Chapter 1

Isabella's POV

I never thought I'd be one to consider such an offer. A contract marriage with a billionaire? It sounds like something out of a cheesy romance novel. But as I stared at the stack of bills on my kitchen table, I knew that I couldn't keep living like this.

My life was a constant cycle of work and debt, and I was tired of it. I wanted more for myself, and I knew that moving to New York City was the first step. That's when I met Daniel Stone, a man who would change my life forever.

He was charming, confident, and oozed power. I was just a waitress, but he saw something in me that I couldn't even see in myself. He offered me a deal: marry him for a year, and he'd pay off all my debts and give me a new life in New York City.

It seemed too good to be true, but I couldn't deny the opportunity that lay before me. I took the deal, and before I knew it, I was on a private jet to New York City, ready to start my new life as Mrs. Isabella Stone.

But as I looked out the window at the glittering city below, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in over my head. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, or if I was even cut out for the life of a billionaire's wife.

Little did I know, the challenges I faced were just beginning, and the twists and turns that lay ahead would change everything.

Daniel and I arrived in New York City to a flurry of paparazzi and flashing cameras. It was overwhelming, to say the least. As we drove through the city, I couldn't help but feel like I was in a different world.

When we arrived at our penthouse apartment, I was in awe. It was huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city. But as soon as we stepped inside, I knew that this wasn't going to be the fairytale life I had imagined.

Daniel was cold and distant, treating me like a business deal rather than a wife. He explained to me that our marriage was simply an arrangement, a way for him to keep up appearances and avoid the marriage-obsessed women in his social circle.

I was hurt, but I tried to keep my emotions in check. After all, I had agreed to this deal, and I couldn't expect love to magically appear overnight. But as the weeks passed, I couldn't help but feel like I was living a lie.

Daniel was always busy with work, leaving me alone in the apartment for hours on end. I tried to explore the city, but I felt like an outsider, unable to relate to the glamorous lifestyle of the rich and famous.

And then there were the rumors. Daniel was constantly in the tabloids, and I was shocked to see my face plastered across the pages. They made it seem like I was just another gold digger, using Daniel for his money.

I wanted to scream at the world that I was doing this for myself, that I wasn't some money-hungry woman. But I knew that I had to keep up appearances, at least until my debts were paid off.

But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, I couldn't help but wonder if this contract marriage was worth it. I couldn't deny the chemistry between us, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath the surface, something that Daniel was hiding from me.

Little did I know, the truth was about to be revealed, and it would change everything.

One day, while Daniel was away on business, I received an unexpected visitor. It was Miranda, Daniel's ex-girlfriend. She was beautiful and sophisticated, and I couldn't help but feel intimidated by her.

But as we sat down to talk, I realized that Miranda wasn't the confident woman I thought she was. She was desperate and vulnerable, and she revealed to me that she and Daniel had been engaged before he met me.

I was shocked. Daniel had never mentioned anything about being engaged, and I couldn't understand why he would keep something like that from me. Miranda explained that he had broken things off with her when she became too possessive and that he had always regretted it.

As I sat there, listening to Miranda's story, I couldn't help but feel like I was just a pawn in Daniel's game. Was I just a way for him to get back at Miranda, to show her that he had moved on?

I tried to push the thought out of my mind, but it lingered, and I found myself scrutinizing Daniel's every move when he returned home. I couldn't help but wonder if he was still in love with Miranda and if our marriage was just a way for him to get what he wanted.

And then, one night, I found out the truth. Daniel had been lying to me all along. He wasn't just a businessman - he was a member of a powerful crime family, and our marriage was just another way for him to consolidate his power.

I was shocked, but I couldn't deny the evidence. I had stumbled upon some incriminating documents, and as I read them, I realized that Daniel had been using me for his gain.

I didn't know what to do. I was in too deep, and I didn't want to believe that the man I had fallen for was capable of such deceit. But as I sat there, looking at the evidence before me, I knew that I had to confront him.

Little did I know, the confrontation would lead to a series of events that would put my life in danger, and that would force me to make a choice that would change everything.

I waited for Daniel to come home, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew that I had to confront him, to get the truth out in the open.

When he walked through the door, I could tell that something was off. He was tense, and I knew that he was hiding something.

I took a deep breath and confronted him, holding up the incriminating documents. He tried to deny it at first, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He knew that he had been caught.

As we argued, the tension in the room grew, until suddenly, he lunged at me. I was caught off guard, and before I knew it, he had me pinned against the wall.

For a moment, I thought that he was going to hurt me, but then he pulled away, his expression pained. He told me that he had never meant to hurt me, that he had fallen in love with me despite himself.

I was torn. Part of me wanted to believe him, to forgive him for his lies. But the other part of me knew that I couldn't trust him, not after everything he had done.

As we stood there, locked in a stalemate, there was a sudden knock at the door. Daniel tensed, and I could tell that something was wrong.

He motioned for me to stay put as he went to answer the door, but as soon as he opened it, there was a sudden flurry of movement. Men in suits stormed into the apartment, and I knew that they weren't there for a friendly visit.

I tried to run, but one of the men caught me, dragging me back into the room. Daniel was surrounded, and I knew that we were both in trouble.

And then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the men were gone, leaving us alone in the wreckage of our apartment. I didn't know what had just happened, but I knew that our lives would never be the same.

In the aftermath of the attack, Daniel and I were both on edge. We didn't know who had come after us, or why, but we knew that we couldn't stay in our apartment any longer.

Daniel made arrangements for us to stay in a safe house, and we packed up our belongings and left the city under the cover of the night. As we drove away, I couldn't help but feel like a fugitive, running from an unknown danger.

As we settled into the safe house, we started to piece together what had happened. It seemed that Daniel's ties to the crime family had finally caught up with him, and they had come after him and anyone close to him.

I was scared, but at the same time, I felt a sense of relief. Finally, the truth was out in the open, and we could face the danger together.

But then, one night, Daniel received a phone call. I could tell from the way his face fell that something was wrong.

He told me that his brother had been taken by the crime family and that they were holding him hostage. They wanted something from Daniel, something that he had been keeping a secret.

I was furious. How could he have kept something like this from me? But then, I realized that I didn't care about his secrets anymore. All I cared about was getting his brother back, and keeping ourselves safe.

We made a plan to rescue Daniel's brother, but as we snuck into the crime family's compound, everything went wrong. We were ambushed, and Daniel was captured. I was left alone, fighting for my life against the ruthless thugs.

But I was determined to save Daniel, no matter what the cost. I fought with everything I had, until finally, I was able to break free and make my way to Daniel's cell.

He was battered and bruised, but alive. I helped him to his feet, and together, we fought our way out of the compound, taking down anyone who stood in our way.

As we escaped, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. We had faced danger and come out alive, and our bond had only grown stronger.

But I knew that the danger wasn't over yet. The crime family was still out there, and they would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.