside her.
"What exactly do you want from me?"
Ethan looked directly into her eyes.
"I want you to become my wife."
The rain continued to fall as silence stretched between them.
Ava had no idea that this impossible proposal would change her life forever.