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I drop the breadstick, splattering garlic butter across my plate. "Several million dollars? What the fuck, Dad? How did you let this happen?"

"I don't know, Maria," he says wearily. "I guess I trusted the wrong people. Or I bit off more than I could chew. Maybe a little bit of both. I wanted to expand the restaurants, get them into new markets, and I didn't think twice about getting a loan from Mr. Romano. He seemed like a decent guy, and the deal was solid. I thought he was a businessman, but he needs a wife, and he saw the pictures of you on the walls of my office, and..."

I freeze as the rest of his words sink in. "So, what, he wants to own me?"

Dad shakes his head. "No, he wants you to marry him. It's an arrangement, Maria. But he'll forgive all my debt if you go along with it. And I won't lose everything your mother and I built."

My chest tightens. I've always known that Mom and Dad started the business together, but hearing him use her as a way to manipulate me makes me feel ill. "But why would he want me? He doesn't even know me."

"Because you're beautiful and smart," Dad says firmly. "And I told him you're kind and selfless, and you'll do anything for the people you care about."

I blink back tears as a wave of panic rises inside me. This can't be real. I must be dreaming right now. My dad isn't sitting across from me, saying that some stranger wants me to marry him in order to wipe out a multimillion-dollar debt.

But Dad's expression is deadly serious. "Maria, say something," he pleads. "Please."

"What do you want me to say?" I ask hoarsely. "You're asking me to get married. To someone I've never met. And this is all so I can keep your restaurants alive?”

"Yes," he admits. "And so I don't end up in prison or dead in an alley. You have no idea how deep in debt I am right now."

My head spins. "Okay, well, how about we pay off the debt? We'll figure out a way to pay it back slowly, and?—"

"No!" Dad says sharply. "I already tried that. It won't work. My credit is completely ruined, Maria. Everything is on the line here, and this is the only option I have left. It's my last chance. Do you understand?”

His words hit me like a slap across the face, and suddenly the room feels hot. I swallow hard. "I understand, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to accept it."

"It doesn't have to be forever, Maria. Once I recoup my losses, I'll do everything in my power to get you away from him, but for now, this is the best option to save the family legacy. Please, Maria. He swore to me he'd never hurt you."

The last sentence makes my stomach turn. "He swore he'd never hurt me? Dad, listen to what you’re saying!”

"He's not a mobster or anything. He's just … a businessman who has connections to people who can help him get what he wants."

"Like me."

"Yes. Will you do it, kid? You’re only twenty-four. This will only be a blip in your life, but it may very well save mine."

With my heart in my throat and fear settling cold in my stomach, I throw my napkin down on the table and storm off, not even bothering to grace him with an answer.

Hell no, I won't do it. I refuse to marry a stranger!

I worked so hard to start my own life, getting my degree and working as a software developer, renting my own apartment, and basically creating something separate from the family that has caused me so much grief.

No. Absolutely not. He's going to have to find another way out of this mess.

I ignore my dad yelling after me, pushing open the front door, and rushing into the night. What started as a sprinkle when I arrived has grown into a full-blown storm, and the sheets of rain are so heavy I can barely see what's in front of me. I try to cover my eyes with my forearm, digging in my purse for my keys. I can deal with being soaked to the bone if it means I get the chance to escape this place.

I almost make it to my car when a hand reaches out and grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I yelp, slapping at the hand, assuming it's my dad and unable to tell otherwise with the rainwater streamingdown my face. But then, I turn around and see that it's not my dad at all.

It's a tall man, at least 6’3, with dark hair plastered to his forehead, rainwater dripping from his nose, and a stern look on his face. His eyes are so dark that I can't even see the difference between his iris and his pupil. And even though I have no idea who he is, there's something about him that makes my heart race with fear.

"Maria," he says, his voice deep and authoritative. "You're going to get in the car with me."

"What? Who the hell are you?" I try to step away from him, but he just tightens his grip on my arm.

"I'm Xavier Romano. Your future husband."

Panic swells as he pulls me forward, and I barely have time to dig my heels in before he's opening the door to a huge, black SUV and all but pushing me inside. He shuts the door behind me, but before I can scramble for the handle to try and escape, he's climbing into the driver's side and hitting the lock button.

The locks click down, trapping me in here with this strange, intense man who apparently wants me to marry him.

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