Ivy froze.

Five hundred million dollars—a fortune beyond imagination—and he honestly didn’t care whether she paid it back?

She studied Jamison’s expression, trying to read between the lines. Something clicked in her mind, and she eyed him warily. “What’s the catch?”

He smirked. “Come on, Ivy. You’re too smart not to guess.”

She stiffened, her voice flat. “You want me to marry you?”

He nodded, a lazy, wicked grin curving his lips. “Think of the money as a wedding gift. Miss Ivy, does that show enough sincerity?”

Ivy stared at him, shock rippling through her like a dropped stone in still water.

He’d joked about marrying her once before, but she’d brushed it off without a second thought. She hadn’t expected him to bring it up again—much less with a five-hundred-million-dollar dowry attached.

She was wealthy in her own right, but even so, that amount was staggering.

Jamison watched her, eyebrows arched. “What do you think? Tempted at all?” His smile was roguish, teasing.

Ivy blinked, regaining her composure. “Five hundred million is generous, but I’d like to think I’m priceless,” she retorted, confidence ringing in her voice.

He laughed, soft and genuine. “Of course you are. To me, you’re beyond price. The money is just a gesture—once we’re married, everything I have is yours.”

Ivy’s shock deepened. She fell silent, replaying his words.

Jamison leaned forward, voice gentle. “I said this before, but you probably thought I was joking. I’m really not that funny. When I say something, I mean it.”

She hesitated. “But your family doesn’t approve. How could you even marry me?”

He shrugged as if the answer were obvious. “I’m marrying you, not them. These days, it’s easy—just need our IDs and a quick stop at the courthouse.”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “It’s that simple?”

He nodded, and, remembering her unique circumstances, explained, “You’ve been away from the world for three years. You wouldn’t know—marriage laws changed. Now it’s all very straightforward.”

She absorbed this in silence.

Jamison pressed on, his tone light but determined. “So, what do you say? Want to go get our marriage license tomorrow?”

She gaped at him. “Are you serious? We barely know each other! This is all happening so fast.”

He didn’t flinch. “I’m completely serious. I’ve been single for years and never met anyone like you. I know what I want.”

“But rushing into marriage is risky.”

Jamison saw her hesitation, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He paused, then offered, “I’ll transfer the money to you first, and put it in writing: as long as you marry me, no matter what happens, you’ll never have to pay it back. We can even get it notarized.”

Ivy eyed him skeptically, suspicion growing. “You’re not planning to sell me off, are you?”

She knew, of course, that even if someone stripped her for parts, she’d never fetch that kind of money.

Jamison just laughed. “No need. If you’re mine, that’s enough.”

“So you’re actually serious?”

He met her gaze, earnest. “Dead serious. Take your time and think about it.”

Ivy didn’t answer, but her mind was already working through the possibilities.

Putting aside the obvious perks of being with someone like him, just the thought of being with Jamison wasn’t such a bad deal.

After everything she’d been through, all the upheaval and heartbreak, after she’d lost faith in the world and resigned herself to a lonely, drifting life, fate had put him in her path.

She didn’t know what to say. But as broken as her heart had been, she could feel it slowly starting to heal.

After dinner, Jamison wandered into the kitchen, grabbed an egg from the fridge, boiled it, and peeled it. He walked back to her with the still-warm egg in hand.

“I’m full, I don’t need any more food,” Ivy protested, waving him off.

He rolled his eyes, but his voice was gentle. “Who said anything about eating?” Sitting beside her on the couch, he reached out and gently lifted her chin.

Only then did Ivy realize—he was using the warm egg to soothe the bruises blooming on her cheek.

The tenderness of the gesture caught her off guard. She felt awkward, unsure how to react.

“It’s just a little swelling,” she grumbled, her voice muffled. “It’ll be gone in a couple of days. I’m fine…”