When Yelton Group tanked, their CEO and his wife showed up at our door, begging for a marriage alliance.

My dad, thinking I was still head-over-heels for Rosie after ten freaking years, threw a million into their sinking ship and signed me up to marry Rosie.

Wedding night? She blindfolded me and kept whispering how bad she wanted it.

A month later, I tested positive for an STD.

Then I caught her bragging to her friends.

"Quinn got wrecked by, like, a dozen girls," she laughed. "Wanna guess who gave him the infection?"

Her friends were cracking up.

"I scouted all the grossest red-light spots," one said. "Each one's got a different flavor."

"Just wait," another giggled. "When the symptoms hit hard, we'll know who wins."

Rosie added, "Prize money's ready. Soon as we figure it out, she gets paid."

That's when it hit me. It wasn't Rosie in bed that night—it was a lineup of strangers she set up.

I lost it. Went straight to her, demanded answers.

She didn't even flinch. "Mad? Please. If you hadn't dangled that million to force me into this marriage—or scared Caleb off—do you think I'd waste my time on you?

"Once Caleb forgives me, you're done."

I asked for a divorce. She locked me in the basement.

"Chill," she said. "We're still placing bets on who gave you the STD."

Six months later, I died down there. Just rotted away.

Then I woke up—right back on the day her parents came begging for that deal.

Only this time, on the wedding day?

She was the one crying.

"Quinn, Rosie's actually had a thing for you forever. If you actually married her, she'd lose it."

I jerked awake. Gordon Yelton was staring dead serious.

I was alive. Again.

Deborah, his wife, sat next to me, clutching my hand, all soft smiles. "You've crushed on Rosie for ten years. If this marriage happens..."

My parents exchanged tight smiles. We all knew the game.

This wasn't about love. The Yeltons were broke, and they needed our money. Everyone knew I'd been Rosie's lovesick fool.

Back then? Marrying her felt like some fantasy come true.

Now? I wanted her dead.

I snapped out of it. "I'm not marrying Rosie."

Silence. Every pair of eyes locked on me.

I used to orbit Rosie—chasing every glance, every word.

Deborah blinked. "Did you two fight? I'll talk to her."

I shook my head. "Don't bother."

Gordon frowned. "Is this about Caleb?"

I didn't answer.

He sighed. "Caleb's just some broke kid we sponsored. Rosie felt sorry for him. I'll have someone ship him off."

He said the same crap last time. It blew up in my face.

Rosie lost it when Caleb got yanked out of her life.

On our wedding night, she sent in a pack of girls infected with STDs. I didn't know until a month later—right before she locked me in the basement to see which disease would stick.

By the time my parents figured it out, my rep was already in flames.

"This is your son," she told them. "He cheated, caught something gross, and brought it home. Filthy."

They were crushed. It destroyed them.

Rosie didn't flinch. She clung to Caleb and sneered, "Once your parents die, I'm handing Quandt Corp to Caleb. He deserves it."

I felt completely hollow.

Then I rotted.

Just remembering made my hands tremble.

"Rosie doesn't deserve me," I said, sharp.

Gordon's jaw clenched. "Yeah, our company's bleeding. But if your family backs us, you won't regret it."

He wasn't wrong.

Last time, my parents dumped a million into Yelton Group. It exploded. Quandt Corp stayed behind the scenes and still raked in cash.

I wasn't against smart business.

But my voice stayed ice cold. "I'm not marrying Rosie Yelton. I'm marrying Yvette Yelton."

The room went still.

Gordon shot up. "Yvette?!"

"She's adopted," Deborah whispered. "And she just got kidnapped... she's in a wheelchair. Didn't you hate her?"

Dad stepped in. "Quinn! Don't do anything stupid!"

I just patted his hand, keeping him calm.

Yvette wasn't their real daughter. That part was true.

Rosie always played the victim, whining that Yvette bullied her. And like an idiot, I believed it. Treated Yvette like garbage.

But after marrying Rosie, I started seeing the truth. Yvette was the one getting wrecked.

She was the one who found me in that basement.

I remember it like it just happened—her legs weren't paralyzed. She kept pounding on that door, fists bleeding, and didn't stop.

Then Rosie stormed in with a crew and had them beat Yvette half to death.

I still hear her screaming, "Filthy whore. Why didn't the kidnappers finish you off? You stole my life, my parents, my man!"

Yvette didn't cry. Didn't flinch. She dropped to her knees and said, "Let Quinn go. I'll do whatever you want."

Rosie yanked her by the hair and slammed her into the wall. Again and again. I can still hear the thuds.

And through all that blood, Yvette whispered, "Quinn, I've been looking for you for so long."

So yeah, this wasn't some impulsive decision. Picking Yvette was the only thing that ever made sense.

Rosie Yelton? She's overdue for karma.

Snapping back to now, I stared down Gordon. "I'm marrying Yvette. She's your daughter on paper, and this saves your company."

Silence. Guess I hit the right nerve. Not a single protest—just a bunch of awkward nods.

I could finally breathe again.

I went straight to the Yelton estate. I had to see her.

Of course, the universe had jokes. Right at the gate—Rosie and Caleb.

Rosie's smile dropped. "Quinn? Seriously? You stalking me now?"

Her sidekick giggled. "Told you he'd show. Bet he'd lick your shoes if you asked."

