Chapter 4 My Husband is an Escort?!

Amanda's POV

When I dragged myself home, Daddy Dearest's summons was waiting. And there sat Madison in his study, perched in that leather chair high and mighty as ever. That trademark "gotcha" smirk on her face. Little Miss Perfect, always eager to play tattletale. My head was pounding from last night's drinks, each throb a reminder of my temporary escape. But I wouldn't give them the satisfaction - I planted myself in front of his pretentious mahogany desk, spine rigid with defiance.

"Want to explain this?" He shoved his phone at me. My heart skipped a beat. There it was - Madison's Instagram story, showing me climbing into Ethan's car. A moment of rebellion, now turned into evidence against me. The familiar mix of rage and helplessness bubbled up inside me. Of course she'd been following me - my own personal stalker, always there to document my "sins."

"I don't answer to social media gossip." I met his gaze head-on, channeling every ounce of contempt I felt into those words.

"No?" His voice was deadly quiet as he switched to another screen - financial reports swimming with red ink. "How about answering to this? Davis Corporation is weeks away from bankruptcy. Harold Wilson offered us a lifeline, and you're out there playing games with some..."

"Some what?" I challenged. "Say it."

Madison's smile widened as she chimed in. "Oh come on, sis. Don't tell me you picked up some male model at the bar just to get out of the marriage."."

"Harold Wilson has offered to save this company," my father's voice cut through the tension. "All he wants is a wife. Instead, you're out there destroying what's left of our reputation with some hired..."

"You will end this arrangement immediately," he continued, his tone becoming dangerously soft. "Unless you want your grandfather moved from Cedar Grove to state care."

I felt the blood drain from my face. Cedar Grove was the most exclusive care facility on the West Coast, providing my grandfather with round-the-clock specialized attention. "You wouldn't."

"The monthly fees alone could keep three divisions running." Richard shuffled his papers with deliberate casualness. "In our current situation, such luxury is... unsustainable."

"You heartless bastard." The words slipped out before my brain could hit the brakes.

"Watch your tone." he demanded sharply. "You'll meet Wilson tomorrow. That's not a request."

My nails dug into my palms, breaking skin. Deep breaths, Amanda. Do it for Grandpa. He's the only one who ever gave a damn about what I wanted. The only reason I'm still playing this twisted family game. One quick nod - that's all Dad would get from me. Let him think he's won. For now.

Back in my fancy prison - aka my "suite" at the top of Davis Manor - I couldn't stop pacing. Last night's wild impulse wedding kept replaying in my head. Getting hitched to some gorgeous stranger in a bar? Either the dumbest thing I've ever done or my escape plan from this mess. Probably both.

My phone buzzed.

"Hello?"

"Morning, gorgeous. How's that headache treating you?" His voice was smooth as silk, and he actually sounded worried about me. "Got you some painkillers and your usual coffee fix - double vanilla shot, right?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. Ethan. My out-of-nowhere husband from last night. First person in ages to actually give a damn about how I was doing. "I... this isn't really a good time."

"Yeah, I figured. The whole Wilson and Davis Corp thing is blowing up online... and what he's trying to force you into."

Something caught in my throat. Since Grandpa got sick, nobody had bothered to check if I was okay. Just demands, threats, and Madison's smirks. But here was this stranger, bringing me coffee and caring enough to ask.

"I can handle it," I managed, but my voice wasn't as steady as I wanted.

"I know you can." His voice stayed gentle, understanding. "But you don't have to handle it alone."

Before I could respond, Madison burst into the room without knocking. I ended the call abruptly.

"Well, well." Madison's smile had teeth. "Secret calls already? Is that how you arranged your ride home in that Maybach yesterday?"

I met my half-sister's gaze steadily. "Jealous?"

"Of what? Your sugar daddy?" Madison suddenly lunged forward, grabbing my phone and throwing it across the room. "You think you're so much better than everyone else, don't you?"

I tried to step back, but Madison gripped my arm brutally. "Look at you now – the perfect Amanda Davis, reduced to being some rich man's plaything."

"Let go of me." My voice was ice-cold despite the pain.

"Or what?" Madison's manicured nails dug deeper into my flesh. "You'll call your paid boyfriend to help?" She shoved me hard against the wall. "I own Nathan now, and soon everyone will know what a desperate little tramp you've become."

"Get your hands off me." I refused to show fear, even as Madison's other hand wrapped threateningly around my throat.

"Make me." Madison's eyes glittered with malice. "No one's here to protect you anymore, sister dear."

"It must burn," Madison continued as if I hadn't spoken, "knowing Nathan chose me. That all your perfect plans fell apart."

"Like you chose him?" My laugh would've made a penguin shiver. "We both know you're just the consolation prize he settled for."

Her cool-as-cucumber act wasn't so smooth anymore. "At least I'm not so desperate I need to pay for company."

Madison's words tainted my bedroom atmosphere, each one aimed to cut deep and draw blood. "Curious about why Nathan really called off the wedding?"

I turned my head away, no way was I letting my half-sister see me crack. Last night's shotgun wedding to Ethan felt like some messed-up dream I couldn't shake off.

"We're drowning in debt," Madison gloated, eating this up like it was her favorite reality show.

"Then Wilson and his guys roll in with this killer offer - only catch is, the old man's got marriage on the brain, and daddy dearest picked you for the leading lady."

I gripped my drink tighter. "What about Nathan?"

"Oh, poor baby Nathan." Madison's laugh was ice cold. "The second he caught wind of Wilson sniffing around, he ditched you like yesterday's news. Better me than watching his precious fiancée get hitched to some geezer. Real prince charming material, right?"

My hand trembled, making the bourbon dance in the glass. God, what a fool I'd been. Every sweet nothing, every late-night call, every promise of forever - just smoke and mirrors. All part of their twisted little scheme. The ring on my finger might as well have been a hot coal. Two years down the drain, wasted on some spineless jerk who'd been getting cozy with my sister. I felt like I was gonna be sick.

"Get. Out. Now." Each word came out like venom as I sent the glass flying into the wall, watching it explode. Just like my hopes and dreams - how freaking perfect.

Madison sashayed to the door with that smug bounce in her step. She hung there for a second, fingers dancing on the doorframe, ready to twist the knife one last time. "Better raid that fancy wardrobe, sis. Daddy wants you all prettied up for Wilson tomorrow."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with the mess - both emotional and literal.