"Marry me."
The words hung in the air, suffocating Carolina like a noose.
Her body went still, her heart pounding so hard she could hear the echo in her ears.
This had to be a joke. A cruel, twisted joke.
She forced out a shaky breath. "You can't be serious."
Alexander's smirk was lazy, almost amused. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
She wanted to scream. To slap that smug look off his perfect face. But deep down, she knew—Alexander Malvern never joked.
"Why would you—" She swallowed, her throat dry. "Why would you want to marry me?"
His gaze darkened, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. "Let's just say it benefits me, sweetheart."
That wasn't an answer. That was a trap.
She took a step back. "No."
His smirk didn't falter. "No?"
"I won't do it." Her voice trembled, but she stood firm.
Alexander let out a quiet chuckle, low and dangerous. Then, with a slow, calculated movement, he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a thick folder.
He tossed it onto the table.
"Read it."
Carolina hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her. She flipped open the folder—and her blood ran cold.
Inside were dozens of documents—proof of her father's unpaid debts, his forged signatures, and worst of all, a legal foreclosure notice.
"Your father didn't just lose money, Carolina," Alexander murmured, his voice deceptively calm. "He lost everything. Including your family home."
Her fingers trembled as she turned the pages. No. This can't be real.
But it was.
Her father had gambled away everything.
"I own your father's company now," Alexander continued, his voice like steel. "I own your home. And if you refuse my offer, your father will go to jail for fraud."
The room spun.
"You wouldn't—"
"Try me."
Carolina's breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. She was trapped. Completely, hopelessly trapped.
She could refuse him, but at what cost?
Her father behind bars. Her family homeless. Everything they had ever built, destroyed.
Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She clenched her fists, hating him. Hating the way he stood there, watching her crumble with that same cruel smirk.
"Say yes, Carolina." His voice was softer now, but no less dangerous. "You don't have a choice."
She squeezed her eyes shut, her entire body shaking.
Then, in the smallest, most broken voice, she whispered—
"Yes