Lucas's eyes blazed with fury, his gaze fixed on Victor. "No Smith will ever bow to a Blackwood."
"Should I consider this the beginning of a war?" Victor asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ethan Smith's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in frustration. "What are you talking about, Blackwood?"
Julian Smith stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. "Wait, our fathers had decided that to maintain peace between our families, our only sister, Ivy, should be married to Victor. We must think about our business and reputation, so this agreement will continue."
Lucas Smith's face twisted in disgust. "Brother, you can't be serious. You want Ivy to marry this...this..."
Victor's smile grew wider. "Watch your mouth, Smith. I'm not exactly thrilled about marrying your precious Ivy Elizabeth either. It was my father's decision, not mine."
Lucas sneered. "Since when do you follow your father's decisions, Blackwood?"
Victor's smirk returned, his eyes glinting with triumph. "I look forward to our union, Ivy Elizabeth."
Victor Blackwood's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he turned to Ethan Smith. "Now that we've settled the agreement, let's finalize the engagement date. Time is of the essence, and I have little patience for prolonged celebrations. Next week would be ideal. My bride, Ivy Elizabeth, will be arriving shortly. See that she's prepared, Ethan."
With that, Victor strode away, leaving Ethan seething with resentment. Ethan's fists clenched, his anger simmering just below the surface. "That scoundrel has been watching Ivy for years, and we were oblivious to it."
Victor's voice drifted back, his tone dripping with possessiveness. "I have every right to keep an eye on what's mine."

Ivy Smith is forced to marry Victor Blackwood, a ruthless and cunning man, due to a business agreement between their families. Despite her initial resistance, Ivy tries to make the best of the situation, but Victor's true nature soon reveals itself. He's cruel, manipulative, and has a hidden 

A Contract Not To Fall In Love

Julian's voice broke the silence, his eyes fixed on Ivy with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Ivy, we're asking you something. Why are you silent? Answer me, look, you have no need to be afraid." 


Outside, the tension was palpable. Liam and his men were ready to retaliate, anticipating that Ivy would reveal everything to her brothers, sparking a war. The Smith brothers had been waiting for this moment, their chance to take back their sister and break free from the agreement. All they needed was Ivy's statement. 


Ethan approached Ivy, his eyes locked onto hers. "Look into my eyes, Ivy. Now, tell me what happened." 


Ivy met Ethan's gaze, her expression unwavering. "It was my mistake," she began, her voice steady. "Victor was helping me, and I shot him. He got injured, was bleeding, and went out. Seeing the blood, I became unconscious. There was no one there to help me. That's all. It was an accident, and it was my fault." 


Chapter 34