Aria barely slept that night.
The mansion was silent, yet her thoughts were loud. Every sound made her heart jump. She was living under the same roof as Adrian Black—the man who now had legal control over her life.
The next morning, she walked into the kitchen and froze.
Adrian stood by the counter, sleeves rolled up, his tie gone. For a moment, he didn't look like the cold CEO from yesterday. He looked… human.
"Good morning," he said without turning.
She hesitated. "Morning."
There was an awkward silence as she poured herself a glass of water. She could feel his presence even without looking at him.
"You'll be attending a dinner with me tonight," Adrian said calmly. "My partners expect to meet my wife."
Her fingers tightened around the glass. "Tonight?"
"Yes." He finally turned to her. "I'll have a dress delivered. Say as little as possible. Smile. That's all you need to do."
She lifted her head. "I'm not a doll, Adrian."
Something dark flickered in his eyes.
"I know," he replied quietly. "That's why I chose you."
The words confused her more than they should have.
Later that evening, the dress arrived. It was elegant, expensive, and completely unlike anything Aria had ever worn. When she stepped into the mirror, she barely recognized herself.
At the dinner, Adrian's hand rested lightly on her waist. To everyone else, they looked like a perfect couple.
But when he leaned down and whispered, his words sent a shiver through her.
"Remember the rules."
She swallowed. "I remember."
Yet when his fingers brushed hers, the boundary he had drawn suddenly felt dangerously thin.
And Aria realized something terrifying.
This contract was becoming harder to control.