When the car door clicked open, Lila felt her breath hitch in her throat. The driver, Nathan, gestured politely for her to get in, and though every part of her screamed not to trust strangers, something in his calm, respectful demeanor made her hesitate only a moment before sliding into the back seat.
The interior was quiet, the scent of leather and expensive cologne heavy in the air. She sat stiffly, clutching her bag against her lap as the car pulled away from the curb. The silence stretched until the partition lowered, and she found herself face-to-face with Adrian Blackwood.
Her chest tightened. The man who had been staring at her in the club, the man whose presence seemed to carry power and control, sat just across from her. His dark suit was perfectly tailored, his sharp jawline relaxed but his eyes—those piercing eyes—studied her like he could see right through her.
"Miss Hart," he said in a calm, deliberate tone.
Lila swallowed hard. "Y-yes?"
Adrian leaned slightly forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his voice steady and direct. "I asked you here because I want you to understand something very clearly. I don't waste time with unnecessary talk, so I'll be straightforward. I want you to be my wife."
The words hung in the air like thunder, shaking her more than she expected. She blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
"You… what?" she whispered.
Adrian's expression remained unreadable. "My wife. On paper, in public, and in the eyes of my family. But understand this—it's not about love. I'm not offering romance, nor am I asking for affection. I have my reasons, and you have yours. What I'm offering you is an arrangement."
Lila's hands tightened around the strap of her bag. Her heart was racing, but she forced herself to breathe. "Why me?" she asked, her voice almost trembling.
"Because you're exactly what I need," Adrian replied without hesitation. "My parents are pressing me. They've never seen me with a woman, and they've begun to assume that I have no interest in marriage—or women at all. It's becoming a problem, one I don't have time for. I need a wife who will silence their questions and meet their expectations. You—" his gaze flicked briefly over her, lingering just enough to make her shift uncomfortably, "—are beautiful, poised, and untouched by the business world. You fit the image perfectly."
Lila's chest rose and fell sharply. He made it sound so transactional, so cold.
"And in return?" she asked carefully.
Adrian leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "In return, I will handle your bills. Your father's medical expenses, your family's debts, whatever you need—I'll take care of it. After we sign the marriage certificate, you'll have everything you've ever dreamed of within your reach. Whatever you want, I will provide. But do not misunderstand—there will be no feelings attached. You will be my wife in name, and nothing more. Do you understand?"
Her mind screamed at her to reject the offer, but her heart ached at the temptation. Her father was lying in a hospital bed, his condition worsening, and the doctor had demanded thousands of dollars before treatment could even begin. She had already begged both her bosses for help, only to walk away empty-handed. She had nothing left—no savings, no backup plan, and no time.
And here sat Adrian Blackwood, a man of immense wealth and influence, practically offering her family a way out of the nightmare.
Lila's lips trembled as she whispered, "You're asking me to marry you without love, without… anything real?"
"Yes." His voice was calm, steady, almost reassuring in its firmness. "No pretense, no illusions. Just an agreement."
She looked down at her hands, her mind spinning. For a long moment, she couldn't find her voice. The car seemed too small, the air too thick, as though the weight of the decision was pressing down on her shoulders.
Finally, she exhaled shakily. "I can't give you an answer right now."
Adrian's expression didn't change. It was as though he had expected her hesitation. "I don't need your answer this second. But think carefully, Miss Hart. Time is not on your side."
He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a sleek card, sliding it across the seat toward her. "Here. My number. When you've made up your mind, contact me."
Her fingers trembled as she picked up the card, the weight of it feeling heavier than gold. She couldn't even bring herself to look at him again as Nathan opened the car door for her.
Stepping out into the cool night air, she clutched the card tightly in her hand, her chest rising and falling as though she had just run a marathon. The car pulled away behind her, but Adrian's voice still echoed in her mind. My wife. No feelings attached. Just an arrangement.
---
When Lila finally got home, the house was silent. Her parents had already retired to bed, and Jake's door was shut, his soft breathing audible from within. She leaned against the wall for a moment, trying to compose herself, before tiptoeing toward the bathroom.
Her body was aching from exhaustion, but her nerves were on fire. She quickly ran a bath, the warm water washing away the sweat of the day but doing nothing to ease the turmoil inside her. When she slipped into her nightwear and padded quietly to the kitchen, she reheated some leftovers and forced herself to eat, though every bite felt heavy in her mouth.
Her mind wouldn't stop replaying the moment she sat across from Adrian. His voice, his cold certainty, the tempting offer—it was as though he had branded his words into her.
Back in her room, she sat on the bed and pulled out the card again. The white rectangle gleamed faintly under the dim light, Adrian's name printed boldly across it. She stared at it for a long time, her heart thundering.
Her family needed her. Her father needed her. And this—this could be the only way.
Before she could lose her nerve, she picked up her phone and typed a short message.
We should meet tomorrow.
She dropped the phone onto the bed and pressed her hands over her face, whispering into the silence, "What am I doing?"
Her phone vibrated almost immediately. She snatched it up, her eyes widening as she saw the reply.
Okay.
Just one word. Then, a moment later, another message appeared.
Here's the address. Meet me at noon.
Lila's hands shook as she set the phone down. Her entire body felt heavy, and yet her mind was wide awake. She tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling, unable to shut her thoughts off. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adrian again, his cold gaze piercing into her, his words circling her mind like chains.
When sleep finally claimed her, it was restless and uneasy. Tomorrow would bring answers, but also more questions.
---
Across town, Adrian stepped into his penthouse, loosening his tie and setting his phone on the nightstand. He had seen the message from Lila, and the corner of his lips lifted—not in affection, but in satisfaction.
Everything was falling into place.
This wasn't about love. It was about convenience, about silencing his parents, about ending their doubts. For months, they had nagged, whispered, questioned his disinterest in women. Rumors had begun spreading into his business world, whispering that perhaps Adrian Blackwood wasn't the man they thought he was.
This marriage would put an end to all of it.
Lila Hart was beautiful, elegant in her simplicity, untouched by the corruption of wealth. She would fit perfectly into the role of wife, nothing more. He didn't need her love. He didn't even want it. All he needed was her presence beside him, a living answer to the questions his family and society kept asking.
As he gazed out of the wide glass window, the city lights reflecting in his dark eyes, he murmured to himself, "Tomorrow, it begins."
Then, without another thought, he retired to bed, his plan already set in stone.
---