My Enemy Forced Me Into A Fake Marriage To Save His Empire — Then His Grandmother Interrogated Me

Part 1

The day six rough men walked into my small herb shop, I thought my life was over.

They wore heavy leather coats and carried a silence that made the air in the room feel thin.

My hands shook as I stood behind the wooden counter, sorting dried wintergreen leaves.

I had just learned that my business partner had fled town in the middle of the night.

He took all of our savings and left me with a massive debt.

Three hundred dollars owed to the most dangerous men in the valley.

The tallest man stepped forward.

Miss Bennett, Mr. Miller wants to speak with you.

Every person in the region knew that name.

David Miller was the most feared businessman around, a man who swallowed up small shops without blinking.

A man people did not cross.

I gripped the edge of the counter, trying to keep my breathing steady.

I’m busy sorting my inventory.

My stomach twisted as I reached under the counter for my small hunting knife.

It wasn’t a request.

Fifteen minutes later, I stood inside a massive wooden cabin high above the valley.

The view from the large glass windows was beautiful, but my heart pounded like a trapped bird.

I stared at the man standing with his back to me.

He had broad shoulders and straight posture, hands clasped behind him like a king surveying his land.

Your partner stole my money.

David didn’t even turn around to address me.

Three hundred dollars that he borrowed to invest in your shop.

I forced myself to stand tall.

I didn’t know.

He told me he had secured a private loan from a bank in the city.

David finally turned to face me.

My breath caught in my throat.

He had dark hair, gray eyes as sharp as ice, and a jaw that looked cut from stone.

His face was handsome but completely devoid of warmth.

His eyes held a quiet danger that made me take a step back.

You have two options.

He circled his massive oak desk like a wolf cornering prey.

Option one, you pay me right now.

If you cannot, I close your shop and you leave this town with absolutely nothing.

Option two is much more interesting.

My heart sank into my boots.

What does option two mean?

My grandmother is dying.

He picked up a silver pen, rolling it between his fingers.

Her last wish is to see me married before winter ends.

She owns forty percent of my company.

If I am not married, her shares go straight to the church.

I blinked, completely stunned by the sudden shift in conversation.

And what does that have to do with me?

I need a wife for one year.

David looked at me as if he were discussing a lumber purchase.

After that, we separate.

No romance, no problems.

You get your debt forgiven and enough money to start over somewhere else.

I stared at him in disbelief.

You want me to marry you?

A complete stranger?

A marriage of convenience.

He corrected me without missing a beat.

Nothing more.

Anger flared hot in my chest.

This is insane.

I don’t even know you.

David opened a leather folder on his desk.

Your sister’s medical bills are incredibly high.

Your father’s farm is dangerously close to losing the bank loan.

You owe me three hundred dollars.

You are, Miss Bennett, running out of choices.

I stiffened my spine.

I am not desperate.

I am resourceful.

And if I agree to this ridiculous plan, I want something more.

David lifted a dark brow.

You are in no position to negotiate.

If I give up a year of my life, I want my terms met.

I stepped closer to his desk, refusing to look away.

You will fund the new school project in town.

Your business has been blocking it by keeping lumber prices unfairly high.

For the first time, a look of surprise flashed across David’s cold face.

Then he laughed softly.

There was absolutely no warmth in the sound.

You are brave.

He held out his large hand.

Or foolish.

Do we have a deal, future Mrs. Miller?

I stared at his extended hand.

A year with this dangerous man felt exactly like a trap.

But my family needed the financial help, and the school project mattered deeply to our community.

I reached out and took his hand.

Deal.

But do not expect me to act like an adoring wife.

You will act exactly how I need you to act.

David’s grip was firm and unyielding.

I can be very persuasive.

Four days later, I stood in his cabin again.

I paced the floor while David calmly worked through his thick ledger.

You want me to tell my family what?

I threw my hands in the air.

That we have been secretly courting for seven months.

He did not look up from his papers.

That I proposed during a picnic near the falls.

No one would ever believe I went to the falls.

I muttered under my breath.

Your family lives states away.

David slid a thick folder across the desk toward me.

Inside were portraits of us together, forged love letters, and a full timeline of our fake relationship.

This is disturbing.

