TO LOVE OR TO NOT: THE BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACTED HEIR

“Oh God!”Cassandra's hands trembled as she gaped at the double lines staring back at her from the display of the PT strip she was clutching. Her breathing hitched as flashes of that night—the blurred lights of the bar, the scent of expensive cologne, and the weight of a man she didn't even know—played on a loop in her mind.“No, no, no...” She shook her head, her vision blurring as she staggered toward the small sofa in the center of her studio apartment.The space was cozy. Pothos vines trailed down from the top of the refrigerator, and a collection of succulents crowded the windowsill, soaking up the afternoon sun. The sofa was a soft, sage green, covered in floral throw pillows that usually brought her peace. Now, not so much... Between her small bed tucked into the far corner and the cramped kitchen ahead, the apartment suddenly felt like it was closing in on her.The heavy thud of the main door swinging open made Cassandra jump. A redhead dashed in, her chest heaving as if she’d

“What? Marry you? Are you insane?” Cassandra wasn't sure if she was more stunned or insulted.Ethan rolled his eyes, the gesture so casual it was infuriating. “Quit being dramatic. It was cute for the first five minutes; now it’s just exhausting. We both know you’d kill for a deal like this.”Cassandra scoffed, her shock hardening into a glare. “You don’t know a single thing about me.”He ignored her, pacing the marble floor like a king surveying a new territory. “It’s a simple contract. Temporary. One year tops, and then we go our separate ways. I get my heir and the keys to the Gray Group; you get the bag and a permanent seat at the table of the elite. We’re talking a billion dollars every month for the entire year we are married, and then a handsome ten billion dollars additional parting gift on the last month.”Cassandra's head was spinning now. Billion dollars? With a ‘B’? The numbers were so large they felt abstract, like play money. But this wasn't a game. If he really was the E

Flash. Flash. Flash.The moment the black SUV pulled up the red carpet of the Vanguard Estate, the night exploded.Ethan led Cassandra out of the vehicle and they started towards the entrance. The paparazzi were all over the place. “Ethan! Who is she?”Cassandra squinted against the stretch of camera lights on her face, a wave of nausea suddenly hitting her.“Since you are with a new woman today, Ethan Gray, does this mean things are really over between you and Tiffany?”“Mr. Gray, a comment on the merger with Queens Group… Will that be dissolved now you ended things with Queens Heiress?”Queens Heiress? Tiffany? Ethan had ended things recently with Queens Heiress, Tiffany? Clearly, the paparazzi didn't seem too happy about it… Cassandra felt her head spin even more as Ethan slid a protective arm around the small of her back, pulling her flush against his side.The heat of his palm through the thin silk of her emerald custom piece dress sent a jolt of electricity straight up her sp

It was quiet when Cassandra arrived back at the mansion that was more a prison than a home. It was already the late hours of the evening. She stepped through the grand foyer, her footsteps echoing off the cold marble. Heading straight for the stairs, her body heavy with exhaustion, she slipped into her bedroom, expecting the sanctuary of solitude, even for a little while. Instead, she froze as she found Ethan Gray sitting on the plush, charcoal-velvet cushion across from her bed, his silhouette framed by the moonlight spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows.The room was a masterpiece of chic, minimalist luxury—cream-colored curtains and throw pillows, silk sheets, and polished wood. Ethan had told her to change anything she disliked, but Cassandra hadn’t bothered with the furniture. Adding a few potted monsteras and small glass vases of fresh eucalyptus and lilies had been all the change she had made. “Umm, what are you doing sitting in my room like this, Mr. Gray?” she asked

“Here, have some more fruit, Mom.”Cassandra's face wore a wide smile as she held a slice of strawberry in a fork toward her mother.Loretha Greene leaned forward slightly and accepted it, chewing slowly before smiling back at her daughter.The late afternoon sun streamed through the hospital window, bathing the room in warm golden light. A variety of flowers put together by Cassandra sat on the windowsill, adding splashes of color against the sterile white walls.Accepting another fruit slice, Loretha studied her daughter carefully as she chewed. “What about school, dear? You have been here, stuck by my side for the last three days, you know?”Cassandra reached for her mother's hand and squeezed it gently. “I just like spending time with you, Mom.”She offered yet another piece of fruit.“Besides, nothing much is happening at school right now. I'll easily catch up next week.” Her lips curved proudly. “Your daughter is really smart, you know.”Loretha chuckled softly. “Oh, I know. Yo