The edge of the paper sliced a tiny cut into Audriana's index finger. She didn't feel the pain.

She picked up the heavy gold pen resting next to the contract. The tip hovered over the signature line. Her heart hammered against her ribs so violently she thought it might break them.

Her phone suddenly rang in her pocket, the shrill tone cutting through the suffocating silence. She pulled it out with her left hand, her fingers fumbling over the screen to answer. It was a frantic call from the ICU nurse's station. "Ms. Martin, you need to come immediately!" the nurse shouted over the chaotic background noise. "His heart stopped. We are doing CPR!"

Audriana's entire body went numb. The last wall of her resistance shattered into dust. She dropped the phone, gripped the pen, and pressed down so hard the nib tore through the thick paper as she signed her name.

Ellwood watched the ink bleed into the page. The coldness in his eyes slightly thawed. He reached over, pressed a button on his desk phone, and spoke clearly.

"Prep the helicopter. Now."

Audriana's knees suddenly gave out. The adrenaline crashed. As she started to fall toward the floor, Ellwood moved with terrifying speed. His large, hot hand clamped around her waist, hauling her flush against his chest. The heat of his body burned through her soaked clothes.

She gasped, instinctively pushing against his chest to break free.

Ellwood's arm tightened like a steel band. "You are Mrs. Maxwell now," he warned, his voice vibrating against her ear. "Get used to my touch."

Ten minutes later, they were on the roof. The roar of the helicopter blades whipped Audriana's hair into a frenzy. The freezing wind bit into her skin. Ellwood stripped off his suit jacket and threw it over her shoulders. The heavy fabric smelled intensely of him.

The helicopter lifted off, banking sharply over the stormy Manhattan skyline. Audriana stared at the man sitting next to her. He had his eyes closed, his jaw relaxed. The absurdity of the situation made her stomach churn.

They landed on the roof of Manhattan General Hospital. A team of men in dark scrubs was already waiting. They rushed past Audriana, carrying silver medical cases, heading straight for the ICU. Ellwood's private medical team.

Audriana paced the hallway outside the operating room. Her fingernails dug half-moons into her palms.

Ellwood walked up to her and pressed a hot cup of coffee into her hands. His fingers brushed against hers. A sharp jolt of electricity shot up her arm, making her flinch.

Loud footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Eston stormed around the corner, flanked by two massive bodyguards. He looked furious. "Audriana! Hand over the company seal right now, or I swear to God—"

Eston froze. His eyes landed on the tall, dark figure standing next to her. All the color drained from his face.

"Uncle Ellwood," Eston stuttered, his arrogant posture instantly collapsing.

Ellwood stepped in front of Audriana, shielding her completely. His eyes narrowed into lethal slits. "What are you doing here, Eston?"

Eston swallowed hard. "I… I came to check on Harper. And to tell Audriana she needs to stop being so ungrateful."

Audriana's blood boiled. She stepped out from behind Ellwood's broad back. She didn't say a word. She lifted the coffee cup and threw the hot liquid directly onto Eston's expensive leather shoes.

"Get out," she hissed, her voice shaking with pure rage.

Eston's face twisted in fury. He lunged forward, reaching for her wrist. "You crazy bitch—"

He didn't make it.

Ellwood's leg snapped out. His heavy dress shoe connected violently with Eston's kneecap. A sickening crack echoed in the hall. Eston let out a muffled groan and crashed to the floor, clutching his knee.

The two bodyguards flinched but didn't dare move a muscle.

Ellwood looked down at his nephew like he was looking at a dead rat. "The Martin Group is under my control now."

Eston stared up, his face pale and contorted in pain. "Why? Why would you touch that garbage company?"

Ellwood reached out and pulled Audriana tightly against his side. "Because she is my wife. Which makes her your elder. Show some respect."

Eston looked like he had been struck by lightning. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

"Throw him out," Ellwood ordered the bodyguards, his voice dripping with ice. "If he comes within fifty feet of my wife again, break his other leg."

The bodyguards hastily dragged Eston down the hall.

The red light above the operating room suddenly clicked off. Dr. Finch walked out, pulling off his surgical mask. He looked exhausted but relieved. "The surgery was a success. He is stable." Dr. Finch's smile tightened. He lowered his voice, stepping closer to Audriana. "But that mass I mentioned yesterday—we will need to address it once he is strong enough for another procedure. It has not gone away." Audriana's relief curdled in her stomach. She had almost forgotten. Almost.

Audriana let out a broken sob. Her legs turned to jelly.

Ellwood caught her before she hit the floor. He held her firmly, letting her grip his ruined, expensive shirt. She buried her face in his chest, crying out all the terror of the past forty-eight hours.

