Caroline Evans sat in the sterile waiting room of City Hall, the air thick with unspoken dread. Her fingers fidgeted with the creased hem of her shirt, the image of Eddy's cold, indifferent face flashing through her mind. Three days ago, her eight years of unwavering devotion had crumbled, replaced by a cruel ultimatum.

"If you donate your kidney to Layla, I'll marry you." His words, devoid of warmth, echoed in her ears, mocking her naive hope. He had revealed his true colors, choosing her manipulative cousin Layla over his long-time fiancée. The humiliation had burned away her love, leaving only a searing hatred.

Now, she was here, about to marry a stranger named Kirk Morrison, a man she'd only known for five minutes. He sat beside her, radiating an unsettling mix of cynicism and allure.

"You can still back out," he drawled, his voice a low rumble. Caroline's grip tightened on her shirt. No, backing out wasn't an option. Not if she wanted to protect herself from Eddy's relentless pursuit of her kidney, a fate worse than any sham marriage.