Chapter 6: The Engagement Contract

The Laurent estate was unusually quiet that morning, but a storm was brewing within me. I sat in the grand dining hall, absently stirring my coffee as my parents exchanged knowing glances from across the table. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, but it carried weight—anticipation, perhaps. They were waiting for me to speak first.

I exhaled slowly, setting my cup down. "So… when exactly were you planning to tell me that my engagement to Alexander Blackwood was still valid?"

My mother’s lips curved into an unreadable smile as she gracefully dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "We never canceled it, darling. We assumed you would come to your senses eventually."

My father, ever the businessman, leaned back in his chair with an approving nod. "And it appears we were right."

I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course, they had anticipated this moment. The Laurents weren’t just wealthy—they were strategic, always thinking ten steps ahead. Unlike me, who had foolishly thrown away my position for love, they had never doubted where I would end up.

"You should have told me," I muttered.

My father’s sharp gaze met mine. "Would it have changed anything? You were blinded by Ryan, and telling you then would have only pushed you further away."

I had no argument against that. They were right. I had been reckless, thinking I could carve out a life separate from my family’s influence.

"And now?" I asked carefully.

"Now," my mother said with a satisfied sip of her tea, "Alexander has agreed to continue with the arrangement. And considering your… current predicament, I suggest you do the same."

I bristled at the mention of my downfall, but I bit my tongue.

"You don’t have to do anything immediately," my father added, his tone softer than usual. "But, Isabella, you and Alexander together are a force to be reckoned with. The Blackwoods and the Laurents—there’s no alliance stronger than that."

I clenched my jaw. They weren’t wrong. And after everything that had happened, I needed power. I needed a shield against people like Ryan and the vultures who wanted to see me fail.

But being Alexander Blackwood’s fiancée? That was an entirely different battlefield.

---

I arrived at Blackwood Tower in the afternoon, my mind still unsettled.

Alexander was waiting for me in his office, looking as composed as ever in his tailored suit. He sat behind his desk, fingers lazily tapping against the polished surface as I stepped inside.

"You’re late," he said smoothly.

"I wasn’t aware this was an urgent meeting," I replied, closing the door behind me.

His lips twitched as if amused, but his eyes remained unreadable. "It is when discussing a matter as important as our engagement."

I exhaled sharply. "So, you knew all along?"

"Of course," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Unlike you, I never walked away from the arrangement."

The unspoken unlike you walked away from me hung heavily between us.

I ignored the jab. "And you still want this?"

His gaze sharpened. "It’s not about what I want, Isabella. It’s about what we both need. You want to take back what Ryan stole from you? Then you’ll need more than just revenge—you need power, stability, and a name that carries weight. Our engagement gives you all of that."

He wasn’t wrong. But the idea of willingly binding myself to him again…

Alexander must have noticed my hesitation because he stood, walking around the desk until he was mere inches from me.

"You think this is a loss of freedom," he said quietly. "But it’s not. You and I both know marriage in our world isn’t about love. It’s about power. And right now, you need every advantage you can get."

I swallowed hard. "And what do you get out of this?"

His gaze didn’t waver. "You."

A slow shiver ran down my spine.

But before I could respond, he stepped back, retrieving a folder from his desk and handing it to me. "The contract is simple. This engagement benefits both of us. You regain control, and I solidify an alliance between our families. We both win."

I glanced at the document, my heart pounding.

Marrying Alexander Blackwood meant stepping into a world where I could never afford to be weak again. But it also meant protection. A partnership. A second chance to be the woman I was always meant to be.

I looked up, meeting his gaze.

"Fine," I said. "I’ll do it."

A smirk touched his lips. "Good choice."

Because from this moment forward, Isabella Laurent wasn’t just back.

She was unstoppable.