THE RELUCTANT PROPOSAL

Chapter 2: The Reluctant Proposal

Elena sat in the back of the car, her hands clenched in her lap as her father drove through the city streets. The weight of the situation pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She had barely slept after their conversation last night. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind replayed the same thoughts over and over again.

Marry Damien Sterling? The idea sounded ridiculous. Impossible.

And yet, here she was, on her way to meet him.

Her father hadn't given her much of a choice. If she refused, their home would be gone, their company would collapse, and her mother's medical bills would go unpaid. The thought of her mother suffering because of her decision made Elena feel sick.

Her father cleared his throat as he pulled up in front of a towering glass building—Sterling Enterprises. The name alone sent a shiver down her spine.

"This is it," he said quietly.

Elena stared at the massive skyscraper. It looked cold and unwelcoming, just like the man inside.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, gripping the door handle.

Richard sighed. "No. But we don't have another option."

Elena bit her lip, then pushed the door open. With every step she took toward the entrance, her heart pounded harder.

Inside, the lobby was sleek and modern, with polished floors and a massive chandelier hanging overhead. It was the kind of place that screamed power and money.

A woman in a fitted black dress greeted them at the front desk.

"Mr. Carter," she said with a polite nod. "Mr. Sterling is expecting you. Please follow me."

Elena's stomach twisted as they stepped into the elevator. The ride up felt endless, the air heavy with tension. Her father stood beside her, silent and tense.

When the doors finally opened, they were led to a large office with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city.

And there he was.

Damien Sterling stood behind a sleek black desk, his piercing gray eyes locked onto Elena the moment she entered. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and intimidating in a perfectly tailored suit. Everything about him exuded power and control.

"Elena Carter," he said, his voice deep and smooth. "We finally meet."

Elena squared her shoulders, trying to ignore the way his presence made her uneasy. "Mr. Sterling."

He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit.

She hesitated before lowering herself into the chair. Her father sat beside her, looking tense.

Damien took his seat, folding his hands together as he studied her. "I assume your father has told you why you're here."

Elena met his gaze. "He told me you're offering to erase our debts in exchange for a marriage.

A ghost of a smirk played on his lips. "Straight to the point. I like that.

Elena's jaw tightened. There was something about him that made her feel like she was already losing—like he was five steps ahead, watching her struggle from a distance.

"I don't understand why," she said. "Why me?"

Damien leaned back in his chair. "I need a wife. You need a solution. It's simple."

Elena clenched her fists. "Marriage isn't a business deal."

He arched a brow. "In my world, everything is.

The coldness in his tone sent a shiver down her spine.

"I have a contract," he continued, sliding a thick folder across the desk. "Read it."

Elena hesitated before opening it. Her eyes scanned the pages, growing more furious with each line.

"No love. No interference in your affairs. Absolute obedience in public?" she read aloud, her voice shaking with anger.

Damien's expression remained impassive. "Yes."

Elena snapped the folder shut. "This isn't a marriage. It's a prison sentence."

Damien's eyes darkened. "It's a lifeline for your family."

Elena gritted her teeth. "You're a monster."

He shrugged. "I'm a businessman."

She looked at her father, hoping he would step in, but he only lowered his gaze, guilt written all over his face.

Elena turned back to Damien. "And if I refuse?"

His expression didn't change. "Then your family loses everything.

Elena's hands shook. This man was ruthless. He wasn't offering her a choice—he was forcing her into a corner.

She could feel the walls closing in.

Damien leaned forward, his voice quieter but just as powerful. "Sign the contract, Elena. Make this easy for everyone.

Her vision blurred with unshed tears. She had dreamed of falling in love, of marrying someone who adored her. Now, she was being pushed into a cold, loveless arrangement with a man who saw her as nothing more than a piece in his game.

But what choice did she have.

Her mother needed medical care. Her father was drowning in debt. Their home—her childhood memories—would be taken away.

Tears burned her eyes as she picked up the pen.

Her fingers trembled as she signed her name on the dotted line.

The moment the ink dried, she knew.

Her life no longer belonged to her.

her eyes Dem as she looked at her dad, and everyone around her.

she could see into the future and also knowing what it hold is not what she ever bargained for.

could this be true? Elena said, or am I really dreaming? why is my supposed day of bliss be full of blisters, what did I really do wrong to treated this way"

finally she made up her mind seeing the problem faced by her father and also her mother's health with the predator getting ready to hunt them down as prey,

though she knew signing this is like a death warrant but had to believing that it might turn out for good , but to her it wasn't her intention to ever think of going into this but just had to submit herself to becoming the debt her father couldn't pay and also believing through this her mother can rise again.