Elena Hart sat at her small kitchen table, surrounded by bills, overdue notices, and her father's medical letters. The apartment smelled faintly of instant coffee and dust, a reminder of everything she couldn't afford to fix.
Her fingers fidgeted with a pen as she stared at the pile of paperwork. Her brother's tuition, her family's mounting debts, the endless calls from collectors - every problem screamed at her at once.
A sharp knock at the door made her jump.
"Hello?" she called cautiously.
The door opened before anyone could answer. A man stepped in - tall, sharply dressed, eyes gray and calculating. Alexander Drake. She'd heard of him. Everyone had. Drake Industries. Billionaire CEO. Untouchable. And now… in her apartment.
"You must be Elena Hart," he said smoothly, placing a sleek black folder on the table. "I'm Alexander Drake."
Elena swallowed hard. "I… I don't know why you're here."
He didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept the room, then landed on her. "You will soon. Open this."
Inside the folder was a contract. Her eyes skimmed the words: Twelve-month duration. Public marriage recognized by law. Financial compensation for family debts.
Her stomach churned.
"You… want me to marry you?" she whispered.
"It's a proposal," he said evenly, "that solves a lot of problems - yours and mine."
Before she could react, a second man leaned casually in the doorway, arms crossed, smirking.
"Ah, the young lady herself," he said. "Seems you'll need some… perspective before signing anything."
Elena's heart pounded.Perspective? She barely knew these men.
Alexander's jaw tightened. "Ms. Hart, focus on the contract."
The stranger chuckled. "Sometimes what looks like a lifeline is actually a noose."
Elena's fingers clenched the pen tighter. Her life was about to change, and she had no idea in which direction.