CHAPTER NINE

"Sit down, Ivy," Allesio says, his voice like a blade, sharp and cold, as he leans back in his leather chair.I clutch the edge of my purse, standing rigid in his office doorway. The glass walls reflect the city lights, but all I feel is the weight of his stare. "I'm fine standing."

"Suit yourself." He gestures to the chair anyway, his dark eyes narrowing. "We need to talk."

"About what?" My voice shakes, but I force it steady.

"My father's still in that hospital bed, Allesio. I don't have time for games."

"No games." He slides a folder across his desk, the movement deliberate. "Open it."I hesitate, then step forward, my heels clicking on the polished floor. The folder's heavy, official. I flip it open-legal documents, dense with fine print.

"What is this?""A contract," he says, voice flat. "Marry me."I freeze, my fingers tightening on the paper.

"Marry you? Are you serious?"

"Deadly." He leans forward, elbows on the desk, his gaze pinning me in place.

"You want your father's treatment covered? The best doctors, the best machines, everything he needs? I can make that happen."My throat tightens.

"And what do you get out of it?"He smirks, but it's bitter, not amused.

"Revenge. You play my wife in public, my... personal plaything in private. We destroy Dante and your mother. They'll choke on their own pride when they see us together."My stomach churns.

"You're disgusting."

"Maybe." He shrugs, unapologetic. "But your father's dying, Ivy. You're out of options. Or do you think Eros & Ash will keep paying those bills?"I flinch, the memory of that night burning my skin. "I don't trust you."

"You don't have to." His voice hardens. "Trust the money. It's already wired to the hospital if you sign."I glance at the contract, my heart racing.

"And if I don't?"

"Then you're back to begging." He leans back, crossing his arms. "Forty-eight hours, Ivy. That's what the doctor said, right? Tick-tock."

"Stop it!" I snap, slamming the folder shut.

"You think I want this? You think I want to be your... your pawn?""I think you want your father alive," he says, voice low, almost cruel.

"And I think you'll do anything to make that happen. Same as last time."My cheeks burn, shame and anger twisting together.

"You don't know me."

"I know enough." His eyes darken, something flickering behind them-pain, maybe, but it's gone too fast.

"Your mother ruined my family. You're her daughter. This is poetic justice."I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms.

"You hate her that much?"

"More than you can imagine," he says, his voice a growl. "She drove my mother to her grave. Dante's no better. You in or out?"I open my mouth, but the words catch. My father's face flashes in my mind-pale, tubes everywhere, the beep of the monitor.

I can't lose him. Not now. Not ever."I need to think," I whisper."You don't have time to think," he says, standing now, towering over the desk. "Sign it, Ivy. Save him."The door swings open before I can answer. Antonio storms in, his face a storm of fury. "What the hell is this, Allesio?"

"Stay out of it," Allesio snaps, not breaking eye contact with me.

"Ivy, don't listen to him," Antonio says, stepping between us. "You don't need to do this."

"Antonio, please," I say, my voice cracking. "You don't understand-""I understand he's using you!" Antonio's eyes blaze, turning to Allesio.

"You're dragging her into your damn vendetta!""It's her choice," Allesio says, voice icy. "She knows the stakes."

"Stakes?" Antonio laughs, bitter and sharp. "You're manipulating her, brother. Just like Sophia did."Allesio's jaw tightens, his knuckles whitening on the desk. "Don't bring her up."

"Why not?" Antonio steps closer, voice rising.

"Sophia played you, cheated on you, stole from the company, and you're still letting her poison you! Ivy's not Clara!"

"Enough!" Allesio slams his fist on the desk, the sound echoing. "This isn't about Sophia."

"Then what's it about?" I cut in, my voice shaking but loud. "Tell me, Allesio. Why me? Why this?"He stares at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, slowly, he says, "Because you're the perfect weapon. Clara's daughter, on my arm, in my bed-it'll break them."My stomach twists, but I hold his gaze.

"And my father?"

"Fully funded," he says, voice steady. "Private wing, experimental drugs, whatever it takes. You just have to say yes."

"Ivy, don't," Antonio pleads, grabbing my arm. "He's not worth it. He's bitter, broken-you don't know what he's capable of."

"I know what I'm capable of," I say, pulling my arm free. My eyes burn, but I don't cry. Not now. "I can't let my father die, Antonio."

"You're worth more than this," Antonio says, his voice softer, almost breaking."I don't have a choice," I whisper, looking away. The contract sits heavy in my hands, the pen glinting beside it."You always have a choice," Antonio says, but his voice lacks conviction, like he knows I'm right.

"Not this time," I say, my chest tight. I grab the pen, my hand trembling. "I'm sorry."

"Ivy-" Antonio starts, but I cut him off."Don't. Just... don't." I scrawl my name across the contract, the ink bleeding into the page like a wound. I slide it back to Allesio. "There. It's done."Allesio takes the folder, his expression unreadable.

"Good. We will announce the engagement tomorrow. You move into my place tonight."

"Tonight?" My voice cracks. "I need to see my father-""You'll see him," Allesio says, standing and buttoning his suit jacket. "The hospital's already been notified. They're prepping his new wing now."I nod, numb, the weight of my decision crushing me. "And what happens next?"

"You play your part," he says, voice cold again. "Smile for the cameras, obey in private. We ruin them together."Antonio steps forward, his face pale. "Ivy, you don't have to do this. I can find another way-"

"There is no other way," I snap, my voice sharper than I mean.

"You think I want this? You think I want to be his... his toy? I'm doing this for my father!"Antonio flinches, his eyes full of pain. "He's going to hurt you, Ivy. He's not the brother I grew up with."

"Get out, Antonio," Allesio says, his voice low and dangerous.

"This doesn't concern you."

"It damn well does!" Antonio shouts, turning to him.

"She's my friend, not some pawn in your twisted game!"

"Friend?" Allesio scoffs, stepping around the desk. "You're in love with her, and you're too weak to admit it."Antonio's face reddens, but he doesn't deny it.

"At least I'm not using her to settle a score."

"Enough!" I yell, my voice echoing off the glass walls.

"Both of you, stop it! I signed the contract. It's done. Antonio, please... just go."Antonio stares at me, his jaw tight, then shakes his head. "You're making a mistake."

"Maybe," I say, my voice barely audible. "But it's mine to make."He hesitates, then storms out, the door slamming behind him. The silence that follows is suffocating.

Allesio picks up his phone, glancing at a message before tucking it away. "You made the right choice."

"Did I?" I ask, my voice hollow. "Or did I just sell my soul?"He doesn't answer, just gestures to the door. "My driver's waiting. Pack your things. We start tonight."I nod, my legs heavy as I move toward the door. But before I leave, I turn back. "If you're lying about my father's treatment-"

"I'm not," he cuts in, his voice firm. "You'll see the proof at the hospital tomorrow."I swallow hard, gripping the doorframe. "And if I'm not what you expect? If I can't... play your game?"His eyes meet mine, cold but intense.

"You will. You're stronger than you think, Ivy. That's why I chose you."I didn't respond. I can't. I just walk out, the contract's weight heavier than the folder in my hands.

As I step into the elevator, my phone buzzes.

A text from an unknown number: You'll regret crossing me, sister.

My blood runs cold. Elena.