Chapter 93

The secretary, recognizing Levi immediately, straightened up and hurried to alert the lawyer’s office. Within minutes, we were ushered into a large, richly appointed room. I sank into a deep leather chair across from a heavy mahogany desk, doing my best not to look as small and out of place as I felt.
My eyes wandered, drinking in the surroundings. The walls were lined with towering shelves crammed full of thick, impressive legal volumes. A sleek laptop sat open on the desk, casting a faint bluish glow in the otherwise dim room, and the faint scent of old books and expensive cologne filled the air.
Then the lawyer appeared — short, wiry, and sharply dressed in a navy suit so precisely tailored it probably cost more than three months of my rent. His hair, pure white and combed stiffly into place, gleamed under the soft lighting, and his glasses perched so neatly on his nose it made him seem almost untouchable.
“You are beautiful,” he said suddenly, his voice smooth and careless as his eyes raked over me. Then he turned to Levi with a smirk. “Good choice.”
Levi, in the process of undoing the button on his coat, didn’t react beyond a slight tightening of his jaw. I, on the other hand, stiffened instantly. My hands curled into fists in my lap, nails digging into my palms to keep myself from snapping. The compliment, thrown so casually and objectifying, left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Thanks,” I muttered, forcing a brittle smile, even as anger bubbled beneath my skin.
Levi sat down with a fluid, practiced motion, and immediately, the lawyer launched into a heated conversation about some business issues. I nodded along mechanically, pretending to follow. In truth, I barely caught a word. All I could think about was getting out of here — finishing whatever twisted agreement we had come here to seal.
What if I backed out now? Could I find another job fast enough to repay Levi? Was it even possible to walk away, with everything already in motion? My mind churned through the possibilities — and my car. What about my car?
“You’re lost in thought again. This is exactly what I warned you about,” Levi growled under his breath, his mouth so close to my ear that the warmth of his words made me jolt.
I sat up straighter, meeting his steely gaze. His jaw was clenched tight, his patience thinning.
“I heard everything you said,” I lied stubbornly, lifting my chin in defiance. “Just get to the point. Why are we here?”
Of course, I hadn’t been listening. Not really. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of calling me out.
“So if you’ve been listening,” the lawyer said slyly, “you’re aware of all the terms of the contract, aren’t you?”
My heart skipped a beat. All the terms? Was there something special — something hidden — in the marriage contract?
“And the amendments that were added at the last minute?” he added casually.
Panic flared inside me. I glanced up at the clock on the wall and realized I had zoned out for nearly half an hour. It reminded me of the first time I had messaged Mr. L and blanked out at the meeting, wondering why he hadn’t replied.
“Yes,” I lied again, heart hammering in my chest. In hindsight, it was a stupid move — this was law, not some casual handshake deal. But back then, I just wanted to win. I wanted to prove I could handle it.
“Good, then. Sign,” the lawyer said with a mischievous smile that told me he knew exactly how much I hadn’t heard — and that something hidden in the fine print would cost me later.
Still, pride anchored me in place.
“I’ll sign first,” Levi said, picking up the pen and scribbling his name with brisk confidence.
When the thick stack of documents was finally pushed toward me, I hesitated. My heart pounded against my ribs as I stared at the contracts I barely understood. Every instinct screamed at me to ask questions, to slow down — but Levi’s intense, unrelenting stare pinned me in place, daring me to waste more of his precious time.
I grabbed the pen, scrawled my name across the pages, and with each signature, I felt a little piece of my common sense slipping further away.

The ride home passed in a blur.
I wasn’t surprised when Levi insisted on driving — he wasn’t about to let me roam free now that I had signed myself into his scheme. I slumped lower into the leather seat, the contract weighing heavier than chains around my wrists.
At least the money would cover my rent. At least it would buy me some time.
Caroline would be horrified if she knew. Sweet, God-fearing Caroline, who never missed Sunday service and believed marriage was sacred. She’d look at me with heartbreak in her eyes and murmur something about consequences and God’s plan. Maybe I could soften the blow by telling her the truth: it was just for appearances. No intimacy. No real vows. Just a contract for one week — and then I’d be free. Free and hopefully rich enough to finally buy a place of my own.
Maybe, just maybe, it would all be worth it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow evening,” Levi said as he pulled up in front of my building, his tone cool and businesslike.
I glanced up at the familiar brick facade, wondering if Caroline was already peeking out her window. She was suspicious by nature — one look at me climbing out of a strange, expensive car and she’d have a hundred questions ready.
“How am I supposed to get there?” I asked, my voice sharp with exhaustion and resentment.
“Someone will deliver your car by morning,” Levi said smoothly, like it was the most natural thing in the world to arrange the delivery of an entire vehicle.
I nodded numbly, still half-convinced this entire day had been a fever dream.
“I’ll call you,” Levi added.
“You don’t have to. I won’t forget. I’ll be on time,” I snapped, a little too defensively. I already regretted giving him my number after agreeing to his absurd job offer. If I had to hear his smug voice one more time tonight, I might actually scream.
“Thanks to me, you’ll actually be on time for once,” he said with a smirk.
I opened my mouth to fire back, but froze as he leaned across me and pushed open the passenger door. Without another word, I climbed out, slamming the door harder than necessary.
Levi didn’t wait for a goodbye — he simply peeled away from the curb as if he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.
As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, the full weight of what I had just done crashed down on me. My heart ached with a sharp, hollow pain. I hated myself for letting my mind wander — for even entertaining a fantasy where life with Levi could be something more.
Madness.
His father would find a way to destroy us again — that much was certain.
Levi was spoiled, arrogant, and impossible. A man who would never risk his glittering reputation for someone like me.
And yet, no matter how much I tried to deny it, the truth sat heavy in my chest:
It wasn’t fair that I hadn’t gotten over him.