AVA'S POV
“I’m going to get married to Isaiah,” I said firmly. My family froze. My mom’s eyebrows shot up, and my dad leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. It was my brother Liam who spoke first.
“Waita minute. Isaiah Crowe? That Isaiah?” he asked.
I nodded, keeping my face calm even though my heart was pounding. “Yeah. Isaiah Crowe.”
Mom’s lips parted in surprise before a slow smile started to form. “Isaiah Crowe? Canaan’s nemesis?” she asked, her tone laced with amusement.
She was already connecting the dots, and I could tell from the glint in her eyes that she liked where this was going.
Isaiah Crowe. The man Canaan hated with a passion. It wasn’t just petty jealousy, it was full-on rivalry. Canaan had despised Isaiah ever since he’d won the “Most Handsome Man in the Country” award years ago.
Then Isaiah won “Best CEO of the Year” three times in a row. He was everything Canaan wanted to be, successful, admired, and powerful, but no matter what Canaan did, he always fell short.
I used to reassure him, telling him he was enough, but now I could see how foolish I’d been. He wasn't even capable of cleaning Isaiah's shoes.
Mom’s smile widened, and she nodded approvingly. “I think this could work. I mean I like Isaiah.”
“Hold up.” Dad’s deep voice cut through. He placed his fork down, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me. “Honey, are you seriously thinking about marrying Isaiah just to get back at Canaan? Marriage isn’t a game, Ava. You just got out of one, and it nearly destroyed you. I’m not going to sit here and let you walk into another mess.”
Liam nodded in agreement, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. “Yeah, I’m with Dad on this one. This sounds… I don’t know, risky. Are you sure about this?”
I glanced around the table at each one of them. I took a deep breath before speaking. “I want to do this,” I said firmly. “And it’s my decision. I mean you've always wanted me to get married to him, to form an alliance between our companies. This is a good idea. it benefits all of us.”
Dad opened his mouth to argue, but I continued speaking. “I have something he wants.”
“The Oak Villa,” my mom said suddenly, realization dawning on her face.
I nodded. “Exactly. We’ll be married for a while, and in exchange, I’ll give him the villa.”
Dad frowned, his brows furrowing deeply. “Ava, this is serious. Are you absolutely sure about this? You’re talking about getting married again.”
“I’m sure,” I said, meeting his gaze. “This is the best way to destroy Canaan. Isaiah is everything Canaan wishes he could be. This will hit him where it hurts the most. And it’s not just about revenge, it’ll benefit us too. Isaiah’s influence and resources could help our company. It’ll add more value to us, we need it.”
Dad let out a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. “Alright. If this is what you want, we’ll support you. We do need Isaiah, we've been trying to get a contract with him so it wouldn't be bad.”
“I know that. Thank you all so much.” My parents smiled at me.
We finished dinner with lighter conversation. Afterward, I went up to my room, my heart pounding with anticipation. Sitting on my bed, I pulled out my phone and dialed the number for Isaiah’s office, scheduling a meeting for tomorrow.
The next day came faster than I expected. I woke up early, my nerves buzzing. I carefully chose an outfit, a fitted black dress that hugged my figure perfectly. It was elegant but also hot with a slit up the side and an open back.
When I arrived at Isaiah’s office, my heels clicked against the floor, catching the attention of many. The receptionist gave me a polite smile and directed me to his office. My heart was pounding, but I kept my head high as I walked in.
And then I saw him.
Isaiah Crowe was even more handsome in person than in the photos. Tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp features and piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through me.
His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his tailored suit fit him perfectly. He was the kind of man who could command a room without saying a word.
“Ms. Callahan,” he said smoothly, standing as I entered. His voice was deep and calm, with just a hint of curiosity. “Please, have a seat.”
I sat down across from him, trying to ignore the way his eyes seemed to study me. “Thank you for meeting with me,” I said.
He tilted his head slightly, a small smirk playing on his lips. “You’re welcome. Though I’ll admit, I’m curious. What business does the ex-wife of Canaan Blackwell have with me?”
I tensed slightly at the mention of Canaan, but I forced myself to stay calm. “I have a proposal for you,” I said, pulling out the contract I’d prepared last night.
His smirk faded as he picked up the document, his eyes scanning the pages. Then I said it, the words that would change everything.
“I want us to get married.”
Isaiah’s head snapped up, his green eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just stared at me like he was trying to figure out if I was serious.
“Excuse me?” he said finally with disbelief.
“You heard me,” I said, my voice firm. “I want us to get married. It’ll be a contract marriage. Temporary. You’ll get what you want, the Oak Villa. And I’ll get what I want.”
He leaned back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face. “And what exactly do you want, Ms. Callahan?”
I met his gaze, my heart pounding. “I want to destroy Canaan.”
