Chapter 1

The Night Everything Broke

Rain poured heavily across Lagos City, washing the streets with silver lights and broken reflections.

Inside the luxurious Crystal Crown Hotel, laughter echoed beneath giant chandeliers while expensive wine flowed like water.

Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of Ava Williams’ life.

Instead, it became the night her world shattered.

Ava stood frozen near the ballroom entrance, clutching the small velvet box in her trembling hands. Inside it was a silver watch she had spent six months saving for — a gift for the man she loved.

Daniel Reed.

Her boyfriend of three years.

The man she worked two jobs to support while he “built his future.”

She smiled nervously as she searched through the crowd for him.

Then she heard it.

A familiar laugh.

Soft.

Flirtatious.

Dangerous.

Ava turned slowly toward the VIP staircase.

And her heart stopped.

Daniel stood there with his arm wrapped around another woman’s waist.

Not just any woman.

Sophia Blake.

Ava’s best friend.

The same woman who comforted her whenever Daniel ignored her calls.

The same woman who said:

“You and Daniel are relationship goals.”

Ava felt the air leave her lungs.

“No…” she whispered.

Sophia noticed her first.

For one second, guilt flashed across her face.

Then it disappeared.

Daniel followed Sophia’s gaze and finally saw Ava standing there soaked from the rain, holding his gift like an idiot.

But instead of shame…

He sighed in annoyance.

As if she was the problem.

“Ava,” he muttered. “You weren’t supposed to come here.”

The words stabbed deeper than any knife.

Ava forced herself to move closer.

“What is this?” Her voice shook violently. “Daniel… what’s going on?”

Sophia crossed her arms confidently.

“I think she deserves the truth.”

Daniel ran a hand through his hair impatiently.

“You want the truth?” he snapped. “Fine.”

The ballroom music suddenly felt distant.

Ava’s fingers tightened around the velvet box.

Daniel looked directly into her eyes.

“I’m marrying Sophia.”

Silence.

The world went completely still.

Ava blinked once.

Twice.

Then laughed weakly.

“That’s not funny.”

But nobody laughed with her.

Sophia smirked slightly.

Daniel’s face remained cold.

Reality crashed into her like a speeding truck.

“No…” Ava stepped backward. “No, Daniel, stop joking.”

“I’m not joking.”

Ava stared at him in disbelief.

“What about us?” she whispered. “Three years together… all the promises—”

“Promises don’t pay bills,” Daniel interrupted harshly.

Her lips parted.

“I was struggling, Ava. Sophia helped me. Her father invested in my company. She opened doors for me.”

Ava’s eyes filled with tears.

“So you sold yourself?”

Daniel’s jaw tightened.

“At least I chose a woman who can actually help my future.”

The words hit hard.

Too hard.

Sophia walked down the staircase slowly in her sparkling gold dress and stopped directly in front of Ava.

“You should stop embarrassing yourself,” Sophia said quietly. “Look at you.”

Ava looked down at her simple wet dress and worn heels.

“I didn’t steal him,” Sophia continued. “A man leaves when he finds better.”

The ballroom guests had started whispering now.

Watching.

Judging.

Humiliating her.

Ava’s chest burned painfully.

“You were my best friend…” she whispered.

Sophia shrugged carelessly.

“And you were too poor to keep him.”

SLAP!

The sound echoed across the ballroom.

Sophia gasped as her head snapped sideways.

The room exploded into shocked murmurs.

Ava’s hand trembled violently after the slap.

For one second, nobody moved.

Then Daniel grabbed Ava aggressively.

“Have you lost your mind?!”

He shoved her backward.

Hard.

Ava stumbled and crashed into a table. Glass shattered onto the floor beside her.

Pain shot through her elbow.

But nothing hurt more than the way Daniel looked at her.

Like she was trash.

Like she meant nothing.

Security guards rushed toward her immediately.

“Throw her out,” Sophia snapped angrily while touching her red cheek.

“Ava, just leave,” Daniel said coldly. “You’re causing a scene.”

Ava stared at him with watery eyes.

“You used me…”

“No,” Daniel replied. “I outgrew you.”

Something inside her broke completely.

The guards grabbed her arms and dragged her toward the entrance while guests recorded videos with their phones.

Tears streamed down her face.

Not from pain.

From humiliation.

Outside the hotel, the heavy rain swallowed her whole.

