Ava Sinclair

Chapter 1: The Call That Ruined Everything

(Ava's POV )

The apartment smelled like cheap coffee and desperation.

I sat at the tiny, rickety kitchen table, staring at the stack of bills. Overdue rent. Hospital expenses. The never-ending debt my father left behind.

My mother sat across from me, trying to smile, but I saw the exhaustion in her eyes. She worked two jobs, barely sleeping, just to keep us afloat.

And my little brother, Ethan, only six years old, sat on the couch, playing with a toy car—blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around him.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," Mom said, her voice gentle but forced. "I'll figure something out."

Figure something out.

That's what she always said. And every time, it got worse.

I clenched my fists. I had to fix this.

Then, my phone rang.

A blocked number.

I frowned, hesitating. Scam? Bill collector? More bad news?

I answered anyway. "Hello?"

A deep, powerful voice chilled me to the bone.

"Miss Sinclair."

I sat up straighter. Who the hell—?

"This is Richard Sterling."

The blood drained from my face.

Richard Sterling. The most powerful loan shark in the city. The man my father borrowed money from.

The man who could ruin us with a single snap of his fingers.

I swallowed hard. "Mr. Sterling, I—"

"Save it," he cut me off, his voice smooth, businesslike. Deadly. "I assume you're aware of your father's outstanding debt?"

My stomach twisted. "Yes."

"Then you know it's time to pay up."

I gripped the table. "I don't have that kind of money."

Silence.

Then—a chuckle. Low. Amused. Cruel.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not asking for money, Miss Sinclair."

My heart pounded. Not money? Then what—?

"I have a deal for you."

I said nothing. Just waited. Dread creeping up my spine.

"My son," Richard continued, "needs a wife. And you, Miss Sinclair, need to erase your debt."

I stopped breathing.

No.

He couldn't be serious.

"Marry Damien," Richard said smoothly. "For one year. Do that, and your family's debt disappears."

I shot to my feet. "That's insane!"

Ethan turned to look at me. I forced a smile and walked into my tiny bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

"I don't even know your son!" I hissed.

"You don't have to," Richard said. Calm. Cold. Completely unbothered. "This isn't about love, Miss Sinclair. It's about business. You sign the contract, you play your part, and in one year, you're free."

My chest tightened.

One year.

One year in a fake marriage with a man I'd never met.

But in return? No more debt. No more collectors. No more struggling.

I squeezed my eyes shut. This is insane. Completely insane.

And yet…

I thought about my mother. My brother.

What other choice did I have?

I exhaled sharply. "What if I say no?"

Richard's voice turned lethal.

"Then I will collect the debt another way. And trust me, Miss Sinclair, you won't like my methods."

Ice flooded my veins.

This wasn't a deal. It was a threat.

I had no way out.

I gritted my teeth. "Fine."

"Good girl," Richard said, satisfied. "You'll receive the contract tomorrow."

The call ended.

I sat there, staring at my screen.

My entire life had just been sold off in a single conversation.

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The Moment After –

A knock sounded on my bedroom door.

"Ava?" Mom's soft voice broke the silence.

I swallowed hard. "Yeah?"

She hesitated before slowly pushing the door open. "Who was that?"

I forced a smile—but I could feel my mask cracking. "No one. Just… just someone from work."

Mom's brows furrowed. "Ava."

Damn it. I should have known better. She saw right through me.

She walked in, sitting beside me on the edge of my bed. "Talk to me, sweetheart. What's going on?"

I inhaled sharply, staring at my hands. "It's—" My throat tightened. I couldn't tell her. She'd never let me go through with this.

"It's nothing," I whispered. "Just… stress."

She took my hand, squeezing it. "You don't have to do everything alone, Ava."

Yes, I did.

Because if she knew the truth, she'd never forgive me.

I swallowed down the guilt, plastered on a fake smile, and kissed her forehead. "I promise, Mom. Everything's going to be okay."

She searched my eyes, worry written all over her face.

I just hoped she never found out the price I had to pay.

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