Marriage or revenge

After hearing the man speak on the phone just moments ago, Julian had no doubts. The girl Harrison had been frantically trying to protect, referred to as “S,” was none other than Selena Frost.

For years, the memory of that day haunted him—the phone call, the nameless man, and the revelation that turned his world upside down.

It had been a warm autumn afternoon six years ago when Julian received the call. At the time, he was nothing—a struggling assistant in the chaotic world of commercial photography. He lived paycheck to paycheck, his dreams of making it big buried beneath the weight of grief after his parents’ tragic deaths.

The unknown number that flashed on his cracked phone screen was a distraction he almost ignored. But something compelled him to answer.

“Hello?” he’d said, voice weary.

“Julian Mathers?” the voice on the other end was low, gruff.

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“I have information about your mother’s accident,” the man said bluntly.

Julian froze. For years, he’d told himself it was just that—an accident. His mother’s car crushed by another vehicle, the other driver never identified, the case closed with no justice served. His father had died soon after, unable to bear the heartbreak.

“Who are you?” Julian demanded, gripping the phone tightly.

“Someone who knows the truth,” the man replied. “The driver of the car that killed your mother wasn’t just anyone. It was a spoiled, reckless girl from one of the wealthiest families in the city. And her father? He made sure the truth never came out.”

Julian’s heart raced, his mind spinning. “You’re lying,” he said, though his voice betrayed him.

“Am I? Look into Harrison Frost. His daughter, Selena—‘S,’ as she’s often called in his circles—was behind the wheel. After the accident, Harrison buried the evidence and bought the law. Your mother was just collateral damage.”

The call had ended before Julian could ask more, but the man’s words stayed with him like a knife lodged in his chest.

Now, six years later, Julian stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his skyscraper office. The city glittered below, a testament to how far he’d come. From a nobody assistant, he had clawed his way to the top, building an empire with sheer determination and ruthless ambition.

But even as he became one of the most powerful men in the world, the pain of losing his parents—and the injustice that followed—never faded. And now, everything pointed to Selena Frost, the glittering starlet, as the catalyst of his tragedy.

He closed his eyes, the memory of their first encounter flooding his mind. It had been on a film set years ago. She was already a rising star, a supermodel who could silence an entire room with her presence. He had been a mere assistant, unnoticed and unimportant.

She’d walked past him that day, her beauty so overwhelming that he felt like he couldn’t breathe. Her long legs, perfectly styled hair, and radiant confidence made her seem untouchable. But she hadn’t even glanced his way.

At the time, his crush on her had been harmless, buried deep beneath layers of insecurity. He didn’t resent her; he admired her. 

But now? Now that he knew she was responsible for his mother’s death? That she had lived a life of luxury while he struggled to survive? The admiration twisted into something darker.

Selena Frost wasn’t untouchable anymore.

Julian turned back to his desk, where a file lay open. His investigators had been thorough. Photos, reports, and leaked documents painted a clear picture: Harrison Frost had pulled every string to bury the scandal. The car that hit his mother? Registered to one of the Frost family's shell companies. Witnesses who had been paid off. The case closed with no further investigation.

He clenched his fists. It was all there. The Frosts had stolen his family, his happiness, and his peace. And now, he would steal everything from them.

He picked up a photo of Selena from the file. It was a candid shot of her leaving a movie set, her smile radiant, her eyes sparkling. To the world, she was perfection incarnate—a celebrated actress, a fashion icon, the epitome of elegance.

But to Julian, she was a symbol of everything wrong with the elite: entitled, careless, and protected by power.

“This time,” he muttered, his voice cold, “there won’t be anyone to protect you.”

Julian’s phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was his assistant.

“Mr. Mathers, Harrison Frost just agreed to meet with you tomorrow. He sounds desperate.”

“Good,” Julian let out, a slow smirk spreading across his face. “Let him come to me.”

The Next Morning 

Selena sat in her holding cell, her once-perfect appearance now a shadow of itself. Her hair was disheveled, her makeup smudged. 

Her father’s voice echoed in her head from their brief phone call earlier. “Don’t worry, Selena. I’m handling it.”

But could he really fix this?

The sound of the cell door opening startled her. A guard stepped in.

“You’re being transferred,” he said gruffly.

“Transferred? Where?” she asked, panic rising in her chest.

