POV: Alina Maxwell
Alina froze in the doorway, watching a strange woman examine her textbooks on the coffee table. The woman looked up with cold blue eyes identical to Aiden's.
"You must be the wife."
The woman was elegant in the way only old money could achieve—silver hair perfectly styled, cream coat that probably cost more than Alina's tuition. Everything about her radiated the kind of entitlement that came from never being told no.
"Mrs. King," Alina said carefully, stepping into her own living room like an intruder.
"Amy, please." The woman's smile was razor-sharp. "We're family now, aren't we?"
Amy set down Alina's economics textbook with deliberate care. "Education major? How... quaint. Though I suppose that hardly matters now."
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh, dear, don't play innocent. It's just the two of us." Amy settled onto the sofa like she owned it. "I know exactly what kind of arrangement you have with my son."
Alina's blood went cold, but she kept her expression neutral. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Don't you?" Amy opened her purse and pulled out a manila envelope. "Three years for ten million dollars. Quite generous for a placeholder, don't you think?"
The words hit like a slap. Amy knew about the contract.
"How did you—"
"Oh, sweetheart, I've known about this charade from the beginning. Edward may think he's clever with his inheritance ultimatums, but family lawyers do talk." Amy's laugh was like ice breaking. "The question is: how much will it cost to make you disappear?"
Alina lifted her chin. "I'm not going anywhere."
"No? Not even when you see these?" Amy opened the envelope and spread photos across the coffee table.
Alina's heart stopped. The photos showed Aiden and Veronica in what looked like an intimate proposal scene—him on one knee, a ring box in his hand, her hands covering her mouth in surprise. They looked perfect together, like something from a magazine.
"Beautiful, aren't they? Taken just six months ago." Amy's voice was poisonously sweet. "Of course, Veronica asked for more time. Medical residency, you understand. But they will get married once she finished."
"Why are you showing me this?"
"Because you need to understand what you're interfering with. This is real love, dear. What you have is a business transaction masquerading as marriage."
Alina stared at the photos, something breaking inside her chest. Aiden had proposed to Veronica. Recently. Everything he'd told her about their relationship being complicated was a lie—he'd been ready to marry Veronica while she was tied up in her career.
"He loves her," Amy continued relentlessly. "He's always loved her. You're just... convenient. A warm body to satisfy grandfather's requirements."
"Then why hasn't he divorced me to be with her?"
Amy's smile turned predatory. "Because Veronica is worth waiting for. Unlike some people, she has standards. She won't be the other woman, even to a fake marriage."
The cruelty was breathtaking, but Alina forced herself to stay standing. "What do you want?"
"I want you to end this farce. Voluntarily. Take your money and disappear so my son can have the life he actually wants."
"And if I don't?"
"Then things will become... unpleasant." Amy gathered the photos with practiced efficiency. "You see, I've been very helpful to certain journalists lately. That article about your contract marriage? Just the beginning."
Alina's stomach dropped. "You leaked the story."
"I provided context. The public deserves to know when they're being deceived." Amy stood, her smile cold as winter. "And there's so much more I could share. Your academic records, for instance. Amazing how many questions arise when an orphan from foster care suddenly lands full scholarships and marries into wealth."
The threat was vicious and personal. Amy had clearly investigated every aspect of Alina's background.
"There's nothing wrong with my academic records."
"Of course not. But perception is everything, isn't it? A desperate foster child, aging out of the system, suddenly catching the eye of Seattle's most eligible bachelor?" Amy's smile was cruel. "People love stories about gold-diggers and social climbers. Especially when they involve tragic orphans willing to do anything for security."
The words hit like physical blows. Amy was threatening to destroy not just Alina's reputation, but her entire sense of self-worth.
"Try me." Amy moved toward the door, then paused. "Oh, and dear? That little performance this morning, Aiden declaring his love for you on television? He called Veronica immediately afterward to apologize. Promised her it was just for show."
The words were designed to destroy, and they succeeded. Alina felt her world tilt as she realized that even Aiden's public defense of her had been hollow, something he'd immediately apologized for to the woman he really loved.
"I'll give you twenty-four hours to consider my offer," Amy continued. "After that, I start sharing some very interesting theories about ambitious orphans and convenient marriages. The media does love a rags-to-riches scandal."
The sound of a key in the lock made them both turn. Edward's voice called out a greeting as he entered.
"Amy?" His tone was surprised, then sharp as he took in the scene—Alina pale and shaking, Amy standing by the door with predatory satisfaction.
"Father King," Amy said smoothly. "I was just welcoming our new family member."
Edward's eyes moved to Alina's face, then to the manila envelope still in Amy's hand. His expression hardened.
"What exactly were you welcoming her to?"
"Just giving her some family history. Photos, stories, that sort of thing." Amy's tone was innocent, but her eyes glittered with malice.
"I see." Edward stepped closer to Alina, his presence protective. "And these photos were...?"
"Nothing important," Amy said quickly. "Just some old pictures of Aiden."
But Edward was already looking at Alina's stricken expression, reading the devastation there with the sharp intelligence that had built an empire.
"Amy, I think it's time you left."
"Of course. I have lunch plans anyway." Amy moved toward the door, then turned back with a final smile. "It was lovely meeting you, Alina. I do hope you'll think carefully about what we discussed."
After she left, Edward moved to sit beside Alina, who was staring at the space where the photos had been.
"What did she show you?" he asked gently.
Alina looked up at him, this man who'd been nothing but kind to her, and felt tears threaten. "Photos of Aiden proposing to Veronica. Six months ago."
Edward's face went very still. "I see."
"She knows about the contract. About everything. And she's the one leaking stories to the press." Alina's voice cracked. "She wants me to leave voluntarily, or she'll paint me as a gold-digging orphan who manipulated my way into wealth."
"Over my dead body," Edward said quietly, but with such deadly certainty that Alina believed him.
"She said Aiden called Veronica to apologize for the television interview. That he promised it was just for show."
Edward was quiet for a long moment. "Amy has always been very good at using partial truths to create complete lies."
"But the photos—"
"Were real, I'm sure. But timing and context matter, don't they?" Edward's voice was gentle but firm. "Perhaps it's time you and Aiden had an honest conversation about what this marriage actually means to both of you."
Before Alina could respond, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "Tick tock, dear. Twenty-three hours and counting. Don't underestimate how creative I can get with orphan sob stories."
Edward saw her face go white and gently took the phone, reading the message. His expression turned thunderous.
"Pack a bag," he said quietly.
"What?"
"You're coming to stay with me until this gets sorted out. Amy has just declared war, and I'll be damned if I let her use you as a casualty."
As Alina stared at him, she realized that Amy King had made one crucial mistake. She'd assumed Edward would stand by and let her destroy an innocent woman.
She was about to learn exactly how wrong she was.