CHAPTER 5
Ethan’s POV
“That woman…” I crossed my fingers against the armrest, counting the seconds since Ryan called to say they’d found her. The arrogance of thinking she could just walk out on me filled my heart. It was almost impressive. Almost.
I leaned back on the sofa, the glow of my phone lighting the room. The tiny blinking dot on the tracking app hadn’t moved for twenty minutes. I’d slipped the tracker into her jacket pocket while she was asleep. She had no idea of my plan.
The irony still made me smirk. A year ago, Ariana Cruz went on live television and mocked a man whose girlfriend dumped him during his proposal. That man was me.
Her exact words were: “Some men don’t deserve to lead a relationship, much less a marriage.” Millions watched. My humiliation was complete.
And now? She was at my house. About to become my wife.
“Sir, Ryan and the men are here,” Ryan’s voice came from behind me, calm as always.
“Put her in one of the secure guest rooms and lock the door,” I said without looking up. “No rough handling.”
“Yes, sir.”
I wasn’t doing this for fun. The contract marriage was a means to an end. In two years, I’d have an heir, she’d have her career back, and I’d have my Revenge neatly done and wrapped up.
The only complication would be telling my father. Richard Vale had been nothing but supportive of me taking over the business, but trying to help Ariana Cruz? The woman who’d humiliated her son on national TV? That would take some explaining.
The sound of her voice echoed faintly from the hall, sharp and furious. My men were used to resistance, but Ariana had an edge. She could make a demand sound like an order.
“Take me to her,” I said, standing. Ryan led me down the hall to the guest room on the same floor as mine. Two men stood guard outside.
“Does she give you trouble?” I asked.
“She tried,” Ryan said with a faint smile. She stopped after the first minute. Looks like she’s conserving energy.”
That meant she was thinking and also planning something.
I turned the key and stepped inside.
She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, head down, hair cascading over her face. No shouting, no pounding on the door. Just stillness.
“Not so clever after all,” I said, stepping closer.
Her head lifted. Her eyes were red but defiant. “How did you find me?” like how did you find me.
“It’s amazing what you can slip into someone’s pocket when they’re asleep.” I let the tethers land. “You thought you could run.” You can not escape from me,
She dropped her gaze again, and for a moment, I wondered if the tears were real or just another performance.
“Look at you,” I said. “The same woman who told millions that men should always be chasing women. Now you’re locked in a room because one man decided you’re his.”
“What do you want?” Her voice was quiet as she was, and her knuckles were clenched together.
“I have already told you. You’ll be my wife for two years. You’ll give me children. In exchange, your career comes back. If you refuse, your video goes public.” And you know what that means.
Her head snapped up. “Why are you doing this?”
I almost laughed. “You seriously don’t know?”
She didn’t speak.
“You built your name and it's bringing people like me apart. You think the rules never apply to you. This is my returning the favor. You’ll thank me for it one day.”
Her eyes stayed on mine, and I could see the calculation behind them. No tears now. No shaking. Just thinking.
Ariana’s POV
Every relationship I’ve ever analyzed, every piece of advice I've been given about power and boundaries, mocked me now. I was living the cautionary tale I used to warn people about.
Randy’s rejection still burned like acid in my throat. He hadn’t just ended things, he’d thrown me away in front of someone else. And now Ethan Vale, the man I’d publicly humiliated, had me cornered.
There were two options. Sign his contract and disappear into this gilded cage for two years, or let him destroy what little I have left.
I thought of Maya, my best friend, who was probably still fielding press calls from vultures. I thought of Talia, my stepsister, who would love nothing more than to see me humiliated again. I thought of Lucas Vale, Ethan’s older brother, who’d probably use my downfall as ammunition against Ethan in whatever silent war they were fighting.
“Alright,” I said finally, meeting his stare. “I’ll be your bride.”
His mouth curved, almost satisfied. “Good. I’ll have the papers drawn up immediately.”
“But,” I said, and his smile froze, “I have a condition.”
He crossed his arms. “You’re not in a position to negotiate.”
“You want me in public as your wife? Then I need my name back. My career. My platform. You make me powerful again, and I’ll play the part exactly the way you want.”
His jaw tightened. He hadn’t expected that.
“You’re asking me to rebuild the platform you used to humiliate me.”
“I’m asking you to make this believable. "No one’s going to buy that the Ariana Cruz they last saw crying in a parking lot is suddenly the wife of the Vale Resorts CEO unless I look like I won.”
He didn’t answer right away. I could see the wheels turning. This wasn’t just about revenge for him. Ethan Vale didn’t do anything that didn’t serve his business.
“Fine,” he said finally. “You’ll get your public image back." But you’ll do it my way. My schedule. My rules.”
I nodded. I didn’t have to like him to beat him. I just had to survive him.