Chapter 1 The Night Everything Changed

The rain had been falling for nearly two hours when Amara Williams realized she was completely lost.

She stood beneath the narrow roof of a closed restaurant, clutching her handbag against her chest while water rushed along the streets of Lagos. Her phone screen was cracked, her battery was at four percent, and the last bus she could afford had already disappeared into the darkness.

"Perfect," she whispered.

It had been the worst day of her life.

Her employer had fired her that afternoon. Her landlord had given her three days to pay her overdue rent. And to make matters worse, the hospital had called earlier to remind her about her mother's medical bill.

Amara closed her eyes.

She couldn't afford to break down.

Not tonight.

She stepped into the rain and began walking.

A few minutes later, a black luxury car suddenly stopped beside her.

Amara froze.

The passenger window slowly lowered.

"Get in."

She stared at the man behind the wheel.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His face was sharp and handsome, but his expression was cold enough to make her take a step backward.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, get in."

Amara looked around nervously.

"I don't know you."

His eyes remained fixed on her.

"My name is Damian Blackwood."

The name meant something.

Everyone knew Damian Blackwood.

At twenty-nine, he was one of the youngest and wealthiest businessmen in the country. His company owned hotels, real estate, restaurants and several technology investments.

And now he was sitting in front of her as if appearing out of nowhere.

"What do you want from me?" Amara asked.

"Five minutes of your time."

"I don't have five minutes."

"You're walking home in the rain."

"I'll survive."

For the first time, something resembling amusement appeared in his eyes.

"You're stubborn."

"And you're strange."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Get in, Amara."

Her heart stopped.

"How do you know my name?"

Damian opened the passenger door.

"Get in, and I'll explain."

Every sensible thought in Amara's mind told her to walk away.

But then thunder shook the sky.

She sighed and entered the car.

The interior smelled of expensive leather and a faint, unfamiliar cologne.

Damian pulled away from the roadside.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Amara turned toward him.

"Now explain."

"I've been looking for you."

Her eyebrows knitted together.

"Why?"

"Because I need your help."

"With what?"

He stopped at a red light and looked directly at her.

"I need a wife."

Amara blinked.

Then she laughed.

She couldn't help it.

"You're serious?"

"Very."

"You stopped a complete stranger in the rain to ask her to marry you?"

"Not exactly."

Damian reached into the compartment beside him and pulled out a black folder.

He placed it on her lap.

"Read it."

Amara stared at the folder but didn't open it.

"What is this?"

"A marriage contract."

Her laughter disappeared.

"You're insane."

"My grandmother controls a significant portion of my family's trust. According to her will, I must be legally married before my thirtieth birthday or I lose control of several assets."

"And you think I'll marry you?"

"I think you will if you understand the offer."

Amara slowly opened the folder.

The amount written on the first page made her breath catch.

₦50,000,000.

Her eyes widened.

"This is a joke."

"No."

"You're offering me fifty million naira to marry you?"

"For six months."

She stared at him.

Six months.

Fifty million naira.

It could pay her mother's hospital bills. Her rent. Her debts. It could completely change her life.

But something about Damian Blackwood made her uncomfortable.

"Why me?"

His expression suddenly became unreadable.

"That," he said quietly, "is complicated."

Amara closed the folder.

"I can't."

Damian didn't react.

"Think about it."

"I already have."

He pulled over in front of a modest apartment building.

Amara looked outside.

"You knew where I lived?"

"I told you. I've been looking for you."

She turned back toward him.

"Why?"

Damian's jaw tightened.

For a moment, the cold billionaire disappeared, and she saw something else in his eyes.

Fear.

Then his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed instantly.

"Hello?"

He listened silently.

"She's with me."

Amara's heart began pounding.

Damian ended the call and looked at her.

"Your life is in danger."

The color drained from her face.

"What?"

"Someone has been watching you."

Amara shook her head.

"That doesn't make sense."

"I wish it didn't."

He handed her the folder again.

"This isn't only about my inheritance anymore."

She stared at him.

"What are you saying?"

Damian leaned closer.

"The people looking for me have discovered that you are the one person they can use to hurt me."

Amara's fingers tightened around the folder.

She suddenly understood.

The marriage proposal wasn't the beginning of her problems.

It was only the beginning of the biggest secret of her life.

And she had just stepped directly into it.