The guards released her roughly onto the wet ground before walking away.

Ava sat there for several seconds, drenched and shaking uncontrollably.

Then she laughed.

A broken, painful laugh.

Before suddenly crying harder than ever.

Three years.

Gone.

Her boyfriend.

Her best friend.

Both destroyed her in one night.

Thunder roared above the city.

Ava slowly opened the velvet box in her hand.

The silver watch sparkled under the rain.

She stared at it silently.

Then threw it into the street.

A speeding car suddenly appeared.

SCREEECH!

The black luxury car swerved violently to avoid hitting her.

Its headlights blinded her.

The car stopped inches away.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the back door opened slowly.

A tall man stepped out wearing a black suit.

Even in the storm, his presence felt terrifying.

Powerful.

The driver rushed over nervously.

“Sir, are you alright?”

But the man ignored him completely.

His sharp dark eyes remained fixed on Ava.

Cold.

Unreadable.

Dangerous.

Ava tried standing up quickly.

“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t see—”

Her voice stopped suddenly.

Because she noticed blood dripping down the man’s forehead.

He had been injured during the sudden brake.

The driver panicked.

“Sir, we need to leave now before the reporters arrive!”

But the mysterious man still stared at Ava strangely.

As if recognizing something.

Then his eyes moved toward the hotel entrance where Daniel and Sophia had appeared, laughing together under an umbrella.

The man noticed Ava’s broken expression instantly.

He understood.

Without asking.

Without words.

He slowly removed his expensive suit jacket and placed it over Ava’s trembling shoulders.

Warmth surrounded her immediately.

Ava looked up at him in shock.

Why would a stranger help her?

The rain poured harder around them.

Then the man spoke for the first time.

His deep voice sent chills through her body.

“Do you want revenge?”

Ava froze.

The city noises disappeared.

Her heartbeat thundered loudly inside her chest.

She stared at him, confused.

“What?”

The stranger stepped closer.

Close enough for her to smell his expensive cologne mixed with rain.

His expression remained calm.

Deadly calm.

Then he said the words that would change her entire life forever.

“Marry me for one year… and I’ll destroy everyone who hurt you.”

Ava’s breath caught instantly.

What kind of insane offer was that?

Who was this man?

And why did his eyes look like he already knew her darkest pain?

Behind them, lightning flashed across the night sky.

And somewhere inside the hotel…

Daniel watched everything through the glass window.

His smile slowly disappeared.

Chapter 2

The Stranger’s Proposal

The rain refused to stop.

Ava stood motionless beneath the storm, staring at the mysterious man in front of her as if he had just spoken another language.

“Marry me for one year… and I’ll destroy everyone who hurt you.”

Her heartbeat pounded violently.

This had to be a joke.

Who says something like that to a complete stranger?

Lightning flashed across the dark sky, briefly illuminating his sharp features. He looked dangerously calm, the kind of man who could ruin lives without raising his voice.

Ava tightened the expensive suit jacket around her trembling body.

“I don’t even know you,” she whispered.

The man’s expression didn’t change.

“You don’t need to.”

His deep voice sent chills through her.

The driver stepped closer nervously.

“Sir, the reporters may arrive any minute.”

Reporters?

Ava frowned slightly.

Who exactly was this man?

The stranger ignored the driver and kept his eyes fixed on her.

“You were humiliated tonight,” he said calmly. “Publicly.”

Ava’s face burned with shame instantly.

The memory of Daniel pushing her in front of everyone replayed painfully in her mind.

The guests laughing.

The phones recording.

Sophia’s cruel smile.

Ava looked away quickly before tears returned.

“That’s none of your business.”

“It became my business when you almost died under my car.”

His tone remained cold but strangely controlled.

Ava swallowed hard.

Now that she looked carefully, she noticed how luxurious the black vehicle behind him was. The bodyguards nearby. The expensive watch on his wrist.

This man was rich.

Dangerously rich.

And powerful.

He stepped closer again.

“What’s your name?”

“Ava.”

“Ava what?”

“Ava Williams.”

For the first time, something strange flickered in his eyes.

Recognition.

But it disappeared too quickly for her to understand.

The driver opened an umbrella over him immediately.

“Sir, we really need to go.”

The stranger finally extended his hand toward Ava.

“Get in the car.”

