I woke up before my alarm.
For a second, I didn’t recognise where I was.
The room was too quiet. Too clean. Too… perfect.
Then it hit me.
Max.
The house.
The agreement.
The marriage.
My chest tightened slightly as I pushed myself up against the pillows, running a hand through my hair.
“This is real,” I whispered.
No going back.
No undoing it.
Just… this.
⸻
There was a soft knock at my door.
I froze.
“Come in,” I said quickly, trying to sound normal.
The door opened, and a woman stepped inside.
Mid-thirties, maybe. Polished. Professional. The kind of presence that immediately made you feel like she had everything under control.
“Good morning, Maya,” she said with a small smile. “I’m Elena.”
I blinked. “Hi.”
“I handle Max’s schedule,” she continued. “And, as of now, your
