A year earlier.

"You better be there by three." My father's voice cut through the phone so sharply that two assistants across the boutique looked up. "I know," I said quietly.

"This isn't optional, Melissa."

"When has it ever been?" There was a pause on the line. I could almost hear him rubbing his forehead the way he did whenever the company's problems started piling up.

"If the Kingsleys walk away," he said, lowering his voice, "Hartwood Global won't survive the quarter."

I closed my eyes briefly.

"I'll be there."

"Good. And Melissa-"

"Yes?"

"Just... cooperate today." The call ended.

That word lingered in my head. Cooperate.

I slipped my phone into my bag and glanced at my reflection again. For a brief second, my fingers brushed against the ring on my hand. A small smile almost formed. Daniel's voice echoed faintly in my head- "I know the timing isn't perfect... but I don't want to wait anymore."

I swallowed the memory down. Not now.

"More blush," my manager said behind me. The makeup artist immediately leaned in.

"You're going to blind the camera if you keep frowning," she joked.

"I'm not frowning."

"You absolutely are."

Under the bright studio lights, my skin glowed against the emerald silk gown hugging my waist. The fabric shimmered every time I moved.

For a second, I almost forgot about collapsing companies and emergency meetings.

"Melissa," the photographer called. "Full turn."

I stepped onto the platform and rotated slowly. "Perfect," he muttered.

My phone buzzed again.

My manager groaned from the corner. "Please tell me you're not answering that."

"I have to."

"How many shots do we have left?" I signaled the photographer. He grimaced. "At least twenty."

"And Jessica's book launch," my manager reminded me, tapping the planner on the wall. "You promised to be there.

I sighed. Jessica had been planning that launch for months. She'd probably already saved me a seat in the front row.

But right now my father's company was hanging by a thread.

"Tell her I'll make it up to her," I said, already stepping down from the set.

"Melissa-" my manager called.

"I really have to go."

Inside the dressing room, I fought with the ribbon ties at the back of the corset. "Who invented this torture device?" I muttered.

The bow refused to loosen. For a second, I considered ripping the dress open. But this was a D'Oleur Motier original. Probably worth more than my car.

When the dress finally slid off, I felt like I could breathe again. My keys were sitting still on the sofa, I grabbed my bag and rushed out the door.

The drive to Kingsley Manor took about twenty minutes. It was long enough for my mind to start spiraling. Kingsley Holdings didn't normally summon people to their house for business meetings. They had entire skyscrapers for that.

When the iron gates of Kingsley Manor opened, I could swear that I had reached the gates of heaven. The gates looked like something carved out of a dream. It was adorned with the most beautiful flowers I have ever laid my eyes on. The place looked less like a home and more like a private kingdom. Tall stone walls. Endless gardens. Security cameras everywhere.

The car stopped in front of the entrance.

A staff member opened my door immediately.

"Ms. Hartwood," he bowed politely. "They're waiting for you."

Inside, the manor was impossibly quiet. It felt old-fashioned in its bones: high ceilings with intricate crown moldings, heavy oak doors. The marble floors gleamed, warmed subtly beneath my heels.

I barely had time to admire any of it before someone escorted me into a large sitting room. That's when I realized that something was wrong. This wasn't just a normal meeting. My parents were already there. So was little sister, Diana. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. And across the room sat Jacob Kingsley and his wife Margaret.

The atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken tension.

"Melissa," my father said quickly. "You made it."

"Of course I did. What's going on?"No one answered immediately.

Jacob Kingsley folded his hands calmly. "You must be Melissa Hartwood."

"I am."

His eyes studied me briefly. Then he nodded once.

"Your father speaks highly of you."

My father forced a laugh that sounded painfully fake.

The conversation started with the usual corporate discussions. Investments, market stability... But halfway through, Jacob Kingsley brought up something that made the entire room go quiet.

"Kingsley Holdings is prepared to secure Hartwood Global's future."

My father leaned forward immediately. "That's excellent news."

Jacob continued calmly.

"However, we prefer long-term partnerships to be secured through family alliances."

I frowned. Family alliances?

Margaret Kingsley spoke next, her voice smooth and measured. "Our son will be getting married soon."

My brain lagged for a moment, "Oh. Congratulations." I laughed softly but no one laughed with me. The silence was choking.

Something in the room shifted. A strange awareness crept into my chest. I didn't know why-but suddenly, I was thinking about the man I had seen once or twice in business magazines.

Ethan Kingsley. The charming one. The one everyone talked about. It made sense, didn't it? He handled the public. The deals. The appearances. Of course it would be him.

Jacob's eyes moved between Diana and me, thoughtful. Then he spoke. "We would like the bride to come from the Hartwood family."

A chill slowly spread through my stomach. Beside me, Diana's fingers curled tightly around the edge of her chair. Her face had gone pale. For a moment, no one spoke.

My father cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence.

"We are honored by the proposal."

Wait. What? I turned toward him. "You're not serious."

But he avoided my eyes.

