Athen got up to follow the maid to the room she was supposed to be sleeping at. They were not yet married so they obviously wouldn't be sleeping in the same room. She couldn't help but glance back at Malachi, who still stood rigid in the living room, staring at nothing in particular. "Are you not going to sleep?" she asked,
He didn't answer immediately. A full minute passed, his silence stretching long enough for Athen to arch an eyebrow. Finally, he muttered, "I have work."
Athen's lips twitched, and she couldn't resist. She twisted her face, mimicking his serious tone in a soft, almost inaudible way. Just as she let herself smirk at the little prank, her eyes fell on the maid standing politely by her side, head bowed, holding the door open.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She hadn't meant for anyone to see. Quickly, she straightened up, bowing slightly in return. "Thank you," she said, her voice gentle, a little embarrassed, as she followed the maid toward the guest room. Even in a place so grand and intimidating, Athen knew some manners couldn't be skipped, and she had to blend a little civility with her usual feisty charm
In the morning, Athen's phone buzzed loudly on the bedside table. She had just finished dressing up. They were going to pick their marriage certificate that day. The bed was comfortable, the sheets were soft, too soft. She would have loved to sleep some more but that grumpy man might drag her if she didn't keep time and also some contract stated two meals per day!
She picked up the phone and saw Darcy's name flashing on the screen. Hesitating for a moment, she swiped to answer.
"Athen, where are you? Are you safe?" Darcy's voice came through almost immediately. "I went to Lizzy's place this morning, but you weren't there. What happened?"
"I… didn't want to give Lizzy too many problems. She has her own stuff to deal with, and I couldn't risk dragging her into mine,"
Darcy exhaled audibly. "Alright… I understand. Now, what's your plan? You're no longer signed by Wonder. The contract was terminated, so you don't even have to worry about the termination fee—they ended it first. That means no one can hold that against you."
Athen bit her lip, thinking through her options. "I'm just figuring it out," she admitted. "I think I'll take a break for a while, step back from all the chaos. I need time to breathe and maybe… think about what I actually want to do next."
Darcy was quiet for a moment, then said, "Okay, I just wanted to make sure you were safe. Whatever you decide, just… be careful."
Darcy had never wished something like that for Athen so it was enough for her to know he wanted something or something was up.
Then it came,
"Your songs… they're really good. You could sell some of those you wrote and make a living." He paused before continuing, "Or, you could sell them to me. I'll give you a very good price."
Athen hesitated, her fingers tightening around the phone. "I… I'll think about it," she said finally, before hanging up. So that was it, she allowed herself to believe Darcy might have actually cared about her after all they had known each other for over 7 years.
If this had been yesterday, before Malachi, she would've eagerly agreed, She needed money, she was homeless, jobless. But now… things were different. She was someone's wife, a rich man's wife, though she didn't know how rich he really was. Seeing Malachi's house, the expensive cars, all those workers, the bodyguards, it all made it clear. He was more than wealthy; he was untouchable.
Athen leaned back, a small smile tugging at her lips. Whatever choices she made now had a different weight. She was no longer just Athen Lang, struggling in the music industry. She was tied to someone powerful, and that changed everything. She wasn't in the same world anymore. She was living in it, part of it, and every choice she made now had to consider him.
Athen went to sign the marriage contract with Malachi. Everything had been arranged meticulously, the red leather folder, the gold embossing, the pen placed just right, so the actual signing process was swift. There were no drawn-out explanations or formalities; just the pen, the document, and their signatures. She had barely processed what she had just agreed to before they were stepping out of the office, heading back to the waiting car.
As soon as Malachi's sharp eyes landed on her, he noticed her clothes.
To him, they looked shabby, tired, and far below the standard he expected. The plain t-shirt, the slightly worn jeans, the scuffed sneakers, they didn't align with the image he had of a woman tied to him now. Yet, Athen's face seemed to compensate for the lack of polish; there was a natural brightness, a liveliness in her expressions that almost balanced out the simplicity of her outfit. Almost.
Malachi's lips curved into a faint frown as he watched her move in the car. "Your clothes… they're unacceptable," he finally said,
Athen shot him a glance, hands gripping her bag, and replied quickly, "They're clean. What are you complaining about?"
"Are you done glorifying how poor you are?" he asked, his tone sharp, carrying a hint of irritation.
Athen's eyes flashed, and she snapped back without hesitation. "So what if I am poor? Let me tell you something, these clothes I'm wearing today, They were expensive! And I'm not throwing them away just because you think they look shabby. They aren't torn, they aren't dirty, and they don't smell bad! So, what exactly is your problem?"
Malachi's frown deepened, but he didn't argue further. Athen could see the tension in his jaw, the way his gaze lingered on her with a mixture of judgment and… something else she couldn't quite place.
She tilted her head defiantly, crossing her arms. "I may not have the kind of clothes you wear, but I know how to take care of what I have. I bought this few months ago and I just wore them only six- nine times." She explained, "Poor people like me wear clothes for years before we throw them."
Malachi's dark eyes studied her. "From what I've learned… your father was rich."
Athen's lips curled slightly, "Then you saw, I lived alone without my rich dad for six years." She continued, "Even if it was inheritance, it would've all finished by then!" It somehow seemed she was complaining yet telling her life struggles.
Malachi remained silent, his expression unreadable. No matter what he might have said next, it seemed Athen had an answer ready for everything. There was a fire in her, a stubbornness he hadn't expected.
He finally exhaled slowly, almost as if he were holding himself back from strangling this woman to death. Now he was beginning to rethink his choices. It seemed they would grow into an old bickering couple.
The car pulled into a high-end shopping district soon after, and Malachi guided her through the stores. "We're fixing this," he said, motioning to her wardrobe with clear intent.
"Ooh! Mr. Yates, are we going to shop in this designer shop?" Athen joked as she walked beside Malachi who had just gotten off the car, "Don't mind me if you go bankrupt today!" she smiled.
The bodyguards stayed outside, sealing the doors. Since the shop was part of his mall, the staff immediately recognized him and treated him with respect. Athen noticed how effortlessly people obeyed him, it was both impressive and a little intimidating.
Athen felt a small thrill of excitement.
She hadn't shopped at a high-end designer store in years, not since before her life became so complicated. She didn't even remember the last time. Walking among the racks, she ran her fingers over the fabrics, soft silks, crisp cottons, and elegant lace. Each piece seemed expensive, delicate.
She picked out a few clothes to try on. Some were bright, some dark; some simple, some fancy. As the attendants followed her where if she picked one style they would pick the same style but everything that was available in her size. Athen was in awe, even when her dad was there she never shopped like that, Truly this was how the rich shopped.
When she went into the fitting room and came out in her first outfit, she felt a little nervous under Malachi's gaze.
But she wasn't scared anymore, after the fifth cloth. She held her head high, examining herself in the mirror. The boutique was like a small window into a life she didn't know she could have. Each outfit gave her a new sense of confidence, except for the little side comment that man gave.
"This dress is really fitted for you Madam." The shop attendant flattered.
"Really" Athen smiled examining herself once more.
Then Athen turned to Malachi, "What do you think?"
"You are doing the dress some justice at least."