chapter three

An Unlikely Agreement

The engagement announcement was a formality, but the tension it brought weighed heavily on Jack and Sophia as they sat across from each other in the private study of the Sinclair estate. The room, lined with mahogany shelves and leather-bound books, as the two did nothing but stared at one another.

Jack leaned back in his wheelchair, his piercing blue eyes studying Sophia as if trying to unravel her motives. His bitterness was palpable, and his words cut through the silence like a knife. “So, you’re really going through with this.”

Sophia sat stiffly on the edge of her chair, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She had spent the entire car ride rehearsing what she would say, but under Jack’s scrutinizing gaze, her resolve wavered.

“I don’t see why you’re surprised,” she replied, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. “Your family gets what they want, and mine gets to stop treating me like an embarrassment. It’s a win-win, isn’t it?”

Jack’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “For them, maybe. But what about you? Do you really think marrying a cripple will magically fix your problems?”

Sophia’s eyes flashed with anger. “You don’t know anything about my problems.”

“Enlighten me, then,” Jack said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Why would someone like you agree to chain yourself to someone like me?”

Sophia straightened, meeting his gaze head-on. “Because I’m tired of being the one everyone looks down on. This marriage might be a convenience for your family, but for me, it’s a chance to prove my family wrong. To show them I’m not the failure they think I am.”

Jack stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the bitterness in his eyes softened, replaced by something almost like curiosity. But it was fleeting, and his usual scorn quickly returned.

“Well, you’re braver than I thought,” he said, his voice laced with mockery. “But don’t expect me to make this easy for you. I didn’t ask for this arrangement, and I don’t intend to play the part of a loving husband.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Sophia shot back. “And for the record, I’m not here to save you or make your life easier. This is a contract, nothing more.”

Jack’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Good. At least we’re clear on that.”

The door to the study creaked open, and Jack’s mother stepped inside, her expression carefully composed. “Have you two finished discussing the terms?”

“We’ve come to an understanding,” Jack said dryly.

Sophia gave a sharp nod. “Yes. We’ll go along with the arrangement.”

Mrs. Sinclair’s smile was one of relief. “Good. The engagement announcement is being prepared as we speak. The press release will go out tonight.”

Sophia’s stomach churned at the thought of the public scrutiny that would follow, but she forced herself to nod again.

“Do try to look happy about it,” Jack said, his voice tinged with mockery. “We wouldn’t want to disappoint our adoring audience.”

Sophia ignored him, standing abruptly. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Mrs. Sinclair looked slightly taken aback but nodded. “Of course, dear. We’ll be in touch to finalize the wedding details.”

Sophia turned to leave, but Jack’s voice stopped her at the door.

“Welcome to the circus,” he said, his tone a mix of bitterness and amusement.

She didn’t respond, but as she walked out of the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life had just taken a turn she wasn’t entirely prepared for.

By the time the engagement announcement was made public, the news had spread like wildfire. Headlines splashed across social media and society columns, with phrases like “Tragic Billionaire Finds His Bride” and “A Match Made in Convenience?” fueling public curiosity.

Sophia scrolled through the articles in her small apartment, her jaw tightening as she read the cruel comments. Some ridiculed her for marrying into money, while others speculated about Jack’s motives. The worst, however, were the ones that pitied her, assuming she had no choice but to marry a broken man.

Her phone buzzed on the table, and she hesitated before picking it up. It was her best friend, Clara, the only person who had supported her unconditionally through her struggles.

“You’ve seen the news?” Clara asked, her voice a mix of concern and disbelief.

Sophia sighed. “Hard to miss it. The whole city seems to have an opinion about my life now.”

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” Sophia admitted. “This is all happening so fast. One minute I’m the disappointment of the family, and the next I’m engaged to a man I barely know.”

“A man who’s probably furious about the whole thing,” Clara added.

Sophia let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, he’s definitely furious. He made it very clear that he doesn’t want this any more than I do.”

“Then why are you doing it?” Clara asked gently.

“Because it’s my way out,” Sophia said, her voice firm. “Out of my family’s shadow, out of their control. If I can survive this, I’ll finally be free.”

Clara was silent for a moment before saying, “Just promise me you’ll be careful. The Sinclairs are powerful, and Jack... well, he’s been through a lot. This won’t be easy.”

“I know,” Sophia said softly. “But I have to try.”

---

Across town, Jack sat in his dimly lit study, a glass of whiskey in his hand as he stared at the headlines on his tablet. The engagement announcement was plastered across every major outlet, accompanied by photos of him and Sophia from the dinner.

He scoffed as he read the comments. Pity, ridicule, curiosity—it was all there, just as he had expected.

His phone buzzed on the desk, and he glanced at the screen. It was his best friend, Marcus, one of the few people who had stuck by him after the accident.

“Congratulations, man,” Marcus said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Save it,” Jack muttered, taking a sip of his drink.

“So, is she as desperate as the papers are making her out to be?”

Jack’s grip tightened on the glass. “She’s not desperate. Just determined to prove her family wrong.”

Marcus chuckled. “Sounds like a real charmer.”

“She’s... different,” Jack admitted reluctantly. “She doesn’t take my crap, which is more than I can say for most people.”

“Maybe this won’t be so bad, then.”

Jack sighed. “Don’t get your hopes up. This is a business deal, nothing more.”

Marcus was silent for a moment before saying, “Well, for what it’s worth, I hope it works out. You could use someone in your corner.”

Jack didn’t respond. He didn’t need someone in his corner. He had learned the hard way that relying on others only led to disappointment.

As he set his glass down and turned off the tablet, he resolved to keep Sophia at arm’s length. She might be his fiancée in name, but he wasn’t about to let her—or anyone else—get close enough to hurt him again.