Chapter 1 The Marriage Arrangement
Elaria Quinn knew something was wrong the moment she stepped into her parents' dining room.
The table was set far too nicely.
Crystal glasses.
Fresh flowers.
Her father's expensive whiskey.
The kind of effort her parents only made when money was involved.
And money was always involved.
"Elaria, sit down."
Her mother's smile was unusually bright.
Fake.
Dangerously fake.
Elaria tightened her grip on her handbag but obeyed. Years of disappointment had taught her one thing—bad news always arrived wrapped in politeness.
Her father folded his hands on the table.
"We've made a decision about your future."
A cold feeling settled in her stomach.
Not again.
"What decision?"
Her parents exchanged a look.
The same look they always shared whenever they were about to ruin her life and call it love.
Her mother's smile widened.
"You're getting married."
The words hit harder than they should have.
For a second, Elaria thought she had heard wrong.
"Excuse me?"
Her father slid a glossy photograph across the table.
The man in the picture wore an expensive suit and an arrogant smile.
Dominic Kane.
Thirty-four.
Heir to Kane Holdings.
Rich.
Influential.
Feared.
And according to every rumor she'd ever heard, cruel.
Elaria stared at the photo.
Then at her parents.
Then back at the photo.
"You can't be serious."
"We're very serious," her father replied.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Her mother's smile disappeared.
"What do you mean no?"
"I mean no."
Elaria pushed the photograph back.
"I'm not marrying a stranger."
"He's not a stranger."
"Then what is he?"
Her father leaned forward.
"A man who can change this family's future."
There it was.
Not my future.
The family's future.
Money.
Business.
Status.
The same things her parents had always valued more than her happiness.
Her chest tightened.
"You already promised me away, didn't you?"
Neither of them answered.
That was answer enough.
The betrayal shouldn't have hurt.
She should have been used to it by now.
But somehow it still did.
Every single time.
Her mother sighed dramatically.
"Elaria, you're twenty-six years old. You're a single mother with a child. Men like Dominic don't come along every day."
The words sliced deeper than intended.
Single mother.
As if Evren was a burden.
As if her son wasn't the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Elaria's jaw clenched.
"Don't talk about my son like that."
"We're being realistic."
"No. You're being cruel."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then her father stood.
"You don't have a choice."
Elaria laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Everyone has a choice."
"Not when your decisions affect everyone else."
Her father's voice hardened.
"You owe this family."
The statement ignited something inside her.
Years of sacrificed dreams.
Years of obeying.
Years of cleaning up their mistakes.
Years of hearing that she owed them.
Enough.
"No."
The word echoed through the room.
Her mother looked shocked.
Her father looked furious.
But Elaria didn't care.
Not anymore.
"I won't marry him."
Her father's face darkened.
"You'll regret saying that."
"I already regret coming here."
She grabbed her bag and stood.
"Elaria.."
"No."
Her voice cracked slightly.
The exhaustion of six years suddenly pressing down on her shoulders.
"I spent six years raising my son alone."
She looked directly at them.
"Not once did either of you help me."
Neither parent spoke.
"Not once."
The silence felt like another betrayal.
Because it was true.
Every sleepless night.
Every hospital visit.
Every bill.
Every sacrifice.
She had carried it all alone.
And now they wanted payment.
Through marriage.
Her father finally spoke.
"If you walk out that door, don't expect our support anymore."
Elaria froze.
The threat wasn't new.
But this time it felt different.
More serious.
More dangerous.
Slowly, she turned back.
"What support?"
Her father blinked.
"The support you've never given?"
Her mother gasped.
"Elaria!"
But she was done.
Done pretending.
Done hoping.
Done begging people to love her.
Without another word, she walked toward the door.
Her hand had barely touched the handle when her father's voice stopped her.
Cold.
Sharp.
Victorious.
"Dominic Kane is already on his way."
Elaria froze.
A chill crawled down her spine.
"What?"
Her father smiled.
The kind of smile that never reached his eyes.
"We invited him for dinner."
Her pulse quickened.
"You did what?"
The front doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The entire house fell silent.
And then...
The butler hurried toward the entrance.
A few seconds later, a deep male voice echoed through the hallway.
Confident.
Powerful.
Unwelcome.
"Good evening."
Elaria's blood ran cold.
Because she knew exactly who had just walked into her life.
And somehow...
She had the terrifying feeling that Dominic Kane wasn't here to ask for her hand.
He was here to claim it.
EnAs Elaria turns toward the dining room entrance, Dominic Kane steps into view holding a velvet ring box—and the first thing he says is, "So this is the woman who's been trying to avoid me."
