Chapter 5: The contract wedding
1222 Words
The air felt different after their conversation charged, tense, threaded with something neither of them wanted to name.
As the sun rose, The soft gray dawn filtered through the curtains, brushing against Damian’s face. He blinked awake with the immediate awareness of the day’s weight pressing on his shoulders.
As he stepped into the hallway, he heard soft movement in the living room. He expected Emilia she enjoyed chaos too much to sleep in on a day like this but instead he found Sara.
She stood by the window, wrapped in an oversized robe Emilia had laid out for her. The soft morning light warmed her features, making her look almost… serene. Her hair was loose, brushing her shoulders in soft waves.
She didn’t turn immediately when she sensed him. But when she did, her eyes held his in a way that made him forget the sentence he was forming.
“Good morning” she said quietly.
Damian cleared his throat. “You should start getting ready. Emilia booked the makeup artist and stylist for seven-thirty.”
She nodded,
Damian said simply “after today, we become legally married publicly and privately. That’s the arrangement”
Sara’s mind raced. Privately? That means… actually living with him.
Damian blinked, then went on. “The contract requires us to live together and maintain the appearance of a real marriage that means You’ll be moving in here” Damian continued. “For the duration of the contract, this will be your home. You won’t need to bring anything. Whatever you require clothes, essentials, security it will be provided”
Sara blinked, surprised “Move in? Just like that?”
“This arrangement must look real” he said, straightening his cuffs. “A wife who doesn’t live with her husband would raise suspicion”
“You’ll have your own room. Your own privacy. I won’t interfere with that.”
Just then, the elevator chimed, and Emilia burst in like a whirlwind.
“There you are” Emilia clapped her hands. “You both look tense. Stop it. Today is supposed to be nice”
Damian stared at his sister. “It’s a legal marriage under a high pressure requirement. Nothing about it is nice’”
Emilia rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible. Sara, darling come. We have a full morning planned.”
Damian stood still long after the doors closed.
Two hours later, he was ready to leave for the registrar’s office appointment.
He froze at what he saw
Sara stood in the middle of the living room, transformed.
Her hair was styled into soft curls that framed her face. Her makeup was subtle but elegant. A fitted cream colored dress hugged her figure gracefully, professional yet captivating. She looked nothing like the cafe waitress he met two days ago.
She looked like a bride,
his bride
the wife of a CEO.
“I got the rings” Emilia announced proudly, waving a small velvet box. “Custom made. Titanium and diamonds. Masculine for him, elegant for her, perfect.”
“This way” he said quietly, gesturing toward the door.
Sara nodded and walked beside him.
Neither spoke as the elevator descended.
The elevator doors glided open with a soft chime. Damian stepped out first, followed by Sara and Emilia
“Car is outside” he said, keeping his voice steady.
Sara nodded, her expression unreadable, but Damian noticed her fingers clasping the small clutch bag Emilia picked out for her. For the first time, she looked… slightly nervous.
“You don’t have to be nervous. It’s a simple civil ceremony”
Sara turned her head slightly. “Is that your definition of simple? Getting married to a stranger for the sake of business?”
Damian stiffened. “It’s a contract not a relationship”
“Still a marriage” she murmured.
He had no answer to that.
She continued softly, “I’ve never been married before I assume you haven’t either”
Damian’s teeth clenched. “No”
Sara looked out the window again. “Then I suppose we are both doing something new today”
The driver cleared his throat. “Sir, we’ve arrived.”
The registrar, a stout woman with kind eyes, greeted them. “Mr. Cole, Ms. Hayes. We’re ready for you”
They followed her into a small ceremonial room simple white walls, two chairs, a desk, and a small recording camera for legal documentation.
Sara inhaled deeply. Damian noticed.
He leaned slightly toward her. “It will be over quickly.”
“Comforting” she muttered.
THE CEREMONY
The registrar cleared her throat. “We will begin. This union is legally binding, recognized under civil law, and requires your consent.”
She handed them their documents. Damian signed immediately, his handwriting crisp and confident. Sara hesitated for a fraction of a second before signing.
Damian watched her hand.
Not shaky.
Not fearful.
Just… thoughtful.
The registrar continued.
“Do you, Damian Cole, take Sara Hayes as your lawfully wedded wife according to the laws of this state, to uphold the responsibilities and duties therein?”
Damian nodded. “I do.”
The words didn’t sting they echoed.
“Do you, Sara Hayes, take Damian Cole”
“I do,” she said before the registrar finished.
Damian blinked.
Sara’s eyes met his. Steady. Calm. Unapologetic.
That simple phrase felt entirely different coming from her lips.
Emilia clapped silently behind them.
“The rings,” the registrar said gently.
Damian opened the velvet box. He took the smaller ring first delicate titanium lined with diamonds and slid the ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
Sara’s turn.
She picked up the matching ring and slipped the ring onto his finger.
His throat tightened.
The registrar smiled warmly. “By the power vested in me by the state, I pronounce you husband and wife”
Emilia squealed. “Yes!”
Damian exhaled slowly. Sara looked away first.
“It’s done,” she whispered.
Done.
Sealed.
Irreversible.
Getting home, the car stopped, and all three of them froze. A woman stood at the entrance of the mansion elegant, nervous, one hand curved over a small bump.
Damian whispered her name like a ghost returning. “Vanessa?”
He stepped out immediately. Emilia shot Sara a stunned look before following him with her eyes.
Vanessa’s voice trembled. “I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I was overwhelmed, I was scared, I panicked. London was supposed to be a reset, so I ran. I’ve been back from London for a few days now, trying to gather the courage to see you” She swallowed, touching her stomach “B
but when I heard you just got married, I couldn’t wait anymore. Damian, I am pregnant and it’s yours”
The world seemed to still.
Sara felt her throat tighten, the illusion of safety she’d begun to build crumbling instantly.
Then Vanessa lifted her chin, eyes sharp despite the tears.
A sharp ache punched through Damian’s chest. His mind spun: What if she’s telling the truth? What if this is my child? What does that make me now? What does that make my marriage?
But then Vanessa leaned in closer, voice dropping to a tremble.
“Damian before you decide anything, you should know this pregnancy changes more than you think.”
- Writer