Ava stared at his hand as if it were poison.

“No.”

The bodyguards exchanged glances.

Clearly, nobody ever rejected this man.

A small smirk appeared on his lips.

“You’re smarter than most people.”

“I’m serious,” Ava replied cautiously. “I’m not entering a stranger’s car.”

“Good.”

That answer surprised her.

The stranger reached into his pocket and handed her a black business card.

The card looked simple.

Too simple.

Only one name was written on it in silver letters.

Damien Blackwood.

Ava’s eyes widened instantly.

Even she recognized that name.

Everybody did.

Damien Blackwood.

CEO of Blackwood Holdings.

The youngest billionaire in the country.

The man rumored to destroy companies overnight.

Some people called him a genius.

Others called him a monster.

Ava looked up at him in disbelief.

“You’re Damien Blackwood?”

The cold rain rolled down his face slowly.

“Yes.”

Her heart nearly stopped.

Why would someone like him talk to her?

Daniel once spent hours talking about Blackwood Holdings and how impossible it was to enter Damien’s business circle.

And now the man himself stood directly in front of her.

Offering marriage.

This couldn’t be real.

Ava shook her head quickly and handed the card back.

“I think you’re insane.”

The bodyguards stiffened immediately.

But Damien only smiled faintly.

“You slapped your best friend in front of hundreds of people,” he replied calmly. “I don’t think you’re in a position to judge insanity.”

Ava opened her mouth—

Then closed it again.

Unfortunately… he had a point.

Damien glanced toward the hotel entrance again.

Daniel and Sophia were now taking pictures together for guests.

Laughing happily.

Like Ava had never existed.

Pain stabbed deeply into her chest.

Damien noticed her expression instantly.

“Do you still love him?”

Ava forced herself to answer.

“No.”

But her shaking voice betrayed her.

Damien studied her silently for several seconds.

Then he said something unexpected.

“Good. Because I hate weak women.”

Ava’s eyes flashed angrily.

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know enough.”

His gaze lowered briefly to her bruised elbow from where Daniel shoved her earlier.

“And I know humiliation when I see it.”

Ava looked away.

For some reason, hearing the truth from him hurt more.

The rain continued pouring heavily around them.

Finally Damien spoke again.

“One year.”

Ava looked back at him cautiously.

“What?”

“Our marriage contract.”

Her breath caught.

He was serious.

Completely serious.

“You can’t possibly expect me to agree to this.”

“I do.”

“Why me?”

For the first time since meeting him, Damien hesitated slightly.

Just slightly.

Then he answered carefully.

“Because you need revenge.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“And because I need a wife.”

Ava stared at him suspiciously.

“That makes even less sense.”

Damien’s driver suddenly stepped forward holding a tablet nervously.

“Sir… the board members are calling again.”

Damien’s jaw tightened slightly with irritation.

Ava noticed it immediately.

So even billionaires had problems.

Interesting.

Damien looked back at her.

“You don’t have to answer tonight.”

“Good.”

“But understand something clearly, Ava Williams.”

His voice lowered dangerously.

“The people who humiliated you tonight will regret it.”

A strange chill ran through her body.

He said it with terrifying confidence.

As if destroying people was normal for him.

Ava crossed her arms.

“And what do you get out of this fake marriage?”

Damien’s dark eyes locked onto hers.

“Control.”

The answer came too quickly.

Too honestly.

Ava suddenly understood something.

This man was dangerous because he didn’t pretend to be good.

He knew exactly who he was.

A monster in an expensive suit.

And somehow…

That honesty frightened her less than Daniel’s fake love.

The hotel doors suddenly opened again.

Sophia stepped outside while holding Daniel’s arm possessively.

“Aww,” Sophia mocked loudly after spotting Ava. “She’s still here.”

Daniel noticed Damien immediately.

His confident expression changed instantly.

Fear.

Real fear.

Interesting.

Sophia frowned in confusion.

“Who’s that?”

Daniel looked pale.

“That’s Damien Blackwood.”

Sophia’s eyes widened immediately.

Suddenly her attitude changed completely.

She fixed her hair quickly and smiled sweetly.

“Oh my God…”

Ava almost laughed bitterly.

Typical Sophia.

Damien remained emotionless as the couple approached.

Daniel forced an awkward smile.

“Mr. Blackwood, what an honor to meet you.”

