“I have no intention of marrying you.”
Cassie’s voice was firm, even though her fingers were secretly clenched at her sides.
Luca simply stared at her.
He wasn’t angry.
Nor did he look disappointed.
If anything, his calmness made Cassie even more uneasy.
“Are you sure you want to turn down my offer, Cassie?”
Luca stepped closer.
His gaze turned sharp.
“Do you know that your father has transferred ten percent of your shares to Kylie?”
Cassie froze.
“What?”
A faint smile tugged at Luca’s lips.
“Surprised, Darling?”
“So, either you marry me...” Luca paused briefly. “Or you lose everything.”
Cassie’s chest tightened.
Luca continued in the same calm tone, as though he were discussing something completely ordinary.
“Without my help, you’ll lose Starling Grace Empire within two months.”
Two months.
Cassie had only two months left before she lost Starling Grace Empire.
Luca was dangerous. She knew that.
From the beginning, there had always been something about him that put her on edge. He knew far too much about her, had secretly watched her, and had even deliberately lured her into coming to his apartment.
Cassie knew she couldn’t trust him.
But Starling Grace Empire wasn’t just a company.
It was her mother’s legacy—the result of years of hard work from both her mother and grandfather.
Cassie couldn’t let everything they had built fall into Kylie’s hands.
“So, what will it be, Darling?”
Luca’s voice pulled her back to reality.
Cassie remained silent.
She wanted to refuse.
But she also knew she was in a painfully vulnerable position. If what Luca said was true, then she had only two choices.
Marry the dangerous man standing before her...
Or lose everything.
Luca waited for a few moments before finally turning away.
“Very well.”
He began to walk away.
“Then just wait until you lose everything.”
“Luca.”
He didn’t stop.
Not knowing what had come over her, Cassie suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand.
Luca stopped.
Cassie lowered her head, biting her lip nervously.
“I... will.”
Cassie knew she was putting her freedom on the line.
Marrying Luca meant willingly stepping into a trap set by a dangerous man.
But if she refused, she would lose the only thing she had left of her mother.
Cassie clenched her fists.
She didn’t have a good choice.
She only had the choice that was least terrible.
Luca slowly turned around, his gaze settling on her face.
The corner of his lips lifted.
A victorious smile.
He raised a hand, gently touching her chin and tilting her face up until she was forced to meet his eyes.
“Then we’ll get married right now.”
Cassie stared at him in shock.
“Right now?”
“Didn’t you just make your decision?”
Cassie swallowed hard.
“There’s one condition.”
“What is it?”
“The marriage has to remain a secret.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ll continue pretending to be Jacob’s wife for the time being,” Cassie continued. “Until I can reclaim what belongs to me.”
Luca’s expression immediately turned cold.
“Do you think I’m going to let another man touch my wife?”
His voice was low, laced with warning.
“I promise that won’t happen.”
Cassie quickly tried to reassure him.
“Besides, I’m disgusted by that man.”
For several seconds, Luca simply stared at her.
Finally, he spoke.
“For now, I’ll believe you, Darling.”
But the look in his eyes said something else entirely.
As though if Cassie dared to break her promise, no one in the world would be able to save her.
---
Thirty minutes later, Arlo, the attorney for Blackwood Holdings, was already waiting in Luca’s living room.
Two black folders lay on the table.
Everything had been prepared.
Too quickly.
Cassie stared at the documents before her, her emotions in turmoil. Before she even had a chance to change her mind, Luca had already signed his side of the papers.
Arlo then pushed one of the documents toward Cassie.
“Please sign here, Miss.”
Cassie stared at the name printed on the document.
Cassie Valentina Sterling.
“What are you waiting for, Darling?”
Luca’s voice came from beside her.
Cassie closed her eyes and drew a deep breath.
The image of her mother, her family’s company, and everything that had been stolen from her flooded her mind once again.
With trembling fingers, Cassie picked up the pen.
With a single stroke of ink, there would be no turning back.
She signed the marriage certificate.
It was done.
From this moment on, she was the wife of Luca Alexander Blackwood.
A triumphant smile slowly spread across Luca’s face.
“Then I’ll take my leave, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood,” Arlo said as he rose to his feet.
After a brief bow, he left the apartment.
The door closed behind him.
Now, only Cassie and Luca remained.
Silence filled the room.
Cassie’s heart began pounding faster as the reality finally sank in.
She had just married the man she had considered a threat only minutes ago.
And worse...
No one knew about their marriage.
Cassie had just started to rise when Luca moved.
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her down onto his lap in one swift motion.
“What are you doing?”
Cassie startled.
Luca looked at her from close range.
“I just want to be closer to my wife.”
His voice was low as he whispered into her ear.
Cassie immediately tried to pull away.
But Luca’s arm tightened around her waist, keeping her firmly against him.
“Luca...”
“From now on,” he whispered, “I’m the only one allowed to touch you.”
The possessiveness in his voice made Cassie tense.
“I have to go home soon.”
Cassie searched for an excuse to get away from him.
“They’ll get suspicious if I stay away too long.”
Luca stared at her for several seconds.
Then that faint smile returned to his lips.
“Don’t think I’m going to let you leave so easily on our wedding night, Darling.”
Cassie’s heart seemed to stop.
“What do you mean?”
Luca didn’t answer.
He simply leaned closer.
Then his lips met Cassie’s.
Aksara