"Sir, the board is asking for a final answer."
Alexander didn't look up.
"They should wait."
The man standing across from him hesitated. "They've been waiting for months, sir. The clause in your father's will…."
"I'm aware of the clause," Alexander cut in.
Alexander finally lifted his gaze.
"Anything else?"
"…No, sir."
"Good. Leave."
Alexander leaned back slightly in his chair, jaw tight.
Marriage.
The word irritated him.
Because he hated being forced into anything.
Especially something this… personal.
The board was getting impatient.
The shareholders were watching.
Victor was waiting.
Then his mind drifted.
To her.
Elara Moore.
Simple. And quiet.
Yet… she had said no.
Twice.
Most people would have jumped at the offer.
Desperate people didn't walk away from solutions.
But she did.
And for some reason…
That bothered him.
—
"Miss Moore."
Elara froze mid-step.
Her heart dropped immediately.
Not again.
"I already said no," she said, her voice firm this time.
The man nodded slightly. "Yes."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because Mr. Vale asked me to return."
Elara let out a small, frustrated laugh. "And you think that changes anything?"
"No," he replied calmly. "But he believes your situation will."
"You don't know anything about my situation."
The man didn't argue.
The car door was still open.
"Get in, Miss Moore."
She looked away.
"I'm not coming."
"As you wish."
The door shut.
The car drove off.
Elara stood there, her heart was racing. Like she had just made another mistake?
—
By afternoon, things got worse.
"Excuse me, what are you doing?!"
Elara rushed forward, blocking the man taking pictures.
The loan agent stood there watching.
This time, with more men.
"I told you," he said simply. "Time's up."
"It hasn't been three days yet!" Maya snapped.
"I changed my mind."
Elara's stomach dropped.
"You can't just change…."
"I can," he cut in coldly. "We have people lined up to purchase this property."
Her hands trembled.
"Please," her mother said weakly. "We're trying to leave…"
"Then be fast."
One of the men pushed past Elara again.
Making videos of the building.
Something inside her snapped.
"Stop!" she said sharply.
Then the man kept moving.
Like she didn't matter.
Maya stepped forward. "What do we do?
"I don't know," Elara answered quietly.
Maya turned to her. "You don't know? Elara, we literally don't have a home!"
"I know," she whispered.
And that was the problem.
She knew.
But knowing didn't change anything.
Because she still had no solution.
—
An hour later, they were gone.
Elara sat on the stairs, staring at some of their boxes already packed.
"Wow," Maya muttered. "This is actually happening."
Elara didn't respond.
—
"Where are we going to sleep, when we move out?" her mother asked softly.
Elara closed her eyes briefly.
Think.
Think.
Think.
But her mind was blank.
—
"Say something."
Elara blinked and turned.
Maya was staring at her.
Arms crossed.
Eyes sharp.
"Say what?" Elara asked quietly.
"You went out to get help," Maya said. "Didn't you?"
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"Don't act like I don't know," Maya continued. "That car. That man. You going to get help, what's up?"
Elara hesitated.
Then sighed.
"Alexander Vale."
"Wait… WHAT?!"
"The billionaire?" she demanded.
"Yes."
"He wants to help? And you didn't think to mention that earlier?!"
Elara rubbed her forehead. "It's not a big deal…"
"Not a big deal?" Maya almost laughed. "Elara, that's literally the biggest deal!"
Her mother looked confused. "What's going on?"
Elara exhaled slowly.
Then explained.
Everything.
The meeting.
The offer.
The contract marriage.
The conditions.
The way she said no.
By the time she finished…
Maya stared at her like she had lost her mind.
"You said no?" she asked slowly.
Elara nodded.
Maya blinked.
Then, laughed.
"Wow."
Elara frowned. "What?"
"You said no," Maya repeated. "To a man who could literally fix all of this."
"It's not that simple…"
"It is that simple!" Maya snapped. "Elara, look around you!"
She gestured at the boxes.
Their mother, sitting quietly, trying not to cry.
"This is our reality right now!" Maya continued. "And you're out here rejecting solutions because of what? Pride?"
"It's not pride," Elara said softly.
"Then what is it?"
Elara opened her mouth.
Then, closed it.
Because how could she explain it?
Her past. Her biggest life secret
The cold way Alexander treated people.
"I just… don't trust him," she said finally.
Maya scoffed. "You don't trust him? Elara, life is already not trusting you!"
"You think he's a good person?" Elara asked quietly.
"I think he's a rich person," Maya replied immediately. "And right now, that's exactly what we need."
"You'd rather we sleep on the street?" Maya added.
Maya stepped closer, her voice softer now.
"Sometimes… you don't choose the perfect option," she said. "You choose the only option."
Elara looked away. Deep down…
She knew Maya was right
—
Evening came.
And they still had nowhere to go.
They managed to pack most of their things.
Elara sat down quietly, lost in thought.
Alexander's voice echoed again.
—
A car pulled up and honked at their gate.
Elara didn't even need to look.
She already knew.
She went straight to the gate, followed by maya.
The door opened.
The same man stepped out.
"Miss Moore."
Maya turned immediately. "Oh, thank God. You're back."
Elara shot her a look.
Maya ignored her.
The man looked at Elara.
"Mr. Vale asked me to bring you."
Maya leaned closer and whispered, "Don't be stubborn."
Elara swallowed.
She looked at the car.
Then to her family.
Then back again.
—
She took a step forward and got into the car.
And Mr. Vale was seated there.
"If I say yes… I want to hear the full terms again." She said
"You actually don't have a choice, you still owe me ." I am the one doing you a favor, he added.