Margaret Kingsley asked calmly, "Which daughter will accept the honor?"

Everyone looked at Diana. Diana looked like she might faint. Then my mother spoke. "Our eldest daughter will fulfill the role."

The room tilted slightly. I stared at her. "Mom!" She met my eyes calmly. "Please give us a minute", she dragged me out of the room.

"You are the eldest." A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "Since when?"

Of course. I was the eldest. But I was also the adopted one. Diana was their real daughter.

"Melissa," my father said quietly, "this alliance will save the company."

"I can't," I said, more firmly. My father frowned. "Melissa-"

"I'm already engaged."

"You're... what?" My mother blinked. I lifted my hand carefully for the ring to reflect the light. "Daniel proposed," I said. "Recently. I was waiting for the right time to tell you."

My father's expression darkened. "Daniel?"

"Yes."

My father leaned forward, his voice tightening. "And you thought this was something you should keep from us?"

"I wasn't hiding it," I snapped. "I just hadn't-"

"You said yes?" my mother cut in. I hesitated. "...Yes."

"Melissa," my father said slowly, "do you understand what you're risking here?"

"I'm not risking anything, dad. I'm choosing my life." I said firmly.

"You're choosing a man over your family."

"No, I'm choosing myself."

"That company feeds hundreds of families!" he shot back. "Do you think your silly love will do the same?"

I clenched my jaw. "Daniel is not the problem here."

"No," my mother said coldly. "Your lack of perspective is."

Diana's voice came softly, trembling. "Maybe... maybe there's another way-"

"There isn't," my father snapped. Then his tone shifted.

"If this deal falls through, Hartwood Global collapses. Employees lose their jobs," he continued. "Reputations are destroyed. Everything we've built-gone." His gaze locked on mine. "Because you chose a man we don't even know."

My phone rang. It was Daniel. For a second, I couldn't move. I didn't pick but he called again.

"Hey," his voice came, warm. "I've been trying to reach you. Are you still coming tonight? I thought we could celebrate properly. You kind of disappeared after saying yes."

A sharp ache twisted in my chest. "I'm... busy," I said.

"Busy?" he repeated gently. "Melissa, it's our engagement."

"I know," I said quickly. "I just-something came up. Family stuff."

"Is everything okay?" he asked, concern creeping into his tone. "You sound off."

I closed my eyes. A voice inside me kept telling me-Say it.

Tell him.

"I'm fine," I said instead. There was a long pause.

"You don't sound fine," Daniel said quietly. "Talk to me."

I swallowed. "I can't right now."

"Melissa-"

"I said I'm fine," I cut in, sharper than I intended. Then, softer, hurt slipping through his voice, "Did I do something wrong?"

That broke something in me.

"No," I whispered. "No, you didn't do anything."

"Then why does it feel like you're pushing me away?"

Because I am. Because I don't know how to tell you I just agreed to marry someone else. My mind ached.

"I'll call you later," I said quickly.

"Melissa, wait-"

I ended the call.

The silence afterward was deafening. Back to my parents, the conversation hadn't moved on. My father looked at me. "Well?"

I let out a slow breath. "So give them Diana."

My mother's voice hardened. "You know she isn't suited for this kind of arrangement."

Oh. I understand now. They weren't choosing the eldest daughter. They were choosing the expendable one.

They were already going back inside then I stopped them. "You arranged this before I even got here," I said. My father sighed heavily. "The company is collapsing."

"That's not my question."

"Melissa-"

"You didn't even ask me!"

My mother stepped forward calmly. "We gave you a home when you had none." The words hit harder than they probably intended. I stared at her. "So now I owe you a marriage?"

"No," she said softly. "You owe the family your loyalty."

Diana came behind me, her voice trembling. "Melissa... you don't have to"

"Yes I do," I cut in quietly. Because we all knew the truth: If I refused to accept, the company would collapse. And Diana-their precious daughter-would suffer too.

My father's voice softened, almost pleading now. "End it."

I looked at him.

"Whatever this is with Daniel," he said. "End it."

My chest tightened. "You're asking me to-"

"I'm telling you," he said.

I closed my eyes briefly. Then nodded once. "If it saves the company..." The words tasted bitter. "I'll do it."

I slipped the ring off my finger and held it tightly in my palm.

Back in the sitting room, Jacob Kingsley asked the question formally. "Do you accept the marriage arrangement?"

Every eye in the room was on me.

I swallowed. "Yes."

The lawyers immediately began discussing contracts. The speed of it made my head spin. Like this had been planned long before today.

As we prepared to leave, Margaret added:

"The two families will have dinner tomorrow evening."

She smiled politely. "That will be when you meet our son."

I stepped outside the manor to clear my mind. I tried to stay calm but my chest tightened as I heard, "You agreed faster than I expected."

I turned. Ethan Kingsley was standing a few feet away. Watching me.

"I didn't have much of a choice," I said.

Then said, "You should meet him before signing anything final."

A small crease formed between my brows. "Him?"

