Avery was jolted awake by a persistent knock at her bedroom door. Her heart raced as she sat up, her mind already scrambling for a way—any way—to escape the reality that waited on the other side.

The knock came again, more insistent this time.

She had no choice but to answer.

Opening the door, she was met by one of the maids.

“Miss Sinclair, your father wants to see you in ten minutes.”

Avery simply nodded and shut the door again. She climbed back into bed, though sleep was a lost cause.

She hadn’t slept all night. Her thoughts had been in turmoil. She wanted nothing more than to disappear from this room—from this entire house. But her room was on the third floor, and jumping out the window would only break her bones, not free her.

The truth was unbearable: she didn’t want to get married.

But it felt like the entire world was conspiring against her. Her mother had died when she was a child, and she'd been sent to live with her aunt to finish her schooling. She was only brought back after her grandmother insisted. If not for that, her father likely would have left her there indefinitely.

Even now, she didn’t understand why her father seemed to harbor such disdain for her—especially compared to the way he doted on her stepsister, Ruby.

Things had been fine before she left. But when she returned from abroad a few years ago, it was clear: the only person who truly loved her in this house was her grandmother.

And now she was gone.

Her death last year had changed everything. Without her grandmother’s protection, Avery was at the mercy of her father, her cold stepmother, and Ruby—who seemed to relish her suffering.

Her father hadn’t always been cruel. But after the company’s bankruptcy, he had grown cold, harsh, and biased.

Ruby had even seduced Avery’s boyfriend, Jason. When Avery found out, she expected anger—punishment. But her father merely shrugged and said she was being unreasonable.

"Let your sister have him," he'd said.

She let it go. For the sake of peace.

But it had hurt. God, it had hurt to see the boy who used to be hers fall into someone else's arms—especially when she still loved him.

And just as she was trying to move past that betrayal, her father dropped another bombshell.

He had arranged a marriage between her and the mysterious grandson of the Conrad family—an exchange for a $30 billion investment to save the Sinclair company.

She only found out yesterday.

She’d run straight to her best friend’s house to hide. But they brought her back, escorted by bodyguards who stood outside her door all night. She felt like a prisoner.

It was unfair. All of it.

She had just begun to doze off when the knocking woke her again. She couldn’t take it anymore.

She would not agree to this marriage.

She was the oldest daughter of the Sinclair family—not a puppet. She had just graduated college, a full-grown woman with her own mind. She deserved the right to choose her future.

Bracing herself, Avery washed up, dressed, and went downstairs to the dining room. As expected, everyone else was already seated. She was the last to arrive.

Edward, her father, looked up and cleared his throat.

“What took you so long?” he snapped. “Hurry up and get ready—they’ll be here soon.”

Avery hadn’t even touched her food, but her appetite vanished. Her hands trembled slightly as she turned to face him.

“Dad... I don’t agree to this marriage.”

She pushed her chair back and rose to leave, but Edward stood as well, raising his hand. For a moment, she thought he might actually hit her—but at the last second, he lowered it, fingers twitching.

He took a deep breath.

“Don’t push me, you little brat. Be a good girl and listen for once.”

He slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming.

Avery’s chest rose and fell rapidly. But she didn’t flinch.

“Don’t push me. I’m not your good girl anymore,” she fired back—and stormed toward the hallway.

“Get back here, you ungrateful child!” Edward shouted. “I raised you, made you who you are! And now you can’t even sacrifice a little to save this family?”

She froze in the doorway, her heart twisting.

Was this all the love her father had to give? So little?

She turned, voice shaking.

“You want me to pay you back for raising me?”

“Yes!” Edward shouted. “That’s right! You owe me. Go through with the marriage, and we’ll all live in peace. If not—leave. I’ll cut ties, and the Sinclair family will have nothing to do with you ever again. You have two minutes to choose.”

Avery stood motionless, as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head.

She blinked rapidly.

“Is this a joke?” she whispered. “You’re cutting me off—for money? Am I just a bargaining chip to you?”

Her voice cracked. “I’m a human being, Dad. You can’t treat me like this.”

She dropped to her knees, tears slipping down her cheeks, and turned to her stepmother.

“Please, Adele. Talk to him. Please... don’t let him do this.”

But Adele only glared at her in disgust and left the dining room without a word. She didn’t even try to hide the satisfaction on her face.

Edward’s voice was like ice.

“If you ever saw me as your father—if this family meant anything to you—then marry. Or leave. Now.”

Avery’s fists clenched at her sides.

Then, slowly, she stood.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked him straight in the eye.

“Fine,” she said, her voice low but firm. “I’ll get married.”

Edward exhaled in relief.