Damien ignored him completely.

Daniel’s smile stiffened.

Sophia stepped forward confidently.

“I’m Sophia Blake.”

Still nothing.

The silence became painfully awkward.

Ava almost enjoyed it.

Then Damien finally spoke.

But not to them.

To Ava.

“Get in the car.”

Daniel and Sophia both froze.

Ava blinked.

“What?”

Damien’s eyes never left hers.

“You said you didn’t want strangers. So let me introduce myself properly.”

He stepped closer.

Close enough that Daniel’s face darkened instantly.

“My name is Damien Blackwood,” he said smoothly. “And I want you to become my wife.”

Complete silence.

Sophia’s jaw dropped.

Daniel stared at Ava in disbelief.

And for the first time that night…

Ava saw regret enter his eyes.

The Contract Bride

The world went silent.

Rain crashed against the pavement, thunder shook the sky, but Ava could hear only one thing.

“I want you to become my wife.”

Daniel looked like someone had punched him in the chest.

Sophia recovered first.

Then laughed loudly.

A fake laugh.

Sharp and mocking.

“Oh please,” she scoffed. “You expect us to believe that?”

But Damien Blackwood didn’t even look at her.

His eyes remained fixed on Ava.

Waiting.

Calm.

Dangerously patient.

Ava’s mind spun wildly.

This couldn’t be real.

Men like Damien Blackwood didn’t marry random girls crying outside hotels.

None of this made sense.

Daniel finally stepped forward stiffly.

“Mr. Blackwood,” he said carefully, “I think there’s been some misunderstanding.”

Damien’s expression remained unreadable.

“What misunderstanding?”

Daniel forced a smile.

“Ava is emotional right now. She’s not thinking clearly.”

Ava stared at him in disbelief.

Emotional?

After everything he had done?

Sophia quickly wrapped her arms around Daniel possessively.

“Yes,” she added sweetly. “She gets obsessed sometimes.”

Something inside Ava snapped again.

Obsessed?

Three years together reduced to that one word?

Before Ava could speak, Damien suddenly stepped beside her.

The movement was smooth.

Protective.

Terrifying.

“She doesn’t look obsessed,” he said coldly. “She looks betrayed.”

Daniel’s face tightened instantly.

Sophia’s smile faded.

For some reason, hearing Damien defend her made Ava’s chest ache strangely.

Nobody had defended her tonight.

Nobody.

Damien glanced at Ava’s bruised elbow again.

His jaw hardened slightly.

“Did he do that?”

Ava instinctively hid her arm.

“It’s nothing.”

But Damien had already seen enough.

His dark eyes slowly lifted toward Daniel.

The temperature around them seemed to drop instantly.

Daniel swallowed hard.

“It was an accident.”

Damien took one slow step forward.

Even the bodyguards behind him became tense.

“Men who hurt women disgust me.”

His voice was quiet.

Which somehow made it scarier.

Daniel quickly raised both hands.

“I didn’t hurt her intentionally.”

Sophia suddenly cut in angrily.

“Why are you defending her anyway? She’s nobody!”

The moment the words left her mouth, silence fell.

Because Damien finally looked at Sophia.

And the look in his eyes nearly made her step backward.

Cold.

Empty.

Deadly.

“Nobody?” he repeated softly.

Sophia forced an awkward smile.

“I-I didn’t mean—”

“Then perhaps,” Damien interrupted calmly, “you should learn how quickly nobodies can ruin lives.”

A chill ran through everyone instantly.

Even Ava.

Daniel noticed it too.

And for the first time since Ava met him, Daniel looked genuinely afraid.

Damien returned his attention to Ava.

“Come with me.”

Ava hesitated.

Everything inside her screamed this was dangerous.

But another part of her…

The broken part.

The humiliated part.

Wanted Daniel and Sophia to suffer.

She hated herself for it.

Daniel suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Ava.”

His voice softened.

The same voice that once made her heart melt.

“Don’t do this.”

Ava stared at his hand touching her.

Hours ago, she would have done anything for him.

Now his touch felt disgusting.

Slowly, she pulled away.

“You lost the right to tell me what to do.”

Daniel’s face darkened.

Sophia rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Oh my God, Ava, stop acting like a victim.”

Ava turned sharply toward her.

“Excuse me?”

Sophia crossed her arms.