Ethan tilted his head slightly, almost amused. "My brother."

Everything stood still. "...Your brother?"

"Yes." A faint smile touched his lips. "Liam."

Ethan took a step closer, his voice quieter now. "Most women who agree to marry Liam..." he said, pausing just long enough to make my stomach tighten. "...change their minds after meeting him."

My throat went dry. "Why would they?"

Ethan's smile widened slightly. But he didn't answer.

And suddenly I realized something unsettling.

Tomorrow night would be the first time I met the man I had just agreed to marry.

And judging by Ethan's expression, it might also be the moment I regretted it.

The next evening arrived far too quickly.

My mind kept replaying what happened earlier. I hadn't called Daniel back, I didn't know how to meet him or what to tell him. I was still anxious so I left my phone in my drawer.

"Remember what we talked about," my father stood behind the door, adjusting his cufflinks for the fourth time. "Be polite. Be respectful. And try to make a good impression."

I met his eyes in the mirror. "Try?" I asked quietly. He cleared his throat. "You know what I mean."

My mother hovered behind me as the stylist pinned the last curl into place. "Not that necklace," she said suddenly, frowning at the mirror. "The diamond one. The Kingsleys will expect something more... appropriate."

I almost laughed, as if the dress wasn't already saying enough. I was wrapped in a sleek black evening gown that hugged every line of my body as if I were being packaged for display. Which, in a way, I was. They weren't preparing a daughter for dinner. They were preparing an investment for delivery.

The door behind us opened softly. Diana stepped inside. Her eyes filled with something that looked suspiciously like guilt. "Mom, Dad... can I talk to Melissa for a second?" My parents exchanged a glance before leaving the room.

She walked closer, twisting her fingers together the same way she always did when she was nervous. "I didn't ask for this," she said softly. I didn't answer her. "I mean it," she continued. "When they told me about the Kingsley proposal, I-"

"You didn't have to ask," I interrupted gently. She looked up.

"They chose you long ago." The words came out calm. Almost gentle. But they landed exactly where I wanted them to.

Diana tried to respond, but nothing came out.

After a while, she whispered, "I wish things were different." I finally turned to face her fully. "So do I."

But we both knew wishes had never mattered in this family.

___________

"I'm not getting into that car."

My father stopped walking. The driver stood awkwardly beside the open door of the black sedan while the evening wind rustled the trees along the driveway.

My mother turned slowly, her expression tightening.

"Melissa, don't start this."

"I'm not starting anything." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "I'm ending it. Let Diana marry him."

The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut. For a brief second, my father actually looked stunned. Then his face hardened. "You know that's not possible."

My mother stepped closer, lowering her voice like someone trying to calm a child throwing a tantrum. "Do you have any idea what will happen if you embarrass the Kingsleys tonight?" she whispered. "Your father's company will collapse. Everything we've built will disappear."

Everything they had built. Not me. It was never about me.

My fingers curled against my palm. "So I'm the sacrifice," I said quietly. My father didn't even hesitate. "You're the eldest." It was such a simple answer. Clean and convenient.

Diana stepped outside. She hesitated when she saw the tension in the driveway. "Are you still here?" she asked carefully. My mother forced a smile. "Melissa was just about to get in the car."

And this time- I didn't argue. I stepped forward and got into the car

The drive to Kingsley Manor felt longer than usual. No one spoke much. My mother spent most of the ride reminding me about etiquette and posture while my father rehearsed polite conversation topics under his breath.

When the gates of the estate finally opened, my stomach tightened. The manor stood tall and imposing under the evening lights.

Exactly what you would expect from one of the most powerful families in the city. We were greeted in the grand foyer by Jacob Kingsley and his wife, Margaret.

Jacob shook my father's hand firmly. "Mr. Hartwood. Welcome."

Margaret's smile was graceful and perfectly measured.

"Melissa, it's lovely to see you again." Her eyes studied me carefully as if she were evaluating a rare piece of art. Or perhaps a risky purchase.

We moved into the sitting room where drinks had already been prepared. One seat across from me was occupied.

Ethan Kingsley. He leaned back lazily in his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. His eyes lifted when I entered. And stayed there. The look wasn't inappropriate. But it was... assessing. Like he was studying a puzzle.

I sat down across from him. He smiled faintly. "Still time to run," he murmured.

I rolled my eyes.

"Is your brother really that terrible?"

Ethan tilted his head thoughtfully. "You'll see."

That was not comforting.

Dinner began soon after. But Liam still hadn't arrived. The empty seat at the head of the table felt louder with every passing minute. Margaret noticed the silence and offered a calm explanation. "Liam has a habit of finishing work before social obligations."

Jacob nodded. "He'll be here." But even as he said it, something in the room felt tense.

The staff moved around quietly, but their movements carried an unusual stiffness. As if they were waiting for something. Or someone. I tried not to think about the man I was about to meet. But my mind betrayed me anyway.

He could be cold...arrogant...possibly cruel.

After all, what kind of man agrees to marry a stranger just to merge two companies?