Thessaly's Point of View
The man kneeling in the rain is the most beautiful person I've ever seen.
And also possibly insane.
"Did you just say proposal?" I manage through chattering teeth.
He stands smoothly, rain dripping from steel-gray hair. He's tall—really tall—wearing a suit that probably costs more than my entire wardrobe. His eyes are the coldest blue I've ever seen.
"I did." His voice is calm. "You look like you need help. I need a wife. Immediately."
I stare. "Are you drunk?"
"Stone sober. Unfortunately." He glances at the building behind me. "But we should move somewhere dry. You're barefoot."
That's when I realize I'm standing on a Manhattan sidewalk in a cocktail dress with no shoes. Rain pours down so hard I can barely see.
I have nowhere to go.
No money. No friends who aren't really Jareth's friends. My credit cards were in my father's name.
"I'm Caspian Holt. I live in apartment 14B. You're Thessaly Crane from 12A."
My mouth falls open. "You're my neighbor?"
"For two years. We've been in the elevator twice." He tilts his head. "You always look sad. Even when you smile."
That observation makes my throat tight. This stranger noticed something Jareth never did in three years.
"Why do you need a wife?"
"My grandmother is dying. Her will says I must marry within six months or lose my company to my uncle." He says it like discussing weather. "I had a candidate. She only wanted money. So I'm searching again."
"And you thought a crying woman on the street was perfect?"
His mouth almost smiles. "I thought you might be desperate enough to agree to a business arrangement."
He's right. I am desperate.
And he's honest, which is better than Jareth's lies.
"What arrangement?"
"One year contract marriage. You play devoted wife at events. I provide housing and seven million dollars."
Seven million dollars.
Enough to disappear. To start over.
"Why seven million?"
"You look like a woman who knows her worth. Am I wrong?"
I think about the company I saved. Three years being someone else. The sister who stole my life.
"No. You're not wrong."
"Then deal?"
I should say no. Find some pride or dignity.
But pride doesn't pay rent. And dignity doesn't erase betrayal.
"I want access to your legal team. To investigate my family's company."
His eyes sharpen. "Looking for revenge?"
"Justice. There's a difference."
"Not much." He extends his hand. "Deal. My lawyer will draw contracts tomorrow."
I stare at his hand. If I shake it, I'm agreeing to marry a stranger.
If I don't, I'm alone with nothing.
I take his hand.
His grip is warm. "My car is here."
He opens the door of a sleek black car. Warm leather interior. So different from cold rain.
I slide in. He follows.
"Where are we going?"
"My penthouse. Guest wing until the wedding." He types on his phone. "We marry in seventy-two hours. City Hall ceremony. Then a reception to make it official."
"Seventy-two hours?"
"The sooner we're married, the sooner you're protected from your family." He glances up. "Unless you want to go back and beg?"
The thought makes me sick.
"No."
"Good. Because I checked security footage. Your mother had your belongings removed twenty minutes ago. Storage unit downtown. Changed access codes."
My mother moved that fast. Like she planned this.
"How did you access footage?"
"I own the building." Casual. "Among other things."
"You're that Holt. The billionaire."
"CEO of Holt Consolidated." He meets my eyes. "I can protect you legally, financially, socially. But only if you agree."
"What do you get? Besides inheritance?"
Something dark crosses his face. "Marriage without love. Without expectations. Without betrayal." His jaw tightens. "I tried real relationships. They end badly. A contract is cleaner."
There's pain there. Buried under ice.
I recognize it because I carry the same pain.
"Okay. I'll do it."
He nods. "My lawyer will be at the penthouse in an hour. Read everything carefully."
The car stops at a Tribeca high-rise. He leads me through marble lobby to a private elevator.
"Can I ask something?"
"Yes."
"Why me? You could have anyone."
He's quiet. The elevator climbs.
"Because when I saw you in the rain, completely destroyed, you didn't look weak. You looked furious. Like you were planning to burn down the world." His eyes meet mine. "I need a wife who knows how to fight."
The doors open to his penthouse.
Massive. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Modern furniture. Everything sleek, expensive, cold.
Like him.
"Guest wing is there." He points. "Clothes in the closet. My sister stays here sometimes."