“But I have a condition,” she added, her tone sharp as steel.

Ruby, who had been lounging nearby with arms folded, smirked.

“Dad’s doing this for your own good,” she said mockingly. “You’re marrying into the most prestigious family in the country. And you’re still complaining?” She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. You’re so dramatic.”

Avery didn’t even blink.

She wasn’t the good girl anymore.

Avery stated her reason, and the room fell into stunned silence.

Even Edward looked taken aback. "You want a written statement? You want me to sign an agreement to cut ties with you?" he asked, laughing bitterly. The sound was twisted, like a sneer carved into a face. “You’ve got some nerve.”

Avery tilted her head slightly and nodded. "If I’m getting married to pay you back for raising me, then I want every chain between us broken. I don’t want to owe you anything in the future. It's best I don’t belong to this family at all."

She wasn’t a fool. They saw her as nothing more than a cash cow. If she let them control this moment, they'd control every part of her life forever. She agreed to the marriage only because she was determined to repay the debt of being raised by such a selfish man.

It broke her heart. This was the father her mother had loved so deeply—the man she’d once told Avery to obey and respect because he had a good heart. Her mother believed he would always protect her.

He had failed them both.

Edward sneered. “You think you're in a position to negotiate with me? You don't get a say. This is simple payback.”

Avery didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Even now, he refused to let her go. He wanted her forever indebted—so that when things fell apart in the future, he could use it against her all over again.

A schemer.

If he’d been this clever in business, the company might never have gone bankrupt in the first place.

She smiled. “Then forget I said anything about the marriage,” she said, turning to leave.

Just then, one of the bodyguards rushed into the room.

“Sir, there's a visitor from the Conrad family.”

Avery froze.

Panic twisted in her gut. If her father didn’t agree to her condition now, she'd be trapped forever—even in marriage. The Sinclair name, once built through her grandmother’s hard work, had been crumbling ever since Edward took control. His selfish decisions and reckless leadership had led to this mess.

Yet somehow, she was the one paying the price.

Edward’s eyes lit up instantly. “Show them in—quickly!”

The family moved to the living room. Even Adele, who had been fuming moments earlier, now wore a wide, flattering smile, sitting primly like the perfect hostess.

A man in a sharp business suit entered, flanked by two uniformed escorts. He offered a crisp, professional nod.

“Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair,” he greeted.

Edward stood with exaggerated warmth. “Assistant Hayes! What a pleasure! Please—tea or coffee?”

Adele echoed sweetly, “Yes, anything at all?”

Jordan Hayes waved off their enthusiasm with a polite smile. “Thank you, but let’s get straight to business.” His tone turned firm. “Today is the deadline for the contract with the Conrad family. Is it a deal or not?”

Edward beamed. “Of course it’s a deal. My daughter is willing and ready.”

“Good,” Hayes replied. “No need to delay. Have her come down. We’re leaving shortly.”

Edward nodded to a nearby maid. Moments later, she returned alone and whispered something in his ear. His face darkened like a storm cloud.

“That ungrateful brat,” he muttered through clenched teeth. Forcing a stiff smile, he nodded at the maid again to try a second time.

Upstairs, Avery took a deep breath. She had made her condition clear. Whatever happened next... would shape her future.

She gently placed her mother’s photo into her suitcase, followed by an old photo of her grandmother. They were her guiding lights. Everything else she packed quickly—essentials, memories, pieces of herself she refused to leave behind.

Then she appeared at the top of the stairs, dragging a large suitcase behind her.

All eyes turned to her.

Assistant Hayes signaled one of his men to collect the luggage, and Avery snapped out of her daze. Her eyes landed on Hayes.

Was this the man she was being sold off to?

He wasn’t unattractive, but he was clearly older—possibly pushing forty. Was this really her match? An old man? Maybe she was cursed in a past life.

With a heavy heart, she stepped forward and extended a folded document toward her father. Edward took it, his expression unreadable—until he saw what it was.

His face darkened with fury as he read. A legal severance of ties. She wanted nothing from the Sinclair family. No name, no inheritance, no obligation. Nothing.

He signed it. Angrily. Without a word.

“This stubborn girl will regret this,” he muttered to himself. “She thinks this is freedom? That fool doesn’t even know the Conrad heir is rumored to be gay. The old man just wants a woman to bear an heir. That’s why this marriage is happening.”

He sneered. “She’ll come crawling back.”

Avery tucked the signed document into her bag and turned back one final time. Her gaze swept the house, her childhood, her memories—both good and bitter.

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Then she walked out the door.

Avery sat quietly in the car, staring out the window at the passing view. The silence wasn't awkward—it was heavy, filled with everything she wasn’t saying.

