THE BILLIONAIRE'S CONTRACT WIFE

Chapter 4: The wedding

The wedding was supposed to feel like a beginning. For me, it felt like a deadline.

Seven days had passed since I signed the contract. Seven days of phone calls, fittings, meetings, and questions I didn't know how to answer.

My mother had cried when she saw the dress. My father had spent most of the week trying to convince me that everything would be fine.

Liam was the only one who seemed genuinely excited. He didn't know the whole truth. He knew I was getting married. He knew the Blackwell family had helped us. He didn't know that our entire future had been tied to my name on a contract.

I didn't tell him. There were some things my younger brother didn't need to carry.

The wedding took place at a private estate owned by the Blackwells. It wasn't the kind of place I had ever imagined getting married in. The entrance was lined with flowers. Cars filled the driveway. Security stood near every entrance. People I had never met walked around wearing expensive clothes and speaking quietly into phones. Everything looked perfect.

That was the problem. Nothing about my life felt perfect.

A woman adjusted the veil over my hair. "Almost ready."

I looked at myself in the mirror. For a moment, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. The dress was beautiful. The jewelry was simple but expensive. My hair had been styled carefully. I looked like someone who belonged in this world.

I didn't feel like her.

My mother came up behind me. Her eyes filled with tears again. "You look beautiful."

I smiled. "Thank you."

She touched my shoulder. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

I looked at her through the mirror. She was smiling, but I could see the fear behind it. "I know."

"Your father and I will understand."

I turned around. "I know." This time, my voice was firmer. "But I'm doing it."

She nodded. She didn't ask why. She already knew.

A knock came from the door. "It's time."

My stomach tightened. I took one last breath. Then I walked out.

The music began as I entered the hall. Every conversation stopped. Hundreds of eyes turned toward me. I kept walking.

My father stood at the end of the aisle. He offered me his arm. I took it.

"You're okay?" he whispered.

I nodded. "I think so."

He gave me a small smile. "I'm proud of you."

Those words almost broke me.

We continued forward. And then I saw Adrian.

He stood beside the altar in a black suit. He looked exactly like he always did. Calm. Controlled. Impossible to read. His eyes stayed on me as I approached. There was no smile on his face. But there was something in his expression I couldn't understand. He looked almost nervous.

That surprised me. This was his world. His family. His people. He should have been completely comfortable. But when I reached him, he quietly said, "You look beautiful."

I looked at him. "Thank you."

My father placed my hand in Adrian's. For one second, I wanted to pull it back. Then my father stepped away. There was no turning back now.

The ceremony passed quickly. The vows were simple. The words were familiar. For better or worse. In sickness and in health. Until death do us part. I repeated them because I was expected to. Adrian repeated them without hesitation.

Then came the rings. He took mine first. His fingers brushed mine as he slid the ring onto my hand. The band felt heavier than it looked. Then I put his ring on.

The officiant smiled. "You may kiss."

My heart stopped. I looked at Adrian. He didn't move. Instead, he leaned slightly closer and whispered, "Only if you're comfortable."

I stared at him. Then I gave a small nod.

He placed a brief kiss on my lips. It lasted only a moment. Then he stepped back. The guests applauded.

I smiled because everyone was watching. But inside, I felt strange. I was married. Actually married. Not pretending. Not yet. But legally, Adrian Blackwell was now my husband.

The reception was worse. There were too many people. Too many questions. Too many smiles. Everyone wanted to congratulate us.

A man I had never met shook Adrian's hand and laughed. "Congratulations. The Blackwell name finally has a beautiful new addition."

Adrian smiled politely. "She isn't an addition."

The man looked confused. Adrian glanced at me. "She's my wife."

Something about the way he said it made me uncomfortable. Not because it was wrong. Because it sounded final. As if the word carried more weight for him than it did for me.

Later, I was introduced to his parents. Richard Blackwell shook my hand. "Welcome to the family, Elena." His smile was polite.

Victoria kissed my cheek. "We're very happy to have you."

I smiled. "Thank you."

They both seemed satisfied. Almost too satisfied. Like the wedding had completed something they had been waiting for. I wondered what it was.

Across the room, I noticed Adrian watching me. Every time someone spoke to me, his eyes seemed to follow. At first, I thought I was imagining it. Then a young man from one of the Blackwell companies approached me.

"Mrs. Blackwell, congratulations."

"Thank you."

"You're probably tired of hearing that."

I laughed softly. "Just a little."

He smiled. "I'm Daniel."

Before I could respond, Adrian appeared beside me. "Daniel." His tone was calm.

Daniel immediately straightened. "Adrian."

There was an awkward silence. Adrian looked at me. "Are you all right?"

"Yes."

"Do you need anything?"

"No."

He nodded. "Good."

Daniel excused himself a moment later. I watched him leave. Then I looked at Adrian. "What was that?"

"What?"

"You interrupted us."

"I needed to speak with you."

"You could have waited."

His expression didn't change. "I could have."

There was something strange about his answer. I didn't know what to make of it. Before I could ask, my mother called me. I walked away.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. By the time the guests started leaving, my feet hurt and my head was pounding.

Adrian found me near the entrance. "We should go."

I looked at him. "Where?"

"Our house."

The words made my stomach tighten. Our house. I had never called it that.

He seemed to notice my hesitation. "You'll have your own room."

"I remember."

"And if you need anything, you can ask."

I nodded.

We walked outside together. A black car waited for us. The driver opened the door. I looked back at the estate. My parents were standing near the entrance. My mother waved. Liam stood beside her, smiling. I waved back. Then I got into the car.

Adrian sat beside me. The door closed. The noise from the wedding disappeared. For the first time that day, we were alone.

Neither of us spoke. The city lights passed outside the window. I looked down at the ring on my finger. It suddenly felt real.

I turned toward Adrian. "So this is it."

He looked at me. "This is it."

I swallowed. "One year."

His eyes stayed on mine. "One year."

I looked away. I had entered this marriage to save my family. That was the reason. That had to remain the reason. Because if I started wanting anything else from Adrian Blackwell, I wasn't sure I would know how to stop.