Arrogant Bride

The Rules

The Langston estate ballroom had never looked so grand or so suffocating. Glittering chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, while the Sense of elite society filled the air. Sophia Langston stood at the center of it all, her emerald gown glinting under the lights, her every move synchronized by dozens of watchful eyes.

Beside her, Ethan Cross stood tall, an imposing figure in his tailored black suit. The picture perfect couple for a match that was anything but. His hand rested lightly on her lower back, the touch sending a ripple of irritation through her. She plastered on her most dazzling smile, though inside, she was seething.

“Smile a little wider,” Ethan murmured, his lips barely moving. “You look like you’re being held hostage.”

“Because I am,” she hissed through clenched teeth, her eyes scanning the room.

“Hostages don’t wear couture,” he shot back, his tone maddeningly composed.

Sophia resisted the urge to stomp on his polished shoe. Instead, she took a sip of champagne and turned to face the crowd, offering a tight-lipped smile to the nearest group of onlookers, The whispers about their sudden engagement were already swirling, though no one dared to voice them directly.

“Darling!” a familiar voice called. Sophia turned to see Miriam approaching, her champagne-colored dress flowing as she moved. Her younger sister’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she glanced between Sophia and Ethan.

“I must say, you two look positively radiant together,” Miriam said, the mischief in her tone was mischievous.

Sophia’s smile hardened. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, come now,” Miriam said, looping an arm through hers. “You should be enjoying your engagement party. After all, this is what every girl dreams of a handsome fiancé, a room full of admirers, and a sparkling diamond on her finger.”

Sophia glanced down at the ring a massive, flawless diamond that felt more like a shackle than a symbol of love. “Some dream,” she muttered.

Ethan stepped forward, his polite smile never wavering. “Miriam, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

Miriam gave him a sly grin look. “Likewise, Ethan. I must say, you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Sophia shot her a warning glare, but Miriam just winked and disappeared into the crowd, leaving them alone again.

Ethan turned to Sophia, his expression unreadable. “She’s delightful.”

“She’s a menace,” Sophia muttered, setting her champagne glass on a passing tray.

“Speaking of menaces,” Ethan said, stepping closer, “we need to talk about the rules.”

Sophia arched a brow. “Rules?”

“If this arrangement is going to work, we need boundaries,” he said, his voice low enough that no one else could hear. “We may not like each other, but we have to act like we do. The press is already circling like ma, and if we give them even a hint of discord, this entire deal could unravel.”

Sophia folded her arms, glaring up at him. “And what exactly do you propose?”

“For starters,” he said, his tone firm, “we keep our arguments behind closed doors. In public, we’re the perfect couple—attentive, affectionate, and very much in love.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “Anything else, Your Highness?”

“You’ll also need to move into my penthouse after the wedding,” Ethan added, ignoring her sarcasm. “We’ll keep separate bedrooms, of course, but appearances matter.”

“Of course,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Anything else, or should I start taking notes?”

“Just one more thing,” he said, stepping even closer. His gaze was intense, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t get to walk away from this. No tantrums, no running off to some tropical island when things get difficult. You made the choice to agree, and now you’re going to see it through.”

Sophia’s breath hitched, her anger rising. “You think you can dictate my life? Let me make one thing clear, Ethan: I may have agreed to this arrangement, but don’t for a second think you own me.”

“I don’t want to own you,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I just want you to hold up your end of the bargain. Can you do that, or was all that bravado earlier just for show?”

She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, a reporter approached, microphone in hand and a camera crew trailing behind.

“Miss Langston, Mr. Cross,” the reporter said with a wide smile, “congratulations on your engagement! Can we get a quick comment for our readers?”

Sophia forced a smile, the mask slipping effortlessly into place. “Of course. Ethan and I are thrilled to be starting this new chapter together.”

Ethan slid an arm around her waist, his touch warm and steady. “We’re grateful for the support of our friends and family,” he added smoothly. “It means the world to us.”

The reporter beamed. “Wonderful! And can you tell us, Mr. Cross, what was it about Sophia that captured your heart?”

Ethan glanced down at her, his gaze softening in a way that made her stomach twist. “She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “Strong, intelligent, and utterly captivating. How could I resist?”

Sophia’s cheeks flushed, though she quickly masked it with a coy smile. “And Ethan is everything I could have hoped for,” she said, the words tasting bitter on her tongue.

The reporter nodded enthusiastically, scribbling notes before moving on to the next guest.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Sophia turned to Ethan, her smile vanishing. “Captivating?”

“You’re welcome,” he said, his expression smug.

“Don’t get used to it,” she shot back.

But even as she walked away, her heart was still pounding, and she hated herself for wondering whether, for just a moment, he’d actually meant it.