THE HEIR'S LAST BARGAIN

n's

s windows of his office offered a panoramic view of the city below, but today, even the sprawling metropolis felt distant. He s

the businesses he had carefully built over the years, and his place in the legacy his grandfather had crafted. It was as though all of

ll," his grandfather's col

t one he didn't choose. But he had no choice. The family name, the businesses, the wealth-it was all intertwined

on the photo frame on the shelf-an image of himself and Ivy Sinclair, once his closest friend. Her laughing eyes, her wild curls, the way she use

v

r family. His ruthless business decisions had left Ivy's father bankrupt and her family's once-thriving company in ruins. Ivy had tried to move on, to rebuild her

hange the fact th

uld even agree to talk to him, it would be a miracle.

eternity before Ivy's voice finally c

teady despite the nerves gnawi

r her assessing the situation, the tension building. It had been years since

id finally, though her

ed. "Actually, it's more than a

He could already feel her anger building. H

you out of your mind, Ethan? After everything that happe

or a business arrangement. A contract. You pretend to be my wife for one year. No emotions, no st

n could almost feel the shock radiating through the silen

ly. "Fifty million for your dream project. You

she might hang up. But then, finally, her voi

You think I'll just walk away after that, with fifty mil

now what I did. I know how much I hurt you. But this is a chance for you

of her thoughts on the other end of the line. He knew

esolute. "One year. And after that, we go our

elief wash over him. "Thank you

Ivy warned, her voice steady but laced with bitt

o a small smile. "I would