“Don’t ask questions. Just move.”

________ 

Harrison Frost adjusted his tie as he stepped into the lavish private lounge atop Julian Mathers' skyscraper. The room screamed wealth and power, with its towering glass walls that overlooked the city and an ambiance steeped in quiet luxury. At the center of it all sat Julian Mathers, nursing a glass of deep red wine.

Harrison’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes fell on the man before him. Julian wasn’t just a powerful businessman—he was the Julian Mathers, the enigmatic billionaire whose rise to fame had captivated the business world.

"Julian Mathers," Harrison said, his voice laced with a mix of respect and confusion. “I didn’t expect…you.”

Julian rose to greet him, extending a hand with an inscrutable smirk. “Mr. Frost. Please, sit.”

Harrison hesitated. Why would someone like Julian Mathers—a man who could buy and sell entire industries—get involved in his daughter’s scandal?

He sat down, but his curiosity got the better of him. “What are you doing in all this? Did I offend you in the past?”

Julian chuckled, swirling his wine lazily. “Offend me? No, Mr. Frost. You’re far too insignificant to offend me.”

Harrison bristled but bit his tongue. He needed Julian’s help, not his anger. “Then why are you doing this? Why help Selena?”

Julian leaned back in his chair, his piercing gray eyes locking onto Harrison’s. “Let’s call it…an opportunity.”

Harrison frowned, growing impatient. “If it’s an opportunity, then tell me how I can help my daughter. What do you want?”

Julian smirked, raising his glass. “It’s simple. One call from me, and Selena walks free. No charges. No headlines. This scandal disappears as if it never happened.”

Harrison’s eyes widened, though he wasn’t entirely surprised. For a man like Julian, such power came as naturally as breathing. But his relief was tempered by suspicion.

“Why?” Harrison asked again, his voice quieter now. “Why would you do this? What’s in it for you?”

Julian’s smirk deepened. “Ah, the first rule of business, Mr. Frost: nothing comes free. Not wine, not freedom…not even favors. Everything has a price.”

Harrison stiffened. “What’s your price, then?”

Julian set his wine glass down deliberately, his expression sharpening. “Your daughter.”

Harrison blinked, stunned. “What?”

Julian leaned forward, his tone calm but firm. “I want Selena. As my wife.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Harrison’s mind reeled, his gaze searching Julian’s face for any sign of jest, but the man was dead serious.

“You…want to marry Selena?” Harrison asked, his voice incredulous.

Julian nodded. “You said you wanted to help her. This is how.”

Harrison’s shock gave way to confusion. “You’re rich, powerful, and—let’s be honest—women throw themselves at you. Why Selena? You’ve never even met her.”

Julian’s eyes darkened. “Let’s just say I’ve had my eye on Selena for a long time. She’s… unique. And now, the opportunity has presented itself. I’m simply taking what I want.”

Harrison’s mouth went dry. He didn’t trust Julian’s intentions, but what choice did he have? His daughter’s career—and her life—would be destroyed if she remained in custody. And Julian Mathers was undeniably a better prospect than some scandal-hungry opportunist.

He swallowed hard. “Fine. I’ll speak to Selena.”

Julian’s smirk returned. “I knew you’d see reason, Mr. Frost. I’ll await her decision.”

____ 

Selena Frost stared at her father in disbelief and fury. “You’re joking, right?” 

Harrison sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair. “Selena, listen to me. He can fix this. But he has conditions.”

“Conditions?” Selena repeated, her voice rising. “He wants to marry me, Dad. That’s not a condition. That’s insane!”

Harrison stepped closer. “Do you understand what’s at stake here? Your career, your freedom—everything you’ve worked for—it’s all on the line!”

“I’d rather lose everything than be sold off like a damn commodity!” Selena snapped, pacing the room.

Harrison’s voice softened. “Selena, please. Julian Mathers is… he’s not just anyone. He’s rich, successful, handsome—”

“And manipulative,” Selena interrupted. “He’s blackmailing us, Dad. That’s not exactly husband material.”

Harrison’s shoulders slumped. “I’m begging you, Selena. Just meet him. Hear what he has to say.”

Selena’s laugh was bitter. “You want me to meet the man who’s essentially holding my life hostage? Fine. But don’t expect me to agree to anything.”