Chapter 1
The Wedding Night
Elena Carter stared at herself in the mirror. The woman looking back at her was dressed in a beautiful white wedding gown, but she barely recognized herself. Her hands trembled as she touched the small diamond necklace around her neck. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Instead, she felt afraid.
Behind her, the bedroom door opened. Elena turned. Adrian Blackwood walked into the room. Her husband. He had changed out of his wedding suit and was now wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His expression was cold, almost unreadable. He closed the door behind him. For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Elena swallowed nervously. “Adrian...”
He looked at her. “What?”
She forced a small smile. “I know this marriage wasn’t exactly what either of us planned, but...”
“Don’t.” His voice stopped her.
Elena frowned. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t pretend this is a love story.”
Her smile disappeared.
Adrian walked toward the window and looked outside. “The marriage is happening because our families agreed to it. That’s all.”
Elena lowered her eyes. She had known he didn’t love her. She knew that before she walked down the aisle. But she had secretly hoped that things might change. Maybe after they lived together. Maybe after he got to know her. Maybe one day...
“Adrian,” she whispered, “I’m not asking you to love me tonight.”
He turned around. “Good.”
His answer was so cold that her heart sank. He walked toward her and stopped a few feet away. “You need to understand something, Elena.”
She looked up.
“This marriage is an arrangement.”
“I understand.”
“No.” His eyes hardened. “You don’t.”
Elena remained silent.
Adrian continued. “You will have everything you need. A house. Money. Security. Whatever your family needs.”
She stared at him. “But?”
“But you will stay out of my personal life.”
Her chest tightened. “And what about yours?”
“You don’t need to know anything about it.”
Elena couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had just married a man who was already telling her to stay away from him. “How long is this supposed to last?” she asked.
“One year.”
“One year?”
“After one year, we will divorce.”
Elena stared at him. A strange feeling settled inside her. She had become his wife that morning. And he was already planning their divorce.
“Fine,” she said quietly.
Adrian looked surprised. “Fine?”
She nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
She turned away from him. But before she could walk away, Adrian spoke again.
“There is one more thing.”
Elena stopped.
“Never ask me why I married you.”
She slowly turned around. “Why?”
His face became completely expressionless. “Because if you find out the truth, you may regret ever becoming my wife.”
Elena’s heart began beating faster. “What truth?”
Adrian said nothing. He simply walked past her and opened the bedroom door. Then he stopped. Without looking back, he said, “Goodnight, Elena.”
The door closed. Elena stood alone in the room. She slowly sat on the edge of the bed.
Why had he married her?
She had spent weeks asking herself that question. Now she finally understood one thing. Adrian Blackwood wasn’t hiding his feelings. He was hiding a secret. And somehow... that secret was connected to her.
