The night was dazzling, a lavish affair held in the grand ballroom of the Caldwell mansion. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting shimmering light over the sea of formally dressed guests. Waiters moved gracefully between groups, offering champagne and delicacies. The event was supposedly in celebration of one of the Caldwell family's many hotel chains reaching a significant anniversary, but Clara knew better. The entire party was a façade—a grand stage for Henry Caldwell Jr. to propose.
Clara stood near the edge of the ballroom, trying to steady her breath as she sipped her drink. She glanced around the room, her eyes catching on Henry, who was in deep conversation with his father. His usual composed smile never wavered, not even as he prepared to bind himself to her in the most public way possible. Henry was perfect in every sense: handsome, wealthy, and polite—a model son for the elite Caldwell family. But Clara knew his heart wasn’t in this any more than hers was.
She shifted uncomfortably in her gown, a stunning creation that had been chosen for her by a stylist earlier that week. Everything about tonight had been planned down to the smallest detail, including her supposed surprise and happiness at the proposal that was about to unfold.
Henry made his way across the room toward her, the whispers around them growing louder as the guests prepared themselves for the grand moment. He stopped in front of Clara, taking her hand in his. His smile was warm, but hollow—practiced.
“Clara,” Henry said, his voice smooth and steady. “I’ve never met someone as beautiful, kind, and perfect for me as you are. I am the luckiest man alive, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Clara’s heart raced, not from excitement but from the pressure. She forced a smile as Henry knelt on one knee, pulling out a small velvet box. Gasps and cheers echoed around them as he opened it to reveal the pear-shaped diamond engagement ring—a ring Clara had once dreamed of as a little girl.
“Will you marry me?”
Clara’s throat tightened. She glanced around the room, her eyes landing on Elena, standing just behind Henry’s parents. Elena’s eyes were glassy, tears threatening to spill over. Clara knew why—those words, that promise, should have been for Elena, not her. This entire charade was suffocating both of them.
Clara swallowed hard, her mind racing. She glanced back down at Henry and nodded, her voice betraying none of the turmoil inside her. “Yes.”
Applause erupted around them, and Henry stood, slipping the ring onto Clara’s finger. His smile remained steady as he leaned in and kissed her cheek, a perfect display for the cameras that were undoubtedly flashing from across the room. Clara forced her smile wider, playing the part she was meant to play. She was now officially engaged to Henry Caldwell Jr.
The ring was beautiful, everything she had once wanted, but it felt foreign and heavy on her finger. This wasn’t the engagement she had dreamed of. She didn’t feel love, just sadness—a deep, hollow ache that she couldn’t shake.
After the party, as the celebration continued downstairs, Clara was summoned to a private room by one of the staff. Her father was already there when she arrived, sitting in one of the leather armchairs, a stiff drink in hand. Beside him sat Mr. Caldwell, his presence commanding, and standing next to him was a man Clara didn’t recognize.
Mr. Caldwell looked up as she entered, smiling with a cool, businesslike demeanor. “Clara, thank you for joining us. I know this has been a big night for you.”
Clara nodded, unsure of what was to come next. She could still hear the faint sounds of laughter and music from the ballroom below, but here in this room, everything felt tense, serious.
Mr. Caldwell gestured to the man beside him. “This is Mr. Garrison, our family’s lawyer. Before you fully step into your engagement to Henry, there are a few things we need to discuss.”
Clara felt a chill run down her spine, but she kept her face composed. “What kind of things?”
Mr. Garrison opened a file and pulled out a stack of papers. He placed them on the table and began to explain in a calm, detached voice. “This is a standard agreement we require for all major family marriages. You’ll notice that by marrying Henry, you are agreeing to never disclose any private family matters or anything that could harm the Caldwell name. Your discretion is expected.”
Clara glanced at her father, who was watching her closely. She nodded. “I understand.”
“There’s also a clause regarding the financial ramifications should the engagement or marriage end prematurely,” Mr. Garrison continued. “If you break the engagement, there will be a ten million dollar penalty. If a divorce occurs after the marriage without children, there’s a fifteen million dollar fine.”
Clara’s stomach turned at the mention of children, but she kept her expression neutral. She nodded again. “I... I understand.”
Her eyes moved over the contract, page after page of legal jargon binding her to the Caldwell family, to Henry, in ways she hadn’t anticipated. But then something caught her attention. A clause that made her blood run cold.
It wasn’t just about the engagement. It was about Mr. Caldwell… And how he would be the one consummating the marriage.