I flipped through the terrifyingly detailed documents.

This is thorough.

He corrected me again.

My grandmother is not an easy woman to fool.

When do I meet her?

I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

Tomorrow evening.

David closed his ledger.

Dinner at the family home.

He pulled a small wooden box from his vest pocket.

The lid popped open to reveal a gold ring with a massive sapphire.

Isn’t this entirely too much?

I asked, staring at the glowing stone.

It is exactly what people expect from a man in my position.

He took my hand and slid the ring onto my finger.

His touch surprised me.

It was gentle, almost warm against my cold skin.

There is one massive problem.

I whispered, staring at our joined hands.

I cannot act to save my life.

Then we will practice.

David stepped closer.

Before I could protest, he cupped my face in his large hands.

His stern expression softened instantly.

His voice dropped an octave, growing incredibly warm.

Sarah.

He looked deeply into my eyes.

You challenge me.

You make me want to be a better man.

My heart fluttered wildly in my chest, even though I knew it was all pretend.

Then he dropped his hands and stepped back.

Your turn.

I cleared my throat and tried my best.

David, you are really wealthy and quite handsome.

He let out a long, heavy sigh.

We have a massive amount of work to do.

The next evening, I stood outside the Miller family home.

It was a grand stone mansion that made me feel entirely small and out of place.

David rested his hand lightly on my lower back as we walked up the wide steps.

His touch was steady, but my heart raced like a runaway train.

Tonight I had to meet the family of the man I was pretending to love.

It felt completely impossible.

Remember everything we practiced.

David murmured close to my ear.

No pressure at all.

I whispered back, gripping my purse until my knuckles turned white.

The heavy oak door swung open before we could even knock.

A strict-looking housekeeper nodded at us.

Mr. Miller, Miss Bennett, the family is waiting in the parlor.

As we walked through the grand entry, I saw massive tapestries and family portraits lining the walls.

Everything in this house felt heavy with history.

I leaned close to David.

I feel like I am walking straight into a wolf’s den.

Wolves are highly predictable.

David replied without missing a beat.

My family is not.

Inside the parlor, three people rose when we entered.

A tall woman with sharp features, a cheerful man with kind eyes, and an elderly woman sitting in a high-backed chair.

Her presence commanded the entire room.

David stepped forward smoothly.

Aunt Brenda, Uncle Craig, Grandmother.

He turned to me with a practiced smile.

This is Sarah Bennett, my fiancee.

Brenda approached first.

Her eyes were assessing, but her smile was perfectly polite.

Lovely to meet you.

What a complete surprise David has given us.

Craig shook my hand warmly.

A delightful surprise.

He said with a booming laugh.

Then the elderly woman extended her fragile hand.

I am Helen Miller.

Her voice was raspy but strong.

Come closer, child.

My eyes are not what they used to be.

I stepped forward and took her hand.

Helen’s grip was surprisingly strong.

Her sharp brown eyes studied my face carefully.

So.

Helen tilted her head.

You are the woman who finally captured my grandson’s stubborn heart.

Sit beside me and tell me absolutely everything.

For nearly half an hour, Helen asked gentle but incredibly pointed questions.

I answered as best I could, strictly following the backstory David had drilled into my head.

I slowly started to relax in my chair.

Until Helen leaned back.

She narrowed her eyes at me.

And how did you two actually meet?

Helen asked.

David has been suspiciously secretive about you.

Panic rose in my throat.

I glanced quickly at David.

His face remained calm, but his gray eyes warned me to stick with the story.

I opened my mouth to recite our lines.

Helen lifted a single, commanding hand.

Please, dear, do not insult me.

I was not born yesterday.

That ridiculous dance story has David’s handwriting all over it.

It is far too perfect.

Far too tidy.

I want to hear the real story.

The messy one.

I froze in my seat.

David started to speak, stepping forward to intervene.

Helen shot him a look that shut him up instantly.

I want to hear it from her.

Helen said firmly.

I swallowed hard.

Something inside me suddenly shifted.

I no longer wanted to be trapped in David’s carefully written script.

I wanted to tell something closer to the truth, even if it destroyed the deal.

I looked at David, took a deep breath, and decided to tell his grandmother exactly what kind of monster he really was.