Aria could still feel the weight of the pen in her hand.
The contract lay on the table between them, her name written neatly at the bottom. It was done. She was married—just like that.
Adrian Black closed the folder calmly, as if they had just signed a business deal instead of sealing her fate. His expression showed no emotion, no excitement, no regret.
"You can relax," he said, standing up. "The contract is clear. This marriage is strictly professional."
Professional.
The word stung more than she expected.
Aria rose slowly from her seat. "So… what happens now?" she asked, hugging her arms around herself.
Adrian studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes unreadable. "Now, you move into my house."
Her heart skipped. "Tonight?"
"Yes."
The finality in his voice left no room for argument.
The drive to his mansion was silent. The city lights blurred past the window as Aria stared outside, her thoughts tangled. She was married to a stranger. A powerful, cold stranger who barely spoke to her.
When the car finally stopped, she gasped softly.
The house was massive. Elegant. Cold. It looked more like a luxury hotel than a home.
"This will be your room," Adrian said, leading her inside. He opened a door to a spacious bedroom filled with soft lights and expensive furniture. "We'll share the house, not the room."
She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Good," she murmured.
He paused at the door, turning back to her. "There are rules."
Her fingers curled nervously. "Rules?"
"Yes," he said firmly. "We present ourselves as a perfect couple in public. No feelings. No crossing boundaries. And most importantly—don't fall in love with me."
Her chest tightened.
"As if that would ever happen," she replied quickly, lifting her chin.
For a split second, something flashed across his face—amusement? Curiosity?
"We'll see," Adrian said quietly before walking away.
The door closed behind him.
Aria sank onto the bed, her heart pounding.
She had entered this marriage to save her family. But as she stared at the unfamiliar room, one terrifying thought echoed in her mind.
She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to survive living with the man she had just married.