Chapter 4 Chapter 4: You Could Marry Her...
Chapter 4: You Could Marry Her...
Nicolai-
Three days before…
After that… interesting encounter with Nova Pierce, I had Aaron find out everything he could about her.
If I was going to work with her on the nano-technology project, I needed to know exactly what kind of person she was. I wasn’t about to enter into a business arrangement blind—especially not with someone tied to something this important.
Still…
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get her eyes out of my mind.
Even with the clear signs of tears threatening to break through… I had never seen eyes quite like hers.
Defiant, yet vulnerable.
Cold, yet inviting.
As if they held every answer—and every question—at the same time.
…Interesting.
—
I was just wrapping up a Zoom meeting with one of my overseas investors when Aaron stepped into my office.
“I look forward to the development, Nicolai.”
“Absolutely,” I replied smoothly. “I’ll keep you updated on the progress.”
“Excellent! Give my regards to your parents. We’ll speak soon.”
“Of course.”
I ended the call and glanced up at Aaron. The moment I saw his face, my brows furrowed.
Something was off.
“What’s the matter?”
A flicker of concern stirred in my chest. Aaron exhaled slowly as he walked over and took a seat across from me.
“Well… I got the information on Ms. Pierce.”
My eyes narrowed slightly.
“And?” I leaned forward. “What did you find out?”
He handed me a thick folder. I opened it immediately. The first images were from her childhood—photos of her smiling, laughing, holding certificates and awards. Something in my chest shifted.
My lips curled slightly before I could stop it. She was… adorable. I turned the page. High school records. Track. Cheerleading. Archery. Academic awards. Well-rounded didn’t even begin to cover it.
Even at Carver—an elite engineering and science academy—she had excelled. Graduated two years early. Then Parrington—a five-year dual master’s program in medicine and technology.
Impressive. No… more than that.
Brilliant.
No wonder we hired her.
I flipped through the rest—social media snapshots, candid photos. There they were again.
Those eyes.
Even brighter when they weren’t clouded with tears. My fingers slowed. Then stopped. My jaw tightened.
“Who is this?”
I held up a photo—Nova standing close with a man. Too close to be casual.
Something ugly twisted in my chest. I didn’t like it. Didn’t like him. Aaron shifted.
“Well… that was her fiancé.”
I froze.
“…Was?”
So it had ended. Is that why she looked like that? My thoughts halted abruptly as Aaron continued.
“Wait…what did you say?”
“I said… he’s marrying her older sister now. Tanya Pierce.”
Silence settled between us. I looked back down at the photo. The way she was looking at him. Like he was everything. Like he mattered.
…How?
My fingers tightened, creasing the paper. How does someone betray someone who looks at them like that?
“That’s not all,” Aaron added.
My head snapped up.
“What do you mean, that’s not all?”
He pulled out another folder.
“Apparently… Ms. Pierce hasn’t had the best upbringing.”
A flicker of irritation crossed my expression.
“Explain.”
He opened the folder and slid it toward me.
“A full profile on her parents. William and Julia Pierce. Met in college. Married. Had twins.”
I scanned the report. Then kept reading. And everything in me… went still. A maid. Former employee. Long-term witness. Statement after statement. My grip on the paper tightened. According to the report, they originally never intended to have more children. Until the mother became afraid.
Afraid her daughter—Tanya—would end up selected in the lottery system. So they had another child. Another daughter. A backup. A replacement. A sacrifice.
My jaw clenched. That’s what Nova was to them.
A sacrificial lamb.
Over the years, despite her achievements, she had endured constant ridicule. Humiliation. Emotional abuse.
She left home at twelve. And lived with her grandmother until adulthood. My fingers curled harder into the pages, crumpling them.
“What kind of people…”
The words fell quiet at first. Then sharpened.
“What the hell kind of people are these?”
Aaron didn’t respond immediately, but I could feel his agreement.
“These people are sick,” he said finally.
I leaned back slowly, staring at nothing. Twelve. She was twelve years old.
And still…She smiled. Over the years she worked. Volunteered. Orphanages. Animal shelters. She supported her grandmother. Built everything herself. She was exceptional. And they treated her like she was disposable. My jaw tightened further.
“How do they trade someone like that… for them?” I muttered.
Aaron didn’t answer.
“There’s another problem,” he added instead.
I dragged my gaze back to him.
By now, irritation simmered beneath my skin.
“What now?”
“They’ve already entered her into the lottery.”
Everything in me stilled.
“Were they selected?” I asked sharply.
Aaron shook his head.
“No… not exactly.”
I frowned.
“Then what?”
He hesitated briefly before continuing.
“Apparently, her sister has been having an affair with the ex-fiancé for over three years.”
My eyes darkened.
“Three years?”
He nodded.
“And recently… she found out she was pregnant.”
Of course.
“Afraid he wouldn’t go through with the marriage otherwise,” Aaron continued, “the parents entered Nova instead—and told him Tanya was the one selected.”
My stomach turned.
“They used that,” he added quietly. “Then told him about the pregnancy so he’d feel obligated.”
I leaned back in stunned silence. Every new detail somehow made it worse.
“Did Nova agree to this?” I asked after a moment.
“The lottery isn’t mandatory.”
Aaron nodded slowly.
“She did.”
My hand stilled.
“But only because they threatened her grandmother.”
A beat of silence.
Then:
“Where is she?”
Aaron blinked. “The grandmother?”
“Yes.”
He checked the file.
“Roswell-adjacent nursing facility.”
“Good.”
I leaned forward again.
“Move her.”
“What?”
“Transfer her. Somewhere better. Somewhere secure. Immediately.”
Aaron nodded without hesitation.
“Understood.”
I paused.
Then added:
“And Aaron…”
He looked up.
“Put me in the lottery.”
The room went quiet. Aaron blinked. Then blinked again.
“You want to… what?”
“You heard me.”
His eyes widened, then slowly—amused understanding crept across his face.
“I knew you liked her!”
I frowned immediately.
“That’s not it.”
“Oh, really?” he said dryly.
“I just—” I stopped, exhaling.
“I feel bad for her.”
Aaron leaned back, studying me.
“…Sure you do.”
He sighed.
“Well… in any case, it doesn’t matter.”
A cold feeling slid down my spine.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re too late.”
I was already sitting forward before he finished speaking.
“What?”
My pulse picked up. I knew exactly the kind of men that participated in that system. Men no one would willingly marry. Men who bought what they couldn’t earn.
“Who selected her?” I demanded.
Aaron swallowed.
“…Kieran Sinclair.”
Everything inside me went cold.
No. Not him. Four women. Hospitalized. One of them… with injuries that never fully healed. Kieran Sinclair didn’t just hurt people. He enjoyed it.
“Do they want her dead?!” I snapped.
My voice rose before I could stop it.
“What the hell kind of people send their daughter to someone like him?”
“Calm down—”
“He’ll kill her, Aaron!” I shot back. “Someone like her? She pushes back. She thinks. She won’t just sit there and take it—”
“I know.”
His voice cut through mine.
“And that’s why I’ve been thinking.”
I stopped. My anger slowed, warping into something more focused. More dangerous.
“What.”
He leaned back slightly, watching me carefully.
Then smiled.
“You could marry her.”
Silence.
My brain stalled.
“…What?”
