Aurora – POV
I paced the tiny kitchen, the phone tucked between my cheek and shoulder as I stirred instant noodles. Maya's laughter drifted from the other room-too loud, too bright for the way my heart still thundered from Wolfe Tower.
"Tell me everything again," Clarke urged on the other end. "Slowly this time. Without skipping the part where you signed a contract marriage with Ace freaking Wolfe."
"It's not what you think," I muttered.
"You literally just signed up to be the wife of the most eligible billionaire in the country."
"Temporarily."
"Still counts."
I leaned against the counter, whispering like the walls might betray me. "It's for my mom, Clarke. She needs treatment. Ace offered a solution and I... I took it."
Silence. Then Clarke's voice softened. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "It doesn't feel real yet."
"Well, it's about to."
BANG.
The front door flew open. Percy stormed in with her tote bag slung like a weapon, hair in a messy ponytail. Her gaze immediately landed on the sleek black card lying on the counter. She froze.
"Um. Excuse me?"
"Hi to you too," I said flatly.
She dropped her bag, pointed dramatically. "Is that a-no, it can't be-is that a Wolfe Unlimited Black?"
"Percy-"
"Where the hell did you get a card like that?!" Her eyes went wide. "Wait. Did you sleep with him?"
"What?! No!"
She smirked. "Aurora Grey, did you seduce a billionaire in your off-hours?"
"I didn't seduce anyone. And stop saying it like I begged for it."
Percy leaned on the counter, grin wicked. "So you just walked into a billionaire's office and walked out with a limitless card? Sounds like you skipped the latte and went straight to the sugar daddy upgrade."
I glared. "You're being annoying."
"Annoyingly impressed," she shot back. "Do I need to curtsy the next time I see you?"
Before I could respond, a knock echoed through the apartment. Percy's brows shot up.
"If this is another diamond ring delivery," she whispered, "I'm gonna faint."
I opened the door.
A man in a black suit stood there, silent and efficient. He handed me a velvet box with a gold seal and disappeared down the hall like smoke.
I closed the door slowly. Percy hovered, practically vibrating. "Open it. Open it now."
I flipped the box open. Inside, on a bed of black silk, lay a golden key-ornate, heavy, gleaming like treasure from a fairytale. Or bait in a trap.
"What the hell," Percy breathed. "That's... that's not for your mailbox, is it?"
My heart sank. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number. He answered on the second ring.
"Yes."
"What is this?" My voice trembled as I held the key.
"A key," Ace said flatly. "To your new residence."
I froze. "Excuse me?"
"For you and your sister. The penthouse is in your name until the contract ends."
My mouth went dry. "Why?"
"Because you're about to be seen. Scrutinized. You can't keep living in a place with peeling wallpaper and shouting neighbors. You need to be... untouchable."
"I didn't ask for this."
"You signed for more than a marriage," he replied coolly. "You signed for a role. Play it well."
My grip tightened on the phone. "You don't need to control everything."
"I'm not controlling," he said smoothly. "I'm protecting my investment. My driver will be downstairs in an hour. Pack light. You'll find everything else waiting."
The line went dead.
Percy stared at me, slack-jawed. "Please tell me you're being punked by a reality show."
I looked down at the key, gleaming in my palm.
"No," I whispered. "This is real."