Chapter 4: Mrs. Kingsley
1194 Words
The moment Amelia and Ethan stepped out of the marriage registry office, the cool afternoon breeze brushed against her face.
She still couldn't believe it.
She was married.
Actually married.
To a man she had met only a few hours ago.
She lowered her eyes to the marriage certificate in her hands.
At the top of the paper were their names.
Ethan Kingsley and Amelia Carter.
No.
Not Amelia Carter anymore.
Amelia Kingsley.
The name felt strange.
Very strange.
"Are you going to stare at that paper forever?" Ethan asked beside her.
She looked up.
"What?"
"The marriage certificate."
"Oh."
She quickly folded it and put it inside her purse.
Ethan chuckled.
"You look shocked."
"I am shocked."
He smiled.
"That's fair."
She sighed.
"I can't believe I really did it."
"Regretting it already?"
She looked at him.
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Even she was surprised.
Ethan's eyes softened.
"Good."
An awkward silence fell between them.
Then his stomach suddenly growled.
Amelia blinked.
He looked away.
She burst into laughter.
"You really are hungry."
He looked slightly embarrassed.
"I skipped breakfast."
"I skipped breakfast too."
"Then we definitely need food."
She nodded.
"I agree."
A few minutes later, they entered a nearby restaurant.
The waiter led them to a table by the window.
After ordering, Amelia looked around nervously.
Everything still felt unreal.
She was sitting in a restaurant with her husband.
Her husband.
The word made her cheeks warm.
Across from her, Ethan was studying her.
"What?" she asked.
"You blush a lot."
"I do not."
"You do."
She looked away.
"I think you're imagining things."
He smiled but didn't argue.
The waiter returned with their food.
For several minutes, they ate quietly.
Finally, Ethan broke the silence.
"So, where do you live?"
She swallowed her food.
"A small apartment downtown."
He nodded.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"What about your family?"
The smile on her face disappeared.
"It's complicated."
He immediately noticed the change in her expression.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
She looked at him.
"No, it's okay."
She took a deep breath.
"My father died when I was thirteen."
"I'm sorry."
She smiled sadly.
"He was a wonderful man."
Ethan listened quietly.
"After he died, my mother remarried."
"Your stepfather?"
She nodded.
"And your stepsister?"
"Vanessa is his daughter."
Ethan's expression darkened slightly.
Even though he had only met Vanessa once, he already didn't like her.
"They've never really treated me like family."
Amelia forced a smile.
"But my mother loved me very much."
"What happened to her?"
The sadness in her eyes deepened.
"She passed away three years ago."
Ethan froze.
"I'm sorry."
She looked down at her plate.
"I still miss her every day."
A strange ache settled in Ethan's chest.
For some reason, seeing her sad made him uncomfortable.
He wanted to make her smile again.
Without thinking, he said,
"I think she would be proud of you."
Amelia looked up.
"What?"
"Your mother."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"How do you know that?"
He smiled gently.
"Because despite everything you've been through, you're still kind."
She stared at him.
No one had ever said something like that to her.
Her stepfather constantly called her useless.
Vanessa called her weak.
Even Daniel had taken her love for granted.
But this man…
This stranger she had married…
Looked at her as if she were someone precious.
Her eyes suddenly became moist.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Ethan smiled.
"You're welcome."
The atmosphere between them softened.
Then Amelia realized something.
"I've been talking about myself this whole time."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Should I be offended?"
She laughed softly.
"No."
"Good."
She smiled.
"What about your family?"
For some reason, Ethan hesitated.
"I have a grandmother."
"Only your grandmother?"
"My parents passed away a long time ago."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
She looked at him carefully.
There was something lonely in his eyes.
Suddenly, she felt bad for him.
Both of them had lost people they loved.
Maybe that was why talking to him felt easy.
"What does your grandmother do?" she asked.
He nearly laughed.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"She enjoys spending my money."
Amelia laughed.
"You sound like a loving grandson."
"I am."
"Really?"
"Of course."
She smiled.
For the first time that day, she felt relaxed.
After they finished eating, Ethan paid the bill.
As they walked outside, Amelia looked at the sky.
It was already getting late.
She suddenly remembered something.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I don't have anywhere to go."
Ethan blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"My apartment lease ended yesterday."
He looked surprised.
"You were planning to move after the wedding?"
She nodded.
"Daniel and I were supposed to move into a new apartment together."
Silence.
The mention of Daniel immediately ruined her mood.
She looked away.
"Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize."
She sighed.
"Looks like I have terrible luck."
Ethan thought for a moment.
Then he said,
"You can stay with me."
She froze.
"What?"
"I have a spare room."
She blinked several times.
"You're inviting me to live with you?"
He looked amused.
"We're married."
Her cheeks turned pink again.
Right.
They were married.
"But… isn't it too soon?"
Ethan almost laughed.
"Too soon?"
She nodded.
"We've only known each other for a few hours."
"And yet we got married."
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
He had a point.
A very good point.
She sighed.
"When you say it like that, I sound crazy."
He smiled.
"A little."
She glared at him.
"You agreed to marry me."
"That's true."
"Which makes you crazy too."
He laughed.
For some reason, hearing him laugh made her smile.
"Fine," she said.
"I'll stay with you until I figure things out."
"Good."
"But only for a little while."
He nodded.
"Of course."
A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a sleek black car.
Amelia's eyes widened.
"This is your car?"
"Yes."
She looked at the expensive vehicle.
"You said you own a small company."
"I do."
She looked suspicious.
"This doesn't look like a small-company car."
Ethan cleared his throat.
"I bought it secondhand."
"Oh."
He almost smiled.
That wasn't entirely true.
The car was brand new.
But he wasn't ready to tell her the truth about his wealth.
Not yet.
He didn't even know why.
Maybe because he enjoyed the way she looked at him.
She didn't care about money.
She didn't know who he was.
To her, he was simply Ethan.
And for the first time in years…
That felt nice.
He opened the passenger door for her.
"After you, Mrs. Kingsley."
Her cheeks turned red again.
"You really enjoy saying that."
"I do."
She smiled despite herself and got into the car.
As Ethan walked around to the driver's seat, his phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen.
It was Lucas.
His assistant.
Ethan answered.
"Hello?"
"Boss!" Lucas nearly shouted. "Where are you? The board meeting starts in twenty minutes!"
Ethan froze.
He had completely forgotten.
"I'm busy."
"Busy?" Lucas sounded horrified. "What could possibly be more important than a board meeting?"
Ethan glanced at Amelia.
Then he smiled.
"I got married."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"What?!"
- Writer
