1. A TWIST OF FATE

Ava Hart stared at her computer screen, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she worked through the endless stream of numbers and calculations. The small accounting firm where she worked was quiet that evening; the hum of the fluorescent lights was the only sound aside from her typing.

At twenty-six, Ava was brilliant with numbers, and it was a skill she had honed from an early age. Numbers were predictable and logical, and unlike life, they always made sense if you worked through the equation. But despite her talent, Ava’s life was anything but balanced.

She lived modestly in a two-bedroom apartment with her parents, who had fallen on hard times after her father’s small construction business went bankrupt. Her mother, once a lively florist, had stopped working to care for her husband after his health began to fail. Ava had stepped into the role of breadwinner without hesitation.

She didn’t resent the responsibility; she loved her family fiercely. Her father, Henry Hart, had always been her hero. He is kind, honest, and hardworking. Watching him struggle with guilt over their financial troubles broke her heart.

But Ava believed things would get better. They had to.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting her thoughts. She sighed, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Layla, her wealthy and glamorous best friend she met at university.

“Hey, Ava! Emergency. Need you to cover for me tonight. Blind date. Usual spot.”

Ava groaned. Layla’s “emergencies” were usually trivial, but Ava couldn’t say no. Layla had helped her family financially more times than Ava could count. This was just one of the few ways she could repay her kindness.

“Do I have to?” she responded, resuming her work almost immediately.

“Please! Just go. Act rude. He’s a jerk, apparently, so he won’t even mind either. Thanks, babe!”

Ava rolled her eyes but grabbed her bag reluctantly. If it was just a matter of acting rudely to scare off some self-absorbed rich guy, she could handle it, and she actually needed someone to rain her frustration on.

****

The restaurant was as extravagant as Ava expected. It had soft lighting, glittering chandeliers, and a pianist playing in the corner. It was the kind of place she couldn’t afford even on a good month.

Her date was easy to spot. He sat at a corner table, exuding an air of quiet authority. His dark, tailored suit fit perfectly, and he watched the room with a detached confidence that made her stomach turn.

Ava reminded herself why she was there. It was to act rude, send the guy packing, and call it a night without any delay.

“Mr. Cross?” she asked, feigning indifference as she approached.

He stood, extending a hand. “Ms. Layla?”

His voice was deep, smooth, and annoyingly magnetic. She ignored his outstretched hand and sat without waiting for him to pull out her chair.

“You’re late,” she said flatly.

His brow lifted slightly, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he studied her for a moment, his dark eyes sharp and assessing.

“Shall we order?” he said finally, signaling to the waiter.

Ava bit back a sigh and decided to escalate. “Actually, let’s not waste time. I’m not interested in whatever game you’re playing. I don’t need anyone to force me into a loveless marriage.”

Damien Cross leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Game?”

“Blind dates, contracts, whatever this is,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m not here for your convenience or your money.”

To her surprise, he chuckled; it was a low and amusing sound. “Direct. I like that.”

She bristled. This wasn’t going according to her plan.

“Let me guess,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “You think I’m some arrogant billionaire who uses his money to get whatever he wants.”

“You’d be correct.” Her response was sharp

“And yet, here you are.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. “Not for you. For my friend.”

I was tired of dragging it out. I had to let him know that both I and Layla had no intention of satisfying his need.

“I know you weren’t the one. It’s good that you cleared yourself at least,” he smiled as he raised his cup of tea

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Then this should be easy for both of us. I’m not interested in love, and I doubt you are either. I need a temporary arrangement of a wife, in name only. Nothing more. What do you say?”

Ava blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I’m offering you a marriage contract. Six months, strictly business. No feelings, no strings attached. In return, I’ll pay you whatever amount you want.”

Her stomach twisted. He couldn’t know about her family’s struggles. Could he?

She stood abruptly, her chair scraping the floor. “You have the wrong person, Mr. Cross. Find someone else for your games.”

“Judging from your look and dress, you are not from a rich family. You probably need money badly.” his voice was laced with mockery.

“Darn you!” She leaned closer to him and grabbed the cup of water on the table. “You and your money stink!” The contents of the glass filled Damien’s face at the sound of the last word.

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked out of the restaurant, her heart pounding.

Her hand had acted faster than her brain.

****

The apartment was dark when Ava arrived home. She kicked off her shoes and headed to the kitchen, expecting to find her parents watching TV or talking quietly at the table like their daily routine.

Instead, she froze at the sight before her.

Her parents were tied to chairs in the living room; their faces paled with fear. Three men in dark suits loomed over them, one of them holding a bat.

“About time,” one of the men said, turning to face her.

Ava’s heart raced as she stepped forward, her hands trembling. “What are you doing? Let them go!”

“You’re late on payments,” the man said casually, inspecting the bat in his hands. “Mr. Hayes doesn’t like delays.”

“I—I’m working on it! I know the deadline has passed, but I will surely pay for this month,” Ava stammered, her mind racing for a solution. “Please, just give me more time.”

The man sneered. “Time doesn’t pay the bills, sweetheart. Your daddy owes a lot of money, and we’re done waiting.”

“Maybe we should sell off some of his good organs. That will pay the debt,” one of the jokes.

Others chuckled at his joke that was not funny as the one talking to me walked closer to my parents.

We need to teach them some lessons so that she can be activated." He raised the bat, and Ava’s world seemed to tilt.

“Stop!” she cried, stepping between him and her parents. “I’ll get the money. Just… don’t hurt them.”

The man lowered the bat slightly, considering her. “You’ve got one week. If we don’t get the full amount, things are going to get messy.”

Ava nodded frantically, tears streaming down her face.

The men left her parents untied and left without another word, their heavy footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Ava collapsed to her knees, her hands shaking as she reached for her parents.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’ll fix this. I promise.” Her hands trembled as she undo the rope

Her father placed a trembling hand on her shoulder. “Ava, you’ve done enough. This isn’t your burden.”

But it was. And she would find a way to save them, no matter what it took.

As she sat on the floor, holding her parents close, one thought echoed in her mind.

Damien Cross.

She had walked away from his deal once. But now she wasn’t sure she could afford to walk away again. However, she shook off the thought as fast as it came.