
Aria’s world comes crashing down when her abusive ex-fiancé drugs her, forcing her to flee into the arms of a man she doesn’t know—a man who turns out to be Alexander Sinclair, a cold and powerful billionaire with an iron will. To protect his beloved grandmother and keep family pressures at bay, Alexander strikes a shocking deal with Aria: marry him for one year, and in return, he’ll give her financial freedom and help her escape her troubled past. But there’s more to this contract than either of them anticipates. Alexander suffers from gynophobia, a fear of women that has kept him isolated and distant from any romantic relationships—except with Aria. Somehow, she’s the only woman who doesn’t trigger his phobia, and his desire to protect her grows stronger with each passing day. As their fake marriage unfolds, secrets from the past begin to surface. Alexander’s forgotten childhood memories may hold the key to their mysterious connection. Caught between the pressures of a contract marriage, an unpredictable ex-fiancé, and a powerful love neither of them expected, can Aria and Alexander find a way to break free of their pasts and embrace the future they’re fated to share?


Chapter 36