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BOUND BY THE BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACT

BOUND BY THE BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACT

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5 Chapters
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When Zara Hart agrees to a marriage contract with the notoriously cold billionaire Damian Cole, she thinks she's secured her freedom from a debt-ridden life. Little does she know, Damian has his own agenda-a vengeance plan that requires an ideal "wife" to win his family's approval and take control of his legacy. As their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, Zara and Damian discover their fake marriage is becoming all too real. But with secrets and lies woven into their contract, will their growing love survive, or will it destroy them both?

Chapter 1 A Proposal She Can't Refuse

The coffee shop was too warm, the air thick with the mingled aromas of burnt espresso and cinnamon pastries. Zara Hart brushed a stray curl behind her ear, her fingers trembling as she looked down at the crumpled paper in her hands. The debt total, with its string of zeroes, was seared into her mind, a relentless reminder of her parents' sudden passing and the financial disaster they'd left behind.

With a weary sigh, she slipped the paper back into her bag, grateful that the dim lighting obscured the dark circles beneath her eyes. The reality was that Zara, at twenty-seven, had hit a dead end. Her once-vibrant dreams of opening an art gallery seemed as distant as stardust. The thought made her sick-until the man across from her cleared his throat.

Damian Cole was as intimidating in person as his reputation promised. His sharp jawline, cold eyes, and meticulously tailored suit spoke of money, control, and a life untouched by mundane struggles. At thirty-two, he commanded not only a fortune but an entire empire. This meeting, however, wasn't about his empire-or so he claimed.

"Miss Hart," Damian's voice was calm, almost clinical. "I understand you're in a difficult position financially."

Zara stiffened, her defenses rising. "You could say that. But what exactly does that have to do with you?"

His lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I have a proposition that might benefit both of us."

He reached into his leather briefcase and pulled out a sleek folder, sliding it across the table toward her. Zara eyed it warily, her fingers tingling with a mixture of curiosity and dread. She opened it, skimming the legal jargon that her exhausted brain could barely process.

"I want you to marry me," Damian said, his tone as if he'd just asked her to pass the sugar.

The words froze her, and her eyes snapped up to meet his, searching for a sign of humor, a hint that this was some cruel joke. But his gaze remained unwavering.

"Marry you?" she echoed, almost choking on the absurdity. "Are you out of your mind?"

"I assure you, I'm entirely sane." Damian's expression didn't shift. "This isn't a marriage in the traditional sense. It's a contract. Six months, nothing more. You fulfill the role of my wife, and in return, I'll clear your debts and provide a generous payout at the end."

Zara blinked, her mind scrambling to keep up. The words "clear your debts" reverberated through her, mingling with a sense of dread and impossible hope. "Why me? You could hire anyone to play this role. Why go to the trouble of a legal marriage?"

Damian's gaze hardened, a flicker of something-anger, maybe?-crossing his features. "Let's just say my family requires a convincing performance. My brother and the company board are waiting for an excuse to deem me unfit to lead. A stable marriage would put them at ease, and you"-he paused, glancing down at her worn blouse and tired expression-"don't have ties to anyone who could interfere with my plans."

Zara's chest tightened. He was right; she was alone in every sense. With her parents gone and her closest friend Riley as her only confidant, Zara had no one who would stand in Damian's way. The sense of isolation she'd felt since her parents' death flared anew, mixing with the unnerving reality of Damian's proposal.

"And what exactly would I have to do?" Her voice sounded small, but she couldn't stop herself from asking. "As your...wife."

"Attend functions with me. Convince my family we're madly in love. Play the part convincingly." His eyes gleamed with a rare hint of warmth, though she doubted it was genuine. "Nothing more than that."

"No...physical relationship?"

He gave a curt shake of his head. "Not unless you choose. This arrangement is purely professional."

Zara let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The idea of being bound to someone as guarded and intimidating as Damian-without the safety net of real affection-sent chills down her spine. But the truth was staring her in the face, merciless in its simplicity. She was out of options. Her debts were drowning her, and here, before her, was a lifeline-one tangled with strings, yes, but a lifeline nonetheless.

"What's in it for you?" she pressed, needing to understand more of the shadows behind his steely gaze.

A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. "My brother, Grant, is waiting for me to slip up. He wants the company, and the board believes I'm too volatile to lead. A 'respectable' marriage will change that perception. And when I meet the board's criteria, I'll have the leverage to make decisions without interference."

Zara nodded slowly, feeling her resolve harden. She'd always fought for her independence, but this...this might be her only way forward. "And you'd really pay off all my debts?"

"Every cent," Damian confirmed, leaning back in his chair. "And you'll be compensated handsomely for your time."

It was a proposition that seemed too good to be true, yet his expression held no room for doubt. Still, doubt gnawed at her. "If I agree...what happens after six months?"

Damian's gaze turned steely. "After six months, we part ways. No strings attached. You'll have what you need, and I'll have fulfilled my obligations. We go back to our own lives."

She considered his words, weighing the risks against the salvation he offered. Six months. That was all. Six months of pretending, of playing a role that could secure her future. But the fear of being entangled in Damian's web, of losing herself in a charade with a man who seemed to wield control over everything-she could feel it pricking her skin, whispering warnings.

Finally, she looked him square in the eye, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her. "Fine. I'll do it."

For the first time, Damian's lips curved into a faint smile, though it held no warmth. "Then we'll begin immediately. You'll be moving into my residence within the week. My attorney will finalize the contract by tomorrow."

The finality of his words settled like lead in her stomach. There was no turning back now. Zara had stepped into his world, a world of power and deception where the stakes were dangerously high. But if this was the price of freedom from her past, she was willing to pay it.

"Welcome to the family, Mrs. Cole," Damian murmured, his tone laced with a chilling satisfaction that left her questioning whether she'd just made a deal with the devil himself.

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