The following morning, the Kingston mansion was unusually quiet.
Sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the dining room.
Serena arrived first.
A cup of coffee sat untouched in front of her while she absentmindedly stirred it with a spoon.
Her thoughts refused to settle.
"What happens when the year ends?"
She wished she had never asked the question.
The silence that followed Adrian's answer had lingered in her mind all night.
She wasn't supposed to care.
This marriage had an expiration date.
That had always been the agreement.
So why did the thought of walking away suddenly feel unbearable?
Adrian entered a few minutes later.
He looked as composed as ever.
Dark tailored suit.
Perfectly knotted tie.
Expression unreadable.
Yet Serena noticed something different.
He looked at her for a fraction longer before taking his seat across from her.
Margaret served breakfast before quietly leaving them alone.
Neither touched the food.
Finally, Adrian broke the silence.
"I have to leave for the office early."
Serena nodded.
"I'll be visiting the charity center this afternoon."
"Take the security team."
"I don't need an entire convoy."
"You do."
She sighed.
"I can take care of myself."
"I know."
His answer was immediate.
"But you won't have to."
Serena looked at him.
"You've become… overprotective."
Adrian calmly picked up his coffee.
"I've become cautious."
"There is a difference."
"There isn't."
She smiled faintly.
"There is."
He didn't argue.
Instead, he changed the subject.
"I've arranged for a self-defense instructor."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"You what?"
"You'll begin training tomorrow."
She almost laughed.
"Do you schedule every minute of everyone's life?"
"No."
"Then why mine?"
His gaze met hers.
"Because I don't like unnecessary risks."
She stared at him.
There it was again.
That quiet concern he kept disguising as practicality.
Later that afternoon…
Serena arrived at the charity center.
The women welcomed her warmly.
For the first time in weeks, she felt normal.
No expensive dresses.
No flashing cameras.
No whispers.
Just ordinary conversations.
After the session ended, a little girl who had been waiting for her mother approached Serena with a shy smile.
She couldn't have been older than six.
"You look like a princess."
Serena laughed softly.
"I do?"
The child nodded enthusiastically.
"My mommy says princesses always smile."
Serena knelt to meet her eyes.
"Your mommy sounds very wise."
The little girl glanced behind Serena.
"Is that your prince?"
Serena turned.
Adrian had just entered the building.
Still dressed in his business suit, he looked completely out of place among the colorful drawings and children's laughter.
She blinked.
"What are you doing here?"
"I finished my meeting earlier than expected."
She folded her arms.
"So you came to inspect me?"
"I came to pick up my wife."
The little girl smiled brightly.
"He is handsome."
Serena felt warmth creep into her cheeks.
Before she could respond, the child grabbed Adrian's hand.
"Take good care of the princess."
Adrian looked at the little girl.
Then at Serena.
His usually cold expression softened almost imperceptibly.
"I intend to."
Serena looked away.
She suddenly found the floor very interesting.
The drive home was quieter than usual.
Halfway through the journey, Serena finally asked,
"You didn't have to come."
"I know."
"So why did you?"
He looked out the window.
"I wanted to."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence filled the car.
Adrian rarely spoke without thinking.
This time…
He had.
Serena turned toward the window, hiding the small smile tugging at her lips.
That evening…
Adrian was working in his office when his grandfather unexpectedly arrived.
Richard Kingston walked in without knocking.
"I've been watching."
Adrian didn't look up from the documents on his desk.
"I assumed you had."
His grandfather sat opposite him.
"You're changing."
"I'm adapting."
Richard smiled knowingly.
"No."
He leaned forward.
"You're falling for her."
The room became still.
Adrian closed the file in front of him.
"You're mistaken."
"Am I?"
"This marriage is temporary."
Richard chuckled.
"The contract is."
Adrian remained silent.
His grandfather continued,
"Tell me something."
"When was the last time you left an important meeting just to pick someone up?"
No answer.
"When was the last time you personally chased away a man because he frightened someone?"
Silence.
"And when was the last time you smiled?"
Adrian frowned.
"I don't smile."
Richard laughed.
"You did today."
Adrian looked genuinely confused.
"I wasn't aware."
"Exactly."
His grandfather stood.
"You've always believed love weakens people."
He walked toward the door before adding,
"But the strongest men are the ones with someone worth protecting."
The office door closed behind him.
Adrian remained motionless.
His grandfather's words echoed through the room.
For the first time in years…
He questioned whether he had mistaken vulnerability for weakness.
Across the mansion, Serena stepped onto the balcony outside her room.
The evening breeze carried the scent of blooming roses from the garden below.
She smiled as she remembered the little girl's words.
"Take good care of the princess."
Then she remembered Adrian's reply.
"I intend to."
Her smile slowly faded.
Because she no longer knew whether he had said it for the child…
Or for her.
Neither of them noticed the figure standing in the shadows beyond the garden gate.
A man lowered his camera after taking several photographs.
One captured Adrian looking at Serena with unmistakable tenderness.
Another showed Serena smiling at him.
The man dialed a number.
"They're getting closer," he said quietly.
A woman's cold voice answered from the other end.
"Good."
"Proceed with the next phase."
The call ended.
Hidden in the darkness, the photographer looked toward the brightly lit mansion.
Neither Adrian nor Serena knew that someone had just declared war on their marriage.
And this time…
The attack wouldn't come from the outside.
It would come from someone inside the Kingston family.