"Bathroom has what you need. I'll order food."
I head to the guest room. It's huge. The closet has designer clothes in various sizes.
I shower quickly, washing away rain and champagne and Jareth's touch.
When I emerge in clean clothes, Caspian's in the kitchen. He changed too—dark pants, black shirt.
Almost human without the suit.
"Food's here." He gestures to containers. "Thai okay?"
We eat silently.
A woman walks in. Beautiful, sharp, power suit.
"Vesper Quill. I handle Caspian's legal affairs. Including emergency marriage contracts."
She spreads papers on the table. "Read every word."
I read. The contract is brutal in clarity.
One year. No romance. Separate residences. Public appearances. Seven million—half now, half later. Ironclad NDA.
One clause stops me: No children. Pregnancy results in immediate termination without payout.
"This clause."
Caspian's face is blank. "Non-negotiable. Business arrangement. Children complicate things."
I think about my mother, who had two daughters and only loved one.
"Fine."
Vesper watches carefully. "You're sure? Once you sign, you're locked in."
I think about Jareth. Elowen. My parents choosing her.
I pick up the pen and sign.
"Congratulations," Vesper says. "Try not to fall in love. The prenup is vicious."
"Not a problem. I'm done with love."
Caspian's phone buzzes. Something dangerous flashes across his face.
"What?"
He shows me.
Social media post from Elowen. Her hand with a diamond ring. Jareth holding it.
Caption: Miracles happen! Five years after my accident, engaged to my soulmate. #BackFromTheDead #TrueLove
Hundreds celebrating. Calling it romantic.
No one mentions me.
Like I never existed.
"They'll announce publicly tomorrow," Caspian says. "Probably at some event."
Something cold settles in my chest.
"Then we announce ours first."
Vesper grins. "I like her."
Caspian studies me. "You want war with your family?"
"They started it first. I'm returning fire."
He nods. "We'll make this very public." He extends his hand. "Welcome to the game, wife."
I shake it. This time it feels different.
Like an alliance.
"One thing," Caspian says. "Your family will retaliate. Try to ruin you. Ready for that?"
I think about my mother's cold eyes. My father's lies. Elowen's smile.
"Let them try."
Caspian's smile is sharp.
"Good. Because starting tomorrow, you're a Holt. And nobody touches what's mine."
Vesper leaves. Caspian shows me to my room.
"Get sleep. Tomorrow we plan your revenge."
I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Twenty-four hours ago, I was planning a wedding to Jareth.
Now I'm planning one to a stranger who wants to help destroy my family.
My phone buzzes.
My mother: Your behavior was unacceptable. We'll discuss your company role once you've calmed down. Don't contact Elowen. She's fragile.
She thinks I'll apologize. Crawl back.
I delete it.
Another text. Jareth: We need to talk about wedding cancellation. Contracts to dissolve. Please be reasonable.
Reasonable.
I'm about to delete when another comes.
A photo.
Elowen and Jareth kissing. In my bed. White silk sheets.
Message: No hard feelings, Thessie. You understand, right? True love always wins. -E
My hand crushes the phone. Screen cracks.
Caspian appears. "Everything okay?"
I show him the cracked phone. The photo.
His expression goes murderous.
"Permission to ruin them?"
"Granted."
He takes the phone, downloads the photo, sends it somewhere.
"What are you doing?"
"Keeping evidence. When we destroy them, we do it legally. Thoroughly." He returns it. "Try to sleep. Tomorrow we build your empire."
He turns to leave.
"Caspian?"
He looks back.
"Thank you. For not asking if I'm okay."
"Are you?"
"No."
"Good. Angry is better than broken." His eyes glitter. "Angry people change the world."
He closes the door.
My phone buzzes again.
Unknown number.
You made a mistake tonight, little sister. You should have stayed quiet. Now you'll pay for embarrassing our family. -Mother
A threat. From my own mother.
Another message comes. An attachment.
I open it.
Medical document. Swiss clinic letterhead.
Patient: Elowen Crane.
Diagnosis: Voluntary psychiatric admission following suicide attempt.
Date: Five years ago. One week after Jareth proposed to me.
Elowen didn't drown.
She tried to kill herself because Jareth chose me.
And my parents covered it up.