The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the penthouse, golden light cutting across the polished floors and gleaming surfaces of Kaiden Brown's private residence. Daisy Ross stared at the city skyline from the balcony, wrapped in a cashmere shawl, heart still pounding from the events of last night.
She had signed the contract. The ink had dried on the page, and yet the reality refused to sink in. She was legally married to Kaiden Brown. A man she hated with every fiber of her being. A man she was now carrying a child from.
And she would have to live with him.
The thought alone made her stomach churn.
Daisy turned to leave the balcony and nearly collided with Kaiden, who had appeared silently behind her. He was already dressed in a tailored suit, his tie perfectly knotted, hair immaculately styled. The contrast between him and her simple attire felt like a deliberate reminder that he always controlled the room—and tonight, the contract gave him even more control.
"Good morning," he said, his voice calm but sharp enough to make her flinch.
"Morning," she said tersely, keeping her eyes on the city.
He came closer, eyes scanning her as if measuring her resolve. "Did you sleep?"
Daisy crossed her arms. "Enough to know I'm awake. That counts."
Kaiden's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Your apartment is set up here now. You'll have your own floor. Private space. But… common areas are shared."
She stiffened. "Shared? You mean I have to walk past you every time I—"
"Yes," he said simply. "Every time. But don't worry. I have no intention of staring at you unnecessarily. Unless, of course, you give me a reason."
Her eyes narrowed. "I don't think you need any more reasons than the ones you already have."
Kaiden's expression didn't waver. He picked up a glass of water from the counter, sipped it casually, and let her simmer in the silence. She hated that silence. She hated the way it made her heart skip, the way it reminded her that she wasn't safe in her own thoughts anymore.
"You'll have a driver," he continued after a pause. "A chef. Everything you need. I assume you won't want to touch anything that reminds you of your past failures."
Daisy stared at him, incredulous. "You're making this sound like some kind of… luxury punishment."
"Call it whatever helps you sleep at night," Kaiden replied. "Just know, the contract is legally binding. There's no escape clause. You agreed."
Her fingers trembled slightly. She wanted to scream. She wanted to tear the contract into shreds. But the truth—her truth—was that she had no other choice. Not if she wanted her child to have even a fraction of the life her family had lost.
"Fine," she said finally. "We live under the same roof. Happy now?"
Kaiden's eyes softened—not in tenderness, but in amusement. "Very."
Breakfast was silent. Daisy had expected more tension, more fighting, but Kaiden had a habit of letting things simmer. He didn't speak unless necessary, and when he did, it was brief, precise, and impossible to argue with.
Daisy tried to eat, tried to convince herself she was fine, but every glance at him reminded her of the contract, of the baby growing inside her, of everything she had fought to deny.
Finally, Kaiden broke the silence.
"You'll have meetings scheduled starting tomorrow," he said. "Legal, financial, corporate. I expect you to attend. You're part of this family now, legally, if not emotionally."
Daisy's fork paused midair. "Part of… this family?"
"Yes," he said. "Don't look so shocked. Marriage carries responsibilities, Daisy. Whether you like it or not, this isn't just about the baby. It's about appearances, business, leverage. Everything is connected."
Her stomach tightened. She had never considered marriage to be a battlefield. She had never thought that agreeing to one year could mean signing her life over in more ways than one.
"And if I refuse?" she asked, voice tight.
"You didn't," he said, calm and infuriatingly smug. "That option is gone."
The first day in the penthouse was a whirlwind. Daisy unpacked her few belongings, each piece a reminder of the life she had lost and the life she was about to live. Kaiden's staff were efficient, professional, and silent. They treated her with the respect they reserved for a guest, but the unspoken rules were clear: Kaiden controlled this space, and she had to navigate it carefully.
By the afternoon, Kaiden summoned her to the office overlooking the city. Daisy walked in cautiously, noting the sleek lines, the minimalist décor, the floor-to-ceiling windows. And there he was, leaning against the desk, papers spread neatly before him.
"You'll sit there," he said, pointing to the chair opposite him. "I'll explain your responsibilities."
Daisy sat, trying not to let the nerves show. She had expected him to humiliate her, to demean her, but Kaiden had a peculiar style. Cold, unyielding, precise. The kind that cuts deeper than anger ever could.
"You'll attend board meetings," he began. "You'll be presentable. You will not speak unless spoken to, except in cases I authorize. You will attend charity functions, public appearances, and any event where the Ross family name matters. Any deviation will be considered breach of contract."
Daisy's hands tightened into fists. "So, I'm a… puppet."
Kaiden leaned back slightly, eyes meeting hers. "A puppet has no voice. You do. But your voice must be controlled. Remember, Daisy, appearances matter more than reality in the world we live in. And this world? I run it."
Her chest tightened. The words stung, but beneath the anger, a part of her realized he was right. Appearances mattered. She could fight him, fight the world, but only in ways that mattered. Not out of pride, but strategy.
Evening came, and the tension between them hadn't lessened. Daisy had expected confrontations, but Kaiden had his own style of dominance: subtle, oppressive, controlled.
When she entered the kitchen for dinner, she found him standing near the counter, holding a glass of wine. "You're learning quickly," he said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not learning," she snapped. "I'm surviving. That's all."
Kaiden's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Survival is the first step. Mastery comes later."
She didn't answer, simply took her plate and sat. The distance between them was small, yet suffocating. Every glance, every movement felt charged with unspoken rules, with threats and promises she could not yet read.
Hours later, she retreated to her private floor, exhausted. Her body felt heavier than usual—more than just the pregnancy, more than the emotional strain. Living under Kaiden Brown's roof was like navigating a maze designed to test every instinct she had.
She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, mind racing. The contract was no longer just a piece of paper. It was a cage. And she, willingly or not, had walked inside.
Somewhere in the distance, she could hear Kaiden moving about his floor. His presence was like a shadow she couldn't escape. And for the first time, Daisy admitted something she refused to say aloud: the thought of facing him tomorrow, and every day after, terrified her.
But even as fear gripped her, a spark of determination ignited. She would endure this year. She would survive Kaiden Brown. And if she could, she would find a way to make him see that Daisy Ross was not a woman to be tamed.
Because she carried more than a secret. She carried a future—one that belonged to her, no matter what Kaiden Brown thought.
And the battle for it was only just beginning.