Chapter 1 A Deal With The Shadows

The knock on the door came like a warning shot. Cold. Unyielding. Emily’s heart skipped a beat, her hand frozen over the door handle. She hadn’t expected anyone—not after everything that had happened, not after all the precautions she’d taken. Yet here it was again, the sound that had haunted her for months: the ominous knock of a man she thought she’d escaped. Slowly, she exhaled and turned the lock. When the door creaked open, he was there—Jason. Her ex-husband. The man who had nearly destroyed her. His face was unchanged, his eyes cold and calculating as always. But today, there was something darker in his expression, something that made her pulse quicken. “Emily,” he said, his voice low and clipped. “We need to talk.” Her stomach churned. It was the last thing she wanted. The last thing she could afford. But she couldn’t avoid him forever. Could she? She stood her ground, despite the way her heart hammered in her chest. Every instinct screamed at her to shut the door and run. But instead, she forced her voice steady, though it trembled beneath the surface. “I told you to stay away,” she said, her words barely above a whisper. “I have nothing to say to you.” Jason stepped forward, his figure towering over her, the doorframe seeming to bend beneath his presence. “You don’t get to make the rules anymore. Not after everything you’ve taken from me.” His lips twisted into a sneer. “I’ll make sure you regret it if you don’t play along.” The venom in his voice hit her like a physical blow. Her pulse raced, and she backed away, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn’t afford to get caught up in this again. Not now, not when she’d finally found some peace. Before she could react, the sharp ping of her phone vibrating on the counter broke the silence. Emily glanced down. A message from Claire, her closest friend. “I have an offer for you. It’s… unconventional, but it could be your way out. Call me.” Hope flickered inside her, but Jason was already moving closer. His hand pressed against the doorframe, blocking her retreat. “I said we need to talk.” His grin was sinister, making her stomach twist. “Or should I take this to the authorities? Let them know how badly you’ve hurt me? How you’ve been hiding from your responsibilities?” Her mind raced. There was no way out. No safe place to run. He knew too much. And that’s when it hit her: she needed help. She needed someone strong enough to shield her, someone who could stop this nightmare from dragging her back into his grasp. With a steadying breath, she glanced back at the phone. The message still glared back at her, a lifeline. A contract could protect her. But was it worth the cost? Hours later, in a sleek, high-rise office building, Ethan Reed sat behind his desk, flipping through papers with his usual quiet intensity. A businessman who dealt in nothing but cold, calculated transactions. Emotions, personal attachments—those were for the weak. To him, everything had a price. And then, the phone rang. Without hesitation, he picked up. “Reed.” “Mr. Reed, it’s Claire. I have someone you might want to meet.” Ethan glanced at the clock. His evening plans were already complicated enough, but Claire’s tone was urgent. “Make it quick,” he said, his fingers tapping the edge of his desk. “I’m serious. She’s in trouble. And you’re the only one who can help her.” Claire’s voice was insistent. “She needs protection, Ethan. A contract marriage. Nothing more.” His brows furrowed. A marriage? “A marriage?” he repeated, disbelief lacing his voice. “You want me to marry her?” “Yes. It’s the only way. She’ll be safe, and you’ll both get what you need.” Ethan fell silent, his mind racing. He didn’t make decisions lightly. A marriage—even a fake one—was messy. But this situation was unique. He ran a vast business empire, and appearances were everything. A contract marriage could provide the perfect cover. “Fine,” he said finally, after a moment of deliberation. “Set it up. Have her contact me.” Back at Emily’s apartment, Emily paced back and forth, her fingers tapping restlessly against the phone in her hand. A marriage. The idea sounded too ridiculous to be true. But Claire had never steered her wrong before. She had no other options. Jason was a threat she couldn’t outrun, not without help. When the phone rang again, her stomach twisted. She glanced at the screen: Ethan Reed. With a shaky breath, she answered. “Ms. Turner,” his deep voice rumbled through the line. “I believe you’ve heard the terms. This is your only chance for protection. Agree to the contract, and I’ll ensure your safety. Fail to comply, and there will be consequences you can’t escape.” The weight of his words settled over her like a thick fog. This was it—the moment she either ran into the safety of a lie or faced the inevitable with Jason. “I agree,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, her heart pounding as if to escape her chest. “Good,” he replied. His tone was cold, impersonal. “We’ll proceed with the paperwork. And remember, Ms. Turner—this is a business arrangement. Nothing more.” As she ended the call, Emily’s heart thudded in her chest. She was walking into a world she didn’t understand, trusting a man she didn’t know. But it was the only choice left. And as the night stretched on, one thought gnawed at her: Was this truly her way out? Or was she just exchanging one nightmare for another?