Lila didn't touch the document.
She just stared at it.
As if it might disappear if she refused to acknowledge it.
"A contract marriage?" she repeated slowly, her voice laced with disbelief. "You actually expect me to agree to this?"
Adrian didn't flinch.
"I don't expect anything," he said calmly. "I'm giving you a solution."
"A solution?" Lila let out a sharp laugh. "This is insane."
She pushed the document slightly, as though distancing herself from it.
"You think I'll just marry you—a complete stranger—because you say I'm in danger?"
"You are in danger," Adrian replied evenly.
"And you expect me to trust you?" she shot back. "You lied the moment we met."
"I didn't lie."
"You let me believe something that wasn't true!"
"Yes," he said without hesitation.
The honesty caught her off guard again.
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Lila exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her hair.
"Let's say—just for a second—I believe you," she said. "Let's say there are people out there watching you."
She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his.
"Why would pretending to be your wife fix anything?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he studied her—measuring, calculating.
Then—
"Because it changes your position."
She frowned. "What does that even mean?"
"It means you stop being an unknown variable," he explained. "Right now, you're just a girl seen with me once. That makes you easy to investigate. Easy to approach."
A pause.
"Easy to eliminate."
Lila's breath hitched.
The word hung in the air like something dangerous.
"But if you're my wife," Adrian continued, "you become untouchable."
"Untouchable?" she echoed.
"Yes."
"Because of your money?"
"Because of my power."
She stared at him.
For the first time, she realized—
He wasn't exaggerating.
He wasn't trying to scare her.
He was stating facts.
"That doesn't make sense," she said, though her voice had softened. "Wouldn't being your wife make me more of a target?"
"For some," Adrian admitted.
Her stomach dropped.
"For others," he added, "it makes you too dangerous to touch."
Lila turned away, pacing slightly.
Her thoughts were spiraling.
This wasn't real.
This couldn't be real.
Yet everything about Adrian—his composure, his certainty—made it feel terrifyingly real.
"And what do I get out of this?" she asked finally, crossing her arms again.
"Protection."
She scoffed. "That's convenient."
"And stability," he added. "Financial security. Your debts cleared. Your career funded."
She froze.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"You looked at the contract?" she asked slowly.
"I did my research."
Her jaw tightened.
"You had no right."
"I had every reason," Adrian replied calmly. "You walked into my life. That makes you my responsibility."
"I am not your responsibility."
"Right now, you are."
Lila's chest rose and fell quickly.
Anger burned through her—but beneath it was something else.
Fear.
"You don't even know me," she said quietly.
Adrian's gaze didn't waver.
"I know enough."
That unsettled her more than anything else.
She turned back to the table and picked up the contract.
Her eyes scanned the first page.
Duration: One Year
Conditions: Public Marriage Only
No Emotional Attachment
Confidentiality Required
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"No emotions?" she murmured.
"It keeps things simple."
She looked up at him.
"Nothing about this is simple."
Adrian almost smiled.
Almost.
"Read the rest," he said.
Lila flipped through the pages, her expression shifting with each line.
Expenses covered.
Personal freedom within limits.
Strict media appearances.
And one clause that made her pause.
"'Termination possible under mutual agreement or breach of contract,'" she read aloud.
Her eyes lifted slowly.
"What happens if I break your rules?"
Adrian's expression darkened just slightly.
"You won't."
Something about the way he said it sent a chill down her spine.
Before she could respond—
A loud knock echoed through the penthouse.
Both of them froze.
Adrian's head turned sharply toward the door.
His entire demeanor changed in an instant.
From calm—
To alert.
"Stay here," he said quietly.
Lila's heart began to pound.
"What is it?"
He didn't answer.
Another knock.
Louder this time.
Adrian walked toward the door with controlled steps.
Every movement precise.
Careful.
Lila watched, her instincts screaming that something was wrong.
The door opened.
A man in a suit stepped inside, his expression tense.
"Sir," he said quickly. "We have a situation."
Lila's grip tightened on the contract.
"What kind of situation?" Adrian asked.
The man hesitated—glancing briefly in Lila's direction.
Adrian followed his gaze.
"It's fine," he said. "Speak."
The man lowered his voice anyway.
"Someone broke into Miss Bennett's apartment this morning."
Lila's world tilted.
"What?" she whispered.
Her mind struggled to process the words.
"That's not possible," she said, shaking her head. "I left this morning—it was fine—"
"They didn't take anything," the man continued. "But it was searched."
Silence.
A cold, sinking feeling spread through Lila's chest.
"They know," Adrian said quietly.
Lila turned to him, her eyes wide.
"Know what?"
His gaze met hers.
Sharp.
Serious.
Unavoidable.
"They know you're connected to me."
Her breath caught.
"No…" she whispered. "No, this isn't happening…"
But it was.
Every warning.
Every strange feeling.
Every instinct she tried to ignore—
Was real.
Her legs felt weak as she stepped back slightly.
"This…" she swallowed hard. "This is because of you."
Adrian didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The honesty hit harder than any lie could.
Tears stung her eyes—but she blinked them back quickly.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "No, I can't do this. I won't."
She dropped the contract onto the table.
"I'm leaving."
She turned toward the door—
"Lila."
She stopped.
"If you walk out that door right now," Adrian said quietly, "you won't make it through the week untouched."
Her heart slammed against her chest.
"That's not a threat," he added.
"It's a fact."
Silence.
Slowly—
Reluctantly—
She turned back to him.
Fear flickered in her eyes now.
Real fear.
"What do I do?" she whispered.
Adrian stepped closer.
Not forceful.
Not controlling.
But certain.
"You stay," he said.
A pause.
"And you become my wife."
Lila looked at the contract again.
Then at him.
Then at the door.
And in that moment—
She realized something terrifying.
There was no safe choice.
Only one that gave her a chance to survive.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the pen.
"This is crazy," she murmured.
Adrian didn't respond.
Because they both knew—
It was.
She signed.
And just like that—
The contract began.
Outside the building, across the street—
A figure stood in the shadows.
Watching.
A phone was raised slowly.
Another picture taken.
This time—
Of the window.
Of them.
A message was sent.
"She agreed."
A reply came almost instantly.
"Good."
"Now we begin."