“You’re embarrassing yourself. Daniel chose me because I’m better for him.”

Each word burned.

But before Ava could respond, Damien spoke first.

“Interesting.”

Sophia blinked.

“What?”

Damien’s gaze swept over her coldly.

“I’ve met many women like you.”

Sophia forced a smile again.

“And what kind is that?”

“The kind who mistake temporary beauty for permanent value.”

Sophia’s face immediately changed.

Ava almost gasped.

Even Daniel looked shocked.

Damien didn’t stop.

“You stole another woman’s boyfriend and call it winning.”

His voice remained dangerously calm.

“That says more about your character than hers.”

Sophia’s face flushed red with humiliation.

“You—!”

“Enough,” Daniel snapped suddenly.

Everyone looked at him.

His eyes were fixed on Damien now.

Suspicious.

Jealous.

Threatened.

“With all due respect, Mr. Blackwood,” Daniel said tightly, “why are you involving yourself in our personal matters?”

Damien smiled slightly.

A smile without warmth.

“Because your ex-girlfriend interests me.”

The words hit like a bomb.

Daniel’s jaw clenched instantly.

Sophia looked furious.

And Ava…

Ava’s heartbeat lost control.

Damien opened the car door slowly and looked at her.

“One decision,” he said calmly. “Get inside, and your life changes tonight.”

Thunder exploded above the city.

Ava looked at the luxurious black car.

Then at Daniel.

The man she once imagined marrying.

The man who destroyed her publicly.

And beside him stood Sophia.

Her former best friend.

Smiling cruelly.

Ava suddenly realized something painful.

If she walked away tonight, Daniel and Sophia would continue happily.

They would laugh about her.

Forget her.

Erase her.

But if she entered that car…

Everything would change.

Dangerously.

Irreversibly.

Daniel noticed her hesitation.

“Ava,” he said quickly, softer now, “don’t make decisions out of anger.”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“Then what should I make them out of?” she whispered painfully. “Love?”

Daniel froze.

Because he had no answer.

Ava slowly turned toward Damien again.

“You said one year?”

“Yes.”

“And after one year?”

“We divorce.”

Simple.

Cold.

Like discussing business.

Ava frowned.

“And during that year?”

“You play the role of my wife.”

“Why?”

Damien was silent briefly.

Then:

“Because powerful men have enemies.”

That answer made her uneasy immediately.

“What kind of enemies?”

Damien’s eyes darkened.

“The kind who smile publicly and destroy lives privately.”

A strange feeling settled in Ava’s stomach.

This man lived in a dangerous world.

A world far beyond hers.

She should walk away.

Immediately.

But then Sophia laughed again.

“You actually believe a billionaire would marry someone like you?” she mocked. “Look at yourself.”

Ava’s fingers clenched tightly.

The humiliation returned all over again.

Damien noticed.

And suddenly…

He held out his hand toward Ava.

The gesture stunned everyone.

Including her.

His voice lowered slightly.

“Come here.”

Ava stared at his hand.

Strong.

Steady.

Waiting for hers.

Daniel’s expression became unreadable.

Almost panicked.

For one terrifying second, Ava realized something.

Daniel didn’t want her anymore…

But he also didn’t want someone else to have her.

Typical.

Slowly, Ava placed her trembling hand into Damien’s.

Warmth instantly surrounded her fingers.

Damien’s grip tightened slightly.

Possessive.

Protective.

Dangerous.

Sophia looked furious.

Daniel looked like he might explode.

Damien calmly closed the car door behind Ava after she entered.

Then he walked around the vehicle and sat beside her.

The luxurious interior smelled like leather and expensive cologne.

Ava’s pulse raced wildly.

This was insane.

Absolutely insane.

The driver started the engine.

Outside the tinted window, Daniel suddenly stepped forward.

“Ava!”

She looked up instinctively.

Rain soaked his hair as he stared at her desperately.

For a split second…

She saw regret.

Real regret.

But it was too late.

Far too late.

Damien noticed her expression and spoke quietly beside her.

“If you still want him, leave now.”

Ava looked at Daniel one final time.

Then at Sophia standing beside him angrily.

Slowly…

Ava turned away.

“I don’t.”

The car began moving through the stormy night.

And as the city lights blurred outside the window, Ava realized something terrifying.

She had just entered the world of Damien Blackwood.

A world she might never escape from again.