Something Gained

Rylan Parker was a man of ice and precision. Silent, striking, and impossibly gorgeous, he ruled the business world with an iron fist and a heart encased in steel. His tailored suits fit him as perfectly as his cold demeanor, and his reputation as an intimidating CEO left little room for argument. Yet behind closed doors, there was a softer side of him, one that only surfaced for the most important person in his life-his little daughter.
Rylan had no time for distractions, especially not for love. Falling for anyone was a risk he couldn’t afford. So when he crossed paths with a blue-eyed blonde at a diner, she was nothing more than a fleeting thought. Or so he told himself.
But fate has a way of upending even the best-laid plans.
When his grandfather’s will left him with a startling condition-get married or lose everything-Rylan found himself in a bind. Love wasn’t an option, but a contract marriage might just solve his problem. The terms were simple. A business arrangement. No feelings. No complications.
Living under the same roof with Elena Smith, the woman who haunted his thoughts, would be manageable. It had to be. All he had to do was stick to one rule.
Don’t fall for her.
But some rules were made to be broken.

Elena Smith was a whirlwind of kindness and chaos. Sweet, charming, and hopelessly sentimental, she wore her heart on her sleeve even when life battered it from every side. Between juggling two jobs and losing sleep over her father’s mounting medical bills, she had no time for love, let alone the energy for it.
That all changed when Rylan Parker walked into her life.
The hot, arrogant billionaire made her a proposition that left her reeling. A marriage contract. Two years in exchange for security and financial stability. Two years to give her father a fighting chance.
It should have been an easy decision. He was a stranger, after all. A stranger who was infuriatingly attractive and exuded control.
The terms were clear. It was all about convenience.