They weren’t heading to her new “home.” Instead, they were going to the hospital.

Apparently, the old man—the head of the Conrad family—wanted to see his soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law first.

Typical. In the world of rich people, nothing matters more than keeping the bloodline alive. Heirs, legacies, family empires. And now she was a part of that conversation.

Rumors had been flying for a while now about the so-called “Prince Charming” of the Conrad family being gay. Everyone in the elite circle knew, but no one dared say it out loud. Still, the whispers found their way to the old man’s ears, and apparently, he got so upset that his blood pressure spiked. He collapsed.

Devastated and panicked, he’d asked Assistant Hayes to call back that “unruly brat” of a grandson. But then... an idea sparked in his head, and he smiled.

Hayes, who had just gotten off the phone, paused mid-step when he caught the smile. It wasn’t just a grin—it was a plot.

The old man shared his plan: he was going to find his grandson a drop-dead gorgeous woman, someone who could “fix” whatever was going on. He didn’t believe the rumors. Not for a second. He was convinced that the moment his grandson saw the right woman, all that gay talk would vanish like smoke.

They started looking.

And then Edward Sinclair showed up, practically begging for help and offering up his daughters like they were items on a menu. Said he had two beautiful girls and was willing to hand over either one in exchange for saving his dying company.

Lawrence wasn’t reckless. He sent Jordan Hayes to dig deep and do background checks. He wanted the best for his grandson.

And after some digging... they picked the older one.

The car pulled up outside the hospital.

Avery hadn’t expected to come here, but it made sense now. The patriarch was in the hospital after all. She took a quick moment to smooth her hair and check her reflection. Just as she opened the door, one of the guards beat her to it—opening it like she was royalty or something.

She followed Assistant Hayes down the quiet hallway. No words. Just her heels clicking against the tile and causing some nurses to look their way .

They stopped at a private ward. Hayes pushed the door open.

“He’s expecting you,” he said with a short nod.

Avery walked in, keeping her face calm even though her chest felt tight. She hadn’t met anyone from the Conrad family before—aside from Hayes. Meeting the head of the family felt like walking into a lion’s den in heels.

The room was quiet, filled with the soft beep of machines. On the hospital bed lay a man who looked like he was pushing seventy. His golden-white hair was combed neatly, and though he looked a bit tired, his eyes still held that sharp, commanding energy.

This was Lawrence Conrad, the man behind the entire empire—and her soon-to-be grandfather-in-law.

He looked up, and the moment his gaze landed on her, his whole face softened. He smiled.

“I knew it,” he said warmly. “Come on, have a seat. Let’s talk.”

Avery gave a polite bow and sat on the nearby couch. Assistant Hayes quietly stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Lawrence sighed deeply.

“I know this whole arrangement with your family must’ve been hard on you. I didn’t want to force anyone into anything, but... I’m running out of time.”

Avery blinked. She didn’t expect that honesty right off the bat.

“My grandson... he doesn’t listen to me anymore. His friends are married, some already have kids. But him? He just keeps working like a machine. No relationships. No joy. Nothing.” The old man shook his head. “He wants me to die without ever meeting my great-grandkids, apparently.”

He gave a small chuckle, but it was laced with disappointment.

“He’s a good guy though. He really is. I think you two might work. And hey, if you ever need anything—or just someone to talk to—I’ll be here for you, alright?”

Avery listened quietly. Somehow, his words felt... sincere. She didn’t feel like she was being manipulated. It was weird. She'd been so on edge walking in here, but listening to him talk? She relaxed without realizing it.

She even felt a little silly for thinking Assistant Hayes was her future husband. Thank God he wasn’t. Turned out he was just the loyal son of Lawrence’s old friend—married, with two cute kids. phww 🤭.

They chatted for a little while longer. Just light stuff. Enough to ease the tension.

Eventually, she was taken to her new home.

Lawrence was practically beaming. After meeting her, he was convinced he’d made the right choice.

“That boy better thank me,” he muttered to himself, satisfied. “One day, he’ll realize I handed him a treasure.”

Meanwhile...

What Lawrence didn’t know was that Evander Conrad had just landed.

The infamous business tycoon, media-dodger, and heir to the Conrad empire had just stepped off his private jet, looking like he walked out of a fashion magazine.

Sharp, clean, ruthless and composed with dangerous aura.

He adjusted the cuffs of his custom-tailored suit as he slid into the backseat of his brand new Jaguar. “Drive to the villa,” he ordered the driver.

He wasn’t supposed to be back until tomorrow, but he changed plans.

He wanted to surprise his grandfather.

After the day he’d had, all he wanted was a hot shower, a clean shirt, and a quiet dinner with the old man.