"We were meant to be strangers. Just one evening. No names. No repercussions.
Elara Sinclair lost her job at her family's hotel business, witnessed her dying grandmother's fortune being stolen by the people she trusted most, and caught her fiancé in bed with her stepsister in one cruel evening. She runs to the airport in a desperate attempt to get away, but a storm cancels her flight.
She meets him there.

The stranger gives her one ideal night—no identities, no past, just two people pretending the world doesn't exist—because he is tall, incredibly attractive, and obviously fleeing his own issues. They make a vow to never see each other again after tonight, converse until morning, and divulge secrets they've never told anyone.

However, fate has a perverse sense of humor.
Three weeks later, Elara learns two things: she is expecting a child, and the man she met at the airport is Damien Cross, the merciless billionaire CEO who recently bought her family's business and is now her boss. Even worse, he is her ex-fiance's family's sworn enemy and is unaware that the enigmatic woman he can't stop thinking about is in front of him.

When Damien learns the truth, he presents her with an irresistible offer: a fictitious engagement with strict guidelines—no ties, no feelings, and most definitely no falling in love—in order to eliminate both of their adversaries.
However, their shared evening produced more than simply a child. It forged a bond that neither of them can deny, and as their revenge scheme develops into something genuine, Elara must choose whether to believe the guy who began as a lovely lie or whether their forbidden love will turn into another agonizing farewell.

One flight was canceled. One baby in secret. One lover who is an adversary. And a pledge that was supposed to be broken.

I'm staring at the phone in Damien's hand, at Trevor's name on the screen, my entire reality crumbling around me.


"I said, hello big brother," Trevor repeats, his voice dripping with sick amusement. "Oh wait—I'm talking to Damien. But I suppose I should say hello to my big sister too. Hello, Elara. Did you enjoy our engagement? Because I certainly did, knowing what I knew."


I grab the phone from Damien. "You KNEW? You knew we were related and you still—we were going to get MARRIED!"


"Technically, we're only half-siblings. Different mothers. It's not that weird in some cultures."


Trevor laughs—that cold, cruel laugh I used to think was charming. "Relax. I never planned to actually marry you. The engagement was just part of the game. Keep you close, control the Sinclair assets, make sure you never figured out the truth about dear old Dad."


Chapter 10 - Sunrise Goodbye