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

Ivy sat across from Victor at the dining table, her eyes cast downward, a hint of remorse on her face. The morning sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted the tension between them. 


"Victor, I'm so sorry for what I said yesterday," Ivy began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was completely out of line, talking about Sophia like that. I had no idea... I didn't know what happened." 


Victor's gaze remained fixed on his plate, his expression neutral. "You didn't know what happened?" he repeated, his voice low and even. 


Ivy shook her head, feeling a pang of regret. "No, I didn't. And I shouldn't have spoken about her like that. I'm so sorry, Victor." 


Victor's eyes finally met Ivy's, his gaze piercing. "You really didn't know, did you?" he asked, his tone a little softer. 


Ivy shook her head again. "No, I swear. I was just...I don't know, trying to provoke you, I guess. But that's no excuse. I was wrong, and I'm truly sorry." 


Chapter 39