A man in a sharp suit walked up to them. Ellwood's assistant. He handed Ellwood a thick, leather-bound legal folio. Ellwood took it and pressed a heavy, watermarked contract into Audriana's hand. She looked down. It was a comprehensive marriage agreement. "Sign it," Ellwood commanded coldly. "Your signature makes our relationship legally and commercially binding as of this second. My legal team will process the official government certificates within twenty-four hours." There was no going back.

"Go home and change," Ellwood commanded, his voice returning to its usual flat tone. "We are attending the family charity gala tonight. You will not embarrass me."

Audriana wiped her eyes. She straightened her spine, clutching the thick documents. "I won't."

Ellwood stared at her stubborn, tear-stained face. The corner of his mouth twitched upward for a fraction of a second. He turned and walked toward the elevator.

The interior of the stretch limousine was dead silent.

Audriana sat stiffly on the leather seat. She wore a custom black backless gown that Ellwood had sent to the penthouse. The silk felt cold against her skin. She twisted her fingers together in her lap, her breathing shallow.

Ellwood glanced at her pale knuckles. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a velvet box, and snapped it open.

He took her left hand. His grip was firm, leaving no room for argument. He slid a massive, flawless diamond ring onto her ring finger. The metal was freezing. Audriana shivered.

"Sit up straight," Ellwood ordered softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Do not show them any weakness."

The limo rolled to a stop in front of the Maxwell estate on the Upper East Side. The driver opened the door.

A blinding wall of camera flashes erupted the second the door opened. Audriana squeezed her eyes shut, her heart leaping into her throat.

Ellwood stepped out first. He turned, buttoned his suit jacket with one hand, and offered her the other. It was a pose of absolute protection.

Audriana placed her hand in his. He pulled her out of the car. The press went absolutely feral. The ruthless, untouchable Ellwood Maxwell was holding a woman's hand.

Audriana forced her facial muscles into a perfect, polite smile. She hooked her arm through his, letting him guide her up the red carpet.

Inside the grand ballroom, the air smelled of expensive perfume and old money. Eston was seated stiffly on a velvet sofa near the bar, his face pale and drawn tight with pain. His right leg was stretched out unnaturally in a heavy medical brace, a pair of aluminum crutches resting against the armrest. He was forcing a tight, agonizing smile at a group of socialites, trying desperately to pretend his shattered kneecap wasn't throbbing with every heartbeat.

The heavy mahogany doors swung open.

The loud chatter in the room died instantly. It was as if someone had pulled the plug on the audio.

Ellwood walked in with Audriana. His aura was so suffocatingly dominant that the crowd physically parted to create a path for them.

Eston turned his head. When he saw Audriana, his jaw dropped. The crystal champagne flute slipped from his fingers and shattered on the marble floor, splashing red wine all over his date's dress.

Frances Maxwell, Eston's mother, was holding court near the center of the room. Her face turned an ugly shade of purple when she saw Audriana.

Several board members hurried over, raising their glasses to Ellwood, their eyes darting to Audriana with burning curiosity.

Ellwood wrapped his arm around Audriana's waist, pulling her flush against his side. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice carrying across the silent room. "Allow me to introduce my wife, Mrs. Maxwell."

A collective gasp ripped through the ballroom. Whispers exploded like fireworks.

Frances stomped over, her heels clicking aggressively. She stopped in front of them, her chest heaving. "Is this some kind of sick joke, Ellwood?"

Ellwood looked down at her with dead eyes. "My marriage is none of your business, Frances."

Frances choked on her breath. She didn't dare yell at Ellwood, so she turned her venomous glare onto Audriana.

Audriana didn't look away. She smiled sweetly. "Good evening, sister-in-law."

Frances looked like she was going to have a stroke.

Eston finally snapped out of his shock. He pushed through the crowd, his eyes wild and bloodshot. "You gold-digging whore!" he screamed, pointing a shaking finger at Audriana. "You lied to me!"

Audriana's stomach twisted, but before she could even open her mouth, Ellwood moved.

He didn't yell. He didn't argue. He simply raised his hand and backhanded Eston across the face.

The loud smack echoed off the high ceilings. Eston spun around from the force of the blow, blood instantly dripping from his split lip.

The entire ballroom stopped breathing.

Ellwood pulled a white silk handkerchief from his pocket. He slowly wiped his knuckles. "Watch your mouth when you speak to your aunt."

Frances screamed and threw her arms around Eston, shielding him. She glared at Ellwood with pure hatred but kept her mouth firmly shut.

At the top of the grand staircase, an elegant, elderly woman appeared. Angel Maxwell, the matriarch.

The crowd parted again as a maid helped Angel down the stairs. Her sharp eyes locked onto Audriana.

Audriana's palms started to sweat. This was the real test. Ellwood's hand tightened on her waist, his thumb pressing firmly into her side.

Angel stopped in front of them. She looked Audriana up and down for ten agonizing seconds. Finally, she gave a short nod. "Since you are married, know your place and do your duty."

She didn't object. The crisis was over.