Rosie smirked and tapped her foot, waiting for me to beg.

Gross.

I shoved her friend aside without slowing down. "You don't get to talk to me."

I brushed past Rosie. "Move."

She froze, then grabbed my arm. "I know your game—throwing Quandt money around to force a marriage. Who are you trying to impress? Playing the hero won't change what I think of you."

I stared her down. "I'm not marrying you."

She blinked, then laughed—sharp and loud. "Not marrying me? My dad just got a mil from your family, and you're still pretending? You look so cheap it's embarrassing."

I shrugged. "Exactly why I'm not marrying you."

That's when it hit her. Her face cracked.

Caleb stepped in. "Rosie, I think Quinn just hates me. If you don't go through with the wedding, your family's screwed... It's fine. I'll leave."

She dropped my arm like it burned and threw herself at him. "He's nothing. Even if I married him, I'd never love him. Caleb, let's do our wedding shoot tomorrow. Who cares if it's not legal? You're already my husband in my heart."

The crowd around them looked like Caleb had just won the jackpot.

She gave me that smug look again, hoping I'd break.

Back then, she lived for making me look pathetic. Now? I felt nothing. "Marry whoever. Not my issue."

I turned to leave, but Caleb blocked me. "Quinn, stop faking. Everyone knows about the engagement. I'm not even mad about the guys you sent after me—just treat Rosie right..."

That whole thing? Staged. He faked the beatdown and blamed me. I tried clearing my name, but Rosie didn't care.

Now? Not worth a word.

Rosie's smile vanished. "Why beg him? He'll do anything to win. He'll never be you."

Then she spun around, eyes sharp. "This marriage is business. If you ever touch Caleb again, I swear—"

I cut her off. "Yeah, got it."

I walked away without looking back.

She kept yapping like any of it mattered. "Please. You think I'd make it that easy for you?"

I let out a cold laugh.

Give it a few days—I'd be her brother-in-law. She needed to show a whole lot more respect for me.

I marched into the mansion, straight to the staff quarters.

Shoved the door open. Yvette sat in her wheelchair.

Her face lit up—then dropped. "Why didn't you pick Rosie?"

Didn't bother answering. Just leaned in and kissed her. "Don't you wanna marry me?"

She turned tomato red. Paused. Whispered, "I do."

***

Next day, I swung by again. Sebastian, the house manager, stopped me at the door.

"Mrs. Yelton had a wedding suit made. Time to try it on," he said, grinning like it was Christmas. "Yvette's had a crush on you forever. She's gonna lose it."

Then that voice hit.

"What did you just say?"

Rosie stood in the doorway. Caleb, obviously, right behind her, smug as hell.

Before Sebastian could get a word out, I stepped in. "It's nothing."

Rosie stared me down, laughed, dead-eyed. "Trying to act noble now that you're marrying me?"

She snatched the suit. "Caleb's wearing it first. Then you can have it."

Sebastian's face dropped. "Miss Yelton, your mom had that made for Mr. Quandt. She said no one else—"

Caleb cut in, all fake-hurt. "Man, Quinn's got everyone wrapped around his finger. Now even the help's talking down to me..."

Rosie snapped. "You don't listen to me anymore? I said Caleb wears it first!"

I took a breath. "No."

Our wedding was on a timer. I didn't have the patience.

Reached for the suit.

Before I touched it, Caleb let out a dramatic yell and threw himself down the stairs—still clutching the damn suit.

By the time anyone noticed, he was at the bottom, forehead bleeding.

He pointed at me, shaking. "Why... Why'd you push me?"

Rosie screamed. "Caleb!" She helped him up and rushed him out.

This crap? Caleb did it all the time.

And Rosie fell for it. Every. Single. Time.

I turned to find Yvette—but Rosie came storming back, grabbed my sleeve, and yanked me toward the driveway.

I pulled back. "What the hell are you doing?"

She shoved me against the car. "Caleb's bleeding. You're giving him blood."

"You nuts? It's a scratch. He'll be fine before we hit the ER. Move."

Went for my phone—she snatched it and hurled it. "You got me. You're marrying me. So why keep hurting him?"

The driver started the engine.

"I'm anemic. I pass out at the sight of blood. A transfusion could kill me!"

She laughed, cold. "You're a grown man. That excuse is pathetic."

We rolled up to a Yelton Group hospital. She dragged me to the blood draw room, barking orders. "Hurry up. He gives Caleb whatever he needs."

Needle went in.

I flinched.

Everything spun.

***

No clue how long I was out, but when I came to, I was on the floor—barely able to move.

Room was empty.

Rosie had dragged every nurse and doc to Caleb's side.

Just as everything started fading again, someone lifted me up.

"Don't fall asleep! Quinn, stay with me!"

I blinked.

Yvette was there, eyes red. "I'm late."

She pulled out the ring I gave her yesterday and slid it on. "I can't wait anymore."

"Me neither," I rasped.

Then I gave the order. "We're moving the wedding. Tonight."

That night, I rolled up to the Yelton estate in full wedding motorcade.

Rosie stormed out, fuming. "All this drama over blood? You're mad 'cause I was with Caleb. Well, I'm back. Happy now?"

Before I said a word, Yvette's voice cut through from behind her.

"Rosie, that how you greet your brother-in-law?"