The Unexpected Bride

In the rain, Nova squatted with her head buried between her knees, crying bitterly. The cold drops soaked her to the bone, until suddenly, the rain stopped beating down on her. She slowly raised her head. A man stood before her, dressed in a sharp black suit and tie, holding a black umbrella above her head. The streetlight gleamed off his shoes, his figure crisp and composed against the stormy backdrop. He stared down at her, expression unreadable, eyes sharp and cool like polished obsidian. His voice, when it came, was flat, devoid of pity or concern. “You're making a mess of the sidewalk,” He said, tilting his head slightly. “If you're going to sit there and cry, do it somewhere less... pathetic.” He added. His gaze flicked to her drenched clothes. “Or,” He added after a pause, “you can come with me. I need someone at home when I get back from work. Nothing more.” He didn’t offer his hand. Just stood there, waiting, as if her decision didn’t matter either way. Just staring up at him made her head pound. A sharp ache struck her temple, and his last sentence was already fading from her ears when everything went dark. She passed out. The man looked down at her collapsed form with a long, quiet sigh. No panic. No urgency. Just irritation. “Tch. Figures,” He muttered, glancing at his watch. After a second of deliberation, he crouched and lifted her effortlessly, more like moving an object than helping a person. Then, he turned and walked toward his car parked at the curb. His steps were measured, precise, as though carrying a stranger through the rain was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. “She better not stain the seats,” He murmured, shifting the umbrella to cover her instead of himself. The Next Morning Nova woke up in a completely unfamiliar place. The room was dim, the curtains only slightly parted, letting in a soft sliver of light. She blinked groggily, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Then it hit her, the man from last night. She bolted upright in bed, heart pounding. She was wearing a black shirt that barely reached her mid-thigh. Her eyes widened. The moment her feet touched the cold, polished floor, the door creaked open. He stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a steaming mug of coffee. His black dress shirt was crisp, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal a sleek watch on his wrist. His gaze landed on her with calm indifference, as though he had all the time in the world. “You’re awake,” He said plainly. “Took you long enough.” He added. His eyes flicked down to the shirt she wore, his shirt, but there was no reaction. No interest. No shame. Just that same unreadable coolness. “I had the maid clean your clothes. You were soaked,” he said, taking a sip of coffee. “You can scream, cry, or demand answers if you want. Just keep it quiet. I don’t like noise in the morning.” Nova let out a small breath of relief. At least it wasn’t him who changed her clothes. But then a new thought struck her. “Did you… kidnap me?” She asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it. He raised an eyebrow, mildly amused, not enough to smile, but enough to give her a faint reaction. “Kidnap?” he echoed. He took another slow sip before continuing. “You were half-conscious and drenched. I brought you here. If I wanted to kidnap someone, it wouldn’t be a girl crying on the street like a lost cat.” He stepped into the room, set the mug on a nearby table, and looked at her again, more directly this time. “You’re not a prisoner,” he said simply. “You’re here because I needed someone to be here. Someone quiet. Someone invisible. If that doesn’t work for you, the door’s right there.” But despite his words, he made no move to step aside. His presence, cold and composed, filled the room like a shadow that wouldn’t be ignored. Nova's mind raced. If I leave, I have no place to return to. Isn’t this better? Living in a free house... if he just needs someone to share the space, does that mean I’ll have a roof over my head? Free food? Clothes? She glanced up hesitantly. “Do you mean you can let me stay here?” She asked carefully. ​