Aria couldn't stop staring at the ring on her finger.
It looked beautiful… and dangerously real.
Just hours ago she had been a struggling writer worried about rent and hospital bills.
Now she was wearing a wedding ring from a man she barely knew.
"This still feels unreal," she muttered.
Kabir checked his watch. "Good. Because things are about to move faster."
Aria looked up. "What do you mean?"
Ryan answered calmly, "We're getting married tonight."
Aria blinked. "Tonight?!"
Kabir nodded. "The legal paperwork has already been prepared. A private courthouse ceremony. Very quiet. Very quick."
Aria crossed her arms. "You could have mentioned that earlier."
Ryan looked at her with the same unreadable expression.
"You still have the option to walk away."
Aria looked down at the ring again.
Walking away meant returning to debt, problems, and uncertainty.
She exhaled slowly.
"Fine," she said. "Let's get married."
Two hours later, Aria stood inside a small courthouse room.
There were only four people present.
The judge.
Kabir.
Ryan.
And her.
No family.
No music.
No celebration.
Just a contract turning into a legal marriage.
The judge looked at them briefly before speaking.
"Do you both agree to this marriage?"
Ryan answered first.
"Yes."
The judge turned to Aria.
She hesitated for a second… then nodded.
"Yes."
Within minutes, the papers were signed.
The judge stamped the document.
And just like that—
Aria Sen officially became Aria Kapoor.
Kabir smiled lightly. "Well, that was efficient."
Aria stared at the marriage certificate in disbelief.
"Did I really just marry a stranger?"
Ryan stood beside her, calm as always.
"Yes."
She looked at him.
"You're way too relaxed about this."
Ryan's lips curved slightly.
"Because for me, this was necessary."
Aria frowned.
"There you go again with the mysterious answers."
Before Ryan could respond, Kabir's phone suddenly rang.
He answered quickly.
His expression changed.
"What?" he whispered.
Ryan noticed immediately. "What happened?"
Kabir turned the phone toward them.
On the screen was a news website.
At the top was a photo taken outside the hotel earlier that evening.
Ryan standing beside Aria.
And clearly visible on her finger…
The ring.
The headline read:
"Famous Actor Rohan Malhotra Secretly Married?"
Aria froze.
"Wait…" she said slowly.
"Did they just call you… Rohan Malhotra?"
Ryan went completely silent.
Aria turned toward him, confusion growing.
"You told me your name was Ryan Kapoor."
Ryan looked at the screen.
Then at Aria.
And for the first time since meeting him…
He looked slightly troubled.
Kabir sighed quietly.
"Well," he said.
"It seems the secret is about to get complicated."
Aria's heart began pounding.
"Ryan," she said slowly.
"Or should I say… Rohan?"
Ryan didn't answer.
And suddenly Aria realized something shocking.
The man she had just married…
Was hiding far more than she ever imagined.
End of Chapter 4
Next Chapter: Living Together