Amelie woke up with that annoying feeling of forgetting something. It buzzed in the back of her mind like an unanswered question.
Then it hit her.
Oh, right.
She had to go to the bureau today—with Asher—to legalize their marriage.
How romantic.
To be fair, it had completely slipped her mind. She'd been buried in work yesterday. Her company hadn't seen her in days, and the office had nearly swallowed her whole when his message popped up on her screen.
She hadn't expected him to text so soon. Honestly, she'd stared at it for a full minute before settling on a cold, simple "Okay."
Short. Efficient. Emotionless.
Just how she liked it.
At least he didn't say anything else. Small mercies.
Now came the real question: What does one wear to their fake wedding registration?
She didn't need to overdo it, but still—respect the occasion, even if the groom was destined to die.
"Not bad," she muttered, checking herself out in the mirror.
A red off-shoulder gown hugged her curves perfectly, ending just above her knees. It was bold but not over the top. A rose-shaped tattoo peeked out from just above her chest—subtle, but alluring. She paired it with red heels, curled her hair, and left it falling softly down her back.
Just as she grabbed her bag, something tugged at her.
She paused… and drifted to the drawer she hadn't opened in months.
Inside was a velvet-lined case. She opened it slowly, revealing a crescent moon-shaped pendant.
Her father had given it to her on her last birthday.
Well—not him exactly. His secretary had delivered it. But still. The fact that her father even remembered her birthday was shocking enough. Growing up, he never cared. Birthdays were for nannies and hired clowns. She stopped caring about them long ago.
So this gift… it had caught her off guard. Deep down, she was still surprised. Even if he didn't give it in person, the gesture lingered.
How did he even know she liked moons?
She slipped the necklace on.
The moon was her confidant. Her safe place. She could whisper her secrets to it and never feel judged. It was the one thing in her life that didn't demand or expect.
Still… it was probably a coincidence. Or maybe the secretary had good guessing skills. Either way, she had bigger things to deal with now than her father's sudden interest in parenting.
---
By the time she arrived at the bureau, the place was already buzzing. No matter how high up the social ladder you were, government buildings always felt like a waiting room for hell.
"You're early," came a familiar voice from behind.
She didn't even have to look.
"And looking quite ravishing, I must say," Asher added with a smirk.
She scoffed and turned slightly. "I always look ravishing."
He chuckled. "Of course. Shall we?"
He motioned to the entrance, and she followed.
Because of their status, they didn't have to wait long. The registration process was swift—exactly how she liked it. No bells, no flowers, no cringey vows. Just a few signatures and a stamp.
Just like that, she was legally married.
"So," she said, her voice cool, "am I moving into your place or what?"
Asher raised an eyebrow. "Well, you're my wife now. It's only proper you live with me. How long do you need to arrange your things?"
She paused, pretending to think.
"How long?" she echoed. "I'll move in today. Just text me the address."
Asher blinked. Just for a second. But she caught it. He hadn't expected that.
"Sure," he said casually, hiding the surprise. "The faster, the better."
Exactly, she thought.
She needed to familiarize herself with the terrain. The layout. The exits. His schedule. His habits. It was all part of the plan.
Once he sent the address, she'd head straight there. Her assistant would follow with her things.
"I'll take my leave now," he said. "I already sent the address. I doubt you'll get lost." He smirked. "See you later, wifey."
Wifey?
She nearly gagged.
Asher walked away with the kind of smugness that made her want to trip him. But she resisted. Barely.
She pulled her phone from her bag. Sure enough, the message was there.
She sent the location to her assistant with a simple note:
"Bring everything. I'm moving in."
Then she headed for her car.
Across the street, watching through dark tinted windows, Asher narrowed his eyes.
She was up to something.
And he was going to find out.