The orchestra started playing again, and the guests quickly pretended nothing had happened.

Ellwood leaned down, his lips brushing against Audriana's ear. His hot breath sent a shiver down her spine. "That 'sister-in-law' line was excellent," he whispered.

Audriana's heart fluttered wildly against her ribs. She watched a waiter walk by with a silver tray of wedding favors—small, velvet boxes of artisan chocolates.

She reached out and grabbed two boxes.

She spotted Eston propped against a marble pillar near the french doors, his aluminum crutches jammed under his armpits, a napkin pressed to his bleeding lip. His right leg hung uselessly in the heavy medical brace, the toe of his shoe barely grazing the floor. His crutch tips were planted wide to keep him upright, and even from across the room she could see his knuckles were white from gripping the handles. His eyes were fixed on her, burning with humiliation. Audriana adjusted her posture and walked straight toward him. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor.

Ellwood didn't stop her. He stood back, taking a sip of his bourbon, watching her with dark, amused eyes.

Audriana stopped right in front of Eston. She shoved the velvet boxes into his chest. He fumbled, one hand releasing its death grip on the crutch handle just long enough to trap the boxes against his sternum before they fell. "Have some wedding candy, nephew. It's sweet."

Eston looked like he wanted to vomit. His hands shook as he held the boxes. He glanced past her shoulder, saw Ellwood watching, and swallowed his rage.

Audriana leaned in close. "If you ever come near me again, I won't need him to break your leg. I will do it myself."

Eston's face turned gray. He couldn't say a word.

Audriana turned around and walked back to Ellwood. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. A rush of pure, vindictive adrenaline pumped through her veins.

Ellwood picked up a pink macaron from a dessert table and handed it to her. "Like a kitten showing her claws," he murmured, his voice low and teasing.

Audriana's ears burned. She took the cookie, avoiding his gaze.

The head butler approached them, bowing slightly. "Mr. Maxwell. Your father requests your presence in the upstairs study."

Ellwood's jaw tightened. The playful mood vanished instantly. He looked at Audriana. "Stay in the crowd. Do not wander off."

He followed the butler up the stairs.

Upstairs, the heavy study doors closed behind Ellwood.

Prescott Maxwell sat in a leather wheelchair behind a massive desk. He threw a manila folder onto the wood.

"Explain this," Prescott demanded, his voice raspy. "You marry a bankrupt girl out of nowhere?"

Ellwood walked to the window, looking down at the ballroom floor. "It was a business acquisition."

Prescott let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "Don't lie to me, boy. I saw the photos. I saw her eyes. Her eyes remind me of some very unpleasant memories. Ellwood, do not stumble over the same mistake twice. You know exactly who I am talking about."

Ellwood froze. The silver lighter in his hand slipped, clattering loudly onto the windowsill. The temperature in the room plummeted to freezing.

He turned around. His eyes were pitch black, filled with a violent, suppressed rage. "Do not cross that line, old man. My marriage is mine."

Prescott sighed, rubbing his temples. "The past is gone, Ellwood. Do not ruin an innocent girl's life just because you need a ghost to hold onto."

Ellwood didn't answer. He turned on his heel and walked out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

Downstairs, Audriana was looking out the window when she heard footsteps. Frances was walking toward her, holding a full glass of red wine. Her eyes were fixed on the fabric of Audriana's black silk gown.

Frances feigned a sudden stumble, her wrist flicking forward intentionally to send the full glass of red wine flying directly at the skirt of Audriana's pristine black gown. Audriana saw it coming. In a split second, she pivoted sharply to the left, stepping completely out of the trajectory. Frances lost her balance and stumbled forward, but the dark red liquid sailed past Audriana, splashing violently all over the expensive cream Chanel suit of a wealthy socialite standing just behind her. Audriana glanced down. The dark wine had missed her entirely. A flicker of grim satisfaction crossed her face—black fabric hid a multitude of sins. Frances had miscalculated.

The woman shrieked. Chaos erupted. Frances scrambled to apologize, her face bright red with embarrassment.

Audriana didn't stay to watch. She slipped through the French doors and stepped out into the cool night air of the gardens.

The garden was dimly lit by small ground lamps. The heavy scent of blooming roses filled the air. Audriana walked toward the large stone fountain. Her feet were killing her. She kicked off her high heels, letting her bare feet touch the cold stone edge of the fountain. She let out a long breath.

A metallic scraping sound echoed behind her. Crutch tips dragging across the stone pathway.

Audriana spun around.

A tall shadow lurched out from behind the thick rose bushes. The overwhelming stench of cheap whiskey hit her face.

Eston stood there. His weight was braced on his crutches, his shattered leg dangling limp in the heavy brace, the toe of his shoe scraping uselessly against the ground. He heaved himself forward another step, the crutches grinding against the stone as he swung his useless leg between them, blocking her only path back to the house.